This has a big and textured palate with stone fruit and fennel hints – it is rich and minerally, showing even a slight rocky quality about it. As bracing as the wind through the vines at Waterkloof.

Production

Living soils and a natural approach to winemaking means that each of the single-varietal wines in the Circumstance range is truly defined by the circumstances influencing the chosen varietal and vineyard blocks, including soil, aspect, altitude, and vintage. These factors combine to produce low yields, balanced grapes, and wines with a true sense of place. The Sauvignon Blanc is from three windswept, south-facing (less sun exposure) blocks 270-300m above and a mere 2 miles from The Atlantic. The vines are 20 years old and production was a miserly 4 tons per hectare. Waterkloof follows a traditional, minimalistic approach in their gravitational cellar which means interfering as little as possible with the winemaking process. This allows the flavours prevalent in that specific vineyard to ultimately express themselves in the wine. To achieve this goal, all grapes are whole-bunch pressed, which ensures that juice is extracted in the gentlest way. The juice is then settled naturally for 24 hours. Naturally present wild yeast is employed to ferment the juice, mainly in old 600litre barrels (90%). This leads to a longer fermentation process with a slow release of aromas and a more structured palate. The natural fermentation process took 7-8 months to complete, after which the wine was left on the gross less for another 6 months. There are no added acid or enzymes during the winemaking process, with only a light filtration and a small addition of sulphur added as a preservative prior to bottling.

Awards

The Wine Merchant Top 100 2019 - 2017 Vintage

Specifications

Year	2023
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	100% Sauvignon Blanc
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	14% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	10.1 units
Type	White Wine
Cellaring Potential	Awaiting info
Features	Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable, Natural
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Food Matches	Ideal with fresh oysters or fresh crayfish on the grill. Great with a goat's cheese too.
Origin	Stellenbosch
Appellation	South Africa

2020 Waterkloof 'Circumstance' Sauvignon Blanc

2023 Waterkloof 'Circumstance Cape Coral Mouvèdre Rosé'

£13.99

Mourvedre is perfect for Waterkloof, with its head in the sun and feet in the sea. So, not one to follow fashion, Paul Boutinot has made it the most planted red grape on this biodynamic farm. Cape Coral Rosé has vindicated that decision, promptly proving itself to be one of the finest rosés in The Southern Hemisphere, if not The World. Pale in colour and discreet of fragrance, yet with a palate weight and texture that makes it a decidedly gastronomic rosé.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Pale salmon colour

Nose

Delicate aromas of peach, spice and herbs are prominent on the nose.

Palate

A fresh, yet broadly textured mouthfeel with a long, savoury and deeply satisfying finish. This rather grown-up wine makes a wonderful partner to almost any dish you care to prepare.

'Rooibos! Distinct terroir character here – whether it’s fynbos or tea or whatever, it certainly seems to reflect its home. Excellent softness and complexity. As valid a fine wine as many reds or whites – really shows what great rosé can do. Finishes with a long, mealy length.' – Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20

'A delightfully pale coloured Rosé. Delicate red berry aromas combined with a flinty note are prominent on the nose. The palate is soft with a lingering fresh acidity on the aftertaste. Traditionally the wine is served chilled on its own, but also marries well with spicy, tuna-based sushi.' – Nadia Barnard

Awards

The Wine Merchant Top 100 2016 - 2015 Vintage

Production

Living soils and a natural approach to winemaking means that each of the single-varietal wines in the Circumstance range is truly defined by the circumstances influencing the chosen varietal and vineyard blocks, including soil, aspect, altitude and vintage. The Mourvedre vines are dry-farmed, windswept and low-yielding. Production is a minuscule (for rosé) 5 tons per hectare. Grapes were hand-harvested followed by a gentle whole-bunch pressing in a horizontal basket press, to extract only the finest juice. No further maceration of the juice with the skins was allowed. The juice was run down via gravity into tank and left to settle naturally for 12 hours. From there the clean juice was racked off to wooden fermenters to start the natural fermentation spontaneously, relying on wild yeasts that occur naturally in the vineyard. The reason why Waterkloof ferment in older wooden fermenters is to ensure a slow ingress of oxygen throughout the process and therefore a longer fermentation without picking-up any oak aromas. The wine was then left on the primary lees to add further complexity before bottling. The wine then spent a minimum of six months on lees. No fining, just a light filtration. The only addition was a small amount of sulphur before bottling.

Producer

Founded by Paul Boutinot in 2004, Waterkloof is a family-owned, organic, biodynamic and WWF Biodiversity Champion farm perched high up on the windswept Schapenberg, overlooking False Bay and The Atlantic Ocean. Living soils, naturally low yields and a long growing season help provide talented young Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard with naturally balanced grapes that are imbued with a truly defining sense of origin. Those grapes are then transformed into wine with a minimum of intervention. The resulting wines are fine, inimitable and best enjoyed with food.

Sustainability

As well as being ECOCERT certified as organic, and working biodynamically, Waterkloof goes much further than many in its efforts to be a highly sustainable winery. To learn more please visit their website.

Specifications

Year	2023
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	100% Mourvèdre
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	13.5% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	10.2 units
Type	Rosé
Cellaring Potential	Awaiting info
Features	Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable, Natural
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Food Matches	Anything goes, whether it be sushi, spice or even steak!
Origin	Stellenbosch
Appellation	WO Stellenbosch

2021 Waterkloof 'Circumstance Cape Coral Mouvèdre Rosé'

2022 Coterie by Wildeberg Cabernet Franc Malbec

£13.49

Wildeberg’s rationale is to source the finest vineyards available to us across Franschhoek and the Coastal Region, from which cuvées the eyes are plucked to make Wildeberg and the Terroir Series releases In doing so there remains a small yet definitive expression of all the vineyards we worked with, and its these cuvees that are again selected to go into Coterie by Wildeberg. All fruit is hand-harvested in February from selected sites in Franschhoek and Paarl. Both cultivars are fermented whole bunch, with some whole berry fruit, there is no crush, just a daily pump over during the natural fermentation. We want to express place over cultivar so this slow, gentle extraction gives wines truer of origin than winery. The components are racked to French and Austrian oak, new and old, for 20 months before blending and bottling.

