Secateurs Red 2022 - AA Badenhorst

An absolute classic blend from South Africa, and a steal for the quality if you're looking for lush, sultry fruit punctuated by a wee peppery punch. It's important to remember the other parts of the world like South Africa where well-known grapes like Syrah and Grenache have taken root and flourished, and this little beauty from a well-established producer is a good way to jog the memory and the tastebuds.

Cinsault, Grenache, Shiraz (aka Syrah). These are all classic grape varieties in southern France, especially around the Rhone Valley. Ah, the diaspora of the wine grape! Yes, South Africa has also been home to these “French” varieties for over 100 years. In fact, Cinsault, which plays a major role in this particular blend, used to be used in almost any red wine making in South Africa back in the old days. (Back then they called it “Hermitake.”)

AA Badenhorst Family Wines are grown, made and matured on Kalmoesfontein farm in the Swartland appellation of South Africa. The 28ha of old bushvines grow in the Siebritskloof part of the Paardeberg mountain. The property is owned by the baie dynamic and good looking cousins Hein and Adi Badenhorst. They are originally from Constantia. Their grandfather was the farm manager of Groot Constantia for 46 years. Their fathers were born there and farmed together in Constantia, during the days when people still ate fresh vegetables and Hanepoot grapes, drank Cinsault and there were a lot less traffic lights and hippies still had a presence. Together these two have restored a neglected cellar on the farm that was last used in the 1930s to make natural wines in the traditional manner. Andre Adriaan Badenhorst grew up between the vineyards of Constantia and spent his time picking (stealing) grapes. 'It all started when Jean Daneel, then winemaker at Buitenverwachting, let me make my first wine when I was thirteen',Adi recalls. After completing his studies at Elsenburg, Adi worked a few harvests at Chateau Angelus,Alain Graillot in the north Rhone,Wither Hills in New Zealand and did stints at local cellars at Simonsig, Steenberg, Groote Post and nine years as winemaker at the esteemed Stellenbosch estate, Rustenberg. In 2008 he packed it all in and bought a 60-hectare piece of land in the Paardeberg with his cousin Hein. They now proudly farm together, practice biological farming and make natural wines in the traditional manner.