One day is just leading into the next over lockdown … but it is Friday, and that’s worth celebrating
We’re going to treat ourselves, tonight, with a bottle from the magnificent Journey’s End Vineyards V Series. The V Series collection from this picturesque boutique winery and vineyard on the mountain slopes above Sir Lowry’s Pass Village near Somerset West, include a Chardonnay 2018, Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Shiraz 2016, Merlot 2016 and a maiden release, a Cabernet Franc 2017. All the wines in this Vineyard Series are distinctive examples of Journey’s End Vineyard’s unique terroir, and with only a handful of premium, hand-crafted wines grown in excellent soils on sea-facing slopes, caressed by cool coastal breezes, the focus at Journey’s End Vineyards is very much on quality. So very much spoil-yourselves wines (the best kind, we think).
The Journey’s End V Chardonnay 2018 is clear and bright, with expressive fruit .. initially lemon and citrus, but under that, it’s more tropical and pineapple, all seamed through with crushed almond, savoury oak tones. Only 30 barrels were produced, and you’ll find it for around R165 a bottle.
The grapes for Journey’s End V Shiraz 2016 were hand-picked early in the morning, and the ruby red wine is all brambleberries, campfire smoke and dusty savoury spice. Only 17 were barrels produced, and it will age beautifully. It costs approximately R180 a bottle.
Journey’s End V Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 has a core of rich blackcurrants, black plums and is perfect to drink now. Bottles from the 38 barrels produced are around R180 each.
Blackcurrants and raspberries, a hint of violets, with French oak, Journey’s End V Merlot 2016 is an elegant, polished wine, already drinking well. Best drunk until 2026 … this one is our favourite. Only 25 barrels produced, you’ll find it for around R180 a bottle.
Journey’s End V Cabernet Franc 2017 has intense ripe cherry, savoury kalamata olive and wild fynbos characters on the nose rounded up by a sweet cinnamon spice from generous oak maturation. Only three barrels were produced, and you can drink from now until 2025. R180 a bottle. All of these are available (after lockdown) online at shop.journeysend.co.za