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

2024 Waterkloof 'Circumstance Cape Coral Mouvèdre Rosé'

£15.29 £13.00 Save 15%

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	2024
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'

2024 Waterkloof Circle of Life White

£14.99 £12.74 Save 15%

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	2024
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

2020 Baleia Chardonnay

£14.95 £12.71 Save 15%

Baleia is Portuguese for whale and the striking labels are inspired by St Sebastian Bay, the Whale Nursery of South Africa.

Discover a place of whales and wonder, where wines are born from rocky limestone soil in a remote and unspoilt corner of the Cape South Coast.

Here vines overcome fierce elements to create fruit with singular character and depth of flavour. Beyond evocative wine, Baleia is also about finding harmony between self, others and nature in pursuit of life's perfect equilibrium.

Tasting Notes

Grown in pure limestone soil with extremely high mineral content, results in a lively wine layered with fine, saline-like structure.

A crisp Chardonnay with elderflower and lime blossom aromas, almond biscotti and light oak flavours on the palate. Natural salts found in the soils present a delicate sensation of minerality in Baleia’s food-driven wines and prepares the palate beautifully.

2020 Baleia Chardonnay

Winemaking Philosophy

"As a winemaker, when you are fortunate enough to plant in almost pure limestone soils, with extremely high pH, you can only start to dream of the possibilities. The incredibly high mineral content in the soils reveals itself after a few years in the bottle, provided we respect the fruit and treat the wine carefully." says Gunter Schultz

Vineyard Philosophy

Baleia believes that living soils = strong roots = healthy vines = perfectly ripened fruit. They believe that through science and meticulous farming with attention to detail, they can produce grapes that truly reflect the terroir in which they are grown.

Specifications

Year	2020
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	100% Chardonnay
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	13% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	9.71 units
Type	White Wine
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Food Matches	Creamy Italian pasta dishes are this Chardonnay’s perfect companion.
Origin	St Sebastian Bay, Cape South Coast
Appellation	Western Cape

2021 Eikendal Charisma

£17.49 £14.87 Save 15%

This wine is an ingenious creation that certainly lives up to its name. It’s bold, charming and seductive, bringing together the flavours of Rhône, Bordeaux and Italy.

“… this is every bit as impressive as the Janina Chardonnay and could be viewed as its value-for-money twin.” Tim Atkin.

While this is highly approachable in its youth, with red fruit and violets on the nose, it certainly has the structure to age.

Tasting Notes

The Shiraz (Rhône Valley) lends a tight, fresh structure with aromatic and seasoned undertones. Petit Verdot (Bordeaux) contributes a rich berry character and the Sangiovese, in true Italian style, adds fruity flavours with flair on the palate. The result is a bold, charming, seductive and ultimately elegant wine.

Eikendal Charisma

Vineyards

Shiraz (Eikendal): 20 year old block planted at the top of the farm overlooking False Bay, planted in a north/south row direction, 3 333 Vines/ha, under irrigation. Petit Verdot (Eikendal): 12 year old block planted next to the Shiraz. Planted in a north/south row direction, 3 333 Vines/ha, under irrigation. Sangiovese: 19 year old block from a producer in Stellenbosch. Planted in a north/south row direction, 3 333 Vines/ha.

Vinification

All three cultivars are handpicked and cooled down. Only destemmed and not crushed. 10-15 day cold soaking before spontaneous fermentation. Shiraz: one pump over per day. Petit Verdot: two punch downs per day and Sangiovese: one walk through per day. After fermentation the wine is allowed to settle clean. Shiraz and Petit Verdot go into 500ℓ old Burgundian barrels and the Sangiovese will be blended into the previous vintage Charisma. All three cultivars are handpicked and cooled down.

Only destemmed and not crushed. 10-15 day cold soaking before spontaneous fermentation. Shiraz: one pump over per day. Petit Verdot: two punch downs per day and Sangiovese: one walk-through per day. After fermentation the wine is allowed to settle clean. Shiraz and Petit Verdot go into 500ℓ old Burgundian barrels and the Sangiovese will be blended into the previous vintage Charisma – meaning, for example, in Charisma 2018 the Shiraz and Petit Verdot are 2018 vintage but the Sangiovese is the 2019 vintage. The idea with this is to blend that beautiful freshness and Italian passion into the wine.