Producer

The Earth’s mantle thrusts up above the gentle town of Franschhoek, a wild slice of untamed mountain on which sits a farm named Wildeberg. An established wine region for some 350 years, sensible generations never thought to plant a vine here until a happy band of idealists recently craned their necks up at this hillside and, dizzy with hope, decided to give it a go. Franschhoek is on the very edge of the south-eastern corner of the Cape’s venerable Coastal Region, indeed Wildeberg’s property border runs over the top of the mountain where the Coastal Region gives way to the baboon-strewn road to Grabouw and the wider Western Cape.

The Wildeberg wines express the most captivating Franschhoek Valley fruit. In our Wildeberg Terroirs bottlings we look beyond our home to a clutch of exceptional sites of other origin.

A mountain rich in metaphor with the visual heft to flatter any wine, releases of Wildeberg and Terroirs express our continued purpose – exceptional wines of place, however humble the origin. If the abiding memory of our wines remains a textural sense of place then we are portraying the Cape as hoped.

Sustainability

Wildeberg is a 144ha wine farm set against the backdrop of the dramatic Franschhoek mountains, on the very edge of viticultural possibilities. To farm here you have to be in tune with nature, respecting the earth and the elements, creating wines which truly express the terroir with minimal intervention.

This special area is home to 4 endangered Fynbos species, and a key mission of Wildeberg is to conserve this vegetation type as they are critical to the biodiversity of the Western Cape. This work entails clearing invasive alien trees which can overwhelm the Fynbos and contribute to the threat of forest fires. Fynbos covered mountains like those at Wildeberg are thought to be responsible for delivering one glass of water in five in South Africa, due to the plants allowing up to 80% of rainwater to run off into rivers and reservoirs rather than being absorbed into the soil.
Water is precious in South Africa, and waste water from the winery passes through a natural wetland with indigenous reeds and plants before being pumped into our irrigation dam. We then use this water to irrigate the vines.

All Wildeberg wines are certified as part of South Africa’s sustainability accreditation, the ‘Integrated Production of Wine’ (IPW) system. The IPW scheme, started in 1998, consists of a set of audited guidelines specifying agricultural practices, manufacturing practices and bottling activities.

Wildeberg is also a proud member of the Cape’s Old Vine Project (OVP), which preserves blocks of vines which are 35 years and older. The project encourages producers to farm as close to nature as possible whilst raising awareness of the inherent potential of old vines to produce outstanding and expressive wines.

Awards for 2021 Vintage

Bronze - 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards
Silver - 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards

Specifications

Year	2022
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	67% Cabernet Franc, 33% Malbec
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	14.5% ABV
Units of alcohol per bottle	10.9 units
Type	Red Wine
Allergen Information	Contains Sulphites
Dietary Information	Vegan & Vegetarian Approved
Food Matches	Grilled meats, especially lamb and spiced meat dishes.
Appellation	W.O. Coastal Region

2021 Coterie by Wildeberg Cabernet Franc Malbec

2022 Coterie by Wildeberg Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

£12.95

Production

Wildeberg’s rationale is to source the finest vineyards available to us across Franschhoek and the Coastal Region, from which cuvées the eyes are plucked to make Wildeberg and the Terroir Series releases. In doing so there remains a small yet definitive expression of all the vineyards we worked with, and its these cuvées that are go into Coterie by Wildeberg. Semillon from Franschhoek is barrel fermented in 600 litre French and Austrian oak then aged for 10 months in barrel. Sauvignon Blanc is fermented in stainless steel and kept on the gross lees for 10 months. Once the blend is decided the wine is allowed to marry in tank for 6 weeks prior to coarse filtration and bottling. Semillon is aged in 36% new barrels, 44% 2nd fill, 20% stainless steel.

Producer

The Wildeberg wines express the most captivating Franschhoek Valley fruit. In our Wildeberg Terroirs bottlings we look beyond our home to a clutch of exceptional sites of other origin.

Sustainability

Awards

2022 - Silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards (2021 Vintage)
2023 - Silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards (2022 Vintage)

Specifications

Year	2022
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	80% Semillion, 20% Sauvignon Blanc
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	13% ABV
Units of alcohol per bottle	9.75 units
Type	White Wine
Allergen Information	Contains Sulphites
Dietary Information	Vegan & Vegetarian Approved
Food Matches	Great with white fish, roast chicken dishes, or tiger prawns with chilli.
Appellation	W.O. Coastal Region

2022 Coterie by Wildeberg Semillion Sauvignon Blanc

2022 Waterkloof Circle of Life White

£13.49

Circle of Life celebrates farming in harmony with nature, telling a story of preserving and regenerating biodiversity. This harmonious combination of 3 classic grape varieties captures the essence of Waterkloof's biodynamic viticultural amphitheatre. 94 points, Decanter July 2023.

Tasting notes

A fine and seamless blend of 3 classic white grapes. Sauvignon Blanc aromas are prominent on the nose, with lime and prickly pear notes. A tight mineral core and creamy mid palate from the Chenin Blanc gives complexity and a persistent finish while a small proportion of Semillon adds texture and depth.

