Hermanuspietersfontein Witbroodjie 2016
- Sep 17, 2017
- 2 min read
Witbroodjie, when translated means “a favourite” or “a student perceived to be favoured by the teacher”. If this is the case with HPF Witbroodjie; the thought and nurturing that went into this wine is very much evident in the end result!
About the farm:
To find out more about the farm, read the blog on Hermanuspietersfontein’s Posmeester posted on 26 May 2017.
About the grape:
Sémillon, also known as “Green Grape”, was extremely popular in South Africa up until the end of the 19th Century. During that time, it made up more than 90% of all plantings in South Africa. Then, suddenly, it disappeared and became the least cultivated varietal in the country, only accounting for 1% of total plantings.
It is speculated that one of the reasons for its fall from grace is because the varietal became associated with the production of large volumes of unexceptional wines.
In the vineyard, Sémillon is easy to cultivate and resistant to many diseases. At home, it is praised for being a good food-matching wine. It is often used in blends or as a single varietal.
Sémillon is a full body white wine and is often referred to as a “chameleon” variety because of its ability to assume many different tasting profiles. Its aromas and flavours in warmer climates such as Franschhoek and Tulbagh include apple, grapefruit, nectarine, guava and wax. In cooler climates like Constantia, Durbanville and Elim, aromas and flavours can include green pea, asparagus, snow peas, passion fruit, gooseberry and lemons. Wooded wines also have notes of nuttiness and dry peaches, whereas unwooded wines have notes of lime, sherbet, herbs and grass.
It is also a round, neutral variety that is lower in acidity. It provides longevity and structure to a wine and is therefore often blended with Sauvignon Blanc, which sometimes lacks these characteristics.
As a white wine, it is best served cool; between 10˚C - 12˚C.
I have included some food pairing suggestions below, just to show how versatile this wine is (and for those adventurous few who would like to experiment):
Starter: Baked goat's cheese
Soup: Chicken soup
Sandwich: BLT sandwich
Fish: Fried calamari or paella
Poultry: Chicken in a butter/ cream sauce
Meat: Pork chops/ pork roast
Vegetables: Sweet potatoes, butternut, glaced carrots or creamed spinach.
Pasta: Gnocchi with butter, sage, cheese and pesto
Dessert: Poached apples/pears, cheesecake or cremè brûleè
Around the world, Sémillon is also know by the following names:
France: Colombier, Malaga, Blanc Doux
South Africa: Green grape, Wine grape
Romania: St Emillon
Australia: Shepherd’s Riesling, Hock, Chablis
About the wine:
Witbroodjie is a 100% Sémillon blend and was aged for 10 months in French oak. It is a full-bodied, dry wine with fresh acidity.
It has a lemon-yellow colour with a pale greenish undertone. It is highly aromatic and for me, its profile included the sweet scent of honey, peach, gooseberry, passion fruit and a hint of nuts. It has a long finish and lingering aftertaste.
Witbroodjie is harmoniously balanced and complex and I would highly recommend it to both regular Sémillon fans, and those of us who have not yet tasted many single varietal wines.
If Witbroodjie is the result of HPF’s effort to revive this “lost” varietal, I would say that they are well on their way to doing just that! It’s an exceptional wine and hopefully there will be future vintages to compare it to.
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