South Africa
At the bottom of its great continent, South Africa is a country of unlimited natural advantages. With the confluence of two oceans at the Cape, the sheltering effect of inland mountain chains and some of the most dynamic soils in the world, every piece is in place for the production of fine wine. The most well-known region has historically been Stellenbosch, but it is the wines of Swartland that have really turned South African wine on its head in recent years.
The wine industry is in the midst of a renaissance with classically styled wines making full advantage of remarkable terroir and an adventurous spirit. As a result, South Africa is producing some truly exceptional wines of great character and value. Striking blockbuster Syrahs and Bordeaux blends to full bodied Chardonnay and crisp Sauvignon Blanc are some of this great nation’s offerings. South Africa’s own grape, Pinotage, leaves critics divided yet can produce excellent single-variety offerings as well as distinguished Cape blends.
Read More
South Africa
Photo
AI Chat
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 96 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£247.24 |
|||||
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 | 2 | - |
Inc. VAT
£257.09 |
|||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 100.0 |
Inc. VAT
£319.24 |
|||||
|
A complex and serious wine showing layered aromas of cedar wood, blackcurrants, blue berries, tea leaves and graphite on the nose. Subtle oak spice and savoury notes add further complexity. The palate is rich and full bodied, with pin-point balance between fruit and oak. The elegant and refined tannin structure is supported by intense flavours of cassis, cured meat and tomato stew. A lingering finish completes a true Cape classic wine!
More Info
|
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 96 (GS) |
Inc. VAT
£302.44 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (96)This certainly is a deep, broody exotic expression of Cabernet Sauvignon that is more reminiscent of a cool vintage Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon than anything from Bordeaux or the Cape. Opened and tasted over 4 to 5 hours, the wine hits its stride surprisingly quickly with plenty of perfumed purple flowers, violets, bruleed black berries, baked blueberry crumble, crème de cassis and a pleasing note of mocha and vanilla pod spice. Initial notes of kelp and maritime seashore salinity quickly give way to a more weighty, sensual melange of black berry compote nuances and hints of cherry kirsch liquor. While this wine certainly shows all the deft elegance and finesse we associate with the 2017 vintage, it also displays a certain extra gravitas, power and weight of fruit concentration combined with great poise, density and a seamlessly textured mineral graphite finish. This is a dark horse that will drink well on release and age deceptively well for 20+ years. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£189.64 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (95)It says Cabernet Sauvignon on the label, but master blender Abrie Beeslaar adds 5% Merlot and Cabernet Franc for extra nuances and layers. Sourced from three blocks that provide more pyrazine notes, this is a deceptively forward red with leafy top notes, capsicum, coffee bean and blackcurrant flavours and plenty of underlying grip and structure. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 2 | 97 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£213.64 |
|||||
Decanter (97)In 2023, Kanonkop (owned by the fourth generation of the founding family, brothers Johann and Paul Kriege) celebrated 50 years of wine; the inaugural release being the 1973 vintage of this Cabernet Sauvignon. Joining in 2002, Abrie Beeslaar soon became only the third winemaker in the farm’s history, replacing Beyers Truter (1981-2003) who followed Kanonkop’s first official winemaker Jan Boland Coetzee (1968-1981). Of the estate’s 95ha of mainly dry-farmed vines, 35% are Cabernet Sauvignon, averaging 30 years, from Simonsberg in Stellenbosch, used for this varietal cuvée as well as Kanonkop’s flagship Paul Sauer Bordeaux blend. This 2019 was fermented in open-top concrete vessels then aged for 24 months in French oak barrels, 50% new and 50% second fill. Tina Gellie: Gorgeously seductive with its satin mouthfeel, silky tannins and flavours of smoked meat, saddle leather, green olives, plum skin sappiness and black fruit richness. Like diving into a cool, deep, dark pool. Beautiful freshness, length and composure – pitch perfect for drinking now but will age very well. What a belter. Anne Krebiehl MW: Smoke and earth, tobacco, the palate is dense but super-elegant, unravels like silk. Fine tannin, savoury umami edges, yet such salty, gorgeously ripe fruit. Altogether brilliant, with a lovely, serene balance – the ideal of proportions. Michaela Morris: Aromas are open, a bit flinty, but the palate is where it’s all happening: starts seductive but finishes serious, in the best possible way. Still needs time. The nice, savoury herbal character promises much. Nominated by Malu Lambert. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 2 | 97 (GS) |
Inc. VAT