Accolades

92pts | Tim Atkin

"In its way, this is every bit as impressive as the Janina Chardonnay and could be viewed as its value-for-money twin. Made from the unusual trio of mostly Syrah with 17% Petit Verdot and 30% Sangiovese, it’s floral and refined with red cherry and raspberry fruit and filigree tannins. 2022-28"

Specifications

Year	2021
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	67% Shiraz, 32% Petit Verdot, and 1% Sangiovese
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	14.5% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	10.9 units
Type	Red Blend
Cellaring Potential	Up to 6 years if cellared correctly
Food Matching	Serve between 18ºC-20ºC. Pair with Mushroom & Chorizo Risotto, Veal, Chocolate Truffles
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Origin	Stellenbosch
Appellation	WO Western Cape

2019/20 Cape of Good Hope 'Riebeeksrivier Chenin Blanc'

£16.50 £14.03 Save 15%

Tasting Notes

Nose

Oatmeal, macadamia nuts and creamy stone fruit on the nose.

Palate

The palate echoes those flavours with its richness and breadth. Peach pip, nectarine and stone fruit are fresh and lively while the oak supports it in a well-defined cradle. Again oatmeal and nutty flavours are apparent but not overwhelming. The wine is powerful yet refined and structured. Nothing is superfluous and its perfectly proportioned with a long tail of flavour that ends with a delightfully pithy citrus twist.

The Riebeeksrivier farm is situated on the slopes of the Kasteelberg, overlooking the Swartland. Its unique terroir, especially the shale soils, expresses itself strongly in the wine with unique varietal characteristics. The bush vine Chenin Blanc vineyards, planted in 1988, yield fruit of great intensity and richness balanced by bright acidity and length.

In the Vineyard

The bush vine Chenin Blanc vineyards, planted in 1988, yield fruit of great intensity and richness balanced by bright acidity and length. A small 0.8ha bush vine vineyard (Clone 880) was planted in 2013, producing outstanding quality fruit used in the production of this wine.

About the Harvest

Fermentation occurred in both stainless steel tanks (65%) and French Oak barrels (17% new) and the wine spent 8 months on the lees before being blended and bottled.

In the Cellar

The grapes were picked at optimal ripeness and transported to the cellar in refrigerated trucks. Whole bunches were pressed and the juice settled overnight.

History

Anthonij Rupert Wyne was founded on the farm, L`Ormarins in Franschhoek. Originally owned by the late Anthonij Rupert, who passed away in 2001, the farm was eventually taken over by his brother Johann Rupert in 2003 and the brand named after him. It was Johann Rupert who constructed a state-of-the-art winemaking facility, catapulting the farm into a prestigious wine estate and the beginnings of what is now a sprawling enterprise.

The focus is on terroir specific wines and therefore it would seem obvious that the brand is made up of an impressive portfolio of farms representing the best in grape producing locations. The portfolio is made up of L`Ormarins situated in Franschhoek, Rooderust in Darling, Riebeeksrivier in the Swartland and Altima in isolated Elandskloof. Individually each site offers optimum varietal specific growing conditions, allowing Anthonij Rupert Wyne to adhere to the requirements of their different brands.

Specifications

Year	2019/20
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	100% Chenin Blanc
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	13.5% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	10.5 units
Type	White Wine
Cellaring Potential	5-10 years
Food Matching	Perfect with White Fish, Soft Cheese, Seafood and Salmon
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Origin	Riebeeksrivier, Swartland
Appellation	WO Western Cape

2019 Cape of Good Hope 'Riebeeksrivier Chenin Blanc'

2023 Waterkloof 'Circle of Life' Red

£14.99 £12.74 Save 15%

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	2023
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	38% Cabernet Franc, 28% Merlot, 18% Syrah, 16% Petit Verdot
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	12.5% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	9.4 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

2022 Dornier Cocoa Hills Sauvignon Blanc

£14.99 £12.74 Save 15%

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

This Sauvignon Blanc is made from grapes from the Stellenbosch and Elgin area. The wine has an attractive green tinge in the glass with intense aromas of gooseberry, ripe passion fruit and lime. The mouthfeel is lively with tastes of green melon and lemon with a lingering aftertaste.

