Bouchard Finlayson: tasting new releases

A selection of new releases from South African winery Bouchard Finlayson were showcased at a recent tasting at the Milestone Hotel in London, part of the Red Carnation Hotels group.

Master Sommelier and DWWA judge Eric Zwiebel presented the wines, talking guests through the history of the Bouchard Finlayson estate and the tasting profile of each wine.

Vicky Tollman, Director of Red Carnation hotels, was also present at the tasting.

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for eight Bouchard Finlayson wines

Burgundy: a dedication

Founded by Peter Finlayson in 1989, this ambitious winery set out to make top quality wines in South Africa from the start. Travelling to France, Finlayson met with the Bouchard family, with the idea of bringing a little bit of Burgundy to South Africa.

As a result, both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir would become the centerpiece of Bouchard Finlayson’s production. Many of the resulting wines are a nod to the Burgundian style.

The Bouchard Finlayson estate is in Hermanus, with the vineyards of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley stretching out northwards from the coast. The climate here is distinctly cooler than it is towards Cape Town.

Showcasing the Bouchard Finlayson range: the whites

The first wines presented at the tasting were the more entry-level range: the intriguing Blanc de Mer blend 2019 and the Sauvignon Blanc 2019.

The former is a majority Riesling blend, with 20% Viognier, 9% Chardonnay, and 2% Sauvignon Blanc for good measure. To say the blend is unusual is an understatement, but the fresh lemony character has its place as an aperitif.

Whilst Sauvignon Blanc is one of South Africa’s most popular wines, the example from Bouchard Finlayson is understandably less well-known, given the focus on predominantly Burgundian varieties.

The 2020 offers a balance between freshly cut grass, lime zest and a mineral edge. It is less of a tropical fruit bomb than you might expect.

These entry-level wines are presented as the house wines at the hotels within the Red Carnation group. All of the wines are also available at retail in the UK. (See stockist and price details listed within each wine below).

The Chardonnays

Three different Chardonnay cuvées were shown at the tasting. The Sans Barrique 2018, Kaaimansgat 2018 and Missionvale 2018, of which only the latter comes from estate vineyards. The 2018 vintage was dry but the resulting quality of fruit was high.

The standout Chardonnay was the Missionvale, and the price point reflects this, although it still offers good value for money. The majority is fermented in oak, 30% new, with a small proportion of the wine fermented in terracotta amphora. The ripe buttery characters are complemented by nutty, bruised apple notes and a grippy, textural mouthfeel.

A vein of freshness and salinity runs through all three Chardonnays, a result of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley’s maritime climate.

Showcasing the Bouchard Finlayson range: the reds

The Galpin Peak Pinot Noir is Bouchard Finlayson’s flagship wine. The 2019 iteration is smoky and brooding on the nose and open and inviting on the palate, providing instant gratification.

Wildfires caused havoc throughout the Hemel-en-Aarde in January of 2019, just weeks before harvest. Bouchard Finalyson was not badly affected, however there was widespread destruction around other famous estates, such as Hamilton Russell.

If the Galpin Peak Pinot is the flagship, then the Tête de Cuvée Pinot Noir is the crème de la crème of the Bouchard Finlayson range. It is lovingly put together using only the best barrels of Galpin Peak.

It represents a complex marriage of the best new and old wood, and some of the oldest vines on the estate. The 2019 is elegant and seductive, balancing savoury animal characters with sweet violet and cranberry notes. It comes with a hefty price tag, but shows excellent potential to age.

The tasting concluded with the 2018 Hannibal, a surprising blend of Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Mourvedre and Barbera.

It is difficult to know what to expect of such a blend. However, it succeeds in producing a full-bodied, dense style with a different spectrum of aromatics to the Pinots. Spice, liquorice and leather, and more black fruit than red. A coming together of Italian and French cultivars in a distinctly South African climate.

With higher levels of tannin and generous alcohol, Zwiebel suggests venison or wild boar will go well with this wine.

See tasting notes and scores for eight Bouchard Finlayson wines:

Wines are listed in score order by colour

Related content:

Galpin Peak from 2004 to 2017

South Africa’s southernmost wines: Agulhas wine triangle

Hemel-en-Aarde wineries to visit