Awards

Vintage 2022 - Decanter World Wine Awards 2023 - Silver

Production

Circle of Life White is neither defined by grape varietals, nor indeed a specific block within the vineyard, but instead encapsulates the myriad soils, aspects, altitudes and grape varieties found on this windswept, biodynamic farm. The windswept vineyard blocks are all, south facing (less sun exposure), 200-350m above sea-level and a mere 2 miles from The Atlantic. These factors combine to produce low yields, balanced grapes and wines with a true sense of place. Production is a miserly 4 tons per hectare. Bunches are picked early in the mornings, when they are still cool, which helps to preserve the flavours. Extracting juice from the grapes is achieved through whole-bunch pressing in our modern basket press. This is the most delicate way to extract the juice. No additions of enzymes or settling agents were made to the juice. After a settling period of 24 hours, a large proportion of the juice was destined for co-fermentation. We determined a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc prior to fermentation which went into old 600-liter barrels where it fermented for four months. After the fermentation was completed the blend was racked to a stainless-steel tank to which they added the rest of the Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Semillon. To have the varietals integrate the wine was left in barrel on the fine lees until its bottling date six months later. This helped to add more complexity and weight to the palate. The wine is produced as naturally as possible, with no additions of acids or enzymes.

Producer

Founded by Paul Boutinot in 2004, Waterkloof is a family-owned farm using organic practices. The farm is perched high up on the windswept Schapenberg, overlooking False Bay and The Atlantic Ocean. Living soils, naturally low yields and a long growing season help provide talented Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard with naturally balanced grapes that are imbued with a truly defining sense of origin. Those grapes are then transformed into wine with a minimum of intervention. The resulting wines are fine, inimitable and best enjoyed with food.

Sustainability

As well as being ECOCERT certified as organic, and working biodynamically, Waterkloof goes much further than many in its efforts to be a highly sustainable winery. A member of The Integrated Production of Wine Scheme, a voluntary environmental sustainability scheme established by the South African wine industry in 1998, and of The Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trading Association, a multi-stakeholder, non-profit voluntary organisation which actively promotes ethical trade in the wine industry, it is has also been a member of the World Wildlife Fund’s Biodiversity & Wine Initiative from its inception. Through a partnership between the IPW and the BWI, Waterkloof is a WWF Conservation Champion and has in place a formal nature conservation plan that includes: clearing approximately 55 hectares of land from alien invader species and restoring the Cape’s precious indigenous flora and fauna; re-establishing natural vegetation in previously disturbed areas; introducing preventive erosion control measures; providing migration corridors for species between isolated areas of natural vegetation; mulching of winter cover crops to create a healthy environment for the natural predators of vine pests and installing perches for birds of prey for natural rodent control measures.

In the vineyards, drip irrigation is used only on young vines as a more efficient system to conserve water. Most of Waterkloof is dry-farmed; the biological control of pests is employed as an alternative to chemical spraying; annual legume cover crops are sown to add nitrogen to the soil and annual grain cover crops are sown in alternate rows as a carbon source and to return nutrients to the soil; earthworms are farmed and their casts are used to make a tea, which is used on the cover crops and soil as a living fertiliser; 380-400 tons of compost a year are made each year to boost carbon matter in the soil, to enhance its water holding capacity, and to boost the level of microbes in the soil keeping it fertile and alive; and, as part of the estate’s biodynamic regime, various foliar feeds are made. No damaging herbicides, pesticides or fungicide are used, only natural predatory fungi and metabolites to control mildew and to build the plants’ immunity. Six Percheron horses are used to plough, compost, spray and harvest the vineyards to reduce damage to the soil and vines and to reduce carbon emissions. Using the horses also teaches the handlers the rare skill of training these horses. A flock of chickens reduces the number of pests in the vineyard and returns nitrogen to the soil and compost, as well as providing fresh, free-range eggs for the restaurant. A small herd of cows is kept, which is key to producing biodynamic composts and teas, and a flock of sheep and a herd of goats are allowed to graze in the vineyards in winter to naturally reduce the level of weeds and vegetation between vine rows, as well as to put nitrogen back into the soil.

In the cellar, waste water gets pumped through a stainless-steel filter into a bioreactor where it is combined with the rest of the waste water from the building. Aerobic bacteria remove most of the contaminants before the water is pumped into a sand bed to remove any solids. From there, it runs into a reed bed for a final clean up and it is then used to irrigate the young vines. Peroxide is used a cleaning agent in the cellar as it breaks down in water after 15 minutes, leaving no residue. The cellar itself is built into the hillside to maintain a stable temperature, to avoid pumping the wines and hence reducing energy usage. Used boxes, dividers, bottles, screwcaps, plastics, paper and labels are recycled with an external company that take everything away for recycling. Old, unused bottles are sold to bottle recyclers who wash and resell them.

Specifications

Year	2022
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	49% Sauvignon Blanc, 41% Chenin Blanc, 10% Semillion
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	14% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	10.5 units
Type	White Wine Blend
Cellaring Potential	Awaiting info
Features	Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable, Natural
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Food Matches	Try with Sashimi of Tuna, smoked potato gnocchi or red snapper.
Origin	Stellenbosch
Appellation	WO Stellenbosch

2022 Coterie by Wildeberg Grenache Syrah

£13.49

Wildeberg’s rationale is to source the finest vineyards available to us across Franschhoek and the Coastal Region, from which cuvées the eyes are plucked to make Wildeberg and the Terroir Series releases. In doing so there remains a small yet definitive expression of all the vineyards we worked with, and its these cuvees that are again selected to go into Coterie by Wildeberg. All fruit is hand-harvested in February from selected sites in Franschhoek and Paarl. Both cultivars are fermented whole bunch, with some whole berry fruit, there is no crush, just a daily pump over during the natural fermentation. We want to express place over cultivar so this slow, gentle extraction gives wines truer of origin than winery. The components are racked to French and Austrian oak, new and old, for 8 months before the blend is decided. This blend is then allowed to marry for 6 weeks prior to coarse filtration and bottling on the farm.

Producer

The Wildeberg wines express the most captivating Franschhoek Valley fruit. In our Wildeberg Terroirs bottlings we look beyond our home to a clutch of exceptional sites of other origin.

