2003/07/06

Brainy blends

The Vine - Neil Pendock

TIPPLE: Franz's exhibit A is a wine you've probably never heard of, but of which you'll be hearing a lot more in the future. From the up-and-coming appellation of Wellington, it is called Mont du Toit for obvious reasons, as its owned by Johannesburg advocate Stephan du Toit.

MdT is made by Pieter-Niel Rossouw, with significant input from Bernd Philippi, a German flying winemaker from the Pfalz. In a field as often ridiculed for its flights of hyperbole as winespeak, Franz's description of the '99 vintage is completely OTT. "Very complex but absolutely seamless, this is a beautiful wine and the one bottle that I'd choose to exemplify the premise of this column. Sublime stuff." Or in Brillat-Savarin speak, definitely better than sex.