Who is Elsabe and where does she suddenly come from? I’m sure that’s what you’re thinking. This wine reached our shelves for the first time in November 2013 and this is something definitely worth sharing. Elsabe Lategan (nee Jordaan) is the marketing person for Babylonstoren wines in the Gauteng area on paper, but that’s only half the story. She grew up on a farm in Bonnievale and her family has deep roots in the wine industry of South Africa, so wine is in her blood, so to speak.

In 2011, Elsabe managed to secure a few rows of Shiraz in Devon Valley and started looking after these vines with dedication and devotion. Early mornings, late nights and many sore fingers and tired legs paid off in early 2012 when it was time to harvest. Her good relations with Amani secured a bit of cellar space and good equipment to use. She personally, with a few helping hands, sorted through each bunch to remove any overripe or green grapes to ensure that only the best grapes were used.

Another interesting aspect is the use of different barrels from France and Hungary over a total of 20 months. The wine shows ample red berry flavours with pepper, spicy and creamy chocolate notes. It’s a medium bodied juicy wine with soft tannins which makes it enjoyable now already and, for me, it works really well with oxtail, so maybe put a few bottles away for the winter when one tends to eat heartier meals.