Walker Bay
Walker Bay is a stunning wine region located near the southernmost tip of Africa, where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. The region's unique typography and cool maritime climate create ideal growing conditions for a range of grape varietals. The vineyards are situated on slopes that run from the foothills of the mountains to the sea, with the vines benefiting from the cool ocean breezes that help to moderate the temperatures. The region is known for producing world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as a range of other varietals. Some of the leading producers in the Walker Bay wine region include Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Bouchard Finlayson, and Newton Johnson, known for their exceptional wines, beautiful vineyards, and commitment to sustainable and ethical practices. If you're a wine lover looking for something special, we invite you to explore the wines of Walker Bay. From elegant and complex Pinot Noir to crisp and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, there's something for every palate. Discover the world-class wines that make this region so unique and distinctive.
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Walker Bay
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Cape South Coast | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£354.29 |
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Cape South Coast | 1 | 95 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£181.24 |
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Tim Atkin MW (95)You know class when you taste it, and this is certainly that. Deservedly established as one of South Africa's most consistently outstanding Chardonnays, this has the structure and concentration to age, with no malolactic at all, 22% new wood and complex, nuanced, stony flavours of lemon zest, oatmeal and stone fruit – Drinking to 2028 |
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Cape South Coast | 4 | 97 (IWSC) |
Inc. VAT
£222.04 |
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IWSC (97)Very classy wine with nicely judged oak that adds vanilla spice to the tropical fruit and toffee apple flavours. Perfectly poised with crisp acidity and an elegant, long finish. |
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Cape South Coast | 1 | 96 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£123.20 |
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Tim Atkin MW (96)Clay Shales is made with fruit purchased from a vineyard in the central part of the Hemelen-Aarde Ridge. Fermented with native yeasts in older wood, it's a nicely worked style with lots of layers and understated power, mixing flavours of oatmeal, toffee fudge and fresh citrus zing. Structured and intense. |
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Cape South Coast | 4 | 94 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£216.04 |
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Wine Advocate (94)The Hamilton Russell Vineyards 2023 Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Chardonnay is made with pressed whole clusters. The juice is settled overnight and starts a wild ferment (to dryness) in barrel. It matures in oak for 10 months, with minimum stirring of the lees. This vintage saw 30% malolactic fermentation. Secondary fermentation is vintage specific, and some years it doesn't happen at all. This mineral-driven Chardonnay offers a drying signature of crushed oyster shell that folds softly into tropical fruits and pineapple. The mouthfeel is brimming with tension and energy. Acidity and minerality make this a distinctively marine Chardonnay. |
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Cape South Coast | 3 | 91 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£243.89 |
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Vinous (91)The 2019 Pinot Noir is Walker Bay in terms of Wine of Origin rather than Hemel-en-Aarde, since much of their Pinot Noir was rejected after wildfires tainted the fruit. The majority of fruit was sourced from benevolent growers in the valley, and completely destemmed but not crushed, then matured in 24% new French oak. This has an open, quite herbal bouquet of vibrant red and black fruit, underlying _sous-bois_ notes coming through with aeration. The well-balanced palate offers fine-grained tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Open and expressive, with a pinch of black pepper on the cohesive finish. Given the trauma suffered this vintage, this should be considered a success, not least because it still seems to bear the imprimatur of Hamilton Russell. |
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Cape South Coast | 1 | 96 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£219.64 |
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Tim Atkin MW (96)Bouncing back from the fires in 2019 - and then some - this is the best young Pinot Noir release I've tasted from Hamilton Russell. Representing a subtle shift in style towards greater perfume and fruit, this is a detailed, finely judged blend of clones 113, 115 and 667, with svelte tannins, tidy acidity, rose petal top notes and skilfully integrated oak. |
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Cape South Coast | 4 | 93 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£230.44 |
