"Home of the Worlds Best Shiraz"

As luck would have it, Shiraz grapes love poor,  gravelly soil - just the kind of soil Hartenberg has in abundance on parts of the farm. The kind you need to produce world-beating Shiraz.

Tasting Notes 

Nose

Initially the nose shows an abundance of black fruits and sweet spice aromas, later opening up to a more savoury, umami character. 

Palate 

The Estate

On the slopes of Bottelary Hills bordering Stellenbosch, is a family estate where nature provides the perfect backdrop to grow, produce and share award-winning wines. Summer at Hartenberg brings picnics on the lawns followed by buoyant games of boule. Winter invites you to intimate fireside lunches and sumptuous reds, smoky charcuterie and olives, and sensorial cellar tours. Our Wetland Conservation Area, alongside the vineyards, makes for a beautiful setting for walks and shared family fun.

History

This was another excellent vintage for the growing of red wines in Stellenbosch, with hot, dry weather resulting in small and concentrated berries. Grapes were hand-picked and, after crushing, only 20% of the juice was drawn off for use in this wine. This juice was cold-soaked overnight, then two Rhone-sourced yeasts were inoculated. The oak component was made up of 100% French.

Once again, Nature has smiled upon us because the very same vineyards on Hartenberg with the perfect soils for Shiraz, also have the perfect weather for it.

All we have to do to make our award-winning Shiraz is harness what we already have, and stick it in a bottle. To be absolutely honest, it would be more difficult for us to produce a poor Shiraz on Hartenberg than a good one.

Accolades

‘Hartenberg's estate Shiraz is made with grapes from The Stork and Gravel Hill blocks that didn’t make it into the single-vineyard bottlings, so no wonder it's so impressive. Big and bold - what Carl Schultz calls a "lurker" - with iodine, cooked meat and spicy oak notes and plenty of grip. 2023-30.’ – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2021, 93/100

Specifications

A critically acclaimed, award-winning, powerful, intense, rich, medium-bodied red wine with red berry, red currants, cassis, floral and spicy notes on the nose and palate.

Tasting Notes 

Colour

Youthful in colour with a dark, deep red core unwinding into a bright and lively garnet rim.

Nose

Forthcoming nose with expressive red and black fruit flavours. Beyond these initial ripe fruit flavours, there is complex collection of savoury dried-herb flavours intermingled with lingering notes of white pepper, blackcurrant and cedar.

Palate

The dark fruit and distinct savoury notes on the nose follow effortlessly onto that first sip where elegant, velvety tannins grip the palate in a vibrant intensity of flavour. This incredible richness and concentration of fine-grain tannins is further echoed by an earthy minerality and the wine’s inherent freshness brings about a long, well-defined finish. This opulent, full-bodied wine possesses old world authenticity with its delicate herbal fynbos notes that reign in the powerful fruit flavours.

A classic Constantia blend of the three most revered Bordeaux varieties – Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. A cool maritime climate and strict crop control results in perfectly ripened grapes that are hand harvested, meticulously sorted and batch vinified.

Vineyards

Constantia Glen has a unique position cradled between the Constantiaberg and Table Mountain (World Heritage Site) ranges, with predominantly north-east facing slopes. This singular location allows for exposure to late afternoon sun, ideal for the slow ripening that shapes our classically expressed wines. Decomposed granite and Table Mountain sandstone are the dominant soil types that lend minerality and the graceful character to our wines. High water retention of the rich clay sub-soils allows for sustainable dryland cultivation, while ecologically sound practices include biological insect and pest control by means of natural predators.

Vintage

2017 was really a fantastic vintage for the red varieties at Constantia Glen and the wines from this vintage have garnered the same respect as those made in 2015. The flavour of the grapes at the time of picking was concentrated and intense with bright aromatics. Although dry, the summer period preceding the harvest was incredibly cool, which meant slow and long ripening that allowed for the slow accumulation of sugars, and grapes that retained phenomenal acidity despite fairly dry conditions in what was considered a particularly severe period of drought in the Cape. The estate vineyards showed remarkable buffering capacity during the drought and the 2017 vintage has delivered extremely elegant and refined red wines with great richness, texture, aromatic purity, and persistent, mouth-coating tannins. The wines also have great structure and acidity, which will allow for superlative bottle-ageing. 

The range includes a Sauvignon Blanc and the `Two` (a blend of Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of Sémillion), Constantia Glen produces the `Three` - a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon Franc and Merlot` and a `Five` - which includes the addition of Malbec and Petit Verdot. 

Accolades

• Decanter World Wine Awards - 87 pts

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

Nose

Opulent but genteel and tempting violet-tinged soft black fruit abundance on the nose.

Palate

The palate is all about texture: silky, velvety, smooth and simultaneously plush. Ripe plums, hedgerow fruit, cocoa, cedar and spice, cigar box flavours make for an enveloping mouthful. Complex, elegant and beautifully integrated, the oak is seamlessly balanced with the fruit. Lingering & harmonious with not a single element out of place.

Each component was aged separately and then matured in 225L French oak barrels for 20 months with only 30% first fill barrels being used.

In the Vineyard 

The grapes selected for the Anthonij Rupert Optima, comes from our L’Ormarins Estate in Franschhoek and Rooderust farm in Darling. Specific sites, each with their own unique soil type and climatic conditions, were identified for the ideal grape selection, which make up unique components of the final blend in Optima. With lower rainfall bringing challenging conditions, the total wine grape production was lower than 2015. With drier weather conditions, the vineyards produced smaller healthy berries with high flavour concentration and good colour.

In the Cellar

An Optical sorting machine was used to ensure that only the best quality grapes are used. Wine was fermented dry on the skins and underwent extended post-fermentation maceration. This ensures deep colour and a good tannin structure enhancing the maturation potential in the wine. Malolactic barrel fermentation completed before the wine was racked off the lees.

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

Greek for “a serene state of mind, free from worry and preoccupation”, Ataraxia lives up to the hype. Aptly called The Skyfields, Ataraxia Wines is perfectly positioned on a commanding rise in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde wine-growing area. Just a short distance from the coastal village of Hermanus, a picture-perfect drive brings you to the most elevated part of these winelands. Here you can experience jaw-dropping vineyard, valley and mountain views: all from the chapel-like Wine Lounge®, while sampling some of the most exciting wines South Africa has to offer.

Tasting Notes 

Green-tinged pale straw. Delicate but beautifully balanced lime blossom and cut grass aromas flinty and precise on the palate with just enough wet stone nuance to deliver real detail. Unshowy but very well made.

Our cool-climate, alchemy-free unwooded white wine celebrates the virtues of elegance, vivacity and finesse. Most importantly, the Sauvignon Blanc grape is merely the chosen vehicle to express the free-draining Table Mountain Sandstone and Cape Granite soils on which the vines are planted.

In the Cellar

Hand-picked and then triaged over a sorting table, all our fruit was safely in the cellar by mid- morning on each picking day, guaranteeing that the exciting fruit flavours of the grape were preserved and are reflected in this wine.

History

Hemel-en-Aarde is Afrikaans for “heaven and earth” and the claim is justified. Our estate sits on a particularly heavenly stretch of land beneath a lofty peak of the Babylon’s Tower mountain range. In addition to its unrelenting beauty, Ataraxia is home to some of the most spectacular terroirs South Africa has to offer.

In 2004, The Skyfields Farm was visioned into the Ataraxia wine label when husband and wife, Kevin and Hanli Grant and a few friends purchased this 47-hectare prime vineyard property. More than a decade later, they are associated with crafting wines of incredible finesse, balance, and depth.

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

Works well with chicken/pork in a rich creamy sauce for the acidity to cut through." Tasted 31 Dec 2023.

Tasting Notes

Greek for “a serene state of mind, free from worry and preoccupation”, Ataraxia lives up to the hype. Aptly called The Skyfields, Ataraxia Wines is perfectly positioned on a commanding rise in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde wine-growing area. Just a short distance from the coastal village of Hermanus, a picture-perfect drive brings you to the most elevated part of these winelands. Here you can experience jaw-dropping vineyard, valley and mountain views: all from the chapel-like Wine Lounge®, while sampling some of the most exciting wines South Africa has to offer.

Nose

A wine that possesses a finely scented, vibrant nose with hints of red berry fruit and intriguing mineral and spicy notes. 

Palate

Mouth-watering and polished grape tannins are wrapped in an elegant structure that subtly occupies all corners of one’s palate. Intriguing, unusual and lingering.

