Wine of the Week 21: Daniel Colombo Muscat d’Alexandrie 2023
When I taste Daniel Colombo’s Muscat d’Alexandrie 2023, I can’t help but be captivated. There’s something enchanting about this wine, crafted from grapes grown on a picturesque West Coast mountain. It’s like rediscovering a long-lost treasure.
As a winemaker, Daniel Colombo has a way of infusing his wines with emotion. Each one is a love letter to his wife, an ode to the connection they share. This particular wine is part of an ongoing collection of tributes, a celebration of their profound love.
A blossoming adventure
My name is Daniel, and I live in Fish Hoek with my young family. We have two small children, and this beautiful place feels like our true home. But there’s more to me than just being a family man. I also have a passion for winemaking.
I went to Stellenbosch University, but I didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to do with my life. It wasn’t until I traveled to Europe and came across a natural wine bar that everything changed. I became fascinated by the concept and delved deep into the world of natural wines. When I returned home, I started working at Leo’s, a bagel shop that transformed into a natural wine bar at night.
Working at Leo’s made me realize that winemaking was my true calling. I wanted to create wines that were a reflection of nature, minimalistic in style, and full of texture. To learn the craft, I spent time at Kaapzicht and Gabriëlskloof, where I honed my skills. I also had the opportunity to work at Matassa in the Roussillon, taking my knowledge and passion to new heights.
A Special Love for Muscat
“There’s something about you,” he declares, referring to the enchanting lines of the wine. “But those words hold a double meaning – they also embody my unwavering fascination with Muscat, a love I strive to capture.”
Daniel is among the rare few winemakers who produce a dry rendition of this esteemed grape variety. Muscat has been grown in South Africa since the 1600s, and during that era, it was primarily used to create sweet wines. In fact, up until the 1990s, Muscat was ranked as the sixth most commonly cultivated grape in the country. However, as palates have shifted towards drier wine styles, vineyards that were once dedicated to sweet wines are rapidly dwindling. As a result, Muscat now accounts for just two percent of all the grapes grown in the nation.”
“It feels like the universe has been guiding me towards Muscat in every possible way. I’ve had the opportunity to work with it abroad, stumbled upon some truly special vineyards, and the wines have exceeded my wildest expectations. Every part of the process has been incredibly positive and compelling. How could I resist taking it further?”
Introducing Muscat d’Alexandrie 2023
This vineyard was planted around 1940 on the renowned Skurfberg farm. These remarkable grapes have been rooted in the steep mountains of the West Coast for close to a century. With great care, I bring these venerable grapes to the bottle. After two weeks of whole bunch maceration, they undergo a slow, gentle press into old barrels.
When you encounter the aromas of this wine, you’re taken on a journey through time. Its scents evoke sensations that are both timeless and familiar: the delicate fragrance of wild white flowers, the essence of alpine fynbos, and the sweet marriage of honey and rainwater. As you take a sip, it’s as if you’re savoring the essence of an ancient, monastic fruit, carved from stone and covered in a layer of moss. There’s an earthy undertone, balanced by the buoyant flavors of white peach and tangy lime-leaf, all wrapped in a refreshing wave of mineral salinity. The wine lingers on your palate, leaving behind a trail of dusty white chalk. It’s not what you would expect from a muscat wine – there’s none of that typical grapey aroma that usually gives it away. Instead, it’s something entirely new, yet somehow ancient at the same time.
If you’d like to learn more about this captivating wine, feel free to get in touch with me. You can reach me at 071 514 8223 or send an email to danielpetercolombo@gmail.com. I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have or provide you with further information. Cheers!