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Wine Advocate (93)This wine comes from a site with iron-rich soils, resulting in structure and savory aromas. Made with Dijon clones (113, 115, 667 and 777), the Hamilton Russell Vineyards 2023 Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Pinot Noir has dark fruit (blackcurrant), grilled rosemary and a ferrous note of rusty nail. Clones with bigger clusters are used because the site tends to produce small bunches naturally. Anywhere from 10% to 15% whole-cluster fruit is used, depending on vintage. The wine undergoes a wild fermentation, and if the winemaking team does inoculate, they use yeast from the property. Cap management has changed over the years from twice daily punch-downs to a gentle approach resembling a tea infusion, with wine poured over the cap. There is a heavier note to this wine that is specific to this site and builds a robust fruit profile. |
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Cape South Coast | 3 | 94 (CE) |
Inc. VAT
£225.64 |
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Christian Eedes (94)Grapes from multiple blocks on the farm, each with a slightly different soil structure but essentially granite based. Limited whole-bunch fermentation. Matured for 11 months in 228-litre barrels, 29% new. Exotic aromatics of red and black berries, orange, earth and a touch of reduction. Impressive depth of fruit, bright acidity and fine-grained, tight-knit tannins. Rich but balanced, this is Pinot at its most seductive. Alc: 14%. |
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Cape South Coast | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£99.85 |
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Cape South Coast | 3 | 96 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£320.44 |
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Tim Atkin MW (96)"I fell in love with Chardonnay through Chablis," says Craig Wessels and you can see that influence here. Reflecting the coolness of the 2021 vintage, this is taut, focused, stony and engagingly mouth-watering, with effortless concentration, notes of brine, lanolin and lemon juice and extra layers of complexity from old barrels and amphoras. |
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Cape South Coast | 3 | 97 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£590.47 |
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Decanter (97)Autodidact winemaker and viticulturist Craig Wessels does things differently – and fastidiously – perhaps because he hasn’t had any formal training. From a small single block, planted in 1999, which is considered to be the oldest Chardonnay in the Hemel-en-Aarde. Specific parcels are whole-bunch picked over three weeks. Pressed in an old Vaslin press, the ‘black’ juice then goes through natural ferment in barrels of mixed sizes as well as amphora. Quickly becoming something of an icon wine, the 2022 is firing on all cylinders – sensational smoky oystershell reduction, lemon leaf, blossom and creamed white pear part to an elegant yet weighted palate, flush with fruit and the house’s signature savoury acidity. |
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Cape South Coast | 2 | 95 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£300.04 |
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Tim Atkin MW (95)Craig Wessels doesn’t always get the praise he deserves for this Pinot Noir, which is often among the best in the Hemel-en-Aarde region. Intense, layered and well structured, it has a hint of good reduction, plum, raspberry and black cherry fruit, vibrant acidity and subtle sweetness from 30% new barrels. One to cellar. |
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Cape South Coast | 3 | 93 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£598.18 |
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Wine Advocate (93)The Restless River 2022 Upper Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Le Luc is all Pinot Noir from granite soils. Fruit comes from younger vines planted in 2013 on a north-facing slope. The wine ages in 228-liter barrels, of which one-third is new oak for 12 months. This mostly hands-off approach results in a delicate wine with tart berry nuances, redcurrant and crushed stone. Some of the salty mineral sensations you find here, which give such nice contouring to the wine, come thanks to those granite soils. It concludes softly with a medium-lean mouthfeel, pretty freshness and brightness. This is a 5,500-bottle release. |
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Cape South Coast | 1 | 91 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£548.69 |
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Vinous (91)The 2016 Main Road & Dignity has a precise nose with blackberry, sous-bois and light iodine scents, becoming more marine-like with aeration. Fine focus here. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, decent grip and plenty of weight on the mid-palate yet more elegant and understated towards the lightly peppered finish. Some nice, Old World classicism on show here. |
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Cape South Coast | 1 | 97 (GS) |
Inc. VAT
£107.60 |
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Greg Sherwood MW (97)This attractive Hemel-en-Aarde Cabernet Sauvignon is fabulously dense and textured with multiple layers of creamy tannins coating the opulent fruit concentration. Full and glycerol in the mouth with refreshing acids, bright creme de cassis, black cherry and earthy baked plum fruit nuances. This vintage shows all the classic 2017 vintage elegance, focus and intensity with impressive mouthfeel and superb balance. You know this is something very special from the very first sip and certainly could be Craig Wessel’s finest Cabernet effort to date. Drink now and over 15+ years. |
