#294 Highlands Road Sine Cera White Blend 2017

 

VIDEO CHAPTER INDEX:

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00:00 – SOME HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ON SEMILLON
00:52 – THERE’S STILL HOPE FOR SEMILLON
01:30 – SEVEN SOUTH AFRICAN SEMILLONS WORTH HUNTING DOWN
02:12 – AN INTRO TO THE HIGHLANDS ROAD SINE CERA WHITE BLEND 2017
02:43 – INTEL ON HIGHLANDS ROAD WINE ESTATE
04:46 – WHAT DOES ‘SINE CERE’ MEAN?
06:25 – WHAT DOES THE WINE SMELL AND TASTE LIKE?
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Not all that glitters is gold, but gold *does* glitter

Highlands Road is no stranger to awards. In fact, their Sine Cera has oft been derided as a “Christmas Tree” wine for the way in which glinting medal stickers cover the bottle from top to toe. But people who deride bottles for having “too many medals” are bereft of common sense to an even direr degree than those who choose wines based on aesthetic appeal of the labels. All have their place in their glorious diversity that is the human race, but not all are equally useful to the progress of the species. The “pretty label” camp at least bless us with their with heightened sense of aesthetic. But derisive medal maligners mistake merit for malfeasance, and in doing so, serve no one.
Highlands Road greatest achievements have always been their white wines, which include a superb Chardonnay, an exquisite wooded Sauvignon Blanc, and today’s wine; The Sine Cera 2017, which was the winner of the Best Sauv / Semm Blend at the Investec Trophy Wine Show in 2022, as well as being a recipient of a Platter 4.5-star rating.
Of course, if you have yet to sign up for your Monthly HanDrinksSolo Wine Subscription then you’ll have to hunt this wine down in your own time. But until then, I’ve left you some tasting notes and technical specs:

TASTING NOTES

👃🏼 A delightfully moody open nose of oranges, candied lemon peel, hint of lemon grass and some sweeter butter toffee, all swirled in with far moodier elements of tertiary lanolin and leather.
👄 The palate is carries a splendid piercing citric acidity, which is woven through very concentrated lime cordial and lemon curd elements, Savoury macadamia nut towards the finish.

TECHNICAL SPECS

Wine of Origin Elgin. 45% Semillon  / 55% Sauvignon Blanc. 15% was barrel-fermented, and was inocularted with a combination of Anchor’s Alchemy 2 and Vin-7. Wine spent 14 months on lees, and was matured in second-fill oak.
Awards: Platter 4 ½ star, Trophy Wine Show 97 (Gold), Blends Challenge Gold

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