Duncan Savage

Savage Grace

Soluna Vineyard Grüner Veltliner 2021

Revisiting the vintage — a month ago

Doug, Ted and 3 others liked this

Savage Grace

Boushey Vineyard Côt 2018

Dark red, inky, high pigment extraction. Menthol and dark fruit aromas. Boysenberry and white pepper flavors, as advertised on the label. Slightly tart, almost lactic finish with some hint of spice. Relatively light on tannins which is in line with the Côt style of Malbecs-drinkability with a lighter and not robust touch. Yummy. After two hours, moderate skin astringency emerges, which explains all that pigment extraction. — 5 months ago

Daniel P. liked this

Duncan Savage

Savage Syrah

Over my birthday at the beginning of July I had Covid, by far the worst consequence of which was losing my senses of smell and taste. I’ve heard some horror stories from people in the wine trade experiencing this and not fully recovering, which for the past two years has terrified me (I had avoided Covid until now). I’ve had Chablis and Bordeaux (in a restaurant) in the past week, both of which didn’t smell of much and had oddly metallic tastes. Other things I love - such as coffee - have started to taste and smell better in the past week, so I was anxious whether my enjoyment of wine might have been restored. I also felt that only at home, in a controlled and familiar environment, would I be able to fully attest one way or the other.

I’d been wanting to try Duncan Savage’s flagship red since buying a case of the 2018 over a year ago, a 100% Stellenbosch Syrah from one of the Cape’s most exciting winemakers that received glowing reviews from prominent South Africa critics Tim Atkin and Greg Sherwood. A quick note: no, after more than a fortnight, my sense of smell is still pretty poor, but this wine was v enjoyable nevertheless!

From the nose, I was still able to appreciate subtle aromas of fresh blueberry, lavender, bacon fat, ground pepper and warm earth; really textbook Syrah, an utterly intoxicating smell that whets one’s appetite for grilled meat.

The palate is complex, with saturated cranberry & blueberry, dense with high acidity at this youthful stage, and plucky but very fine tannins, and a lasting finish.

What this wine must really taste like, when one’s senses are firing at 100%, I can only imagine! Really, really impressive stuff. I’m delighted I have a case and can’t wait to try it again - maybe in a few weeks’ time 😅🤞 94+
— 2 years ago

Severn, Bob and 1 other liked this
Severn Goodwin

Severn Goodwin Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Belated happy birthday and welcome back to aroma and taste.
Will Stanley

Will Stanley Influencer Badge

Many thanks @Severn Goodwin - appreciate that!
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

Thanks for that detailed account of your experiences with Covid and the enjoyment of wine. I hope you have fully recovered.

Savage Grace

Copeland Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2019

Purple red, very good clarity, medium pigment extraction. Cherry, raspberry aromas with some barrel wood. On initial pour, cola, black pepper and sour plum. Soft mouthfeel but slightly bitter finish. Needs time to open. After two hours, flavors resolve into tart plum and some cola with slight pomegranate finish, mild skin astringency, good balance, almost no bitterness. A different take from previous vintages but solid rendition of the variety. — 2 months ago

Ted, Ira and 2 others liked this

Château d'Oupia

Les Hérétiques Pays d'Hérault Carignane Syrah 2021

Savage! Lots of fruit even on day 3. Sheesh — 10 months ago

Savage Grace

Underwood Mountain Vineyards Grüner Veltliner 2019

High acid and pear, a little spicy (cilantro?) and slightly effervescent — 2 years ago

Savage Wines

Syrah The Girl Next Door

Great wine in great company @ Gymkhana London — 4 months ago

Savage Wines

Shiraz Blend 2019

Tim L
9.1

Haven’t enjoyed the many joys of South African blends nor Cinsault grape joys at all… but joy of discovery of fine wine is still very real...joyful. Great balance, palate rich dark fruit satisfying distinguished no excesses to distract…this wine earns a true yada yada yada embellishment award. Net commentary: Drink with resolution. — 9 months ago

Harry liked this

Savage Grace

Two Blondes Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2017

I Nell
9.2

Highly delicious, pyrazines, just enough acid — 2 years ago

Tree liked this

Savage Grace

Oak Ridge Vineyard Gewürztraminer 2018

Revisiting vintage — 2 years ago

Trixie, Hermes and 3 others liked this