History

Hemel-en-Aarde is Afrikaans for “heaven and earth” and the claim is justified. Our estate sits on a particularly heavenly stretch of land beneath a lofty peak of the Babylon’s Tower mountain range. In addition to its unrelenting beauty, Ataraxia is home to some of the most spectacular terroirs South Africa has to offer.

In 2004, The Skyfields Farm was visioned into the Ataraxia wine label when husband and wife, Kevin and Hanli Grant and a few friends purchased this 47-hectare prime vineyard property. More than a decade later, they are associated with crafting wines of incredible finesse, balance, and depth.

Production

The fruit used to make this wine was sourced from radical and individual vineyards sites with one goal in mind – to have the confidence to “whisper” style through the true expression of these sites rather than “shout” brashness through winemaking excesses. This wine is a seamless blend of three varietals, Pinot noir, Cinsault and cool-climate Pinotage. However, the emphasis of this blend remains entirely on style rather than cultivar make-up. Cultivars are after all merely vehicles to express terroir and not the expression of a wine itself.

Specifications

The King of Red Wines, consistently a show stopper and delivers even better with some aging to it.

94 points Tim Atkin

'Granite and ferricrete soils on the estate are the source of this ultra-reliable estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Intense, concentrated and possessing the backbone of a guardsman, this has grippy, well-integrated tannins, perfumed 50% new wood and classic cassis, coffee bean and pencil shaving characters. 2023-2030.'

Tasting Notes 

Nose

Delightfully perfumed with spicy vanilla oak and an abundance of red fruit and cherry aromas. 

Palate 

Soft silky tannins on the palate with flavours of lead pencil, cigar box and sandalwood. A lingering finish persists. 

 

The Estate

On the slopes of Bottelary Hills bordering Stellenbosch, is a family estate where nature provides the perfect backdrop to grow, produce and share award-winning wines. Summer at Hartenberg brings picnics on the lawns followed by buoyant games of boule. Winter invites you to intimate fireside lunches and sumptuous reds, smoky charcuterie and olives, and sensorial cellar tours. Our Wetland Conservation Area, alongside the vineyards, makes for a beautiful setting for walks and shared family fun.

History

The first settlers to cultivate the virgin land of the estate now known as Hartenberg were friends Cunraad Boin and Christoffel Esterhuizzen who were granted permission to work 60 morgen (20 ha) of the land in 1692. In 1704, Christoffel Esterhuizzen was granted the title deed to "Het Hartenberg" by Governer (Willem Adriaan van der Stel) and by 1718, he had 10 000 vines on his property.

The well-known elephant hunter, Paulus Keyser, bought Hartenberg in 1721 and continued the practice of vineyard cultivation and winemaking on the farm until he sold it to Jacob van Bochen in 1725.  Van Bochen, a former accountant of the Dutch East India Company butchery and holder of the liquor retail monopoly, also bought Weltevrede adjoining Hartenberg.

For about one hundred years after van Bochen, the farm passed through the hands of various owners.  Some with colourful names like Arrie Lekkerwyn (delicious wine), and Aaron van Ceylon (a freed slave) and in 1838 it became the property of the brothers Jacobus and Johannes Bosman.

An important period in the farm's development was ushered in by the Hampf family when they bought Hartenberg in 1928. Mrs Hampf extended the vineyards and planted the many beautiful trees still to be seen around the farm and cellar, while her husband became the first officially recorded winemaker on the estate.

In 1948, Hartenberg was bought by the late Dr Maurice Finlayson (a well-known Cape Town pathologist) and his wife, Eleanor. Discovering the true potential of the estate, they soon began marketing their wines under the label "Montagne". Besides good wine, the Finlaysons also produced two sons, Peter and Walter, who were to become renowned South African winemakers. Uncompromising and sophisticated, Eleanor Finlayson's presence is still felt on Hartenberg today.

Gilbeys were the next owners of the estate, purchasing it from the Finlaysons in 1977. They eventually released the present Hartenberg range as their flagship brand in 1985. On 1 January 1987, Ken Mackenzie, purchased Hartenberg, having seen the potential that the perennial under-achiever offered.

His daughters continue a program of investment in the farm, focusing on three key areas: the replanting to specific sites of premium varietals, the development of production facilities, and upliftment, through knowledge and skills for employees.

The Mackenzie vision, though extremely ambitious, remains simple: to do whatever it takes to produce wines of outstanding quality.

Accolades

The iconic Left Bank-based blend from De Toren Fusion V is meticulously crafted from Bordeaux’s ‘Noble Five’ varietals and, with its complex flavours of liquorice, black cherry, cedar and dark berries, it offers a stylish departure for sophisticated oenophilic tastes. Soft as spun silk, with a lingering hint of sweet fruit on the back palate, this is a wine that will only improve with age.

Tim Atken - UK (95 Points)

Tasting Notes

Specifications

A Southern Rhone styled red - juicy & bursting with flavour that finishes with a very moreish, lingering aftertaste.

Tasting Notes 

Nose

Cherry, raspberry, perfumed fruit notes with subtle pepper and spice on the nose.

Palate 

The elegant palate reveals dark choc and supple, cedary notes, underpinned by vanilla oak flavours. Incredibly soft on palate entry. 

History

The Megan is a tribute to Megan Mackenzie, wife of Ken "Stork" Mackenzie whose family still owns Hartenberg Wine Estate. Megan met Ken whilst still at school and once time passed, they got married and so started a twenty-four year love story. Initially assisting in the family business, but also a celebrated harpist, Megan sowed the early seeds for the decision to later buy Hartenberg Wine Estate, whilst on their honeymoon vacation to the Cape in 1952. Megan sadly passed away in the prime of her life and Ken never remarried. 

The Estate

On the slopes of Bottelary Hills bordering Stellenbosch, is a family estate where nature provides the perfect backdrop to grow, produce and share award-winning wines. Summer at Hartenberg brings picnics on the lawns followed by buoyant games of boule. Winter invites you to intimate fireside lunches and sumptuous reds, smoky charcuterie and olives, and sensorial cellar tours. Our Wetland Conservation Area, alongside the vineyards, makes for a beautiful setting for walks and shared family fun.

Winery

The three individual blocks that comprise their Malbec plantings each have their own unique profile due to different row direction and training systems. Each block was harvested separately, each contributing it’s own unique building block. Left on the skins, post-fermentation before being transferred into 225 and 300-lit French oak barriques, where MLF took place. The wine spent approximately 18 months in wood with a 20% new wood component. 15% was matured in a concrete egg, contributing towards the fruit driven profile and adding yet another building block to the final compilation.

Accolade

• 90 points | 2022 Platters Guide (2018 Vintage)
• 90 points Silver | IWSC (2018 Vintage)
• 92 points Winemag.co.za (2018 Vintage)

Specifications

Tasting Notes

The finest Tinta Barocca and Touriga Nacional is selected by the winemaker from specific low-yielding vineyards in order to craft an inky black wine, that is then barrel-matured for a decade or more.

All the fruit is hand-harvested at optimum ripeness, fermented and fortified in small lagars, barrel matured in large seasoned oak barrels for a minimum of 8 years, blended meticulously to craft the distinctive colour and flavour profile of a fine Boplaas Cape Tawny.

Producers

It would be impossible to think of South African ‘Port’-style wines and Brandies without Boplaas (‘top farm’ in Afrikaans) springing to mind. Boplaas, in far flung Calitzdorp, has been in the Nel family since 1880 so they have had many a year to perfect their craft. This is evidenced through frequently being awarded ‘Port’ of the year by both Tim Atkin and numerous Platter 5 star awards.

Boplaas ‘Port’ wines are crafted just like they are in the Douro Valley. Only Portuguese varietals are utilised, picked at full-ripeness and fermented in large open fermenters (known as lagares), intense manual pigeage, fortifying the wine at the correct time, using the finest grape spirit, and appropriate barrel ageing.

Accolades

• 93pts | Platter's 2023

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

Colour

The wine has an attractive deep red hue. 

Nose

The nose leads with appealing spicy aromas –  white pepper supported by notes of both red and black berries, some violets and a hint of fynbos. 

Palate

Dark fruits follow through onto the palate with an appealing juicy entrance supported by savoury white pepper notes, a touch of salinity and rounded off with fine subtle tannins.  A wonderful example of high altitude Syrah.  A wine, whilst still youthful, displays the finesse we expect from cool climate, high altitude wines yet shows enormous maturation potential should you be patient enough to cellar the wine. 

Background

Seizing the opportunity when it presented itself has culminated in this remarkable wine.