Dornier aims to make a wine that is fresh, youthful and abundant. Balance between the fruit, alcohol and acidity is of utmost importance.

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

Grapes were harvested between 19° and 23° Balling to ensure fresh acidity and riper flavours in the wine. Fermentation was at 14° Celsius with further time on the lees to add to complexity and texture.

In the Vineyard

Growing conditions during the 2022 season were almost hassle-free. The cold and wet winter season was followed by a cool spring and early summer that led to excellent flavour development in the grapes.

Specifications

Year	2022
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	100% Sauvignon Blanc
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	13% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	9.8 units
Type	White Wine
Cellaring Potential	Up to 2 years
Food Matching	With its refreshing character this wine pairs well with salads, seafood and other Mediterranean dishes.
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Origin	Stellenbosch & Elgin
Appellation	WO Western Cape

2022 Dornier Cocoa Hills Sauvignon Blanc

2022 Baleia Sauvignon Blanc

£16.99 £14.44 Save 15%

Baleia is Portuguese for whale and the striking labels are inspired by St Sebastian Bay, the Whale Nursery of South Africa.

Discover a place of whales and wonder, where wines are born from rocky limestone soil in a remote and unspoilt corner of the Cape South Coast.

Tasting Notes

Pale, greenish gold. Reflecting classic aromas of elderberry flower and green fig on the nose.

Lovely juicy, tropical fruits such as litchi, forrel pear and a hint of sea mist. The lush balanced palate entertains with granadilla, guava and a Prickly pear.

2022 Baleia Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaking Philosophy

Making Sauvignon Blanc one is often faced with the temptation of making something frivolous, upfront and flirty which results in very upfront wines that lack a sense of place. With Baleia, they have chosen to take the road less travelled by choosing texture and minerality from the site to portray the beauty of the terroir.

Vineyard Philosophy

Baleia believes that living soils = strong roots = healthy vines = perfectly ripened fruit. They believe that through science and meticulous farming with attention to the details, they can produce grapes that truly reflect the terroir in which they are grown.

Vintage Notes

The 2022 vintage was characterised by heavy winter rains and a wet Spring which resulted in optimum reserve build-up. A drier flowering and ripening period ensured for a decent crop size.

Accolade

Jancis Robinson 16.5 points

Specifications

Year	2022
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	100% Sauvignon Blanc
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	13% alc vol
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	9.75 units
Type	White Wine
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Origin	St Sebastian Bay, Cape South Coast
Appellation	Western Cape

2021 Raats, Dolomite Cabernet Franc

£15.49 £13.17 Save 15%

Crafted with a commitment to excellence and a deep passion for winemaking, this wine captures the quintessence of its terroir, providing a window into the heart and soul of the winemaking heritage of Stellenbosch.

Tasting Notes

Dolomite wines express great purity of fruit and balanced elegance. The nose shows dark and red cherry. Dark berries, spiciness and herbs linger on the palate. The wine has great purity of fruit with a hint of wet-stone minerality and a velvet soft finish.

Producer

After making wine around the world and honing his craft in the Cape, Bruwer Raats established Raats Family Wines in 2000, based on a policy of ‘excellence through specialisation’, focusing on two unfashionable grapes varieties at the time, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc.Purchasing the only land he could afford, some relatively cheap and ‘undesirable’ plots in the Polkadraai Hills, it soon became apparent that the unique granite-based terroir was producing some incredible wines, and is now recognised as one of the finest wards in Stellenbosch. His Eden High Density Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, and the iconic MR de Compostella hold a place as some of South Africa’s finest wines and sit comfortably amongst the best expressions of the varieties on the planet.

Production

The grapes come from Stellenbosch and are grown only on decomposed dolomite granite soils. This lends itself to great acidity, freshness and an extended mineral finish. Individual vineyard blocks were hand-picked at perfect ripeness during February.

Grapes were hand sorted three times, crushed and left to cold soak on the skins for five days. After fermentation at a temperature of 28°C, the grapes were basket pressed before malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Aged in oak for 14 months.

