I love following the journey of winemakers, where each release offers a new chapter in their evolving story. With every vintage, you can sense their growth, both in understanding themselves and in their relationship with the vineyards and the wines they create. This is especially true with Trizanne. As David Clark noted, her latest releases are the most ‘Trizanne’ yet. Her unique signature is deeply imprinted on these wines, reflecting her growing confidence and artistry as a winemaker. These new releases are undoubtedly her best work to date, a true manifestation of her personal and professional evolution. The wines exude the remarkable woman and winemaker she has become.
Trizanne has a deep connection with the Cape South Coast, drawn to its water, coastline, and the maritime-influenced vineyards. All the wines in her 2023 collection are sourced from vineyards across this region, reflecting her affinity for the area. Trizanne has mentioned that it took years to find her true focus, but now she has. Her love for the ocean and winemaking has come together beautifully in these wines. She described 2023 as an exceptional vintage, particularly for whites. The mild flowering season, free from heavy rains or strong winds, resulted in excellent yields. Severe rains were forecasted before the reds were ready for harvest, and recalling a similar situation in 2021 where she waited too long, she knew this time she couldn’t afford to wait. The result is reds with lower alcohol and tannins, more perfumed and elegant—a style she naturally gravitates towards.
ELIM BLANC FUMÉ 2023
This is the first year Trizanne has bottled this block on its own, marking her debut release of a Blanc Fumé. The 2023 harvest was particularly special, prompting her to separate the Sauvignon Blanc from the Semillon. The fruit exhibited more tropical notes than usual, a distinctive expression of Elim Sauvignon Blanc that she knew might never be replicated. Some vintages speak to a winemaker, and this was one of those rare moments. The wine offers aromas of fresh blackcurrant leaf, oyster shell, and a signature thread of salinity. It is a finely detailed wine, where the fruit and acidity dance together in perfect harmony.
SONDAGSKLOOF SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023
This wine has become something of a calling card for Trizanne. Initially created to tap into the orange wine trend, it has since evolved far beyond that, gaining a cult following both in South Africa and beyond. It’s also one of the few Sauvignon Blancs I truly enjoy—a rarity in itself!
Made in an oxidative style, similar to the process used for red wines, this wine undergoes significant skin contact, extracting ample tannins that require integration with oak tannin. Despite the robust winemaking approach, the terroir shines through, resulting in a highly aromatic and expressive wine.
This wine leaps from the glass with an intensity that remains balanced and composed. The mouthwatering acidity and low pH harmonise beautifully, creating a wine with weight and texture without excessive grip. The oak is seamlessly integrated, allowing notes of blackcurrant, the signature salinity, aromatic spices, and fresh elderflower to shine through.
BENEDE-DUIVENSHOKRIVIER CHARDONNAY 2023
The grapes were sourced from the exceptional ward of Lower Duivenshokriver, nestled between Riversdale, Vermaaklikheid, and Heidelberg.
This cool-climate Chardonnay boasts a remarkable steely minerality. The winemaking approach was kept deliberately simple to showcase the health and quality of the grapes, with no malolactic fermentation, preserving the wine’s beautiful natural acidity.
Chardonnay is a true reflection of its terroir, and this wine exquisitely captures the essence of the region’s soil and climate. It offers subtle notes of nougat and a hint of savoriness, with great length, purity, and expression. This is a delicate and elegant wine, filled with citrus fruits, chalky minerality, white pear, and orchard-fresh green apples.
HEMEL-EN-AARDE RIDGE / OVERBERG PINOT NOIR 2023
The blend of these two vineyards comes together in perfect harmony. The Pinot Noir from Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge contributes beautiful fruit, while the Overberg component adds depth with an earthy undertone.
Pinot Noir represents a new chapter for Trizanne, but despite its reputation as the ‘heartbreak grape,’ she embraced the challenge—and what a success it has been. This Pinot Noir is delicate and refined, offering notes of berry compote, wild strawberries, and fresh cinnamon coils, all rounded out by gentle earthy tannins. It’s sumptuous in its elegance and absolutely delicious.
ELIM SYRAH 2023
This wine has always been my favorite in Trizanne’s lineup, though she makes choosing a favorite a wonderfully difficult task.
Minimal intervention throughout the winemaking process has yielded a stunning cool-climate Syrah. It’s an uplifting wine that dances on your palate, with glossy fruit notes beautifully interwoven with perfumed spice.
The marine influence is evident in its savory aromas and umami salinity. The wine boasts fine yet persistent tannins, with subtle hints of cola essence, black olive tapenade, and coriander seeds adding to its complexity. The result is a medium-bodied wine with velvety tannins and a delicate yet layered profile.
HEMEL-EN-AARDE RIDGE BARBERA 2023
Every family has a black sheep, and for Trizanne’s portfolio, that role belongs to the Barbara. With robust tannins, striking acidity, and intense dark fruit, this wine commands attention from the first sip. It’s a bold statement of Trizanne’s growing confidence as a winemaker, daring to craft a wine that’s famously unconventional. The Barbara is dynamic and thrilling, with notes of blackcurrant cordial, red apple, and ripe plum. It’s a wine that doesn’t just stand out—it demands to be noticed.
What an incredible tasting and another outstanding release from Trizanne! These wines make me immensely proud to be part of the South African wine industry, reaffirming my self-proclaimed status as an ambassador for South African wine.