This is the second vintage of the Off the Record Syrah, produced from a small parcel of Shiraz grapes, sourced from a truly unique site.  This vineyard, situated on the Ceres Plateau, is planted in fertile Bokkeveld shale soils at an astounding altitude of 1000 meters above sea level.  Not many vineyards in South Africa can boast that they are covered in snow over the winter months.

Only 1 540 bottles were produced from the 2021 release.

Vinification

This wine was 100% whole-bunch fermented in two small batches before being pressed and undergoing maturation in 4th fill barrels for a period of 10 months. No commercial yeasts, enzymes or fining agents were used in the production of this wine. The wine received a light filtering prior to bottling.

Accolades

• 95 Points | Tim Aitken

• One of those serendipitous discoveries that puts a smile on your face for the rest of the day, this is a remarkable new release from Bobby Wallace that rates among the best Syrahs in South Africa. Showing the freshness and perfume of its high altitude terroir on the Ceres Plateau, it’s graceful and refined, with rose petal and fynbos aromas, undertones of fennel and blood and a juicy, refined, silky, red-fruited palate. An awesome début. 2023-29. Tim Atkin 2022 SA Report

Specifications

95 points Tim Atkin

‘Year after year, this is among South Africa's best Chardonnays, a single clone (CY95) white that combines structure, intensity, concentration and precision. Finely oaked in 40% new wood, it has notes of lemon butter and cashew, lots of texture and a taut, stony finish. 2022-26’ – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2021, 95/100

Only 16 barrels of The Eleanor Chardonnay 2019 were produced and the wine has just been released.

Tasting Notes 

Hartenberg`s self-styled `super premium` Chardonnay earns its title. this wine combines creamy and nutty fruit with refreshing acidity, a sleek minerality and sharp citrus fruit. It spends a whole year in all-new French oak and on the palate, you can tell – rich body, warm vanilla and an enduring round finish.

Nose

An expressive bouquet with lime zest and stone fruit at its core. Elegantly integrated oak shows notes of butterscotch opening up to a roasted nut aroma and a clean, chalky minerality. 

Palate

An initial bright acidity on the palate balances the rich and creamy texture of the wine with the peach and lime note following through to a lingering, toasty finish. 

Estate

On the slopes of Bottelary Hills bordering Stellenbosch, is a family estate where nature provides the perfect backdrop to grow, produce and share award-winning wines. Summer at Hartenberg brings picnics on the lawns followed by buoyant games of boule. Winter invites you to intimate fireside lunches and sumptuous reds, smoky charcuterie and olives, and sensorial cellar tours. Our Wetland Conservation Area, alongside the vineyards, makes for a beautiful setting for walks and shared family fun.

History

The first settlers to cultivate the virgin land of the estate now known as Hartenberg were friends Cunraad Boin and Christoffel Esterhuizzen who were granted permission to work 60 morgen (20 ha) of the land in 1692. In 1704, Christoffel Esterhuizzen was granted the title deed to "Het Hartenberg" by Governer (Willem Adriaan van der Stel) and by 1718, he had 10 000 vines on his property.

The well-known elephant hunter, Paulus Keyser, bought Hartenberg in 1721 and continued the practice of vineyard cultivation and winemaking on the farm until he sold it to Jacob van Bochen in 1725.  Van Bochen, a former accountant of the Dutch East India Company butchery and holder of the liquor retail monopoly, also bought Weltevrede adjoining Hartenberg.

For about one hundred years after van Bochen, the farm passed through the hands of various owners.  Some with colourful names like Arrie Lekkerwyn (delicious wine), and Aaron van Ceylon (a freed slave) and in 1838 it became the property of the brothers Jacobus and Johannes Bosman.

An important period in the farm's development was ushered in by the Hampf family when they bought Hartenberg in 1928. Mrs Hampf extended the vineyards and planted the many beautiful trees still to be seen around the farm and cellar, while her husband became the first officially recorded winemaker on the estate.

In 1948, Hartenberg was bought by the late Dr Maurice Finlayson (a well-known Cape Town pathologist) and his wife, Eleanor. Discovering the true potential of the estate, they soon began marketing their wines under the label "Montagne". Besides good wine, the Finlaysons also produced two sons, Peter and Walter, who were to become renowned South African winemakers. Uncompromising and sophisticated, Eleanor Finlayson's presence is still felt on Hartenberg today.

Gilbeys were the next owners of the estate, purchasing it from the Finlaysons in 1977. They eventually released the present Hartenberg range as their flagship brand in 1985. On 1 January 1987, Ken Mackenzie, purchased Hartenberg, having seen the potential that the perennial under-achiever offered.

His daughters continue a program of investment in the farm, focusing on three key areas: the replanting to specific sites of premium varietals, the development of production facilities, and upliftment, through knowledge and skills for employees.

The Mackenzie vision, though extremely ambitious, remains simple: to do whatever it takes to produce wines of outstanding quality.

Accolades

Tasting Notes 

Colour

The wine has an attractive pale straw colour. 

Nose

The nose leads with appealing citrus notes, which unfold onto the palate with a rich, creamy mouthfeel.

Palate

The broad spectrum of citrus, underlying minerality and gentle wooding have contributed to the complexity of this Chenin Blanc and culminate in a long lingering finish.

Background

The Uncensored Version – a project of heart, and a collaboration between brothers, Mark and Bobby Wallace.

Vinification

Wild ferment and barrel aged for 10 months in 2nd , 3rd & 4th fill barriques. The wine underwent partial Malolactic fermentation in barrel. No added enzymes, yeast and fining agents were used in the making of this wine.

Accolades

• 92pts | Tim Atkin

Bobby Wallace, son of Elgin producer Paul, is an exciting new face on the South Africa wine scene. This cool climate Chenin Blanc – one of the few produced in the region – is flinty, fresh and almost Pouilly-Fumé like. Aniseed, nettle and wet stone notes are complemented by underlying grip and some leesy weight. 2023-26 | Tim Atkin 2022 SA Report

Specifications

Resounding proof that you don’t need to shell out a fortune on Burgundy. A beautiful wine that will continue to age spectacularly over the next 8 – 12 years.

Tasting Notes 

Nose

Opulent nose with vibrant tropical and floral notes. Aromas of loquat, nectarines, apricots, white peaches and a slight touch of lime invite you to take a sip. As it opens up subtle whiffs of toasted almonds and vanilla come through.

Palate

Fruit forward entry with notes of white peach, apricot and lime shining through. Mid-palate has a creamy rich density to it, with a lovely rich buttery texture.

Finish

A lovely refreshing acidity balances out the richness. Lingering aromas of honeycomb, almonds and lemon zest delightfully tickle the palate.

Winery

At Oldenburg Vineyards we believe that great wines can only come from the best quality grapes. Our intervention in the vineyards is minimal to reflect the full potential of our mountain terroir.

Vinification

Grapes for the Chardonnay 2022 were harvested 14 to 22 February 2022 at 22.6° Balling, hand-picked in the cool hours of the morning from cool climate vineyards. Bunches were sorted by hand and whole-bunch pressed in a pneumatic press on a gentle Champagne cycle. The juice was settled overnight and then racked to 228-litre French oak barrels for spontaneous fermentation. The wild yeast fermentation took 2 months to complete. Partial malolactic conversion was done on some of the batches. The wine was matured for 11 months in barrel, gently fined and filtered before bottling.

Vintage Conditions

Stellenbosch, in general, played host to a perfect winter, with steady cold units being accumulated through to the end of August with even rainfall throughout the winter. The good winter cold led to a particularly even bud break. Spring was cool and dry, which favoured the flowering and fruit set for the vintage. Good summer rainfall meant the vigour needed to be kept in check. Despite a relatively hot and dry ripening period, temperatures were kept moderate due to our higher altitude and ultimately led to an exceptionally good harvest with great sugar accumulation.

Accolades

Specifications

93 Points Tim Aktin

'Two is an impressive, separately fermented cuvée of Sauvignon Blanc with 29% Semillón. Fermented in 15% new 600-litre barrels, this is spicy and textured, with creamy lees, grapefruit and fynbos flavours and a saline, refreshing finish. Classy stuff. 2023-28.'

An elegant wine with exceptional balance and length and fantastic ageing potential.

Tasting Notes 

A rich and concentrated blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, this barrel-fermented wine combines oak and tropical fruit flavours with a well-integrated minerality.

Colour

Clear and bright with a straw-like gold colour, tinged with lime green. 

Nose

Elegant notes of white peach and blackcurrant, with delicate aromas of lime, green fig, and orange blossom. The wine is tightly wound but shows fantastic purity of fruit as well as some citrus and waxy notes, which will integrate and develop into a very refined wine. 