Accolades & Awards

Tim Atkin South Africa Report 2024 91 Points

'Dolomite is always the most floral and approachable of Bruwer Raats' quartet of Cabernet Francs, aged in an equal combination of older oak and concrete. Tarragon, green pepper and graphite aromas are a scented prelude to a palate of tomato leaf and black cherry and a crunchy finish.' 2025-30. 91 Points, TA, 2024.

Specifications

Year	2021
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	100% Cabernet Franc
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	14.7% abv
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	11 units per bottle
Type	Red Wine
Cellaring Potential	2023 - 2027
Food Matching	Perfectly complements Game Bird with Red Wine Sauce, Beef Fillet, and Pork Loin.
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Origin	Stellenbosch
Appellation	WO Western Cape

2023 Raats Family Wines, Original Chenin Blanc, Polkadraai Hills.

£15.49 £13.17 Save 15%

This Chenin Blanc, cultivated with meticulous care, reflects a symphony of tradition and innovation.

Tasting Notes

100% Chenin Blanc, this has a distinctive yellow apple and pineapple core, alongside notes of green melon and limes. The wine is bursting with fresh fruit flavours ending with zesty citrus flavours, and has a long mineral finish. A very clean and satisfying hand-picked Chenin Blanc that's a versatile wine for food pairing.

2023 Raats Family Wines, Original Chenin Blanc, Polkadraai Hills

Producer

Production

From vineyards with an average age of 35 years. Vines are grown in both decomposed granite and Table Mountain sandstone soils. A combination of trellised and bush vines, irrigated as well as dry land that yield approximately 7 – 8 tons per hectare.

Grapes grown from the two soil types are fermented separately, the decomposed granite bringing a lime and mineral character, while the sandstone more topical fruit and structure. The juice was cold settled for 2 to 3 days, then cold fermented (14º - 16ºC) in stainless steel tanks and aged on the lees for 6 months before bottling. No wood ageing.

Accolades & Awards

2022 – 89 Points Tim Atkin MW
2022 – 4.5 Star John Platter
2022 – 92 Points Winemag

Specifications

Year	2023
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	100% Chenin Blanc
Country	South Africa
Alcohol content	14% abv
Units of Alcohol per Bottle	10.5 units per bottle
Type	White Wine
Cellaring Potential	Awaiting info
Food Matching	An easy to pair wine since it has a wide flavour profile, but we especially recommend it with curry or similar spicy dishes as well as sushi and oysters.
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Origin	Stellenbosch
Appellation	WO Western Cape

2020 Waterkloof 'Circumstance Mourvèdre'

£16.49 £14.02 Save 15%

Mourvèdre is perfect for Waterkloof, with its head in the sun and feet in the sea, and is the most planted red grape on this biodynamic farm. The outstanding 2020 may be the best vintage yet!

Tasting notes

An elegant rendition of this often unruly varietal. Ripe, dark fruit with graphite notes on the nose with wild herb and lifted red berry aromas. Robust and concentrated with the dense yet fine tannins typical of the variety and with a freshness and lightness of touch, thanks to high natural acidity and moderate alcohol.

2020 Waterkloof 'Circumstance Mourvedre'

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 Mourvèdre comes from two windswept, south-facing blocks 270-300m above 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 was just 2 tonnes per hectare in 2020. Mourvèdre is one of the few varietals with enough wind-resistance to plant as bush-vine on Waterkloof. Grapes are hand-harvested and brought to the cellar by horses for hand-sorting. Bunches are sorted and whole-bunch fermentation happens spontaneously with wild yeast in large, open-top wooden fermenters. Manual punch-downs or foot-pressing take place 1-2 times per day and the wine is left on skins for 30 days before going through malolactic fermentation in old 600 litre barrels then ageing for 24 months in the same vessels. No fining, just a light filtration. No additons other than sulphur. Vegan friendly, regeneratively farmed wine. 10 barrels made.

Producer

Sustainability

Specifications

Year	2020
Bottle Size	750ml
Cultivar	100% Mourvèdre
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
Allergen Information	Contains sulphites
Food Matches	It can be paired with a variety of dishes but should show well with wild boar or lamb on the grill.
Origin	Stellenbosch
Appellation	WO Stellenbosch

2022 Dornier Cocoa Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé

£14.99

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

2021 Dornier Cocoa Hill Ruby Red

£14.99

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

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