Sustainability

Awards for 2022 Vintage

Bronze - 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards

Specifications

Year	2022
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	67% Grenache, 33% Syrah
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	14% ABV
Units of alcohol per bottle	10.5 units
Type	Red Wine
Allergen Information	Contains Sulphites
Dietary Information	Vegan & Vegetarian Approved
Food Matches	Grilled meats, especially lamb and spiced meat dishes.
Appellation	W.O. Coastal Region

2022 Coterie by Wildeberg Grenache Syrah

2024 Iona Monipole, Elgin Highlands Sauvignon Blanc

£14.99

An elegant, well-balanced Sauvignon Blanc - Iona's Wine Making Philosophy - 'The Winemaker is the Custodian of the fruit'

Tasting Notes

Beautiful purity of limes and ripe gooseberry, with tropical, floral and fine herbal notes, ruby grapefruit and white pear drop on the finish. This is cool climate Sauvignon Blanc – vibrant, mineral, elegant, balanced and delicate, with a long, layered and complex finish.

2024 Iona Monipole, Elgin Highlands Sauvignon Blanc

Producer

At 420m above sea-level, set high above the picturesque Elgin Valley Andrew Gunn founded Iona. It is here overlooking the Atlantic ocean that he has secured some of the coolest vineyards in the Cape. In a country where cool climate vineyards are like gold dust, these vineyards are veritable nuggets. There is an extremely long growing season, allowing Andrew to create wines with complex flavours and a fresh, elegant style. The approach is hands off and the land is farmed according to organic and biodynamic practices with a particular focus on ensuring the health of the soils whilst pests are kept under control by the resident flock of geese that roam the vineyards.

Production

"We aim for elegance, balance and to express the unique terroir of the Elgin Highlands. Grapes were hand-picked into crates early in the morning to ensure that the grapes stayed cool. Each of the 9 blocks are harvested and vinified separately. After gentle pressing, the must was settled, maintaining a temperature of 6-8°C. Fermentation occurred at 14-16°C, using different commercial yeast strains particularly suited to Sauvignon Blanc. The wine was kept on the gross lees for 5 months and stirred regularly to enhance the richness of the mid-palate. The Sémillon component was fermented naturally in 2nd and 3rd fill 500L French oak barrels to enhance the mid palate weight and to add complexity to the wine. A selection of different Sauvignon Blanc vineyard sites were naturally fermented in 500L French oak barrels. The barrel fermentation component made up 4% of the final blend.

Accolades & Awards

Tim Atkin South Africa Report 2024 91 Points
Iona's spectacularly sited parcels are some of the highest and most dramatic in Elgin, producing a quintessential cool climate Sauvignon Blanc. Perfumed, salty and stony, this has layers of lime and grapefruit, a touch of vanilla and a briney finish. 2024-27. 91 Points, TA, 2024.

Specifications

Year	2024
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	96% Sauvignon Blanc, 4%Semillon
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	13% abv
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	9.75 units per bottle
Type	White Wine
Food Matching	Fresh asparagus complements chicken and seafood dishes beautifully, yet it's also delightful on its own.
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Origin	Elgin
Appellation	WO Western Cape

2022 Marras Los Tros Chenin Blanc

£13.99

Tasting Notes

Nose

This wine is bursting with aromatic notes of lemon, apricot and pear.

Palate

On the palate, stone fruit and pear skin flavour characteristics are complemented by a crisp acidity and a round mouthfeel with a refreshing finish.

Winemakers Notes

Marras is the small but mighty label by talented young winemaker Martin Lamprecht, who brings fresh ideas to his current home in the Swartland. This area is a melting pot for hot new talent and South Africa's leading region for liberal winemaking and experimentation. This Chenin Blanc was handpicked and spent 6 months ageing on its fine lees in old 300-litre barrels.

Vineyards

If you can talk to a grape, it will tell you that the Piekenierskloof region is the ideal spot for a tough top class wine-producing grape, as it’s exposed to extreme conditions. Piekenierskloof is the mountain pass between Piketberg and Citrusdal, over the Olifants River Mountains. With warm inland temperatures rising from the Swartland during the day and cool Atlantic sea breezes rolling in overnight, these grapes grow in a dryer soil with just enough water to produce grapes that add depth and complexity to every single sip.

The Region

The Swartland begins some 50 kilometers north of Cape Town and consists of the regions between the towns of Malmesbury in the south, Darling in the west, Piketberg in the north and the Riebeek West and Riebeek Kasteel in the east. It is so called because of the endemic Renosterbos that appears dark mainly when it rains in winter. The Swartland area is mainly known for wheat, but the crown prince in this area is the small concentrated berries of the vines that produce well-balanced and exceptionally ripe and deep-flavoured wines.

Alan's Personal Notes

"This is really good!! Warm rich stone fruits with wonderfully exhibitive mineral notes and fresh acidity to make it incredibly rich but perfectly balanced with great length and complexity!! Much better value wine than its cape cousins!!"

Specifications

Year	2022
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	Chenin Blanc
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	12.5% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	10.1 units
Type	White Wine
Features	Vegan & Vegetarian approved
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Food Matches	Mezze, cold meats and salads
Origin	Swartland
Appellation	WO Swartland

2022 Coterie by Wildeberg Cinsault Rosé

£13.99

A delicate free run Rosé of serious quality from a 30 year old bush-vine vineyard in Paarl, whose appetisingly savoury bite offsets the gentle, creamy texture.

Tasting Notes

A pale, lightly savoury Rosé of depth and purity. The older oak wraps this dry, mineral wine in a delicate creamy veil leading to a bright, structured and fine finish.

2023 False Bay Whole Bunch Cinsault Mourvèdre Rosé, WO Coastal Region

Producer

The Wildeberg wines express the most captivating Franschhoek Valley fruit. In our Wildeberg Terroirs bottlings we look beyond our home to a clutch of exceptional sites of other origin.