Palate

The entry is fresh with bright acidity, good fruit concentration and depth. Good restraint and elegance with stony mineral nuances, the fresh acidity is beautifully balanced with a mouthcoating creamy texture on the palate, which is brought about by barrel fermentation and maturation on the gross lees for 8 months. Furthermore, 29% of this blend is Sémillon, which contributes weight and texture, making this a truly harmonious blend with an intriguing saline quality that lingers well onto your next sip.  

Vintage

2020 was yet another fantastic vintage for the white varieties at Constantia Glen. The flavour of the grapes at the time of picking was concentrated and intense with good acidity. The harvest was preceded by a cool summer growing-season, but a warmer-than-usual month of February hastened the ripening at the end ever so slightly. This meant that we harvested a week earlier than the two previous vintages. Thanks to well established vineyards with excellent root systems, the grapes retained phenomenal acidity despite fairly warm conditions just before harvest. Our dryland vineyards showed remarkable buffering capacity and the 2020 vintage has delivered extremely elegant and refined white wines with great richness, texture, and delicious, mouth-coating acidity that lingers on the palate. Picking of the Sauvignon Blanc commenced on 18 February 2020 and continued for 3 weeks as each different clone and vineyard block achieved optimal ripeness and flavour concentration. The white grape harvest came to a close on 6 March 2020 when the block of Sémillon, making up 29% of this classic Constantia white blend, was safely harvested and processed into the winery.  

Vineyards

Constantia Glen has a unique position cradled between the Constantiaberg and Table Mountain (World Heritage Site) ranges, with predominantly north-east facing slopes. This singular location allows for exposure to late afternoon sun, ideal for the slow ripening that shapes our classically expressed wines. Decomposed granite and Table Mountain sandstone are the dominant soil types that lend minerality and the graceful character to our wines. High water retention of the rich clay sub-soils allows for sustainable dryland cultivation, while ecologically sound practices include biological insect and pest control by means of natural predators. 

History of the Cellar

Ideally located below Constantia Nek, just moments from the bustling Cape Town city centre, Constantia Glen is a picturesque wine estate producing ultra-premium, cool climate white and red wines. The 60-hectare property, situated 103-2790 meters above sea level, has a mere 29 hectares under vine with product of wines limited to 120, 000 bottles per annum. Although winemaking began in 1685, recent history begins with the Waibel family, who purchased the land in 1960. Although this land is difficult to farm - as evident by rapid change of ownership from 1813-1960 - the dedication, patience and passion of the Waibel family has proven reward.

Having used the land predominantly as a stud farm, it was in 2000 that the Waibel family planted their first grapes and they now produce four wines. Perhaps most unique about Constantia Glen is its location. Although this region is predominantly known for its white wines, Constantia Glen is situated between the mountains, providing red grapes with the conditions needed to mature. Dryland cultivation under these cool climatic conditions results in slow ripening, low yields with exceptional grape quality and flavour concentration, thereby producing elegant Bordeaux blends. In addition to Sauvignon Blanc and the `Two` (a blend of Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of Sémillion), Constantia Glen produces the `Three` - a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon Franc and Merlot` and a `Five` - which includes the addition of Malbec and Petit Verdot. 

Specifications

Greek for “a serene state of mind, free from worry and preoccupation”, Ataraxia lives up to the hype. Aptly called The Skyfields, Ataraxia Wines is perfectly positioned on a commanding rise in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde wine-growing area. Just a short distance from the coastal village of Hermanus, a picture-perfect drive brings you to the most elevated part of these winelands. Here you can experience jaw-dropping vineyard, valley and mountain views: all from the chapel-like Wine Lounge®, while sampling some of the most exciting wines South Africa has to offer.

Tasting Notes 

Nose

The wine has an intriguing luminous hue that reflects rather than absorbs light. The svelte nose offers up a fine blend of red cherries, pomegranate, delicate forest floor and a hint of spice and new oak.

Palate

On the palate the wine is sensual and embracing, with a captivating mid-palate depth, lovely transparency and excellent focus on a suavely tannic finish.

In the Cellar and in the Vineyards

Grapes were hand-picked into small crates and then sorted, destemmed and gently crushed at the cellar. A 10 day pre-fermentation cold soak period in open fermenters was followed by a temperature-controlled ferment, peaking at 28°C for a total cuvaison of 22 days. The cap was gently punched down twice a day during alcoholic fermentation. The wine was then pressed and racked to carefully-selected French oak barrels, 22% of which were new and where 100% malolactic fermentation occurred.

History

Hemel-en-Aarde is Afrikaans for “heaven and earth” and the claim is justified. Our estate sits on a particularly heavenly stretch of land beneath a lofty peak of the Babylon’s Tower mountain range. In addition to its unrelenting beauty, Ataraxia is home to some of the most spectacular terroirs South Africa has to offer.

In 2004, The Skyfields Farm was visioned into the Ataraxia wine label when husband and wife, Kevin and Hanli Grant and a few friends purchased this 47-hectare prime vineyard property. More than a decade later, they are associated with crafting wines of incredible finesse, balance, and depth.

Specifications

This vintage of Chenin Blanc displays a stunning array of aromas and flavours!

Tasting Notes 

Nose

Peaches and cream, gentle citrus pith, with hints of beeswax and honey. Burnt orange peel and vibrant notes of naartjie and ginger add to floral hues of jasmine and chamomile.

Palate

The palate shows ripe pears and naartjie, accompanied by an elegant hint of vanilla and chamomile. The mouth-feel is sublime, the acidity is zesty, and the fruit is incredibly balanced. Lovely notes of honey and baking spices linger on the finish.

Winery

At Oldenburg Vineyards we believe that great wines can only come from the best quality grapes. Our intervention in the vineyards is minimal to reflect the full potential of our mountain terroir. The Oldenburg Vineyards Series is a true expression of terroir through our range of single cultivar wines. The confluence of the 8 Natural Elements that determine our unique terroir is explored through these wines and their real sense of place. The 8 elements are depicted on the intricate Oldenburg Vineyards Series label design. Wines made in an uncompromising manner intending to showcase the finest characteristics of each cultivar.

Vinification

Grapes were picked by hand from cooler climate vineyards with an average age of 40 years. Bunches were sorted by hand and whole bunch pressed in a pneumatic press on a gentle Champagne cycle. The juice was settled overnight and then racked to Austrian oak Foudre and older fill 300L French oak barrels for spontaneous fermentation. The wild yeast fermentation took 2 to 3 months to complete. Partial Malolactic conversion was done on some of the batches. 

11 months in 70% Austrian oak Foudre, 30% in Old French oak barrels

Vintage Conditions

Stellenbosch, in general, played host to a perfect winter, with steady cold units being accumulated through to the end of August with even rainfall throughout the winter. The good winter cold led to a particularly even bud break. Spring was cool and dry, which favoured the flowering and fruit set for the vintage. Good summer rainfall meant the vigour needed to be kept in check. Despite a relatively hot and dry ripening period, temperatures were kept moderate due to our higher altitude and ultimately led to an exceptionally good harvest with great sugar accumulation.

Accolades

• 93pts | Tim Atkin

Specifications

Winery

The grapes all originate for the Elgin region, a high-lying basin surrounded by mountain ranges. Naturally the Malbec hails from Paul and Nicky’s farm, Wallovale Vineyards, whilst the other three grape varieties were bought in from Elgin grape producers with whom Paul has a direct involvement. A Cabernet Franc vineyard has been planted on Paul and Nicky’s farm but the first commercial harvest is only expected in 2020.

Each parcel of grapes was harvested at its own optimum ripeness and vinified separately at Eikendal Winery, Somerset West. Each wine was inoculated with Zymalore Xpure, a yeast recommended for wines with high aromatic purity, enhanced expression of black fruit notes and a great smoothness of mouthfeel. Post fermentation the wine was left for 14 days on the skins. Thereafter each wine was transferred to barrel where they completed Malolactic fermentation. The wines spent a minimum of 24 months in 225 lit French oak barriques prior to blending. The wine received a light filtration before bottling on 8th July 2021.

Specifications

Vintage

The Chardonnay was selected from various vineyard blocks in the famous Robertson wine region, some 160km east of Cape Town. Here the region’s unique soils of weathered shale-rich limestone deposits have ensured Robertson’s status as South Africa’s leading region for the growing of Cap Classique grapes.

Viticulture

In the quest for optimum terroir expression of the Cape Winelands, Chardonnay grapes for this Blanc de Blancs are sourced from a diversity of sites located in a spectrum of spectacular pockets of the Western Cape’s geography. Grapes are hand-picked whereafter each bunch undergoes a thorough selection process ensuring only the finest and healthiest fruit is approved to partake in the magical journey of Cap Classique crafting.

