Ashbourne new releases

Ashbourne was founded in 1996 by Anthony Hamilton Russell, the 64-hectare property located on the eastern border of Hamilton Russell Vineyards in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The property is named after Anthony’s great, great grandfather who was Lord Chancellor of Ireland in the late 1800s. Tasting notes and ratings for the new releases as follows:

Ashbourne Sandstone 2022
Price: R325
51% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Semillon and 24% Chardonnay. Fermented and matured for five months in a combination of terracotta amphorae, concrete and ceramic eggs as well as neutral oak. The nose is fragrant but extremely primary at this stage with notes of citrus blossom, fresh herbs, lime and lemon while the palate is light and clean (alcohol is 13.3%) with bracing acidity and a dry finish. Seems rather too unresolved to be on the market already.

CE’s rating: 89/100.

Buy from PORT2PORT

Ashbourne Pinotage 2020
Price: R850
Matured for 10 months in 400-litre barrels of which 40% new before a further 10 months in 2 000-litre foudre. Red and black cherry, fynbos, earth and some reduction on the nose while the palate has a good core of fruit, bright acidity and firm tannins, the finish very dry. Alcohol is just 12.9% and this vintage has a particular austerity about it.

Price: 92/100.

Check out our South African wine ratings database.