Sustainability

Awards

2022 Vintage - Decanter World Wine Awards 2023 - Silver
2021 Vintage - Decanter World Wine Awards 2022 - Silver

Specifications

Year	2022
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	100% Cinsault
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	12,5% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	9.8 units
Type	Rose Wine
Dietary Information	Vegan and Vegetarian
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Food Matches	Drink chilled on its own or serve with fresh seafood, a quinoa and pomegranate salad or herb marinated grilled chicken tenders.
Origin	WO Coastal Region

2022 Waterkloof Circumstance 'Seriously Cool' Cinsault

£13.99

A fine and friendly expression of the Cape’s most under-rated variety. Leading the march for Cinsault's renaissance in the Cape, Waterkloof give this variety a level of respect it rarely enjoys.

Tasting Notes

Vibrant red fruits on the nose with a savoury, fynbos finesse. On the palate it has ripe, black cherry fruit offset by cranberry freshness and texture with taut acidity on the finish.

Production

Seriously Cool Cinsault is crafted from 30 to 35 year old bush-vine vineyards on the outskirts of Stellenbosch. The vineyards are close to the ocean, which ensure a long growing season and allows for ripe fruit with good concentration and a balanced acidity. Production from these grand dames of South African viticultural heritage is a miserly 4 tons/hectare. Grapes are hand-harvested and brought to the cellar, where the bunches are hand-sorted and fermented whole-bunch in large wooden fermenters. Alcoholic fermentation starts spontaneously inside the berry from the naturally occurring yeast. After around 3 days of this intracellular fermentation the grapes are punched down twice daily with feet to ensure that the berries are broken slowly and softly and not over extracted. The wine is kept on the skins for a minimum of 30 days. ‘Powered’ through gravity alone, the wine runs down to a tank below. The remaining berries, fall into the basket press where they are gently pressed. The soft pressing and the free-run are then placed together in second and third fill 600L French oak barrels to finish malolactic fermentation and the wine is then aged for 8 months. This wine expresses the grapes in their purest form and no fining agents were added. Only sulphur was added and no other additions, such as tartaric acid or enzymes were allowed.

Producer

Sustainability

Alan's Personal Tasting Note

"This is divine - lots of vibrant soft attractive fruits - but are they black or red or a combo of both? There’s also a lovely savouriness to the palate plus prominent herb notes - all kept fresh with a beautiful balancing activity. Real quality winemaking and lots of moreish flavour for the price. Fabulous value. It is seriously cool and serving it cool sounds attractive. It’s more a bright, vibrant lunchtime summer red than a heavier, warm, rich autumnal style." tasted August 2024

Specifications

Year	2022
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	100% Cinsault
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	13.5% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	10.1 units
Type	Red Wine
Cellaring Potential	Awaiting info
Features	Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable, Natural
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Food Matches	Would pair nicely with duck, pigeon and also a rack of lamb. Lightly chilled it's a great match with a plate of spicy charcuterie.
Origin	Stellenbosch
Appellation	South Africa

2022 The Tea Leaf

£13.50

A naturally fermented old bush vine brew, Tea Leaf hails from vineyards where the vines grow amongst South Africa’s native rooibos (red tea) plants that grow wild alongside the vines.

Tasting Notes

Aromas of ripe citrus and peach with savoury, gently nutty notes. The palate combines firm, high-key fruit with a gentle, sandy texture true to the source vineyards’ soil leading to a long, lightly honeyed finish. A deeply satisfying wine, taut and concentrated, from a blend of high quality bush vine fruit.

Production

From selected coastal vineyards of Chenin, Grenache Gris and Marsanne where the indigenous rooibos tea plant grows wild. Grapes are harvested in the early hours and then a further selection is made by hand at the winery to select the best fruit. The wine is naturally fermented and aged a few months in older 600 litre French oak barrels. No fining and coarse filtered (above 1 micron).

Producer

What’s this then? SKU is a casual band of happy ferments. A circus tent of the Cape’s stranger grapes and blends. We will champion the unfashionable, experiment with the known and express the found before it gets lost. Mistakes are likely, fun certain. Welcome to Strange Kompanjie, a Kultivar Club for the Underdog.

Sustainability

Strange Kompanjie Unlimited wines are certified as part of South Africa’s sustainability accreditation, the ‘Integrated Production of Wine’ (IPW) system. The IPW scheme, started in 1998, consists of a set of audited guidelines specifying agricultural practices, manufacturing practices and bottling activities.

Specifications

Year	2022
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	80% Chenin Blanc, 12% Grenache Gris, 7% Marsanne
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	13.5% alcohol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	10.1 units
Type	White Wine
Features	Vegetarian & Vegan
Dietary Information	Contains Sulphites
Food Match	Simply cooked fish dishes, scallops, salt & pepper squid or fishcakes, light seafood pasta, risotto, rich salads and sushi.
Appellation	WO Western Cape

2023 Forager White (Chenin Blanc & Grenache Blanc)

£12.75

"An altogether glorious glass of wine - enough flavour to drink on its own but with interest, complexity and length that will complement lots of menu options. A lot of wine for the price." Alan Chapman

Traversing the beautiful vineyards of the Western Cape, I have the good fortune to often taste small and unique parcels of wine. Winemakers create blends to accentuate certain qualities or add complexity to a wine. Forager is one such blend, assembled from selected grapes each with its own special character, 'foraged' from various vineyards, barrels and batches to create a distinctive wine in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Light yellow-straw.

Nose

The nose is reminiscent of apricot, peach, and quince with hints of lychee and cardamom.

Palate

Citrus and stone fruit follow on the palate, rounded by subtle oak and punchy lime acidity. The finish is long and dry. Medium to full-bodied.

