Exclusive to The Wine Society

Sleeping Beauty

Technical Information:

Producer:	Glen Carlou
The Wine:	Semillon
Vintage:	2021
Wine of Origin:	Groenekloof Darling
Alcohol:	14%
Bottles:	1,560 bottles
Released:	February 2022

The title refers to Semillon’s tendency towards being somewhat fat, awkward and slovenly in its youth.  It was once described by Jancis Robinson as resembling an ‘overweight schoolgirl’, only to be transformed by patient slumber into a thing of real beauty.

Since 2017, Rick has managed to tap into a rich vein of experimental wines being produced by the talented Johnnie Calitz at Glen Carlou; clearly his new benefactor/proprietor understands the need for Johnnie to challenge himself in the pursuit of excellence. But not all these vinous adventures can find a home, and this is where our Cape Crusader can exploit such limited parcels of wine.

Bottled in September 2021, just six months after the harvest, this Semillon is true to form. Whilst immediately accessible, the wine may well disappear into sulking adolescence from where it should blossom on maturity. Rick suggests giving this limited parcel a few years to show its true colours.

It seemed appropriate to adorn the label with an eponymously named painting by the French artist, Victor Gabriel Gilbert (1847-1933).