Beaumont Family Wines were the first winery in South Africa to bottle a single varietal Mourvèdre.
Originally the grape comes from Spain and France where it is mostly used to enhance blends. Mourvédre's dark, thick-skinned berries result in powerful spicy and sometimes gamey aromas in their youth. The old French saying goes as follows: “Mourvèdre needs to be planted with its head in the sun, its feet in cool soil and it must have a view of the sea”. Which is how the wine got the name Far Side. This connects to Sebastian passion for surfing and his favourite local surf break called “the Far Side”.
VINTAGE CONDITIONS | A normal wet cold winter allowed for good rest of the vines. Healthy ripening season produced perfect grapes resulting in fantastic juice.
VINIFICATION | After the grapes were cold soaked for 2 days till natural fermentation started. 30% of the bunches were added as whole bunches. A warm ferment of 28-30 °C was allowed with regular punch downs in an open vat. Six days of fermentation with three weeks post maceration then pressed directly into barrel.
MATURATION | Maturation in French oak for 18 months and 18 months in bottle.
AGEING POTENTIAL | 8 – 10 years.
RATINGS & REVIEWS | I always say that this is a wine for freaks!
It is not everyone’s darling. But we have set a benchmark for
the varietal in South Africa and show how it can consistently
produce interesting wine.
FOOD PAIRING | Spicy roasted red meat or game, grilled pork
or calf’s liver, rich hearty dishes such as paella with chorizo
and hot spices.