South African professional golfer Louis Oosthuizen’s range of 8 wines (4 red, 2 rosés, 2 whites) are bottled under the Louis57 brand (named after a memorable round of 57 at Mossel Bay Golf Course in 2002). What started out as a hobby for Louis in 2009, when he was just 26 years-old, has blossomed into internationally available wines with a gin and a brandy as a backup. While other professional golfers choose to match robust wines with eye-catching logos, the Louis57 range is subtle in both flavour and label design – in fact it’s hard to distinguish that it is the wine of an Open Championship winner from the bottle alone. So don’t expect traditional full-flavoured South African wines but ones in a lighter, softer style.
Although this is a 2016 vintage there is sign of its aging potential from the clear edge to the wine’s colour when seen through an angled wine glass. It may be a Syrah but the flavour is light and fruity with a spicy nutmeg and leather finish. Plum, blackcurrant, black cherry and milky coffee – this is a modern style South African wine.