2023 Forager White (Chenin Blanc & Grenache Blanc)

Vineyards

Dryland vineyards in Paarl and Swartland, aged between 12-36 years. Various soil types, ranging from decomposed granite, shale, and alluvial soils.

Winemaking

The grapes were hand-picked with rigorous bunch selection in the vineyards. They were handled separately in the cellar, and only the free-run juice was cold-fermented with a selection of yeast strains to impart complexity. After fermentation, 40% of the wine was racked into a combination of 300L and 500L French oak barrels ranging from 2nd to 4th fill. The wine was given extended lees contact in the barrel for 3-5 months, after which it was racked, blended, and bottled.

Awards

2019: Best Value White Blend - Winemag, 90pt - Winemag, 4 Stars Platter
2020: Gold Gilbert & Gaillard - 4 Stars Platter, 92pt Winemag - Top 10 White blends, Winemag
2021: Double Gold Gilbert & Gaillard - 4 Stars Diners Club 2023 - 91pt Winemag

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"I had kinda overlooked this when we tasted in South Africa (so much to taste) - but it’s beautiful. Stone and citrus fruits dance round a core of lovely complex, textural creaminess. Good balance & length make for a thoroughly decent glass of white - lots of interest, flavour and complexity." Tasted August 2024

Specifications

Year	2023
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	78% Chenin Blanc & 22% Grenache Blanc
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	13.6% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	10.1 units
Type	White Wine
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Food Suggestion	Pair with wild mushroom risotto, Moroccan chicken tagine, or herb-crusted rack of lamb. Serve below room temperature: 8°C to 10°C.
Cellaring Potential	This wine can be enjoyed now but will reward cellaring for up to 3-4 years.
Additional Information	Integrity & Sustainably Certified
Origin	Paarl & Swartland
Appellation	Western Cape

2022 Forager Red (Shiraz & Grenache)

£12.75

Tasting Notes

Colour

Deep ruby garnet.

Nose

The nose is reminiscent of dark forest fruit with notes of white pepper, dried herbs, cloves and leather.

Palate

Red berry and dark jam follow on the palate with subtle vanilla oak. The finish is elegant and perfumed. Medium to full-bodied with soft, supple tannins.

Vineyards

Dryland vineyards in Paarl, Wellington, and Malmesbury, aged 16-25 years. Various soil types, including decomposed granite, shale, and alluvial soils.

Winemaking

Hand-harvested with rigorous bunch selection in the vineyards. After crushing and destemming, the grapes were cold-macerated for a few days. Fermentation took place in open-top stainlesssteel tanks with regular punch-downs and pump-overs. After fermentation, the Shiraz was left on the skins for extended contact before a portion was racked to a combination of French and American oak barrels. The Grenache portion was unoaked and stored in stainless steel tanks until blending with the Shiraz.

Awards

2018: Gold, Ultra Wine Challenge - 3.5 Stars Platter
2019: Gold, Gilbert & Gaillard - 3.5 Stars Platter
2020: Winemag 93pt and Top 10 SA Red blends - Gold, Gilbert & Gaillard - 4 Stars Diners Club

Specifications

Year	2022
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	80% Shiraz 20% Grenache
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	14.5% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	10.9 units
Type	Red Wine
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Food Suggestion	Pair with grilled and barbecued beef or game; pan-roasted duck breast; hearty stews and braised meats. Serve it slightly cool around 16°C to 18°C.
Cellaring Potential	This wine can be enjoyed now but will reward cellaring for up to 5-6 years.
Additional Information	Integrity & Sustainably Certified
Origin	Paarl & Swartland
Appellation	Western Cape

2021 Dornier Cocoa Hill Ruby Red

£12.49

In a time of seafaring and spice, pirates played in Table Bay…
Among them was Long Ben – as fierce as he was tall,
he looted and pillaged and scavenged from all.
Ben fast became known for being up to no good,
and so fled from the seas and gave up his loot.
He planted some vines, as was the way,
and peered out towards the ocean almost every day.
Long Ben would have gazed longingly at the vista of Table Bay
from where our vines grow today, on Cocoa Hill.”

Tasting Notes

Aromas of raspberry, cherry and a hint of eucalyptus. The palate is full, fresh and lively with a subtle and well-balanced tannin structure.

History

Dornier is a family owned winery situated in The Golden Triangle area of the upper Blaauwklippen Valley Stellenbosch. The primary focus at Dornier lies in the production of premium quality wines with minimal intervention which are expressive of the unique terroir of The Golden Triangle whilst showcasing the complexity and finesse of the noble grape varieties planted at Dornier. Reverence for tradition is salient at Dornier as is difference where it leads to improvement.

Dornier Wine Estate is located on 3 different farms in the Upper Blaauwklippen Valley namely Groenkloof, Heldemeer and Stellenrust (Homestead) the latter of which includes a historic Sir Herbert Baker designed homestead and one of the first wine cellars ever built in Stellenbosch in the late 1600s.

Dornier proudly boasts an A rating with IPW (Integrity and Sustainability) given its ongoing efforts incorporated and devotion towards sustainable farming practises with integrity.

Dornier also holds an A Rating with WIETA - a pro-active world-class and sustainable ethical trade programme for the South African wine industry and aligned sectors. given its efforts incorporated and devotion towards facilitating fair working conditions and sustainable ethical trade within the wine industry and its aligned sectors.

Fermentation & Aging

All components of this blend were fermented separately in vineyard specific batches with pump-overs for colour and tannin extraction being performed five times daily. The wine was barrel matured for 12 months in French oak barrels and a small un-oaked component was used to provide a fresh and lively character.

Vintage Conditions

The vines are planted on our Groenkloof farm on the slopes of the Stellenbosch Mountain. The soil is composed of coffee coloured decomposed granite. The vines get full sun which allows for optimum development of rich berry characters in the grapes.