£367.24 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (97)The 2018 Paul Sauer is a classical blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc from vines averaging 30 years of age grown on dryland vineyards of Decomposed Granite and Hutton and Clovelly soils. Vibrant and ruby / purple, the wine almost glows in the glass with inviting promise. At this youthful stage, the Cabernet Sauvignon component shines through strongly revealing a generally dark, broody, black fruited demeanour embellished with subtle notes of saline crème de cassis, star anise, lead pencil shavings, dried violets and signature nuances of freshly tilled earth, buttered brown toast and hints of breakfast espresso. In the mouth, the palate shows gorgeous elegance, purity and fruit focus with the most fine grained filigree tannins, soothingly generous black berry fruits and delicious mouth-watering acids. This wine is precision personified showing such effortless grace and harmony together with a measured power and intensity. The 2018 is certainly a very classically schooled expression that waltzes across the palate without ever putting a foot out of place. Like all truly great Bordeaux blends, this has the finesse and textural harmony to drink on release but also the intensity and gravitas to age effortlessly for 20 to 30+ years. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 2 | 96+ (GS) |
Inc. VAT
£353.09 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (96+)This classically styled Paul Sauer 2019 is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc and 11% Merlot. After noticeably more fruit forward aromatics on the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 on release, this 2019 represents somewhat of departure in style with a decidedly tight, broody aromatic profile of inky dark berry fruits, iodine, crushed gravel, Bouquet Garni, dried herbs, sweet clove and graphite before subtle hints of pithy black currant and black cherry join the party and mingle with perfumed notes of pressed violets and lilac. Despite its 24 months in 100% new French Never oak 225 litre barriques, there is only a mere suggestion of wood influence with a beautifully refined cedar spice and unsmoked cigar nuances. On the palate, the results of a cooler and smaller harvest manifest themselves through a distinctly classical Old World restraint, purity, wound spring tension and supremely refined tannins that linger on the palate with seamless precision. As with many longer, cooler Bordeaux vintages, there is more a sense of concentration and power rather than an actual overt textural display, with sinewy black fruits, cocoa powder and earthy, brambly layers concertinaed by lively acids and yet more overt minerality. An impressive creation indeed that will benefit from a good 8 to 10 years in the cellar to fully blossom despite its textural finesse, balance and accessibility. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 97 (GS) |
Inc. VAT
£301.24 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (97)Launched in the 50th anniversary of the estate, it was an absolute pleasure to first taste the new release 2020 Paul Sauer in London with both winemaker Abrie Beeslaar and uber critical owner, Johan Krige. Together, these are two individuals who both have very high expectations for every new Paul Sauer release, but not only that, they are both people who will find a way for the new wine to express the new vintage blend in the most succinct and honest way. In 2020, the Paul Sauer is a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc and 14% Merlot from Simonsberg vines grown on decomposed granite at an average of 30+ years old. The aromatics are delicate yet sophisticated, whispering a rich complexity of saline cassis, sweet violets, dried sage, crunchy black berry, iodine and salty oyster shell nuances with a hint of melted candles and incense complexity. Fabulously pure, focused, weightless and intense, there is a notable ambition and intent on the palate, that bristles with a maritime salinity, deep layers of crème de cassis, blue berry, cedar spice and a tart red berry extravagance. This is simply like no other 2020 I have tasted from Stellenbosch. The wine possesses its own class, elegance and swagger, but with an incredible refinement and precision. You would expect nothing less from one of South Africa’s first growth producers! |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£252.04 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The maiden 2015 Amphitheatre has an intense bouquet of dark cherries, star anise, camphor and wild heather scents, all well defined and expressive. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and fleshy ripe red fruit laced with white pepper and sage, fanning out wonderfully toward the finish. This is a beautiful maiden release, exuding breeding and class, from Alex Starey at Keermont. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£165.64 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with 7% Malbec and 6% Cabernet Franc and spent 22 months in seasoned French oak. It has a classy bouquet of expressive red berry fruit, cedar and light undergrowth aromas that leans toward the Left Bank. The palate is medium-bodied with great sapidity right from the start. The tannins are extremely fine here, and the finish fans out gloriously with just enough bite to tempt you back for another sip. This is an outstanding Cabernet from winemaker Alex Starey. