"Our philosophy remains minimal intervention during the winemaking process and the wines are a celebration of the hard work done in the vineyard. For us it is intuitive winegrowing, an evolution through experimentation on small pockets of land selected in the Swartland Appellation."
— Jurgen Gouws
INTELLEGO WINES
2022 Release
The new Intellego wines from Jurgen Gouws are available.
Intellego Wines owner and winemaker, Jurgen Gouws, is originally from the Eastern Cape but now calls the Swartland home. He has worked with some of that area’s most celebrated names (Eben Sadie, Tom Lubbe, Craig Hawkins). Jurgen’s cartoonishly idiosyncratic labels are one of his hallmarks.
Jurgen favours a natural approach – think organic farming and minimal intervention (no yeast, acid, enzymes or fining; limited sulphur and filtration) in the cellar. He currently makes the wines at Annex Kloof on the Paardeberg.
In our opinion Jurgen is one of South Africa’s leading orange wine (skin-fermented white wines) producers. Both the Elementis and Sleeping Co-Pilot showing the deftness of touch that the style requires. Jurgen employs slightly different techniques for both of these wines in the winery.
In the vineyards
Planted in 2002 & 1999.
Farming: dry farm bush vines.
Exposition: east and southwest facing slopes.
In the cellar
40% of the Chenin Blanc fermented on the skins for 7 days destemmed. Pressed and aged in combination of old 228L French oak barrels and Foudre for 10 months. The Chardonnay fermented and aged in old 228L French oak barrels for 10 months.
Christian Eedes: Lemon, naartjie, orange, spice and some leesy funkiness on the nose while the palate is lean with snappy acidity and a saline finish. 90pt.
In the vineyards
Age: Planted in 2002
Farming: dry farmed bush vines
Exposition: east, northeast facing slope
In the cellar
Direct press into neutral 500L French oak barrels. Aged on the gross lees for 11 months before bottling.
Christian Eedes: Expressive aromatics of hay, peach and yellow apple while the palate displays good depth of fruit and tangy acidity before a savoury finish. Tight but not severe. 93pt.
In the vineyards
Age: Planted in 1988.
Farming: dry farmed bush vines.
Exposition: East facing slope
In the cellar
Fermented on the skins for 14 days, destemmed. Aged in old 500L French oak barrels for 10 months.
Christian Eedes: Wonderfully fragrant on the nose with notes of jasmine, potpourri, dried herbs, naartjie, orange, ginger and other spice. The palate is lean and taut with a pithy finish. It’s not, however, too thin with the wine having a nice suppleness to it. 94pt.
In the vineyards
Age: Planted in 2004.
Farming: dry farmed, trellised.
Exposition: Northeast facing slope.
In the cellar
Whole bunch fermented on the skins for 14 days. Aged in old 500L French oak barrels for 10 months.
Christian Eedes: The palate has dense fruit, bright acidity and tannins that are firm to the point of astringent, the finish intensely savoury. Not short of character but rather rustic.
In the vineyards
Age: Planted early 2000s.
Farming: dry farmed bush vines
Exposition: East and north facing slopes
In the cellar
The Cinsaut fermented for 4 days on the skins – whole bunch. The Syrah and Mourvedre direct press and aged in barrel for 5 months. The wine was blended after 5 months and another 5 weeks in stainless steel before being bottled.
Christian Eedes: Almost luminous pink in colour. Engaging aromatics of cherry, watermelon, candyfloss, blood orange and herbs while the palate is juicy and fresh with a gently savoury finish. As smashable (yes, that word) as ever. 90pt.
In the vineyards
Age: Planted early 2000s.
Farming: dry farmed bush vines.
Exposition: Southwest facing slope.
In the cellar
Whole bunch fermented under semi carbonic conditions for 7 days. Aged in old French oak barrels for 5 months and another 6 weeks in stainless steel before bottling.
Christian Eedes: Pretty aromatics of cranberry, cherry, musk, blood orange, herbs and spice while the palate has pure fruit, zippy acidity and a finish that’s almost bitter in its savouriness. Extraordinarily perky and flavourful. 93pt.
