Family-owned and managed boutique winery, Mitre’s Edge, is nestled at the foothills of the Simonsberg Mountain, between Paarl and Stellenbosch. It is in this beautiful setting that winemaker Lola Nicholls, assisted by husband Bernard, focuses on producing relatively smaller quantities of high-quality, award-winning wines.
The sophisticated Sholto
Grape Varieties:
49% Cab. Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot
Wine Making Method and Maturation:
Open vat primary fermentation followed by malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Barrel matured in 225l barrels for 12 - 14 months.
Wine Tasting Notes:
On colour
Mitre's Edge Sholto 2018 can be described, in WSET Level 3 terms, as deep ruby with a dense core, reflecting a concentrated, ripe red from a warm South African vintage. The rim would likely just be starting to show the first hints of garnet, suggesting some early development while still clearly youthful overall. The wine would present as clear and bright in the glass, with slow, stained legs indicating elevated alcohol and good extract consistent with a full-bodied style.
On the nose
On the nose, expect a pronounced and complex profile built around ripe black fruit such as blackcurrant, blackberry and black plum, supported by red cherry and perhaps a touch of mulberry. Oak influence would reasonably show as notes of cedar, sweet spice, vanilla and a hint of smoke or toast, integrated with subtle savoury tones like tobacco or leather as the wine begins to evolve. A gentle herbal or leafy lift and some dried floral or spice complexity would add finesse and indicate a wine made with careful selection and maturation.
On the palate
On the palate, this wine would be dry, with full body and firmly structured yet ripe tannins giving a confident, grippy frame around the concentrated fruit. Flavours should echo the nose, with layered blackcurrant, plum and cherry alongside cedar, baking spice, chocolate or mocha notes from oak, all supported by medium to medium-plus acidity that keeps the palate fresh. The finish would be long, carrying dark fruit, spice and a touch of savoury complexity, suggesting that the 2018 still has further capacity to develop in bottle while already drinking well with rich red meat dishes.
On the whole
A structured, full-bodied and dark-fruited South African red with integrated oak and savoury complexity, offering both immediate pleasure and further ageing potential.
| Alcohol | 13.50% |
|---|---|
| Residual sugar | 2.1g/L |
| Acidity | 5.5g/L |
| Ph Level | 3.56 |
| Region | Paarl |
| Producer | Mitre’s Edge |
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Meet the Winemaker: Lola
As a winemaker, Lola trained in Burgundy but fell in love with making Bordeaux style wines while working as a winemaker in South Africa before taking over her father’s farm in 1999 and starting Mitre’s Edge.
It was with the aim of specialising in Bordeaux style wines that led Lola to the replanting of the old Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards with newer clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Shiraz was also planted, and to complement their wine list with white wines, some Chenin Blanc and Viognier vines were also planted. Given that her land is predominantly Oakleaf and Clovelly soil types, it is ideally suited for the production of red wines.
She has been producing small batches of award-wining wines since then.
Another award-winning wine from Mitre's Edge
Grape Varieties:
50% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec and 8 % Merlot
Wine Making Method and Maturation:
Open vat primary fermentation followed by malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Barrel matured in 225l barrels for 12 - 14 months.
Wine Tasting Notes:
On colour
Mitre's Edge The Mitre 2019 presents a deep ruby to garnet colour with an opaque core, reflecting its Bordeaux-style blend and the warm Simonsberg-Paarl origin. The rim shows a slight purple tinge, indicating a youthful wine with some development but still firmly in its primary phase. The viscosity appears high, with slow, coloured legs suggesting elevated alcohol and good dry extract typical of a concentrated premium red blend.
On the nose
On the nose, the wine is pronounced and complex, offering ripe blackcurrant, blackberry and dark plum layered with distinctive green pepper and liquorice notes. These primary aromas are supported by secondary tones of cedar, sweet spice and a hint of vanilla from barrel ageing, along with subtle tobacco and graphite that add a more savoury dimension. A touch of dried herbs and leafy Cabernet character lifts the bouquet and contributes to an overall refined, Bordeaux-inspired profile.
On the palate
On the palate, this is a dry, full-bodied wine with bold structure and a firm yet polished tannic backbone that frames the dark fruit core. Flavours echo the nose, with concentrated cassis, black plum and blackberry intertwined with green pepper, liquorice, cedar and spice, all supported by fresh acidity that keeps the richness in check and prevents heaviness. The finish is long and layered, showing persistent dark fruit, savoury oak nuances and a subtle herbal edge that suggests good ageing potential and makes it a strong partner for robust red meat dishes.
On the whole
A bold, structured and complex Bordeaux-style blend with dark fruit, spice and leafy elegance, offering both immediate pleasure and promising mid-term ageing.
| Alcohol | 14.50% |
|---|---|
| Residual sugar | 2.6g/L |
| Acidity | 5.5g/L |
| Ph Level | 3.79 |
| Region | Paarl |
| Producer | Mitre’s Edge |
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