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£250.84 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (95)This world-class Syrah hails from a 0.7-hectare parcel planted on a ridge in 2005. Made with no stems in 2016 – the wine normally sees 15% whole bunches - it's like a Cape Côte Rôtie, all perfume, nuance and texture, with notes of ginger spice, barbecued meat and some ferrous grip. 2021-28 |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 94 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£169.24 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (94)Alex Starey is better known for his reds than his whites, but this cuvée of Chenin Blanc with 45% Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne (the last two included for the first time) is wonderful too. Very much a southern Rhône style, it's savoury and herbal, with notes of honeysuckle, stone fruit and citrus, deftly framed by oak. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 94 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£231.64 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (94)This is one of two current releases of Terrasse, produced from an assemblage of Chenin Blanc and 39% Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. Wax and honeysuckle aromas progress into a tangy, focused, herbal palate, with some stony reduction and a textured finish. 2021-26 |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 4 | 95 (CE) |
Inc. VAT
£126.04 |
|||||
Christian Eedes (95)55% Chenin Blanc, 18% Chardonnay, 16% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Viognier and 1% Roussanne. Expressive aromatics of flowers, herbs, citrus and peach plus a slight nuttiness while the palate shows good fruit expression and tangy acidity – plenty of detail, the finish long and dry. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 2 | 97 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£447.64 |
|||||
Decanter (97)This has a gorgeous, lifted nose that combines perfumed fruit and oak spice to heady effect. Soft, plush and fresh on the palate, with pinpoint raspberry acidity and lingering rose perfume. It’s matured in barriques and 500-litre French oak barrels, half new, the other half recently used – the oak plays an integral part and it’s applied with great skill. Displaying exceptional tannic finesse, this is a thrilling and emotive Syrah. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£451.49 |
|||||
|
The Kershaw Klein River Syrah 2017 is an exquisite red wine, handcrafted by Richard Kershaw, one of South Africa's most acclaimed winemakers. Born in England, Kershaw brings over 20 years of international wine-making prowess to this elegant Syrah. The grapes are sourced exclusively from Klein River, a tiny enclave in South Africa’s cool climate Walker Bay region. This pristine, maritime terroir rich in decomposed granite and clay, fosters a complex synergy between soil and vine. Kershaw Klein River Syrah 2017 is meticulously crafted through whole-bunch fermentation and maturation in French oak barrels, manifesting in intricate spice-filled layers, well-integrated tannins and a lengthy finish. Expressing a flawless balance between intensity and elegance, the Kershaw Klein River Syrah 2017 transcends the boundaries of traditional Syrah, creating a captivating viticultural masterpiece that elegantly mirrors its unique terroir. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 2 | 93+ (GS) |
Inc. VAT
£141.64 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (93+)The wine is so effortless, brimming full of energy, and really shows off Reenen Borman’s extensive winemaking expertise. Drink this wine now or over 3 to 8 years as it develops more forest floor and savoury bramble berry spice nuances. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 97 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£199.24 |
|||||
Decanter (97)Best in Show - Those seeking out reds based on Cabernet Franc beyond their French home are, often enough, looking for a red wine which combines something of the structure and command of Cabernet Sauvignon but with more lift, grace and aromatic refinement. The red wine from this year's brace of South African Best In Show winners fills that role admirably. It's dark in colour, with refined, complex, raspberry and root-spice aromas in subtle and uninsistent style. Look out for bright, pure raspberry fruits on the palate with a further twist of liquorice and gentian. The structure comes more from the wine's quiet, limpid acidity than from any notable tannin presence, further unscoring that accessibility and responsiveness. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£181.24 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (95)This is "just" the basic Cabernet Sauvignon from Christo Le Riche, but it's a brilliant wine in its own right. Using grapes from ten different vineyards across Stellenbosch in Firgrove, the Helderberg, Jonkershoek, Raithby and the Simonsberg, it's a masterclass in blending. Matured in 18% new wood, it's wonderfully pure and scented, all violet, tar, tobacco leaf and liquorice, with plush yet structured cassis, black cherry and Asian spice flavours and the backbone to age for another decade in bottle. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£186.04 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The 2020 Viognier The Age of Grace has a subtle, well-defined bouquet of detailed lemon sherbet, lemon thyme and crushed pebble scents, poised and, yes, graceful. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, and linear and quite steely toward the almost Chenin-like finish. This is not a flamboyant, Rhône-like Viognier – it’s is far more tensile and racy. It should age extremely well in bottle. |
