Damascene
Franschhoek Semillon
Semillon from Franschhoek, South Africa
Bottle size:
750 ml
Shipping: R99 nationwide
Damascene
DAMASCENE is a partnership between Jean Smit and David Curl, former owner of Château Gaby in Canon-Fronsac, Bordeaux. What began as a conversation around making wine from the Pinot Noir planted on Curl’s Elgin estate swiftly revealed the pair’s shared passion for celebrating unsung pockets of South African terroir. Following the maxim of ‘Less cult, more cultivation’, the founding philosophy of DAMASCENE is simple, yet unyielding: that the journey to great wine can only begin in the vineyard. “DAMASCENE is about seeking out memorable vineyards and sites that truly showcase the incredible diversity of terroir we have here in the Western Cape,” says Smit. “I spend countless days on the road, covering thousands of kilometres, visiting vineyards and farmers in search of special parcels of land.”
Description
A seashell breeze opens the interior life of the old vine Semillon, evolving in the glass, a subtle iridescence of flavour. Layers unfold; the slick of sea becomes salted caramel and just-toasted almonds, complemented with a kaleidoscope of orange citrus, apricot tang and white peach purity, then scented with the spiced perfume of ginger blossom and an undertow of savoury lanolin. The complexity deepens on the chalky palate, a stony freshness running right through, speaking of the Semillon's riverside origins. The mineral acidity races along with the broad, textural presence of the wine, a tug between glycerol density and weightlessness, skating into a waxy orange-toned, lengthy finish.
Food Pairing
Rich fish (salmon, tuna etc), Shellfish, Sweet desserts, Poultry