Accolades

4.5 John Platter Stars
TOP 100 SA Wines
Veritas Silver Outstanding

Specifications

Year	2021
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	Merlot (34%), Shiraz (30%), Cabernet Sauvignon (19%), Malbec (14%) and Petit Verdot (3%)
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	15% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	11.3 units
Type	Red Wine
Cellaring Potential	Up to 5 years
Food Matching	Braised oxtail, Boeuf bourguignon, charcuterie platter and smoked kudu Carpaccio.
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Origin	Stellenbosch
Appellation	WO Western Cape

2023 Iona, Sophie Te'Blanche Sauvignon Blanc

£13.49

Sophie te'Blanche, a nickname given by those including our workers, who can't pronounce Sauvignon Blanc, is the inspiration behind this much loved wine, produced from grapes grown by dedicated farmers in Elgin and the Cape South Coast.

Tasting Notes

Floral notes with a complex medley of tropical fruits, mingled with subtle lime and gooseberry undertones. The palate is balanced and rich, showing cut green apples with great minerality and texture.

2023 Iona, Sophie Te'Blanche Sauvignon Blanc

Producer

Production

Grapes were hand harvested at optimal ripeness during the season. Grapes are crushed and pressed immediately. Juice was settled overnight before being inoculated with a variety of selected yeast. After fermentation, wines are racked and spend 4 months on the fine lees before blending and bottling.

Specifications

Year	2023
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	100% Sauvignon Blanc
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	13% abv
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	9.75 units per bottle
Type	White Wine
Food Matching	Asparagus and fish topped with hollandaise sauce, alongside Thai cuisine.
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Origin	Elgin
Appellation	WO Western Cape

2021 Coterie by Wildeberg Chenin Blanc Grenache Blanc

£12.95

Production

Wildeberg’s rationale is to source the finest vineyards available to us across Franschhoek and the Coastal Region, from which cuvées the eyes are plucked to make Wildeberg and the Terroir Series releases. In doing so there remains a small yet definitive expression of all the vineyards we worked with, and its these cuvees that are again selected to go into Coterie by Wildeberg. Chenin and Grenache Blanc complement each other well. Both varietals love the Coastal Region’s arid soils and Mediterranean climate due to their inherent tolerance to drought. Both components were naturally fermented in 600 litre French oak barrels. The Chenin is from an old, low-yielding Franschhoek vineyard planted in 1962 (65%). This brings freshness and tightness to the blend, the old vines also bring Wildeberg’s hallmark texture. The Grenache Blanc is from vibrant, younger plantings Paarl (35%), adding body and structure with this cultivars naturally exotic notes of jasmine and white spice. 65% 2nd fill and 35% 3rd fill barrels.

Producer

The Wildeberg wines express the most captivating Franschhoek Valley fruit. In our Wildeberg Terroirs bottlings we look beyond our home to a clutch of exceptional sites of other origin.

Sustainability

Awards

Silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards (2022 Vintage)

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"Another Coterie delight - you don’t see these 2 varietals together many places in the world - but this certainly works here to produce a stunning, textural white. I’m picking up some old vine vibes and malolactic creaminess. A very well balanced and interesting white - it’s also got a good dollop of oak in the finish." July 2024

Specifications

Year	2021
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	65% Chenin Blanc, 35% Grenache Blanc
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	12.5% ABV
Units of alcohol per bottle	9.4 units
Type	White Wine
Allergen Information	Contains Sulphites
Dietary Information	Vegan & Vegetarian Approved
Food Matches	This is a rich, textural wine whose body and exotic jasmine notes would ably marry with gentle Malay and Thai green fish curries, dishes with lemongrass and coriander, or just simply braai-ed linefish
Appellation	W.O. Coastal Region

2021 Coterie by Wildeberg Chenin Blanc Grenache Blanc

2022 Dornier Cocoa Hill Chenin Blanc

£12.49

In a time of seafaring and spice, pirates played in Table Bay…
Among them was Long Ben – as fierce as he was tall,
he looted and pillaged and scavenged from all.
Ben fast became known for being up to no good,
and so fled from the seas and gave up his loot.
He planted some vines, as was the way,
and peered out towards the ocean almost every day.
Long Ben would have gazed longingly at the vista of Table Bay
from where our vines grow today, on Cocoa Hill.

Tasting Notes

Being a truly versatile variety and lending itself well to many different styles, we have aimed at making a wine in a fresh and fruit driven style. The wine has a lively bright colour with delicate aromas of passion fruit and litchis. The palate is vibrant with a refreshing acidity and flavours of tropical fruit.

Cocoa Hill Chenin Blanc is a delectably chic version of what used to be South Africa's Cinderella variety. The vines grow in the decomposed red granite soils of Cocoa Hill – a hilltop in the folds of the Stellenbosch Mountain, superbly positioned in prime South African terroir.

Vintage Conditions

2022 was an excellent vintage for many producers in Stellenbosch. The winter was cold and wet and the ripening season was cool. This led to grapes ripening at lower sugar levels with higher natural acidities. The lower temperatures also preserved the more delicate flavor components in the Chenin Blanc during the ripening period.

Fermentation and Aging

This wine is made with Chenin Blanc grapes from the Stellenbosch and Swartland area. The wine was fermented in stainless-steel tanks and in French oak barrels. Flavour and style specific yeast were used in order to obtain the desired fruit- and aroma characteristics.

History

Dornier proudly boasts an A rating with IPW (Integrity and Sustainability) given its ongoing efforts incorporated and devotion towards sustainable farming practises with integrity.