|||||||||
|
|
Western Cape | 1 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£499.24 |
|||||
Vinous (97)The 2018 Estate Reserve Syrah contains 50% whole-bunch fruit and is aged in 500- and 700-liter barrels, 30% new. It has an extremely pure, slightly floral bouquet of bright blueberry and black currant fruit infused with scents of crushed iris petals and violets, almost Burgundian in style. The palate is extremely well balanced with perfectly pitched acidity and filigreed tannins. There is an unerring sense of weightlessness about this Syrah, which is one of the most precise Lismore reds I have encountered over several years of tasting. Absolutely stunning. |
|||||||||
|
|
Western Cape | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£410.44 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The 2021 Syrah Estate Reserve, which comes from the vineyard most damaged by the fire in 2020, is 50% whole bunches and aged of 500- and 700-liter barrels, 25% new. The potent nose has raspberry coulis, blueberry and touches of cough candy, taking its time to settle in the glass and lose its initial exuberance. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiseled, slightly chalky tannins. It’s fresh and vibrant, sapid towards the finish, with a long, Côte-Rôtie-like aftertaste and garrigue notes filtering through with time. This should be afforded a couple of years in bottle and will continue to evolve over the next 15-20 years. Just 12% alcohol, too. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£487.24 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (97)Hands down the best Viognier in the country, the 2022 Estate Reserve Viognier is instantly impressive in the glass. It seduces and captivates with a delicate floral nose that overflows with aromas of just-ripe stone fruits and sweet citrus. Medium to full-bodied, the palate shows considerable weight with agile, succulent acidity before displaying an appropriate level of phenolic bitterness to keep things food friendly and fresh. The wine concludes with an elongated, ever-evolving finish that has me returning for more. Just under 1,600 bottles were produced. If you're a Viognier lover, you must seek out this bottling. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 97 (CE) |
Inc. VAT
£289.24 |
|||||
Christian Eedes (97)Made from own vineyards that survived the fire and what a triumph it is. Matured for 11 months in 500-litre barrels, 40% new. The nose shows white peach, citrus and some struck-match reduction while the palate shows extraordinary concentration and well-integrated acidity before a super-long finish. It’s wonderfully well realized, possessing plenty of depth without sacrificing focus. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£305.09 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The 2021 Chardonnay Estate Reserve is 100% from Greyton matured for 11 months in 500-litre barrels, 40% new. It has a wonderful bouquet with honeydew melon, apricot blossom and light crushed stone scents that percolate through with time. The palate is very well balanced with tropical hints of passion fruit and guava, but the acidity keeps everything on a tight course, very minerally on the finish. Top class. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£268.84 |
|||||
Vinous (96)The 2022 Chardonnay Reserve comprises fruit from the Greyton homestead, which is oxidatively handled and fermented for 11 months in 500-liter barrels (25% new). After swirling to address the reduction, it reveals concentrated scents of dried honey, melted candle wax, orange blossom and a touch of grilled walnut. The palate is well-balanced with mineral-infused, slightly tropical fruit: quince and hints of guava that merge into a more mineral-driven taut finish. Quite a multi-faceted Chardonnay, this will age with style and panache. If that Corton-Charlemagne is a bit over-priced…and it probably is…then you know where to come. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 40 | - |
Inc. VAT
£462.29 |
|||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 20 | - |
Inc. VAT
£462.29 |
|||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£226.84 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 2017 Syrah continues to serve as one of the Cape's finest expressions of the variety. Gorgeous scents of raspberry, strawberry, Earl Grey tea and pomegranate seeds feature on the detailed nose; then the palate is lithe and silky, with perhaps more garrigue notes coming through with bottle age. Divine. |
|||||||||
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 96 (TA) |
In Bond
£190.00 |
|||||
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 | 2 | - |
In Bond
£195.00 |
|||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 100.0 |
In Bond
£250.00 |
|||||
|
A complex and serious wine showing layered aromas of cedar wood, blackcurrants, blue berries, tea leaves and graphite on the nose. Subtle oak spice and savoury notes add further complexity. The palate is rich and full bodied, with pin-point balance between fruit and oak. The elegant and refined tannin structure is supported by intense flavours of cassis, cured meat and tomato stew. A lingering finish completes a true Cape classic wine!