Vinification

Whole-bunch press separates the cuvée from the taille, with only the pure, unblemished cuvée portion used to further the process. After settling, most of the beautiful clear juice is fermented in stainless steel tanks, with a small portion set aside to undergo fermentation in traditional French oak barrels from Tonnellerie Artisanale de Champagne (Pièce Champenoise). This oaked component offers complexity and depth, as well as the focus point required to establish the wine’s exceptional status. The various individual parcels are then selected through a rigorous tasting process to choose individual sections for the Blanc de Blancs.

After the initial fermentation, the wine is prepared for secondary fermentation in the bottle. Here the wine is allowed to live on the lees for six years, drawing structure, palate weight and, of course, creating the millions of magical bubbles. The sediment is removed through the traditional process of remuage and dégorgement, after which the bottles are corked and laid down for six months cork maturation.

6 years on the lees adds layers of brioche character and the limey, almondine mouthful of soft and fluffy mousse leaves you wishing you had bought an extra case!

Accolades

• 94pts | Tim Atkin

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

History

Jeremy Walker founded Grangehurst in 1992, when he converted his fathers’ squash court into a makeshift wine production cellar. He used the ‘squash court cellar’ to make his first 6 vintages, only moving out after the 1998 vintage.

Jeremy was invited to join the prestigious Cape Winemakers Guild in 1996 and was one of the longest standing members when, in order to let a young winemaker take his place in the sun, he elected to step down in 2021.

The word “Nikela” (pronounced “Ni-care-la”) is a Nguni (Xhosa/Zulu) word meaning “to offer a gift of dedication, respect or a tribute to one’s ancestors” – this wine being a tribute to winemaker Jeremy Walker’s late parents, Eddie and Betty, who contributed greatly to the establishment of Grangehurst, which was named after their childhood homes – “The Grange” and “Hurst Close” – in England.

Origin

Selected from prime Helderberg and Simonsberg vineyards in Stellenbosch. The southerly summer sea-breezes that blow over the cool waters of False Bay contribute greatly to the quality of the grapes from these vineyards – especially those in the Helderberg.

Fermentation

After destalking and crushing the grapes, the mash was fermented in open tanks for between 5 and 14 days on the skins. The cap of skins was punched down and mixed with the juice 4 to 6 times per day to ensure optimum extraction of colour, tannin and flavours. After completion of the alcoholic fermentation, the free-run wine was drawn off and the skins were gently pressed in basket presses. The press wine was blended with the free-run wine in stainless steel tanks before being transferred to small oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation occurred in tanks and barrels.

Clarification

This wine was clarified according to the natural settling and racking method, which does not involve the use of any fining agents, centrifuges or filters – a natural, unhurried method of clarifying wine.

Barrel Maturation

The various component wines – Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz, Merlot and Mourvèdre – were matured in 225-litre French oak barrels for 29 months.

Bottling

Bottled at Grangehurst using a gentle gravity flow filling system. The wine flowed from the elevated bottling tanks through a cartridge filter to the hand filler and into the bottles. This was the only stage during the entire winemaking process that the wine was filtered.

Specifications

An incredibly focused and pure Cabernet Franc that echoes the Loire. In the words of the Decanter World Wine Awards: ‘Texturally very impressive, with balance, concentration and zesty vigour!’

Tasting Notes 

Nose

This wine has an incredibly generous nose, with vanilla pod, mulberry black plums and liquorice at the heart of it. 

Palate

The palate showcases a depth of flavour with blackcurrant leaf, thyme and grapefruit-pith adding to the plethora of aromas and flavours. A stunning acidity, well-structured chalky tannins and a delightful finish bring this wine to life. 

Winery

Oldenburg; a hot topic from a cool climate. Anyone who knows anything about South African wine should have Oldenburg fully on their radar – they are producing outrageously good wine and have, very arguably, the most beautiful tasting room to visit in the Cape. Oldenburg, situated in the Banghoek Valley of Stellenbosch, has one of the coolest microclimates in the region. A combination of a mountain amphitheatre, high altitude and cooling winds result in growing conditions about 5 degrees cooler than the rest of Stellenbosch.

Oldenburg aims to best reflect their remarkable terroir through the Oldenburg Vineyards (OV) range of wines – a range of single-cultivar wines. There is minimal intervention in the vineyards and the wines are made in an uncompromising manner.

Cabernet Franc seems to have found its home in the Banghoek Valley, and ours grows exceptionally well at the foot of Rondekop, our mystical hill.

Vintage Conditions

While winter had a late start, it was characterised by good rainfall, leading to an even budbreak. A turbulent start to flowering season improved towards the onset of summer. Warmer weather in November contributed to even vineyard growth. A moderate January and February was followed by an initially hot February, while cool and wet conditions dominated from the end of February through March, creating challenging harvest conditions. Despite the wetter conditions, our microclimate allowed the grapes to achieve ideal ripeness.

Winemaking & Maturation

Grapes were harvested and sorted carefully by hand, and cold soaked for 5 days before fermentation was initiated. Pumpovers were performed up to three times daily. Malolactic conversion was in barrel. The wine was matured in French oak barrels for 18 months. 29% of barrels used were 225L with the balance in 300L. The wine was bottled in November 2020.

Accolades

• 93pts | Platter's

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

History

Jeremy Walker founded Grangehurst in 1992, when he converted his fathers’ squash court into a makeshift wine production cellar. He used the ‘squash court cellar’ to make his first 6 vintages, only moving out after the 1998 vintage.

Jeremy was invited to join the prestigious Cape Winemakers Guild in 1996 and was one of the longest standing members when, in order to let a young winemaker take his place in the sun, he elected to step down in 2021.

The word “Nikela” (pronounced “Ni-care-la”) is a Nguni (Xhosa/Zulu) word meaning “to offer a gift of dedication, respect or a tribute to one’s ancestors” – this wine being a tribute to winemaker Jeremy Walker’s late parents, Eddie and Betty, who contributed greatly to the establishment of Grangehurst, which was named after their childhood homes – “The Grange” and “Hurst Close” – in England.

Origin

Selected from prime Helderberg and Simonsberg vineyards in Stellenbosch. The southerly summer sea-breezes that blow over the cool waters of False Bay contribute greatly to the quality of the grapes from these vineyards – especially those in the Helderberg.

Fermentation

After destalking and crushing the grapes, the mash was fermented in open tanks for between 5 and 14 days on the skins. The cap of skins was punched down and mixed with the juice 4 to 6 times per day to ensure optimum extraction of colour, tannin and flavours. After completion of the alcoholic fermentation, the free-run wine was drawn off and the skins were gently pressed in basket presses. The press wine was blended with the free-run wine in stainless steel tanks before being transferred to small oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation occurred in tanks and barrels.

Clarification

This wine was clarified according to the natural settling and racking method, which does not involve the use of any fining agents, centrifuges or filters – a natural, unhurried method of clarifying wine.

Barrel Maturation

The various component wines – Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz, Merlot and Mourvèdre – were matured in 225-litre French oak barrels for 29 months.

Bottling

Bottled at Grangehurst using a gentle gravity flow filling system. The wine flowed from the elevated bottling tanks through a cartridge filter to the hand filler and into the bottles. This was the only stage during the entire winemaking process that the wine was filtered.

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

History

Jeremy Walker founded Grangehurst in 1992, when he converted his fathers’ squash court into a makeshift wine production cellar. He used the ‘squash court cellar’ to make his first 6 vintages, only moving out after the 1998 vintage.

Jeremy was invited to join the prestigious Cape Winemakers Guild in 1996 and was one of the longest standing members when, in order to let a young winemaker take his place in the sun, he elected to step down in 2021.

The Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot blend has been part of the Grangehurst range since our maiden vintage in 1992. As a young wine, still in barrel, the 1992 vintage was adjudged the SA Champion Wine. The 1993 vintage was Wine Magazine’s first 5-star red wine and the 1995 was a Platter 5- star wine. Other vintages of this wine have also been highly regarded, and Grangehurst Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot is a fine quality Bordeaux-style wine with a good track record.

Origin

Selected from prime vineyard areas in Stellenbosch viz. the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain and the Simonsberg. The southerly summer sea-breezes that blow over the cool waters of False Bay contribute greatly to the quality of the grapes from these vineyards.

Fermentation

After destalking and crushing the grapes, the mash was fermented in open tanks for between 8 and 14 days on the skins. The cap of skins was punched down and mixed with the juice 4 to 6 times per day to ensure optimal extraction of colour, tannin and flavours. After completion of the alcoholic fermentation, the free-run wine was drawn off and the skins were gently pressed in a basket press. The press wine was blended with the free-run wine in stainless steel tanks before being transferred to small oak barrels. The malolactic fermentation occurred in tanks and barrels.