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Cape South Coast | 1 | 94 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£108.80 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)Named after the two blocks that supply its raw material, Main Road & Dignity is a very rare example of a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon from the Hemel-en-Aarde region. Picked late in a cool site, it has cassis, bay leaf, fresh herb and damson flavours, grippy tannins, appealing zip and freshness and the concentration to age. |
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Cape South Coast | 2 | 94 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£366.04 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)Named after the two blocks that supply its raw material, Main Road & Dignity is a very rare example of a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon from the Hemel-en-Aarde region. Picked late in a cool site, it has cassis, bay leaf, fresh herb and damson flavours, grippy tannins, appealing zip and freshness and the concentration to age. |
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Cape South Coast | 3 | 94 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£731.38 |
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Wine Advocate (94)Packaged in a heavy glass bottle, the Restless River 2021 Upper Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Main Road & Dignity Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon walks a delicate line as a big wine, but it's a big wine with elegantly contained intensity. You feel the power of its dark fruit and blackberry flavors, but you also get cola, sage and green spice that give the wine chiseled contours. This is a release of 11,261 bottles. These vines were planted in 1998, making them quite old for the territory. The soils are decomposed granite with koffie klip and a shallow clay bed. This was one of the last harvests in South Africa, at six weeks later than average. A cool climate and long hang time add the special freshness you perceive in this bottle. It ages for 23 months in 225-liter barrel, with 30% new wood, followed by three months in stainless steel and 18 months in bottle. |
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Cape South Coast | 3 | 94 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£278.44 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)The Vrede Chardonnay uses grapes from the same site in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley as the Pinot Noir of the same name. Made with the popular CY95 clone, this shows none of the heat of the 2022 vintage, reflecting the subtlety of Hannes Storm's winemaking. Sappy, mineral and refreshing, it combines scented 25% new oak with citrus, oatmeal and pear flavours and a lingering finish. |
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Cape South Coast | 2 | 95+ (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£270.29 |
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Wine Advocate (95+)The Storm 2023 Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Chardonnay Vrede comes from a site a mere 1.3 kilometers from the cool Atlantic Ocean. "This is a big wine in a small package," says winemaker and proprietor Hannes Storm. It reveals tight phenolic grip and a richer style with citrus marmalade and yellow orchard fruits. You practically taste salt crystals on thickened grape skins. It offers terrific length thanks to that extra structure, finishes dry and closes with flinty mineral sensations. The 2023 vintage was rainy. Hannes Storm harvested on a Friday, and a heavy storm the next day dropped five inches of rain, causing flooding and visible erosion in the surrounding mountains. |
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Cape South Coast | 10 | 97 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£268.74 |
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Tim Atkin MW (97)Now including 20% of the 777 clone, alongside its habitual 115 base, Vrede comes from red clay soils with a high iron component. Seductively perfumed, this stunning red has fine tannins, fleshy, opulent flavours of strawberry and redcurrant, finely judged 35% new wood and undertones of rose petal and forest floor. One of the greatest ever Cape Pinot Noirs. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | - |
In Bond
£276.00 |
|||||
|
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Cape South Coast | 1 | 95 (TA) |
In Bond
£135.00 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (95)You know class when you taste it, and this is certainly that. Deservedly established as one of South Africa's most consistently outstanding Chardonnays, this has the structure and concentration to age, with no malolactic at all, 22% new wood and complex, nuanced, stony flavours of lemon zest, oatmeal and stone fruit – Drinking to 2028 |
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|
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Cape South Coast | 4 | 97 (IWSC) |
In Bond
£169.00 |
|||||
IWSC (97)Very classy wine with nicely judged oak that adds vanilla spice to the tropical fruit and toffee apple flavours. Perfectly poised with crisp acidity and an elegant, long finish. |
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|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 96 (TA) |
In Bond
£100.00 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (96)Clay Shales is made with fruit purchased from a vineyard in the central part of the Hemelen-Aarde Ridge. Fermented with native yeasts in older wood, it's a nicely worked style with lots of layers and understated power, mixing flavours of oatmeal, toffee fudge and fresh citrus zing. Structured and intense. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 4 | 94 (WA) |
In Bond