More Info
|
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 96 (GS) |
In Bond
£236.00 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (96)This certainly is a deep, broody exotic expression of Cabernet Sauvignon that is more reminiscent of a cool vintage Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon than anything from Bordeaux or the Cape. Opened and tasted over 4 to 5 hours, the wine hits its stride surprisingly quickly with plenty of perfumed purple flowers, violets, bruleed black berries, baked blueberry crumble, crème de cassis and a pleasing note of mocha and vanilla pod spice. Initial notes of kelp and maritime seashore salinity quickly give way to a more weighty, sensual melange of black berry compote nuances and hints of cherry kirsch liquor. While this wine certainly shows all the deft elegance and finesse we associate with the 2017 vintage, it also displays a certain extra gravitas, power and weight of fruit concentration combined with great poise, density and a seamlessly textured mineral graphite finish. This is a dark horse that will drink well on release and age deceptively well for 20+ years. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (TA) |
In Bond
£142.00 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (95)It says Cabernet Sauvignon on the label, but master blender Abrie Beeslaar adds 5% Merlot and Cabernet Franc for extra nuances and layers. Sourced from three blocks that provide more pyrazine notes, this is a deceptively forward red with leafy top notes, capsicum, coffee bean and blackcurrant flavours and plenty of underlying grip and structure. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 2 | 97 (DC) |
In Bond
£162.00 |
|||||
Decanter (97)In 2023, Kanonkop (owned by the fourth generation of the founding family, brothers Johann and Paul Kriege) celebrated 50 years of wine; the inaugural release being the 1973 vintage of this Cabernet Sauvignon. Joining in 2002, Abrie Beeslaar soon became only the third winemaker in the farm’s history, replacing Beyers Truter (1981-2003) who followed Kanonkop’s first official winemaker Jan Boland Coetzee (1968-1981). Of the estate’s 95ha of mainly dry-farmed vines, 35% are Cabernet Sauvignon, averaging 30 years, from Simonsberg in Stellenbosch, used for this varietal cuvée as well as Kanonkop’s flagship Paul Sauer Bordeaux blend. This 2019 was fermented in open-top concrete vessels then aged for 24 months in French oak barrels, 50% new and 50% second fill. Tina Gellie: Gorgeously seductive with its satin mouthfeel, silky tannins and flavours of smoked meat, saddle leather, green olives, plum skin sappiness and black fruit richness. Like diving into a cool, deep, dark pool. Beautiful freshness, length and composure – pitch perfect for drinking now but will age very well. What a belter. Anne Krebiehl MW: Smoke and earth, tobacco, the palate is dense but super-elegant, unravels like silk. Fine tannin, savoury umami edges, yet such salty, gorgeously ripe fruit. Altogether brilliant, with a lovely, serene balance – the ideal of proportions. Michaela Morris: Aromas are open, a bit flinty, but the palate is where it’s all happening: starts seductive but finishes serious, in the best possible way. Still needs time. The nice, savoury herbal character promises much. Nominated by Malu Lambert. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 2 | 97 (GS) |
In Bond
£290.00 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (97)The 2018 Paul Sauer is a classical blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc from vines averaging 30 years of age grown on dryland vineyards of Decomposed Granite and Hutton and Clovelly soils. Vibrant and ruby / purple, the wine almost glows in the glass with inviting promise. At this youthful stage, the Cabernet Sauvignon component shines through strongly revealing a generally dark, broody, black fruited demeanour embellished with subtle notes of saline crème de cassis, star anise, lead pencil shavings, dried violets and signature nuances of freshly tilled earth, buttered brown toast and hints of breakfast espresso. In the mouth, the palate shows gorgeous elegance, purity and fruit focus with the most fine grained filigree tannins, soothingly generous black berry fruits and delicious mouth-watering acids. This wine is precision personified showing such effortless grace and harmony together with a measured power and intensity. The 2018 is certainly a very classically schooled expression that waltzes across the palate without ever putting a foot out of place. Like all truly great Bordeaux blends, this has the finesse and textural harmony to drink on release but also the intensity and gravitas to age effortlessly for 20 to 30+ years. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 2 | 96+ (GS) |
