Vondeling Wines, Babiana 2021, Paarl, Western Cape South Africa

The Babiana’s delicate, pale creamy-yellow tubular flower with sky-blue stamen, which belongs to the Iris family, releases its scent in the evenings to attract a very rare moth, the Syngrapha Circumflexa, for pollination. The name Babiana is derived from the Dutch word baviaantjie which means little baboon as these primates were frequently seen eating the corms of these plants. The wine has a pale-yellow colour with a bright green hue. The nose gives great tension and poise, brimming with roasted almonds, sweet cashews, Turkish delight, lime zest, apricot and orange marmalade, wild honey and pineapple. A fresh, vibrant and textured palate offers weighted density and length. Layers of rolled oats, white pepper, floral jasmine, mint, ginger and creamy lemon meringue are aptly supported by subtle and reserved oak presence.