Specifications

Year	2022
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	100% Chenin Blanc
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	13% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	9.8 units
Type	White Wine
Cellaring Potential	Up until 2025
Food Matching	Being a wine with vibrant fruit it will pair well with salads, pasta dishes and grilled seafood, such as line fish and will accompany calamari and scallops very well.
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Origin	Stellenbosch
Appellation	WO Western Cape

2022 Dornier Cocoa Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé

£12.49

While Cape Merchants were trading in sugar and spice
Pirates were drinking and dancing and rolling the dice
Long Ben – as fierce as he was tall,
looted and pillaged and scavenged from all
when luck ran out he settled ashore
planted some vines and battled no more
from Cocoa Hill he watched the ships sail by
savoured the wine and let out a cry – Gunsway

Tasting Notes

This wine has a soft, salmon pink colour and is bursting with aromas of strawberries and rose petals. The palate is vibrant with a good balance between the bright acidity and flavours of Turkish delight, strawberries and red cherries. The finish is juicy and dry and the wine has a pleasant length.

A fresh, dry and vibrant Rosé made via direct pressing of Cabernet Sauvignon providing a wine with an alluring salmon colour and appealing drinkability.

Vintage Conditions

2022 was an excellent vintage for the Rosé on Dornier. The ripening season was cooler than the previous vintage. The result of this cooler season was that the grapes ripened at lower sugar levels and with a fresher natural acidity and more delicate flavours.

Fermentation and Ageing

The Cabernet Sauvignon ripened in late February. The grapes were handpicked and pressed directly after destemming in order to obtain light pink juice. The resultant light pink juice fermented for 14 days at 12 degrees Celsius and spent a further four months on full lees to provide fullness and body to the wine.

History

Dornier proudly boasts an A rating with IPW (Integrity and Sustainability) given its ongoing efforts incorporated and devotion towards sustainable farming practises with integrity.

Specifications

Year	2022
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	13% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	9.8 units
Type	Rosé Wine
Cellaring Potential	Up until 2025
Food Matching	With its alluring pink colour this wine is a good pair with fresh salmon, cold meats, crayfish and salads. It is also a great match for sushi.
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Origin	Stellenbosch
Appellation	WO Western Cape

2022 Dornier Cocoa Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé

2023 Waterkloof Seriously Cool Chenin Blanc

£12.00

A rounded, forward style of Chenin Blanc from 30-40 year old bush vine vineyards on the Heldeberg, cooled by the ocean breezes.

Tasting Notes

A bright, vibrant style of Chenin with aromas of citrus, white flowers and a hint of honey. Ripe and full flavoured with a rounded mouthfeel thanks to long fermentation and extended lees contact. Nice concentration of stone fruit characters with hints of dried apricot and mango. Good balancing acidity on the clean, fresh finish.

Production

Crafted from 30-40 year old bush-vine vineyards in the Helderberg area supplemented by fruit from another dry grown block in Stellenbosch. The vineyards are close to the ocean, which ensure a long growing season and allows for ripe fruit with good concentration and a balanced acidity. Production from these grand dames of South African viticultural heritage is a miserly 4 tons/hectare. Waterkloof follow a traditional, minimalistic approach in their gravitational cellar which means interfering as little as possible with the winemaking process. This allows the flavours prevalent in that specific vineyard to ultimately express themselves in the wine. To achieve this goal, all grapes are whole-bunch pressed, which ensures that juice is extracted in the gentlest way. The juice is then allowed to settle for 24 hours after which it is racked from the settling tank into stainless steel tanks, concrete eggs and older 600 liter barrels. They do not inoculate the juice with commercially cultivated yeast, but allow the wild yeast prevailing in the vineyard to ferment the juice. No additional acid or enzymes are added during the process. The natural fermentation process took 5 months to complete and only a light filtration was used prior to bottling. The only addition is a small amount of sulphur before bottling.

Producer

Sustainability

Specifications

Year	2023
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	100% Chenin Blanc
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	12.5% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	9.4 units
Type	White Wine
Cellaring Potential	Awaiting info
Features	Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable, Natural
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Food Matches	Great with seafood, pasta, salads, chicken... just give it a go with anything you want.
Origin	Stellenbosch
Appellation	South Africa

2020 Waterkloof 'Circle of Life' Red

£14.49

A rewarding and satisfyingly juicy mix of Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Syrah. Circle of Life tells the story of Waterkloof: a once conventionally farmed property transformed into a living, breathing organic and regenerative vineyard by Farm Manager Christiaan Loots and his team.

Tasting notes

A harmonious blend that combines the spiciness of Syrah, the ripe, youthful fruits of Petit Verdot and the juiciness from Cabernet Franc. The beginning is fresh and full of fruit with good acidity, evolving into riper flavours with lightly spicy notes. Elegant tannins and fine, bright acid on the finish.

Production

Circle of Life Red is neither defined by grape varietals, nor indeed a specific block within the vineyard, but instead encapsulates the myriad soils, aspects, altitudes and grape varieties found on this windswept, biodynamic farm. The windswept vineyard blocks are all south facing (less sun exposure), 200-350m above sea-level and a mere 2 miles from The Atlantic. These factors combine to produce low yields, balanced grapes and wines with a true sense of place. Production is a miserly 4 tons/hectare. Grapes are hand-harvested and brought to the cellar by horses for hand-sorting. Bordeaux varietals are de-stemmed, whilst Rhone varietals are whole bunch pressed. Fermentation takes place spontaneously with wild yeast in large, open-top wooden fermenters with foot-pressing or manual punch-downs 1-2 times per day. The wine is left on skins for 30 days before going through malolactic fermentation in mainly old barrels, then ageing for 20 months in the same vessels. The components are then blended and the wine ages futher in large wooden foudre. No fining, just a light filtration. No additons other than sulphur. Vegan friendly, biodynamic wine.

Producer

Sustainability

Specifications

Year	2020
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	38% Cabernet Franc, 28% Merlot, 18% Syrah, 16% Petit Verdot
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	14% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	10.5 units
Type	Red Wine Blend
Cellaring Potential	Awaiting info
Features	Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable, Natural
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
	This very versatile wine will complement numerous dishes from a tomato based stew to meat on the bone.
Origin	Stellenbosch
Appellation	WO Stellenbosch