In Bond
£275.00 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (96+)This classically styled Paul Sauer 2019 is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc and 11% Merlot. After noticeably more fruit forward aromatics on the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 on release, this 2019 represents somewhat of departure in style with a decidedly tight, broody aromatic profile of inky dark berry fruits, iodine, crushed gravel, Bouquet Garni, dried herbs, sweet clove and graphite before subtle hints of pithy black currant and black cherry join the party and mingle with perfumed notes of pressed violets and lilac. Despite its 24 months in 100% new French Never oak 225 litre barriques, there is only a mere suggestion of wood influence with a beautifully refined cedar spice and unsmoked cigar nuances. On the palate, the results of a cooler and smaller harvest manifest themselves through a distinctly classical Old World restraint, purity, wound spring tension and supremely refined tannins that linger on the palate with seamless precision. As with many longer, cooler Bordeaux vintages, there is more a sense of concentration and power rather than an actual overt textural display, with sinewy black fruits, cocoa powder and earthy, brambly layers concertinaed by lively acids and yet more overt minerality. An impressive creation indeed that will benefit from a good 8 to 10 years in the cellar to fully blossom despite its textural finesse, balance and accessibility. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 97 (GS) |
In Bond
£235.00 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (97)Launched in the 50th anniversary of the estate, it was an absolute pleasure to first taste the new release 2020 Paul Sauer in London with both winemaker Abrie Beeslaar and uber critical owner, Johan Krige. Together, these are two individuals who both have very high expectations for every new Paul Sauer release, but not only that, they are both people who will find a way for the new wine to express the new vintage blend in the most succinct and honest way. In 2020, the Paul Sauer is a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc and 14% Merlot from Simonsberg vines grown on decomposed granite at an average of 30+ years old. The aromatics are delicate yet sophisticated, whispering a rich complexity of saline cassis, sweet violets, dried sage, crunchy black berry, iodine and salty oyster shell nuances with a hint of melted candles and incense complexity. Fabulously pure, focused, weightless and intense, there is a notable ambition and intent on the palate, that bristles with a maritime salinity, deep layers of crème de cassis, blue berry, cedar spice and a tart red berry extravagance. This is simply like no other 2020 I have tasted from Stellenbosch. The wine possesses its own class, elegance and swagger, but with an incredible refinement and precision. You would expect nothing less from one of South Africa’s first growth producers! |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£194.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The maiden 2015 Amphitheatre has an intense bouquet of dark cherries, star anise, camphor and wild heather scents, all well defined and expressive. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and fleshy ripe red fruit laced with white pepper and sage, fanning out wonderfully toward the finish. This is a beautiful maiden release, exuding breeding and class, from Alex Starey at Keermont. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£122.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with 7% Malbec and 6% Cabernet Franc and spent 22 months in seasoned French oak. It has a classy bouquet of expressive red berry fruit, cedar and light undergrowth aromas that leans toward the Left Bank. The palate is medium-bodied with great sapidity right from the start. The tannins are extremely fine here, and the finish fans out gloriously with just enough bite to tempt you back for another sip. This is an outstanding Cabernet from winemaker Alex Starey. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (TA) |
In Bond
£193.00 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (95)This world-class Syrah hails from a 0.7-hectare parcel planted on a ridge in 2005. Made with no stems in 2016 – the wine normally sees 15% whole bunches - it's like a Cape Côte Rôtie, all perfume, nuance and texture, with notes of ginger spice, barbecued meat and some ferrous grip. 2021-28 |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 94 (TA) |
In Bond
