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
It’s ethereal at first, opening with the scent of orange blossoms, then sea breeze and salty peach, moving to deeper tones of dried mango and dulce de leche. The palate is dry, textured, and chalky. As complex as origami, the wine folds and layers within itself, while revealing the purity of white peach on the mid-palate, followed by grapefruit, green pistachio and ginger biscuits. Stony and focused on a long, mineral finish. If you can, drink this wine over three days to see how it evolves.
Food Pairing
Rich fish (salmon, tuna etc), Shellfish, Sweet desserts, Poultry
