Great Review for our Philosophers' Stone from Southern Hemisphere Wine Co.

Always interesting to see where your wines turn up! Here is a review we discovered about our Philosophers' Stone form the Southern Hemisphere Wine Co.

"Here’s another interesting wine that we were able to source out on our South African venture earlier this year. Our reference point was through the 2006 John Platter Wine Guide, where the Philosopher’s Stone was referenced as, “Changing base metals –into gold. Or at least powerful, impressive wine.”

The review sparked our interest and then we took it from there. The 2002 was the maiden vintage so this is just the third wine produced under this label. Situated in undoubtedly one of the world’s most beautiful wine regions, just outside of Stellenbosch high up on the Helshoogte Pass, think visually in terms of Yosemite with vineyards Camberely is a small operation, around 7 hectares, from which around 2000- 2500 cases of wine are produced, all red, in which the Philosopher’s Stone is one of several compositions. The varietal mix seems to change from vintage to vintage, this, the 2004 vintage, contains 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot, respectively.

Offering ripe fruit and serious concentration this is extremely user friendly and should be enjoyed over the next 3-4 years. On the nose there is a slight hint of mint and a subtle leafiness that one associates with the Cabernet family, but no aggressive green characteristics are evident, with dark red berry fruit coming forth, currant, cherry and plum surfacing through.

Although packing 15% alcohol the palate isn’t heavy or jammy, but it has nice warmth to its medium- fuller frame, backed with some ripe, smooth tannins on the finish. Not powerful or gripping this offers lots of sweet forward fruit, fleshy texture and softer, ripe tannins and warmth in the palate that makes this a real crowd pleaser. "