£164.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (94)The Hamilton Russell Vineyards 2023 Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Chardonnay is made with pressed whole clusters. The juice is settled overnight and starts a wild ferment (to dryness) in barrel. It matures in oak for 10 months, with minimum stirring of the lees. This vintage saw 30% malolactic fermentation. Secondary fermentation is vintage specific, and some years it doesn't happen at all. This mineral-driven Chardonnay offers a drying signature of crushed oyster shell that folds softly into tropical fruits and pineapple. The mouthfeel is brimming with tension and energy. Acidity and minerality make this a distinctively marine Chardonnay. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 3 | 91 (VN) |
In Bond
£184.00 |
|||||
Vinous (91)The 2019 Pinot Noir is Walker Bay in terms of Wine of Origin rather than Hemel-en-Aarde, since much of their Pinot Noir was rejected after wildfires tainted the fruit. The majority of fruit was sourced from benevolent growers in the valley, and completely destemmed but not crushed, then matured in 24% new French oak. This has an open, quite herbal bouquet of vibrant red and black fruit, underlying _sous-bois_ notes coming through with aeration. The well-balanced palate offers fine-grained tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Open and expressive, with a pinch of black pepper on the cohesive finish. Given the trauma suffered this vintage, this should be considered a success, not least because it still seems to bear the imprimatur of Hamilton Russell. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 96 (TA) |
In Bond
£167.00 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (96)Bouncing back from the fires in 2019 - and then some - this is the best young Pinot Noir release I've tasted from Hamilton Russell. Representing a subtle shift in style towards greater perfume and fruit, this is a detailed, finely judged blend of clones 113, 115 and 667, with svelte tannins, tidy acidity, rose petal top notes and skilfully integrated oak. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 4 | 93 (WA) |
In Bond
£176.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (93)This wine comes from a site with iron-rich soils, resulting in structure and savory aromas. Made with Dijon clones (113, 115, 667 and 777), the Hamilton Russell Vineyards 2023 Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Pinot Noir has dark fruit (blackcurrant), grilled rosemary and a ferrous note of rusty nail. Clones with bigger clusters are used because the site tends to produce small bunches naturally. Anywhere from 10% to 15% whole-cluster fruit is used, depending on vintage. The wine undergoes a wild fermentation, and if the winemaking team does inoculate, they use yeast from the property. Cap management has changed over the years from twice daily punch-downs to a gentle approach resembling a tea infusion, with wine poured over the cap. There is a heavier note to this wine that is specific to this site and builds a robust fruit profile. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 3 | 94 (CE) |
In Bond
£172.00 |
|||||
Christian Eedes (94)Grapes from multiple blocks on the farm, each with a slightly different soil structure but essentially granite based. Limited whole-bunch fermentation. Matured for 11 months in 228-litre barrels, 29% new. Exotic aromatics of red and black berries, orange, earth and a touch of reduction. Impressive depth of fruit, bright acidity and fine-grained, tight-knit tannins. Rich but balanced, this is Pinot at its most seductive. Alc: 14%. |
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Cape South Coast | 1 | - |
In Bond
£80.00 |
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Cape South Coast | 3 | 96 (TA) |
In Bond
£251.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (96)"I fell in love with Chardonnay through Chablis," says Craig Wessels and you can see that influence here. Reflecting the coolness of the 2021 vintage, this is taut, focused, stony and engagingly mouth-watering, with effortless concentration, notes of brine, lanolin and lemon juice and extra layers of complexity from old barrels and amphoras. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 3 | 97 (DC) |
In Bond
£460.00 |
|||||
Decanter (97)Autodidact winemaker and viticulturist Craig Wessels does things differently – and fastidiously – perhaps because he hasn’t had any formal training. From a small single block, planted in 1999, which is considered to be the oldest Chardonnay in the Hemel-en-Aarde. Specific parcels are whole-bunch picked over three weeks. Pressed in an old Vaslin press, the ‘black’ juice then goes through natural ferment in barrels of mixed sizes as well as amphora. Quickly becoming something of an icon wine, the 2022 is firing on all cylinders – sensational smoky oystershell reduction, lemon leaf, blossom and creamed white pear part to an elegant yet weighted palate, flush with fruit and the house’s signature savoury acidity. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 2 | 95 (TA) |
In Bond
£234.00 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (95)Craig Wessels doesn’t always get the praise he deserves for this Pinot Noir, which is often among the best in the Hemel-en-Aarde region. Intense, layered and well structured, it has a hint of good reduction, plum, raspberry and black cherry fruit, vibrant acidity and subtle sweetness from 30% new barrels. One to cellar. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 3 | 93 (WA) |
In Bond