Clarification

This wine was clarified according to the natural settling and racking method, which does not involve the use of any unnatural fining agents, centrifuges or filters. This method of clarifying wine prevents it from being stripped of flavours.

Barrel Maturation

The various component wines were matured separately in 225 litre French oak barrels for 27 months prior to blending.

Bottling

Bottled at Grangehurst using a gentle gravity flow filling system. The wine flowed from the elevated bottling tanks through a cartridge filter to the hand filler and into the bottles. This was the only stage during the entire winemaking process that the wine was filtered.

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

"Great wine makes one dream. Please take care of this wine as it is exceptional. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into producing this stellar wine. 2012 is our best vintage since the infamous 2009 vintage."

Vineyards

Planted in 2003 in rows running in an east-west direction. Clone 163 – fruit-driven and upfront and Clone 46 – structured and serious. Trellised in a VSP system with plantings 1.2 x 2.4m. Canopy height of approximately 1.4m with vines height of 40cm off the ground. Leaf removal on Clone 163 is done on both sides of the bunches, whilst leaf removal on Clone 46 is only done on the morning side to increase light intensity and fruit concentration. Picking dates are determined by sugar loading and berry aromatic sequence. Irrigation is done via Leaf Water Potential and determined by a pressure chamber. ‘Koffieklip’ soil of approximately 1m in depth at the bottom of the Helderberg Mountain, 8km from False Bay. All this adds to premium quality.

Vinification

Picked by hand. Berry sorting. Cold soaking of up to 14 days. Long slow natural fermentation with one punch down by hand per day. Fermentation took up to 40 days. Natural malolactic fermentation in barrels. Matured in custom-made barrels – by our suppliers: Bruno Lorenzon (Burgundy), Chassin (Burgundy) and Boutes (Bordeaux) – for for up to 16 months. The different blocks and clones were then blended and bottled with minimum filtration.

Winery

Situated in the “Golden Triangle” of wine growing, at the foot of the Helderberg mountains, Eikendal vineyards flourish in a mountain and maritime microclimate, ideal for the production of quality wine.

Accolades

• 92pts | Tim Atkin

• 90pts | Christian Eedes (Winemag) 2015

Dark fruit, violets and attractive oak on the nose. Massive fruit concentration – despite a relatively low alcohol by volume of 14.27%. Good freshness and optimally ripe tannins. Neither green nor sweet but curiously not that approachable at the moment. Almost too good to be true but will surely benefit from time in bottle.

• 4.5 Platter Stars | 2015 Platter's

2012 restrained yet compelling, as is whole range. As with previous, expressive yet refined in its silkily fresh texture, ripe, pure fruit. Crafted to last; should achieve a grand maturity.”

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"Now this is interesting. The current release will be '19 or '20 so this has a good bit of bottle age. Rich, concentrated blackcurrant fruit - which either comes from old vines or as in this case bottle maturity - with fine grain tannins, great length and tremendously smooth. Didn’t throw much sediment. A cracking premium quality wine at an amazing price - this back/museum vintage is exclusive to us because we’re a top customer of our supplier." Tasted 31 Dec 2023

Specifications

The bouquet has hints of blueberries, cherries, violets, tobacco leaf and spicy cedar wood. The mouthfeel is opulent with a generous lingering aftertaste. 

Accolades

• 90pts | Platter’s

  Weighty & serious Bordeaux blend, 70% cab with merlot & petit verdot in 2018, showing quintessential black-fruit aromas/flavours of cherry, currant & berry. 15% alcohol & 80% new oak deftly handled, as in 2015 (93 pts), though shade less freshness because of intense fruit-sweet finish. Also in 1.5L, as Teano. No 2016, 2017 untasted.

  Platter’s 2022

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

Colour

Light straw in colour.

Nose

Refined citrus and orange peel nose.

Palate

It is full, rich and layered; expect notes of butterscotch, vanilla and marmalade, with a delicious soft fruity character of ripe peach and apricot, whilst maintaining stunning acidity.

Vineyards

A low canopy allowed optimal sunlight penetration. Minimal irrigation was used. The fruit ripened slowly allowing the development of small bunches with highly concentrated flavours.

Vinification

This Chardonnay had its fruit picked and whole-bunch pressed. The juice was left to settle for two days and transferred to barrel, where it fermented for eight days, before ageing for a further twenty-four months on its lees in French oak. This process creates a wine that is utterly exceptional.

Accolades

• Decanter | 95pts (Gold)

  Delicate hints of white flowers open into notes of lemon meringue pie and then hazelnut, dried orange peel, and thatch. The oaky, vanilla and caramel entry into the palate is tempered by fresh acidity, which presents the core of apple pie, toasted coconut and a dollop of fresh custard.

Specifications

A consistent winner of both national and international wine awards, our Pinot Noir is nourished by the unique ‘terroir’ of the Graaff family farm in the Witzenberg Mountain range in Ceres. A fabulous vintage!

Tasting Notes

High on the Witzenberg Mountain range in Ceres, at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level, this unique ‘appellation’ exhibits South Africa’s only truly continental climate with winter temperatures frequently dropping below freezing. The later-than-usual and slow harvest of 2021 was definitely worth the wait.

Wine lovers can really look forward to remarkable wines from the 2021 crop. The cooler weather enabled producers to harvest their grapes at exactly the right time, and we are especially excited about good colour extraction, low pH levels and high natural acidity, which all point to exceptional quality wines. These growing conditions ensure that the new 2021 Op Die Berg Pinot Noir will age remarkably well over the next few years. 

Vinification

30% of the hand-picked harvested batch was destalked while the remaining 70% was whole-bunch fermented. Before fermentation, cold maceration was allowed for 4 days. The juice was inoculated with yeast and the fermenting must gently, and only partially, punched down twice a day using the aerated pumpover method. The partial punch-down ensures a longer fermentation period resulting in more colour and flavour development.  Following a gentle basket pressing, the wine was transferred to new French Oak barrels for malolactic fermentation before being transferred to a combination of older barrels to mature for 13 months.

Accolades

2021 Vintage

• Veritas Awards 2022 Double Gold

2020 Vintage

• IWSC 2022 Silver (90 Points)
• Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards 2022 Gold
• SA Terroir Wine Awards 2022 National Winner
• Tim Atkin Report 2022 90 Points
  

2019 Vintage

• Michelangelo International Wine Awards 2021 Gold
• Platter's Guide 2022 4 ½ Stars (94 Points)
• Veritas Awards 2021 Gold 
• Winemag Pinot Noir Report 2021 Top 10 (93 Points)

Specifications

A beautifully crafted ‘newer style’ of Pinotage. Expect a medium-full body and soft tannins to accentuate the red fruit and spice flavours. 

An exceptionally exciting new addition to De Grendel's flagship range, released not only to celebrate our cellar’s 10th anniversary, but also made to honour Sir De Villiers Graaff’s grandfather and namesake, the 2nd Baronet, Sir De Villiers Graaff.

Pinotage, especially if it was from the Durbanville Ward, was a favourite cultivar of his grandfather. The wine is inspired by fond memories of the Almond Orchard through which the young Sir De Villiers Graaff would go horse riding with his grandfather.

Tasting Notes

Vintage

The season presented a cold winter and a cold spring with good rainfal and a very moderate growing period during summer. This resulted in a later-than-usual harvest and grapes were harvested 14 days later compared to 2020

Viticulture

The Pinotage vineyards are planted in weldrained blue, broken shale at 250 metres above sea level on the Western slope of the Tygerberg 7 kilometres from, and in sight of, the Atlantic Ocean. Employing the VSP trelis system, a typical harvest produces 7 to 8 tons per hectare. 

Vinification

Grapes were hand-picked just before dawn, then crushed and open-fermented while undergoing pneumatic punchdowns four times a day. The wine was basket-pressed and transferred to tanks for malolactic fermentation. On completion of MLF, the wine was racked and transferred to 225 litre barrels to mature for 12 months in a combination of French and American Oak of which 12% was new oak

Accolades

2020 Vintage

• Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits 2022 Gold
• Tim Atkin SA Report 2022 94 Points

2019 Vintage

• Tim Atkin South African Report 2020 93 Points
• Winemag Pinotage Report 2020 90 Points
• Winemag Pinotage Report 2021 Top 10

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

Colour

Golden yellow in the glass

Nose

One is quite surprised by the floral perfume and hints of white peach, apricot and tangerine that seduce the senses with their delicacy.

