KWV Imoya VSOP Cape Brandy

KWV Imoya VSOP Cape Brandy

Brandy: Cape Brandy
From: Paarl
House: KWV
Style: Single distillery, single vintage
Colour: Amber
ABV: 40%

N: red grapes, nutmeg, leather, tobacco leaf, honey, raisins.

M: Heavy body, syrupy, cool, round.

T: Sweet. Raisins, molasses, tobacco leaf, honey, black tea, brown paper, hints of fresh baked bread.

F: Medium. Molasses, fresh baked bread, honey, hints of black tea

Comments:

So it stands to reason you make brandy in South Africa, after all they grow grapes, they make wine. How hard is it to distill the wine? Well, quite hard, if you listen to French brandy makers. Cognac and armagnac are made from poor-quality wine, that is, wine that you wouldn't drink, but that you can concentrate and age. Nevertheless, I've found brandy from wine-makers to be rather excellent, from Penfolds in Australia to the sherry brandy by the sherry bodega Romate. This one, Imoya from KWV, made from distillates of up to 20 years old, is another one on that list.

Firstly, it's heavy and round for a brandy, with prominent legs. It's sweet, but there's an alluring undertone of other things that aren't so sweet - leather, tobacco, and even molasses - and this adds complexity. There's spice as well, and a cereally note on the tongue. It all fades to a bitter sweet finish.

So Cape Brandy from South Africa goes on the list of things to try more of. I must say that list is getting rather long, must make a dent in that before I go to try tequila...

Verdict:

I like this a lot.