£460.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (93)The Restless River 2022 Upper Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Le Luc is all Pinot Noir from granite soils. Fruit comes from younger vines planted in 2013 on a north-facing slope. The wine ages in 228-liter barrels, of which one-third is new oak for 12 months. This mostly hands-off approach results in a delicate wine with tart berry nuances, redcurrant and crushed stone. Some of the salty mineral sensations you find here, which give such nice contouring to the wine, come thanks to those granite soils. It concludes softly with a medium-lean mouthfeel, pretty freshness and brightness. This is a 5,500-bottle release. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 91 (VN) |
In Bond
£438.00 |
|||||
Vinous (91)The 2016 Main Road & Dignity has a precise nose with blackberry, sous-bois and light iodine scents, becoming more marine-like with aeration. Fine focus here. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, decent grip and plenty of weight on the mid-palate yet more elegant and understated towards the lightly peppered finish. Some nice, Old World classicism on show here. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 97 (GS) |
In Bond
£87.00 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (97)This attractive Hemel-en-Aarde Cabernet Sauvignon is fabulously dense and textured with multiple layers of creamy tannins coating the opulent fruit concentration. Full and glycerol in the mouth with refreshing acids, bright creme de cassis, black cherry and earthy baked plum fruit nuances. This vintage shows all the classic 2017 vintage elegance, focus and intensity with impressive mouthfeel and superb balance. You know this is something very special from the very first sip and certainly could be Craig Wessel’s finest Cabernet effort to date. Drink now and over 15+ years. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 94 (TA) |
In Bond
£88.00 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (94)Named after the two blocks that supply its raw material, Main Road & Dignity is a very rare example of a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon from the Hemel-en-Aarde region. Picked late in a cool site, it has cassis, bay leaf, fresh herb and damson flavours, grippy tannins, appealing zip and freshness and the concentration to age. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 2 | 94 (TA) |
In Bond
£289.00 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (94)Named after the two blocks that supply its raw material, Main Road & Dignity is a very rare example of a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon from the Hemel-en-Aarde region. Picked late in a cool site, it has cassis, bay leaf, fresh herb and damson flavours, grippy tannins, appealing zip and freshness and the concentration to age. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 3 | 94 (WA) |
In Bond
£571.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (94)Packaged in a heavy glass bottle, the Restless River 2021 Upper Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Main Road & Dignity Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon walks a delicate line as a big wine, but it's a big wine with elegantly contained intensity. You feel the power of its dark fruit and blackberry flavors, but you also get cola, sage and green spice that give the wine chiseled contours. This is a release of 11,261 bottles. These vines were planted in 1998, making them quite old for the territory. The soils are decomposed granite with koffie klip and a shallow clay bed. This was one of the last harvests in South Africa, at six weeks later than average. A cool climate and long hang time add the special freshness you perceive in this bottle. It ages for 23 months in 225-liter barrel, with 30% new wood, followed by three months in stainless steel and 18 months in bottle. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 3 | 94 (TA) |
In Bond
£216.00 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (94)The Vrede Chardonnay uses grapes from the same site in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley as the Pinot Noir of the same name. Made with the popular CY95 clone, this shows none of the heat of the 2022 vintage, reflecting the subtlety of Hannes Storm's winemaking. Sappy, mineral and refreshing, it combines scented 25% new oak with citrus, oatmeal and pear flavours and a lingering finish. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 2 | 95+ (WA) |
In Bond
£206.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (95+)The Storm 2023 Hemel-En-Aarde Valley Chardonnay Vrede comes from a site a mere 1.3 kilometers from the cool Atlantic Ocean. "This is a big wine in a small package," says winemaker and proprietor Hannes Storm. It reveals tight phenolic grip and a richer style with citrus marmalade and yellow orchard fruits. You practically taste salt crystals on thickened grape skins. It offers terrific length thanks to that extra structure, finishes dry and closes with flinty mineral sensations. The 2023 vintage was rainy. Hannes Storm harvested on a Friday, and a heavy storm the next day dropped five inches of rain, causing flooding and visible erosion in the surrounding mountains. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 10 | 97 (TA) |
In Bond
£206.00 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (97)Now including 20% of the 777 clone, alongside its habitual 115 base, Vrede comes from red clay soils with a high iron component. Seductively perfumed, this stunning red has fine tannins, fleshy, opulent flavours of strawberry and redcurrant, finely judged 35% new wood and undertones of rose petal and forest floor. One of the greatest ever Cape Pinot Noirs. |
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