Palate

On the palate, an unusual equilibrium between waxy weight and a gobsmacking acidity is neatly held together by our small site’s signature hint of salinity.

Winery

Some two decades ago, raging wildfires swept through an area of forest high up on Constantia Nek, leaving the slopes scorched and bare. When the fire had subsided, what was left was a brilliant and unique spot for planting a vineyard; 350 metres above sea level, with cooling ocean breezes and steep sun-bathed hills and so, like a phoenix, Beau Constantia rose from the ashes.

Sensing opportunity, Pierre and Cecily Du Preez acquired the 22-hectare property in 2002. With thorough soil analysis guiding their efforts, the inaugural vineyards were planted in 2003 under the careful guidance of farm manager, Japie Bronn.

The journey to establish vineyards on these challenging slopes demanded patience and unwavering commitment. Today, Beau Constantia proudly boasts 11.47 hectares under vine, a testament to the perseverance and dedication of all involved. Within these vineyards thrive a diverse range of varietals, including Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Shiraz, and Petit Verdot, each meticulously nurtured to capture the unique essence of this extraordinary landscape.

This boutique wine farm with just over 11 hectares under vine has utterly spectacular views over the peninsula. Megan van der Merwe is the Head Winemaker, having taken over from Justin Van Wyk in 2021, after serving as Assistant Winemaker during his successful tenure. Megan believes in 'farming to perfection - just don't stuff it up in the cellar!'. This very talented winemaker is certainly one to watch.

Each of their releases is a tribute to a member of the family.

Awards & Accolades

Specifications

A Rhône Valley lovers’ Syrah. Spicy, full of red fruit and lightly oaked.

Tasting Notes 

Nose

A bouquet of red fruit – red cherries, rhubarb and cranberries – are interwoven with spicier notes of black pepper, lavender, parmesan shavings and grapefruit pith. 

Palate

Refreshingly light in alcohol with a delicate grip from the whole bunch and 25% new wood.

Winery

Oldenburg; a hot topic from a cool climate. Anyone who knows anything about South African wine should have Oldenburg fully on their radar – they are producing outrageously good wine and have, very arguably, the most beautiful tasting room to visit in the Cape. Oldenburg, situated in the Banghoek Valley of Stellenbosch, has one of the coolest microclimates in the region. A combination of a mountain amphitheatre, high altitude and cooling winds result in growing conditions about 5 degrees cooler than the rest of Stellenbosch.

Oldenburg aims to best reflect their remarkable terroir through the Oldenburg Vineyards (OV) range of wines – a range of single cultivar wines. There is minimal intervention in the vineyards and the wines are made in an uncompromising manner.

Vintage Conditions

While winter had a late start, it was characterised by good rainfall, leading to an even budbreak. A turbulent start to flowering season improved towards the onset of summer. Warmer weather in November contributed to even vineyard growth. A moderate January and February was followed by an initially hot February, while cool and wet conditions dominated from the end of February through March, creating challenging harvest conditions. Despite the wetter conditions, our microclimate allowed the grapes to achieve ideal ripeness.

Winemaking & Maturation

Hand harvested and hand sorted to ensure that only the best fruit makes its way into the bottle. Whole berry fermentation took place, using only natural yeasts, in two batches – the first batch was 30% whole bunch and the second was 100% whole bunch. Punch downs were used 1 – 3 times per day for optimal extraction. 14 months of maturation, in 300L and 500L French oak (25% new), followed by fermentation. The wine was bottled unfiltered and unfined.

Accolades

• 92pts | Platter's

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

This wine is 100% Semillon, and has the tell-tale notes of honey, dried apricots, butterscotch and ripe mango. Make sure to serve it well chilled.

Vineyards

Vine age: 19 years.
Density: 2,800 vines per hectare.
Normal vineyard yield: 8-9 tons per hectare.
Soils are well-drained compromised lightly structured Clovelly and Avalon.
Vines are planted 1.4 m apart to avoid density as Semillon can be vigorous in growth. Intensive leaf and shoot management in October allow for even ripeness and provided shade to achieve maximum fruit concentration.

Vinification

An intensive, 4-stage, harvest selection in which only noble rot berries were selected containing sugar of between 34 and 36°B. Prior to pressing the berries went through another selection process to ensure that only 100% noble rot berries were pressed. Pressing occurred over a three-day period with a minimal 95 Litres per ton of Semillon recovered. Juice was settled and racked to small 225 Litre selected French oak barrels. No yeast inoculation occurred and the juice fermented naturally down to 150 grams residual sugar per litre. The wine has spent 28 months in barrel before stabilisation and bottling.

Winemaker Comments

"This wine has developed into a well-integrated sweet wine with enticing nutty and honey flavours. We are proud to release this wine with delicate similarities to the revered French Sauternes which was one of our main objectives. Enjoy now or age for 10 to 15 years to develop further complexity."

Accolades

Specifications

Winery

The 2019 Paul Wallace Brave Heart Pinot Noir is our seventh vintage. The name is a tribute to William Wallace, a man of great principle and heart, who we would like to believe is one of our ancestors. It is also a play on the Pinot Noir cultivar’s nickname – the Heart Break grape. Fortunately, our 2019 Pinot Noir offering has once again captured our hearts and is anything but a disappointment. Production was very limited – only 10 barrels / 2400 liters of this vintage were vinified.

Pristine grapes (Clone PN115, Guyot pruned) selected from three different slopes on our farm Wallovale Vineyards, were vinified with much love and gentle attention at the Almenkerk Wine Estate. Whole berry fermented in open fermenters, basket pressed and taken to barrel where it completes malolactic fermentation. After 10 months on wood (20% new wood, 45% second fill, 35% third and fourth fill), the wine was prepared for bottling. Bottling date: 7th February 2020.

Accolade

• National Wine Challenge 2020 - Double Silver
• IWSC 2020 - Bronze Medal
• Michelangelo International Wine Awards – Bronze
• Platter Wine Guide 2021 – 4*

Specifications

Winery

Accolade

• 96 points | Tim Atkin

Specifications

Reveals subtle hints of spices, ripe blackberries, plum and cherries. The integrated, complex and beautifully rounded tannins of this expressive and superbly vibrant blend ensure a velvety, lingering finish. At the olfactory level, there is a subtle hint of aniseed on the nose. This full-bodied blend maintains a sleek tannin structure with an immaculate developing palate.

Tasting Notes

This soft, approachable ruby-hued beauty is a true testament to vines lovingly reared and winemaking raised to an art form. A Right Bank-style Bordeaux blend, De Toren Z comprises a symphonic blend of five Bordeaux varietals. You’ll find it tantalizingly soft on the tongue, with a hint of aniseed, liquorice, raspberry and cranberries lending a fresh acidity to its polished finish… plus, of course, all the finesse that makes Bordeaux-style wines so prized among the world’s most enthusiastic wine lovers.

Vintage

When the stars and all the elements collide to produce a spectacularly good harvest, the results are always felt (and tasted, of course) in the wine. Industry wide the season of 2017 was earmarked as spectacular, and for De Toren, it was no different. The year 2017 is fondly remembered by our team for the incredible craftsmanship that went into producing one of the most outstanding vintages yet of De Toren Z, our famed Right Bank Bordeaux-styled blend.It was a season when perfectly ripened vine fruits were optimally harvested; gently reaped and sorted by the hands of our team of ladies, so that only the finest grapes were put forward for pressing and maturation in the cellar. This is the journey that our cellar team at De Toren undertook to co-create a superlative wine, i.e., De Toren Z 2017 vintage, in partnership with our key collaborator, Mother Nature. The favourable weather conditions of the season contributed to making the 2017 vintage one of the finest yet. It was a year in which the vines were perfectly balanced and restrained, producing the smallest, most concentrated berries. These hand-harvested grapes were transformed by sustainable and intelligent viniculture, resulting in this coveted vintage of De Toren Z being the highest awarded vintage yet and a true collector’s prize. At De Toren, the noble Bordeaux varietals are an expression of ancient South African soils and our signature winemaking style. As a result of all these factors – terroir, timing, technique and passion – commands attention on the palate when savouring the acclaimed De Toren Z 2017.

Producer

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

Nose

The Groote Post Pinch of Salt Chardonnay shows an abundance of fresh stone fruit and vibrant citrus notes on the nose.

Palate

On the palate, a steely minerality with crisp citrus and yellow stone fruit flavours and a long, zesty acidity assure a full and concentrated structure. This lightly wooded 2023 vintage shows complexity with fresh acidity, a beautiful minerality, and a vibrant, zesty structure. Innovation and tradition blend perfectly to bring out the best in this wine.

