At Paserene, the label created for each bottle is an extension of the quality and attention to detail invested in creating the wine inside. It tells a part of Paserene’s story as well as the winemaker’s, Martin Smith.
Born in the small town of Ashton, Martin is a third-generation winemaker, whose passion was ignited through the influence of his father and grandfather. At the early age of 13, he knew he was going to be a winemaker. His journey has taken him around the globe, with much time spent in Europe and California.
The swift you will find on almost every label was drawn by miniaturist Lorraine Loots, and is a representation of Martin’s adventures abroad, the spreading of his wings, before returning home to create Paserene. You will find the swallow perched on the edge of a child’s set of swings on the Elements range, capturing the fun side of the estate. While the artwork of our Paserene Range reflects the elegance of the wine inside the bottle and tells the story of the particular bottle.
The label of our refined Marathon wine features a delicately drawn swallow, further symbolising Martin’s pursuit of knowledge in both South Africa and California to establish his own style of wine. The intricate art also highlights the warm, agile character of the wine in the bottle.
The 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Marathon 2019 is grown in Tulbagh, vinified in open-top French barrels with careful use of punch-downs. The wine is then aged in French oak (50% new) and is finally bottled and allowed to rest for 6 months before being released. The result is a deep black to red coloured wine, intensely perfumed with black currents, lilac, and crème de cassis. This is supported with hints of pepper and earthy hot rocks, slate, and wet concrete. The ripe tannins allow the palate to be supple and polished, drinking well now with some time to breathe and perfect for cellaring for many years to come.
The Marathon’s artwork is the ideal final flourish for this luxury wine, a perfect tension between fine detail and restraint.
