Scions of Sinai - Nomadis, Cinsault & Pinotage, Stellenbosch, South Africa (2021)

TASTING NOTES

Fresh, very floral with a slight black olive tepanade vibe. On the palate, this wine exudes bright, crunchy red fruits and lovely acidity. This is really heart stopping stuff...forget what you think about South Africa and Pinotage...this is a thrilling, light, floral gem.

Nomadis is a vinious expression of the Lower Helderberg vicinities maritime/mediterenean climate through a lighter styled red wine blend. Capturing this climate and light textured decomposed granite, silica sandy soils with poor fertility seems to provide very expressive aromas and a vibrant palate with light texture. Both vineyards are registered as Old Vines (about 50 years old) and using deep rooted old dry farmed bushvine vineyards like these adds to the depth and complexity, even in this lighter red. 

During and after university he worked as apprentice winemaker, assistant and sales hand with my brother and father at JP Bredell Wines in Lower Helderberg on our farm Helderzicht (from 2009-2012). The family then lost the farm and he got a full time job as the junior winemaker and viticulturist at Radford Dale (2012-2016). During this time Bernhard did two vintages in France, in Beaujolais and the Rhône. But rather than carry on this promising career, he left in 2016 ‘to follow an ongoing itch back to my original roots,’ as Bernhard puts it. ‘Seeing our old farms’ bushvines being uprooted on my way to Radford Dale every morning via Winery Road probably spurred me on to start working with these dry-farmed heritage bushvine vineyards before they were all gone.’

He began Scions of Sinai in 2017, after a stint in Priorat, and to top up his income he worked as a vineyard consultant for two farms and a blending consultant for another winery. In 2018 he travelled back to Priorat to help a friend set up a winery in Gratallops.