Hogan Wines: from the Scary Corner

Fantastic wines from Jocelyn Hogan

Jocelyn Hogan-Wilson visited Uncorked at the end of September for a very memorable evening tasting. She presented her wines, recent releases alongside older vintages, and told us the story of her life in wine.

Jocelyn was part of the same intake at Stellenbosch University as Chris and Suzanne Alheit (they shared digs in town). After graduating she started to make a name for herself as a winemaker, resulting in a General Manager position at La Bri in Franschhoek, but in 2008 she stepped back to focus on her family and their Dwarsriviershoek Farm in Banghoek -  'Scary Corner', a high-mountain valley between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. It was not exactly a holiday; besides having children, Jocelyn planted thousands of proteas (a native flowering bush, and a much more valuable crop than grapes!) - but by 2013 she was ready to return to winemaking.

With support from her parents, and the use of the facilities at La Bri, she started her own project in 2014, with just 5 barrels and a single wine, the Swartland Chenin Blanc. Produced from a (now very desirable) old vineyard in a relatively cool corner of the Paardeberg in the Swartland. Other wines followed: Galvanised Chardonnay, centred on a vineyard in Banghoek, but (the vineyard is very exposed to the wind and yields are variable, as in '25) incorporating fruit from the Helderberg in Stellenbosch when necessary. The Cabernet Franc (winner of our 'best red wine at around £30' tasting) is aromatic and lifted, compelling in this excellent vintage; and finally the Divergent is an unusual blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Carignan. Her wines all share a sense of lift and elegance, and offer superb value. /JH

Offered subject to remaining unsold. Wines available immediately.To place an order, click on the wines below or call 020 7638 5998