Nederburg-'The Motorcycle Marvel'-Rhone-Blend.png
Nederburg-'The Motorcycle Marvel'-Rhone-Blend.png

Nederburg 'The Motor Cycle Marvel' Rhone Blend | Coastal Region, South Africa

£11.70

The Motorcycle Marvel, a Rhône-style red blend of Carignan, Shiraz, Grenache, with a little Mourvèdre and Cinsault. A wine ready to be enjoyed and probably better young, with the vibrant primary fruit perfume still intact.

Nederburg is one of South Africa’s most admired wine brands, with an award-winning pedigree that stems from a culture of innovation and disciplined attention to detail. The wines are known for their vibrant fruit, refined structure and freshness.

‘The Motorcycle Marvel’ honours legendary German winemaker Günter Brozel, who was cellar-master at Nederburg for 33 years, from 1956 to 1989, and got around on a 250cc BSA motorcycle. He played a leading role in building Nederburg’s reputation as the most awarded winery in South Africa. In 1985, he became the first in South Africa to earn the International Wine & Spirit Competition Winemaker of the Year Award – a true icon in South African winemaking.

The winery is now in the hands of Samuel Viljoen, promoted to Cellar Master in 2021, who has been with Nederburg since 2007, and is supported by an all female team of winemakers.

The Motorcycle Marvel, a Rhône-style red blend of Carignan, Shiraz, Grenache, with a little Mourvèdre and Cinsault. A wine ready to be enjoyed and probably better young, with the vibrant primary fruit perfume still intact.

Nederburg is one of South Africa’s most admired wine brands, with an award-winning pedigree that stems from a culture of innovation and disciplined attention to detail. The wines are known for their vibrant fruit, refined structure and freshness.

‘The Motorcycle Marvel’ honours legendary German winemaker Günter Brozel, who was cellar-master at Nederburg for 33 years, from 1956 to 1989, and got around on a 250cc BSA motorcycle. He played a leading role in building Nederburg’s reputation as the most awarded winery in South Africa. In 1985, he became the first in South Africa to earn the International Wine & Spirit Competition Winemaker of the Year Award – a true icon in South African winemaking.

The winery is now in the hands of Samuel Viljoen, promoted to Cellar Master in 2021, who has been with Nederburg since 2007, and is supported by an all female team of winemakers.

Origin: Coastal Region, South Africa

Grapes: Carignan (46%), Shiraz (23%), Grenache (23%), Mourvèdre (5%), Cinsault (3%)

Tasting Notes: Aromas of wild berry fruits, warm spice and smoke. The palate is vibrant showcasing ripe cherry, plum, and blueberry fruit layered with subtle spice and the oak already nicely integrated. Ample structure and grip to counterbalance the wine’s generous fruit core. The mouthfeel is sleek and supple with just firmness to provide length and impressive staying power.

ABV: 14.0%

Vintage: 2022.

Attributes: Vegan, oaked

Closure: Cork.

Vineyards & Terroir: The Carignan grapes are sourced from old bush vines in Paarl; the Shiraz from Darling; the Grenache from old bush vines in Wellington; the Mourvèdre from Philadelphia and the Cinsault from Stellenbosch. Each block was picked at optimum ripeness and separately vinified to add complexity to the eventual wine.

Winemaking: After hand-sorting at the cellar the grapes are fermented on the skins in stainless-steel and open-top fermenters. Upon extraction of sufficient tannin and colour, the wine is drained from the skins; then racked and matured in 300-litre first- and third-fill French and American oak, for approximately 16 months. After careful barrel selection, the different components are racked from the barrels and blended.

Farming:

Sustainability info:

Ageing potential: drink 2026-29

Food pairing suggestions: Char-grilled sticky Asian-influenced pork ribs, or any dishes with five spice, plum sauce or Hoisin are winners with this wine, as are roasts, casseroles and grilled red meat.

Winery / Winemaker: Zinaschke Steyn

Winery link:

Awards: