Winemaker at Fable Mountain Vineyards in the Swartland, and before that assistant winemaker at Mullineux & Leeu, Tremayne Smith makes his own truly interesting and smashingly delicious wines under his own label, The Blacksmith.
With wines as unique as the labels (think white skulls on black backgrounds, metallic sheens and graffiti-like fonts) they certainly are eye-catching. To Tremayne’s merit, the juice that’s inside lives up to the expectation: creative, soft yet full, well structured and fruit forward. From grapes sourced in more remote areas of the Coastal Region in South Africa, with a focus on Rhône varietals, his wines are made with minimal intervention in the cellar – no added sulphur, natural yeast, and bottled unfiltered. The “Vin Noir” is a blend of mostly Carignan with Cinsault and Grenache; pick up soft floral notes on the nose next to bright red berry flavours, fresh acidity and soily, savoury tannins.
Tremayne mostly exports his Blacksmith bottles, so the time is now to try get your hands on a few. Delicious when served slightly chilled, all year round — chilled juicy reds in summer are the new Sauvignon blanc, after all.
Shop The Blacksmith at winecellar.co.za.
