2015 Botanica Wines Botanica Arboretum Bordeaux Blend Stellenbosch 750 ml

From the Cradle of Value, A Médoc-Style Red

In case you missed every single article published in the last year alone on the utterly explosive scene taking place in South Africa, let today’s missive be your cliff notes. In two parts, we break down why today's 2015 Botanica Arboretum Bordeaux Blend from Stellenbosch by a “best New Wave” producer is an absolute must-buy. A mere 258 cases were produced and we are offering the lion’s share, direct from the winery at $25 per bottle. Highly recommended.   

Part One: Shattering Preconceptions

It is Neal Martin of Vinous who sets us up best: “Every single person whose feet have touched South African soil returns with shattered preconceptions and a desire to return as soon as possible. Maybe it is my job to shatter the preconceptions attached to the wines.”

In a riveting report titled “Some Great Reward: South Africa” published on Vinous, Martin takes some 6,800+ words to shatter preconceptions—making the case that “no country, no wine region has been as dynamic, progressive or indeed, as exciting as South Africa.” He doesn’t beat around the bush either, fully acknowledging that for too long, big names have rested on their laurels, and the market has flooded with substandard wines. “But counter to this is a flourishing scene of ‘young Turks’ rewriting or just ignoring rules,” he contends. Ginny Povall, an American-bred, self-taught winemaker from Boston, and producer of today’s “Arboretum” Bordeaux Blend, is among those making waves.

Part Two: The Cradle of Values

In Stephen Tanzer’s report from over a year ago, “A Splendid 2015 Vintage in South Africa—Time To Discover Swartland’s Wines,” he is quick to point out how weak the South African rand is and how it has “punished producers, as all imported wine-related equipment has become significantly more expensive for them in recent years. Labor costs have also risen rapidly.” Add to that abundant crops from 2012-2014, and then drought years for 2015 and 2016 with reduced yields, and it all equates to one thing: “A boon for wine drinkers outside South Africa, and especially for Americans purchasing wine with a strong dollar. There are many, many stunning values from South Africa, and very few exorbitantly priced bottles.”

Time to Hit “Buy,” if you haven’t already. Botanica is situated on South Africa’s Western Cape. Ginny Povall is among those winemakers fully in tune with world-class winemaking, and part of those “young Turks” moving toward terroir-driven wines. Her Bordeaux varieties are rooted up to 750 feet above sea level in granitic and clay soils, which for “Arboretum” translate to the kind of red-berry fruit, earthy character and firm tannins you’d expect of a wine from the Médoc—only it’s from Stellenbosch.  

We leave you with this sentiment from Vinous: “It sounds banal but South Africa is getting very good at making wine. A couple of growers asked whether South Africa has the potential to make a 100-point wine. Of course, that depends upon the criteria of the reviewer...Is it reachable? Most certainly.”