Intellego 'Kedungu' 2021
Mourvedre 60%
Cinsaut 25%
Syrah 8%
Pinotage 7%
W.O Swartland (Paardeberg, Riebeek & Abbotsdale)
Soil: Combination of Shale, Granite and Quartz
Alcohol Vol: 11.5%
In the vineyards
Age: planted between 1988 & 2009.
Farming: dry farmed bush vines.
Exposition: mostly southeast facing slopes.
In the cellar
Whole bunch fermented under semi carbonic conditions for 8 days. Aged in old 228L & 500L French oak barrels for 10 months.
Christian Eedes: Some reduction before red and black berries, olive, fennel, pepper and a slightly wild, raw meat note. The palate is again light and juicy with bright acidity and unobtrusive tannins. 91pt.
In the vineyards
Age: planted in 2002
Farming: dry farmed bush vines
Exposition: west and southwest facing slopes
In the cellar
Fermented under semi carbonic conditions for 10 days on the stems. Aged in old 500L French Oak barrels for 10 months.
Christian Eedes: Red and black berries, cured meat, olive brine, fynbos and white pepper on the nose. The palate shows excellent fruit density, bright acidity and powdery tannins before a finish that is long and dry to the point of saline. Well balanced with no shortage of structure despite an alcohol of just 12%. Possessing plenty of verve, an absolute pleasure to drink. 96pt.
Intellego Wines | 2022 Release
"Our philosophy remains minimal intervention during the winemaking process and the wines are a celebration of the hard work done in the vineyard. For us it is intuitive winegrowing, an evolution through experimentation on small pockets of land selected in the Swartland Appellation."
— Jurgen Gouws
INTELLEGO WINES
2022 Release
The new Intellego wines from Jurgen Gouws are available.
Intellego Wines owner and winemaker, Jurgen Gouws, is originally from the Eastern Cape but now calls the Swartland home. He has worked with some of that area’s most celebrated names (Eben Sadie, Tom Lubbe, Craig Hawkins). Jurgen’s cartoonishly idiosyncratic labels are one of his hallmarks.
Jurgen favours a natural approach – think organic farming and minimal intervention (no yeast, acid, enzymes or fining; limited sulphur and filtration) in the cellar. He currently makes the wines at Annex Kloof on the Paardeberg.
In our opinion Jurgen is one of South Africa’s leading orange wine (skin-fermented white wines) producers. Both the Elementis and Sleeping Co-Pilot showing the deftness of touch that the style requires. Jurgen employs slightly different techniques for both of these wines in the winery.
The wines
Intellego 'Story of Harry' 2021
Chenin Blanc 78%
Chardonnay 22%
W.O Swartland (Paardeberg)
Soil: Granite
Alcohol Vol: 12%
In the vineyards
Planted in 2002 & 1999.
Farming: dry farm bush vines.
Exposition: east and southwest facing slopes.
In the cellar
40% of the Chenin Blanc fermented on the skins for 7 days destemmed. Pressed and aged in combination of old 228L French oak barrels and Foudre for 10 months. The Chardonnay fermented and aged in old 228L French oak barrels for 10 months.
Christian Eedes: Lemon, naartjie, orange, spice and some leesy funkiness on the nose while the palate is lean with snappy acidity and a saline finish. 90pt.
Intellego Chenin Blanc 2021
Chenin Blanc 100%
W.O Swartland (Paardeberg)
Soil: Granite
Alcohol Vol: 13%
In the vineyards
Age: Planted in 2002
Farming: dry farmed bush vines
Exposition: east, northeast facing slope
In the cellar
Direct press into neutral 500L French oak barrels. Aged on the gross lees for 11 months before bottling.
Christian Eedes: Expressive aromatics of hay, peach and yellow apple while the palate displays good depth of fruit and tangy acidity before a savoury finish. Tight but not severe. 93pt.
Intellego 'Elementis' 2021
Chenin Blanc 100%
W.O Swartland (Abbotsdale)
Soil: Alluvial
Alcohol Vol: 11.5%
In the vineyards
Age: Planted in 1988.
Farming: dry farmed bush vines.