£125.00 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (94)Alex Starey is better known for his reds than his whites, but this cuvée of Chenin Blanc with 45% Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne (the last two included for the first time) is wonderful too. Very much a southern Rhône style, it's savoury and herbal, with notes of honeysuckle, stone fruit and citrus, deftly framed by oak. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 94 (TA) |
In Bond
£177.00 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (94)This is one of two current releases of Terrasse, produced from an assemblage of Chenin Blanc and 39% Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. Wax and honeysuckle aromas progress into a tangy, focused, herbal palate, with some stony reduction and a textured finish. 2021-26 |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 4 | 95 (CE) |
In Bond
£89.00 |
|||||
Christian Eedes (95)55% Chenin Blanc, 18% Chardonnay, 16% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Viognier and 1% Roussanne. Expressive aromatics of flowers, herbs, citrus and peach plus a slight nuttiness while the palate shows good fruit expression and tangy acidity – plenty of detail, the finish long and dry. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 2 | 97 (DC) |
In Bond
£357.00 |
|||||
Decanter (97)This has a gorgeous, lifted nose that combines perfumed fruit and oak spice to heady effect. Soft, plush and fresh on the palate, with pinpoint raspberry acidity and lingering rose perfume. It’s matured in barriques and 500-litre French oak barrels, half new, the other half recently used – the oak plays an integral part and it’s applied with great skill. Displaying exceptional tannic finesse, this is a thrilling and emotive Syrah. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | - |
In Bond
£357.00 |
|||||
|
The Kershaw Klein River Syrah 2017 is an exquisite red wine, handcrafted by Richard Kershaw, one of South Africa's most acclaimed winemakers. Born in England, Kershaw brings over 20 years of international wine-making prowess to this elegant Syrah. The grapes are sourced exclusively from Klein River, a tiny enclave in South Africa’s cool climate Walker Bay region. This pristine, maritime terroir rich in decomposed granite and clay, fosters a complex synergy between soil and vine. Kershaw Klein River Syrah 2017 is meticulously crafted through whole-bunch fermentation and maturation in French oak barrels, manifesting in intricate spice-filled layers, well-integrated tannins and a lengthy finish. Expressing a flawless balance between intensity and elegance, the Kershaw Klein River Syrah 2017 transcends the boundaries of traditional Syrah, creating a captivating viticultural masterpiece that elegantly mirrors its unique terroir. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 2 | 93+ (GS) |
In Bond
£102.00 |
|||||
Greg Sherwood MW (93+)The wine is so effortless, brimming full of energy, and really shows off Reenen Borman’s extensive winemaking expertise. Drink this wine now or over 3 to 8 years as it develops more forest floor and savoury bramble berry spice nuances. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 97 (DC) |
In Bond
£150.00 |
|||||
Decanter (97)Best in Show - Those seeking out reds based on Cabernet Franc beyond their French home are, often enough, looking for a red wine which combines something of the structure and command of Cabernet Sauvignon but with more lift, grace and aromatic refinement. The red wine from this year's brace of South African Best In Show winners fills that role admirably. It's dark in colour, with refined, complex, raspberry and root-spice aromas in subtle and uninsistent style. Look out for bright, pure raspberry fruits on the palate with a further twist of liquorice and gentian. The structure comes more from the wine's quiet, limpid acidity than from any notable tannin presence, further unscoring that accessibility and responsiveness. |
|||||||||
|
|
Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (TA) |
In Bond
£135.00 |
|||||
Tim Atkin MW (95)This is "just" the basic Cabernet Sauvignon from Christo Le Riche, but it's a brilliant wine in its own right. Using grapes from ten different vineyards across Stellenbosch in Firgrove, the Helderberg, Jonkershoek, Raithby and the Simonsberg, it's a masterclass in blending. Matured in 18% new wood, it's wonderfully pure and scented, all violet, tar, tobacco leaf and liquorice, with plush yet structured cassis, black cherry and Asian spice flavours and the backbone to age for another decade in bottle. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
£139.00 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The 2020 Viognier The Age of Grace has a subtle, well-defined bouquet of detailed lemon sherbet, lemon thyme and crushed pebble scents, poised and, yes, graceful. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, and linear and quite steely toward the almost Chenin-like finish. This is not a flamboyant, Rhône-like Viognier – it’s is far more tensile and racy. It should age extremely well in bottle. |
