Momento Grenache Gris 2021

Momento is the solo project of winemaker Marelise Niemann, who established the label in 2013 after working at Beaumont Family Wines and gaining experience in California, Burgundy, the Rhône and Portugal. Her work is particularly closely associated with Grenache, following an influential visit to Priorat with Eben Sadie in 2010. The Grenache Gris comes from the only vineyard of this variety in South Africa, in Voor-Paardeberg, where the copper-skinned vines are planted on decomposed granite and clay. Marelise takes a low-intervention approach, using hand harvesting, indigenous yeasts and old French oak to preserve the character of the fruit and site. Momento is now based at Anysbos in Bot River and produces a small range of site-driven Mediterranean varieties.

Made from Grenache Gris, the copper-coloured skins are given seven days of maceration before the grapes are pressed and the wine ferments naturally in older French oak barrels. It then spends around ten months on its gross lees, with full malolactic fermentation, before being bottled unfined. The extended skin contact gives the wine a pale copper hue, added texture and a subtle tannic grip, while Grenache Gris brings ripe citrus, red apple, peach and floral aromatics. The palate is dense but energetic, with punchy acidity, a waxy texture, savoury herbal notes and a dry, saline finish. It sits somewhere between white wine and light orange wine, making it particularly good with spiced seafood, curries, roast pork, charcuterie and aged goat’s cheese.