Exposition: East facing slope
In the cellar
Fermented on the skins for 14 days, destemmed. Aged in old 500L French oak barrels for 10 months.
Christian Eedes: Wonderfully fragrant on the nose with notes of jasmine, potpourri, dried herbs, naartjie, orange, ginger and other spice. The palate is lean and taut with a pithy finish. It’s not, however, too thin with the wine having a nice suppleness to it. 94pt.
Intellego 'Sleeping Co-Pilot' 2021
Viognier 100%
W.O Swartland (Kasteelsig)
Soil: Quartz (Glenrosa)
Alcohol Vol: 11%
In the vineyards
Age: Planted in 2004.
Farming: dry farmed, trellised.
Exposition: Northeast facing slope.
In the cellar
Whole bunch fermented on the skins for 14 days. Aged in old 500L French oak barrels for 10 months.
Christian Eedes: The palate has dense fruit, bright acidity and tannins that are firm to the point of astringent, the finish intensely savoury. Not short of character but rather rustic.
Intellego 'Pink Moustache' 2022
Cinsaut 48%
Syrah 35%
Mourvedre 17%
W.O Swartland (Abbotsdale & Paardeberg)
Soil: Alluvial & Granite
Alcohol Vol: 12%
In the vineyards
Age: Planted early 2000s.
Farming: dry farmed bush vines
Exposition: East and north facing slopes
In the cellar
The Cinsaut fermented for 4 days on the skins – whole bunch. The Syrah and Mourvedre direct press and aged in barrel for 5 months. The wine was blended after 5 months and another 5 weeks in stainless steel before being bottled.
Christian Eedes: Almost luminous pink in colour. Engaging aromatics of cherry, watermelon, candyfloss, blood orange and herbs while the palate is juicy and fresh with a gently savoury finish. As smashable (yes, that word) as ever. 90pt.
Intellego 'Halagasha' 2022
Pinotage 100%
W.O Swartland (Paardeberg)
Soil: Granite
Alcohol Vol: 12%
In the vineyards
Age: Planted early 2000s.
Farming: dry farmed bush vines.
Exposition: Southwest facing slope.
In the cellar
Whole bunch fermented under semi carbonic conditions for 7 days. Aged in old French oak barrels for 5 months and another 6 weeks in stainless steel before bottling.
Christian Eedes: Pretty aromatics of cranberry, cherry, musk, blood orange, herbs and spice while the palate has pure fruit, zippy acidity and a finish that’s almost bitter in its savouriness. Extraordinarily perky and flavourful. 93pt.
Intellego 'Kedungu' 2021
Mourvedre 60%
Cinsaut 25%
Syrah 8%
Pinotage 7%
W.O Swartland (Paardeberg, Riebeek & Abbotsdale)
Soil: Combination of Shale, Granite and Quartz
Alcohol Vol: 11.5%
In the vineyards
Age: planted between 1988 & 2009.
Farming: dry farmed bush vines.
Exposition: mostly southeast facing slopes.
In the cellar
Whole bunch fermented under semi carbonic conditions for 8 days. Aged in old 228L & 500L French oak barrels for 10 months.
Christian Eedes: Some reduction before red and black berries, olive, fennel, pepper and a slightly wild, raw meat note. The palate is again light and juicy with bright acidity and unobtrusive tannins. 91pt.
Intellego Syrah 2020
Syrah 100%
W.O Swartland (Paardeberg)
Soil: Granite
Alcohol Vol: 12%
In the vineyards
Age: planted in 2002
Farming: dry farmed bush vines
Exposition: west and southwest facing slopes
In the cellar
Fermented under semi carbonic conditions for 10 days on the stems. Aged in old 500L French Oak barrels for 10 months.
Christian Eedes: Red and black berries, cured meat, olive brine, fynbos and white pepper on the nose. The palate shows excellent fruit density, bright acidity and powdery tannins before a finish that is long and dry to the point of saline. Well balanced with no shortage of structure despite an alcohol of just 12%. Possessing plenty of verve, an absolute pleasure to drink. 96pt.
View Intellego Wines in the shop
Please contact david@exanimo.co.za if you have any queries.