Simonsig - Mr Borio's Shiraz 2016 - Steeped in History, and A Walk Down Memory Lane.

Sometimes adversity is the beginning of a legacy

During World War 2 the Brittish forces used South Africa as a place to keep those enemies captured in battle on the north African fronts. Many of those captured soldiers were shipped to Durban, before heading by train through Pietermaritzburg, and ending their journey at Zonderwater Prisoner of War Camp on the outskirts of Cullinan, about 43 km from Pretoria, in the then Transvaal. The prison hosted more than 100000 Italian prisoners of war between 1941 and 1947. One such prisoner of war was Alessandro Borio.

Mr Borio's Shiraz

At the end of The War, Borio, like many of his fellow countrymen, stayed in South Africa, and he made his home in the Western Cape. It was through his skills as a master in "cemento" (masonry) and his colourful personality that he met and became good friends with Simonsig's Malan family. He built the first cement wine tanks at Simonsig, which are now the oldest part of the cellar, and still used today in the making of the Simonsig Shiraz named in honour of him; Mr. Borio's Shiraz.

This is a really well-structured Shiraz, and you can almost taste the air and earth in the wine. There is a distinct taste between the same grape varietals, grown in part of the world, and this one is a great example of a South African Stellenbosch Shiraz. The granite of the Simonsberg slopes is there in the far background, not overpowering any other element, but still very noticeable. It sits as a firm foundation of what is a wine of great character.

The wine is full-bodied with blackcurrant and cherries, accompanied with some herb and vanilla, and finished spicy cedar. It has a smooth tannin and a slightly dry finish to it, where you can still find nuances of all the flavours lingering on the palate.

Simonsig is one of my favourite Stellenbosch wine estates, and having visited there many years ago, I cant' help remembering the sights, sounds and smells of the winery with every sip. It is a wine which brings back good memories of a family holiday we would love to do again some day. Perhaps soon we will.

A rather sentimental score of 4 out of 5 is what I score this, because sometimes it not always about the taste, but also about the history, experiences, and memories that go with it.

Cheers!!

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