Morgan Harris - All Comments

RE: South Africa: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Sean Fry — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 00:46:34 GMT

I am competing this year and look forward to learning as much as possible about these awesome wines and vineyards.

RE: South Africa: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

guildsomm user — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 21:32:17 GMT

Kathy, I had a chance to talk to a couple of top SB producers in Constantia and Durbanville around harvest this year. I asked about the acid (because I loved it), and they replied that I should have been here 10 years ago. They apparently were acid bombs (to take a word from Morgan) then, but are trending towards riper fruit with lower acidity. Now that I think of it, I think I'd like to try one of those now and see how it's held up. Anyone have a ZA library collection laying around?

RE: South Africa: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Hillary D'Argenzio — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 18:18:01 GMT

Great writing and great pictures too, thanks Morgan!

RE: South Africa: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Tom Gannon — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 17:49:27 GMT

A little bit from Robinson on Rosa Kruger

www.jancisrobinson.com/.../rosa-kruger-old-vine-champion

RE: South Africa: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Judy Chang — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 03:47:16 GMT

love your writing!

RE: South Africa: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Kathy Merchant — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 16:20:55 GMT

This was an excellent piece Morgan. I visited South Africa last October, and went to many of the same places as you plus a few others. The only comment I would make is about the Sauvignon Blancs from Constantia wineries. Although I actually wrote about the similarities to New Zealand wines on my blog Vino Ventures (www.vinoventurescincinnati.com), I feel that the South Africans need to skip some of the developmental history and start now to produce wines that are lower in acidity. Many of the SB wines I tasted went well beyond "zippy" or "bracing." I love acidic wines, but this was too much even for me.

RE: South Africa: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Robert Jones — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 13:49:37 GMT

thanks for the informative read, Morgan.

RE: South Africa: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Hai Tran — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 04:11:51 GMT

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience! I can't wait to have my own South African adventure of self-discovery!

RE: South Africa: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Nino jabbes — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 02:53:59 GMT

excellent

RE: South Africa: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Jessica Norris — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 22:43:05 GMT

REALLY well written. I love your vocab! This makes me want to see it first-hand.

RE: South Africa: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Christopher Lavin — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 18:13:56 GMT

Well done Morgan. As someone who represents many of the producers you mentioned ~ and having just returned from South Africa ~ I really enjoyed your piece. 10 days in South Africa is a short time ~ but you made the most of it. Too bad you did not go visit Duncan (Savage) over at Cape Point ~ especially to see the distinct differences in Sauvignon Blanc from Constantia and Cape Point.

A few notes on Pinotage: about 6500 hectares planted (8th most); color is derived from an abundance of acylated anthocyanins (robust, stable and easily polymerized color compounds) in the skin. (for those wondering - the main anthocyanin in Pinot Noir is called Malvin-3-Omonoglucoside, and is a non-acylated anthocyanin, which means it is an easily damaged type of color compound (especially by oxygen) - which is the main reason P/Noir often has allow color intensity). Pinotage reactes negatively to high-yield ~ and therefore difficult to find good Pinotage that is cheap.

Leaf roll ~ is the most widespread grapevine virus (in the world) ~ it is seen in many vineyards in South Africa. It is carried and spread by mealy bugs. Infected vines showing curled or rolled down leaf margins and purplish-red coloration between the leaf veins (at least in red varieties). In white varieties the infection is far less visible, with leaves prematurely turning yellow, with the main veins remaining green. This can often be confused with lime-induced chlorosis. In general, leaf roll will reduce photosynthesis, and therefore reducing sugar ripening and berry sugar content by up to 30%.

Tim Atkin (MW) - "South Africa is currently the most exciting New World wine-producing nation on the planet thanks to a combination of old vines, new regions and winemaking talent much of it outrageously young talent." Tim's South Africa Report last year was outstanding.

Here are a few links that I use to demonstrate the awesomeness of South African wines:

Eben Sadie - www.youtube.com/watch

Adi Badenhorst - www.youtube.com/watch

Jamie Goode's interview w/Chris Alheit - www.youtube.com/watch

- www.youtube.com/watch

Neal Martin's interview with Duncan Savage (subscription) www.erobertparker.com/.../nm2007.asp

My top wines from my recent trip:

Alheit Cartology 2011, 2012, 2013 with a nod to 2012 ~ Bush Vines Chenin blended w/Semillon - I was SUPER IMPRESSED!!

Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2008

Mullineux White 2012 & the Straw Wine 2012

Vriesenhof Kallista To Kalon Kai Aghathon 2005

Shannon Mt Bulley 2010 (Elgin)

Crystallum Chardonnay 2012

Stark Conde "Three Pines" Cabernet 2011

w/bias (as I work for Broadbent):

Sadie Family (basically everything):

- highlights ~ Skerpioen 2013; Mev Kirsten 2013 (reminds me of Stephane Tissot's wines from the Jura)

AA Badenhorst ~ Raigraas Grenache and Funky White

Cape Point Isliedh 2012 & 2013

Savage White 2012 and Red 2011

DeWetshof Bon Vallon (we did a vertical tasting of all their Chardonnay's - Bataleur is pretty tasty too)

Warwick Cabernet Franc 2010

Beaumont Hope Marguerite 2011 and his Mouvedre 2011 ~ got to love the Bot River

RE: South Africa: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Maximilian Kast — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 13:42:56 GMT

Great piece Morgan. Very informative and entertaining to read. You made a lot of great points about wine in general above and beyond South Africa. Thank you for this.

RE: South Africa: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Linda Adams — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 22:28:05 GMT

This is awesome Morgan! Just been reading about SA and your story paints an amazing picture of each individual region. Thank you for sharing this story.

RE: South Africa: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

LGS — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 22:14:32 GMT

Very well written & informative. Thank you for sharing your experience!

RE: South Africa: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Stacey Gibson — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 20:01:43 GMT

Awesome! Been looking forward to this, Morgan.