The Anysbos Disdit has quickly become ‘a model of excellence for the Cape White Blend category’, says Christian Eedes. Marelise Niemann, Tim Atkin’s ‘Young Winemaker of the Year’, produces some of the most elegant wines in the Cape. I had the privilege to harvest alongside her at Anysbos last year. The Disdit 2022 is one of my favourite releases. This unique wine, characteristic of its stark, wind-swept terroir has developed its own cult following. It is impressive, considering how young this property is.
This is certainly a property to watch!
Owned by Johan and Sue Heyns, Anysbos is situated in Bot River and all of their wines are produced from sustainably farmed vineyards.
A Chenin-based blend with Marsanne, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc from the farm, the 2022 Disdit is bright and characterful with seductive fruit and floral aromatics, wonderful tension, and pinpoint acidity.
Marelise makes some of the finest, most delicate Grenache in the country, and the Grenache-led 2021 Tesame stands out as their best to date. With 45% Syrah and 8% Cinsault blended with the Grenache, this wine shows spicy and floral aromatics that are slow to unfurl and plenty of delineated fruit. Christian agrees that the 2021 is ‘the most complete…vintage of this wine’.
‘There is no doubting Marelise’s expert winemaking skills’ writes Greg Sherwood and these small-batch, limited wines are worth seeking out.
Tasting Notes:
‘69% Chenin Blanc, 13% Roussanne, 12% Marsanne and 6% Grenache Blanc. The nose shows hay, cut apple, peach and apricot plus floral perfume and spice. Dense fruit with tangy acidity and a savoury finish. Round and relatively thick textured although alcohol is just 12.81%. More oxidative than previous vintages.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 94/100
‘47% Grenache, 45% Shiraz and 8% Cinsault. Approximately 20% whole-bunch fermentation. Intricate and subtle aromatics of red currant, raspberry, black cherry, olive, rose, fynbos, and spice. The palate combines understated structure with vitality – fleshy fruit, bright acidity and fine tannins. The most complete and cohesive vintage of this wine to date. Alc: 12.31%.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 93/100
‘Marelise Niemann’s preference for freshness in her reds, especially in cooler vintages like 2021, is gloriously apparent here on this Grenache-dominated blend with 45% Syrah and 8% Cinsault. Bright, perfumed and nicely delineated, it’s all about stoniness and focus, showing redcurrant, pomegranate and goji berry flavours and graceful, savoury tannins. 2024-29.’ – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2023, 93/100