|||||||||
|
|
Western Cape | 1 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
£400.00 |
|||||
Vinous (97)The 2018 Estate Reserve Syrah contains 50% whole-bunch fruit and is aged in 500- and 700-liter barrels, 30% new. It has an extremely pure, slightly floral bouquet of bright blueberry and black currant fruit infused with scents of crushed iris petals and violets, almost Burgundian in style. The palate is extremely well balanced with perfectly pitched acidity and filigreed tannins. There is an unerring sense of weightlessness about this Syrah, which is one of the most precise Lismore reds I have encountered over several years of tasting. Absolutely stunning. |
|||||||||
|
|
Western Cape | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
£326.00 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The 2021 Syrah Estate Reserve, which comes from the vineyard most damaged by the fire in 2020, is 50% whole bunches and aged of 500- and 700-liter barrels, 25% new. The potent nose has raspberry coulis, blueberry and touches of cough candy, taking its time to settle in the glass and lose its initial exuberance. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiseled, slightly chalky tannins. It’s fresh and vibrant, sapid towards the finish, with a long, Côte-Rôtie-like aftertaste and garrigue notes filtering through with time. This should be afforded a couple of years in bottle and will continue to evolve over the next 15-20 years. Just 12% alcohol, too. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
£390.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (97)Hands down the best Viognier in the country, the 2022 Estate Reserve Viognier is instantly impressive in the glass. It seduces and captivates with a delicate floral nose that overflows with aromas of just-ripe stone fruits and sweet citrus. Medium to full-bodied, the palate shows considerable weight with agile, succulent acidity before displaying an appropriate level of phenolic bitterness to keep things food friendly and fresh. The wine concludes with an elongated, ever-evolving finish that has me returning for more. Just under 1,600 bottles were produced. If you're a Viognier lover, you must seek out this bottling. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 97 (CE) |
In Bond
£225.00 |
|||||
Christian Eedes (97)Made from own vineyards that survived the fire and what a triumph it is. Matured for 11 months in 500-litre barrels, 40% new. The nose shows white peach, citrus and some struck-match reduction while the palate shows extraordinary concentration and well-integrated acidity before a super-long finish. It’s wonderfully well realized, possessing plenty of depth without sacrificing focus. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
£235.00 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The 2021 Chardonnay Estate Reserve is 100% from Greyton matured for 11 months in 500-litre barrels, 40% new. It has a wonderful bouquet with honeydew melon, apricot blossom and light crushed stone scents that percolate through with time. The palate is very well balanced with tropical hints of passion fruit and guava, but the acidity keeps everything on a tight course, very minerally on the finish. Top class. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
£208.00 |
|||||
Vinous (96)The 2022 Chardonnay Reserve comprises fruit from the Greyton homestead, which is oxidatively handled and fermented for 11 months in 500-liter barrels (25% new). After swirling to address the reduction, it reveals concentrated scents of dried honey, melted candle wax, orange blossom and a touch of grilled walnut. The palate is well-balanced with mineral-infused, slightly tropical fruit: quince and hints of guava that merge into a more mineral-driven taut finish. Quite a multi-faceted Chardonnay, this will age with style and panache. If that Corton-Charlemagne is a bit over-priced…and it probably is…then you know where to come. |
|||||||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 40 | - |
In Bond
£366.00 |
|||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 20 | - |
In Bond
£366.00 |
|||||
|
|
Cape South Coast | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£173.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 2017 Syrah continues to serve as one of the Cape's finest expressions of the variety. Gorgeous scents of raspberry, strawberry, Earl Grey tea and pomegranate seeds feature on the detailed nose; then the palate is lithe and silky, with perhaps more garrigue notes coming through with bottle age. Divine. |
|||||||||