In the Vineyard

Out with the old, in with the new—this is the story of our Chardonnay vineyards on the farm. After more than three decades of service, our Chardonnay vines faced viral challenges, leading to a transformation. Nine years ago, we started replanting Chardonnay, not just for replacement but for enhancement. We carefully chose superior clones and optimal farm locations for this grape variety. These new vineyards exceeded expectations, yielding exceptional grapes, marking the dawn of an extraordinary wine.

In the Cellar

In the cellar, a symphony unfolds as the first and last Chardonnay grapes harvested enjoy a two- to three-week interlude due to diverse microclimates. Grapes are harvested into bins, with only the best undergoing sorting before pressing. We use whole bunch pressing, carefully separating fractions during pressing. The juice settles for three days before fermentation. We ferment Chardonnay in three vessels: fifty percent in stainless steel for a crisp character, thirty percent in French oak for richness, and twenty percent in amphoras for a unique blend. This approach creates a wine with layers of flavour and depth. After fermentation, the wine rests on the lees for six months, allowing it to evolve, refine, and develop remarkable complexity.

Tasting Notes 

The 2018 Aidan is a character of serious substance. A dry vintage has sculpted a wine with incredible structure, boasting flavours that lean towards the darker spectrum of fruit. This blend is predominantly Shiraz, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with some Malbec and Merlot used as well.

Nose

At first, aromas of blackcurrant and blackberries fill the nose, until a necessary swirl allows for spices such as star anise, five spice and mace to enter the conversation.

Palate

Olive tapenade and fresh leather hint in the distance, beautifully balanced by a serious salinity that pins this offering to its maritime environment, where the vines grow on steep slopes circled by the cold Atlantic Ocean. 

The Year by Winemaker Megan van der Merwe

"The 2018 vintage will long be remembered for its coolness and low disease pressure. It will also be remembered as the first real vintage to feel the effects of the famous Cape Drought that started in 2015 and worsened towards 2018. Our yields were down by 10%, but with our buffering cool climate conditions, the quality of the vintage was superlative."

Winery

Some two decades ago, raging wildfires swept through an area of forest high up on Constantia Nek, leaving the slopes scorched and bare. When the fire had subsided, what was left was a brilliant and unique spot for planting a vineyard; 350 metres above sea level, with cooling ocean breezes and steep sun-bathed hills and so, like a phoenix, Beau Constantia rose from the ashes.

Sensing opportunity, Pierre and Cecily Du Preez acquired the 22-hectare property in 2002. With thorough soil analysis guiding their efforts, the inaugural vineyards were planted in 2003 under the careful guidance of farm manager, Japie Bronn.

The journey to establish vineyards on these challenging slopes demanded patience and unwavering commitment. Today, Beau Constantia proudly boasts 11.47 hectares under vine, a testament to the perseverance and dedication of all involved. Within these vineyards thrive a diverse range of varietals, including Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Shiraz, and Petit Verdot, each meticulously nurtured to capture the unique essence of this extraordinary landscape.

This boutique wine farm with just over 11 hectares under vine has utterly spectacular views over the peninsula. Megan van der Merwe is the Head Winemaker, having taken over from Justin Van Wyk in 2021, after serving as Assistant Winemaker during his successful tenure. Megan believes in 'farming to perfection - just don't stuff it up in the cellar!'. This very talented winemaker is certainly one to watch.

Each of their releases is a tribute to a member of the family.

Accolades & Awards

• 94pts | IWSC 2021

• 90pts | Tim Atkin

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

Megan van der Merwe, the brilliant young winemaker at Beau Constantia, set out to make the Stella with ‘the absolute intention to preserve the site that grew the fruit’. The Syrah and Viognier for this wine grow side by side on one of the farm’s lower lying slopes – both varietals are picked together, when the Syrah is ripe, meaning that the Viognier hangs on the vine until it is a little raisined, adding a rich honey-like component to the wine. 18 months in French oak (only 28% new) adds complexity to the wine.

Floral notes of violet, spicy black pepper, dried herbs and fresh red fruit – cherry and pomegranate – are held together by savoury fine tannin. Epic! 

Winery

Some two decades ago, raging wildfires swept through an area of forest high up on Constantia Nek, leaving the slopes scorched and bare. When the fire had subsided, what was left was a brilliant and unique spot for planting a vineyard; 350 metres above sea level, with cooling ocean breezes and steep sun-bathed hills and so, like a phoenix, Beau Constantia rose from the ashes.

Sensing opportunity, Pierre and Cecily Du Preez acquired the 22-hectare property in 2002. With thorough soil analysis guiding their efforts, the inaugural vineyards were planted in 2003 under the careful guidance of farm manager, Japie Bronn.

The journey to establish vineyards on these challenging slopes demanded patience and unwavering commitment. Today, Beau Constantia proudly boasts 11.47 hectares under vine, a testament to the perseverance and dedication of all involved. Within these vineyards thrive a diverse range of varietals, including Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Shiraz, and Petit Verdot, each meticulously nurtured to capture the unique essence of this extraordinary landscape.

This boutique wine farm with just over 11 hectares under vine has utterly spectacular views over the peninsula. Megan van der Merwe is the Head Winemaker, having taken over from Justin Van Wyk in 2021, after serving as Assistant Winemaker during his successful tenure. Megan believes in 'farming to perfection - just don't stuff it up in the cellar!'. This very talented winemaker is certainly one to watch.

Each of their releases is a tribute to a member of the family.

Accolades & Awards

• 93pts | Platter's 2023
• Tim Atkin 90pts

“Stella is a Côte Rôtie style co-fermentation of Syrah with 0.05% (yes, really) Viognier and 52% whole bunches. Very much a cool climate style, it has aromas of dried herbs and white pepper, savoury tannins, perfumed 28% new wood and bright red cherry and pomegranate fruit.”

Specifications

A classic cool climate Sauvignon blanc made from grapes grown at high altitude on incredibly steep NE-facing slopes. These low-yielding, windswept vines are determined to survive and produce fruit of incredible flavour concentration.

Beau Constantia is a boutique wine farm situated at the top of Constantia Nek overlooking False Bay. These lovingly nurtured vines are spoilt with panoramic views of the Stellenbosch and Helderberg Mountain ranges.

Tasting Notes 

A true reflection of a ‘sense of place’, this wine highlights the incredibly close proximity of Beau Constantia to the cold Atlantic Ocean with its profound minerality. The minerality serves to add flesh to the nervy acidity (high-altitude Sauv Blanc vines and cooling winds) and fine tannin structure (from skin contact and lees contact).

Notes of blackcurrant, ripe granadilla and buchu are complimented by the minerality, lively acid profile and tannin structure.

The Vintage by Winemaker Megan van der Merwe

"2022 was challenging, but challenges are what make a vintage unique, and overcoming them is what makes a vintage meaningful."

Winery

Some two decades ago, raging wildfires swept through an area of forest high up on Constantia Nek, leaving the slopes scorched and bare. When the fire had subsided, what was left was a brilliant and unique spot for planting a vineyard; 350 metres above sea level, with cooling ocean breezes and steep sun-bathed hills and so, like a phoenix, Beau Constantia rose from the ashes.

Sensing opportunity, Pierre and Cecily Du Preez acquired the 22-hectare property in 2002. With thorough soil analysis guiding their efforts, the inaugural vineyards were planted in 2003 under the careful guidance of farm manager, Japie Bronn.

The journey to establish vineyards on these challenging slopes demanded patience and unwavering commitment. Today, Beau Constantia proudly boasts 11.47 hectares under vine, a testament to the perseverance and dedication of all involved. Within these vineyards thrive a diverse range of varietals, including Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Shiraz, and Petit Verdot, each meticulously nurtured to capture the unique essence of this extraordinary landscape.

This boutique wine farm with just over 11 hectares under vine has utterly spectacular views over the peninsula. Megan van der Merwe is the Head Winemaker, having taken over from Justin Van Wyk in 2021, after serving as Assistant Winemaker during his successful tenure. Megan believes in 'farming to perfection - just don't stuff it up in the cellar!'. This very talented winemaker is certainly one to watch.

Each of their releases is a tribute to a member of the family.

Accolades & Awards

• Tim Atkins | 93 points

‘’Two pickings across five different parcels are the building blocks of this blend, made from a pairing of Sauvignon Blanc and 7% Semillon. Wild yeasts and some skin contact, as well as a variety of fermentation vessels, add complexity, mixing notes of nettles, elderflower and oyster shell with a dab of cream.’’

Specifications