"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

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

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

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

Constantia Glen's Flagship Wine!

94 points Tim Atkin

'The proportions may vary from vintage to vintage, but this is always a blend of the five red Bordeaux varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon is just the dominant grape in 2019, with the remaining 75% made up of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec. Structured, serious and concentrated, with plum, damson and blackcurrant flavours, scented 74% new wood and granular tannins. 2024-32.'

Tasting Notes 

A classic Constantia blend of the five archetypal Bordeaux varieties – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. A cool maritime climate and strict crop control results in perfectly ripened grapes that are hand-harvested, meticulously sorted and batch vinified.

Colour

Youthful in colour with a very dark ruby core unwinding into a bright and lively magenta rim. 

Nose

The first impression is one of dark fruit aromas of Morello cherries, ripe blackcurrant and juicy black plums underpinned by a fragrance of dried herbs. Savoury background notes of cocoa, cedar, and graphite demand further exploration. Floral aromas start emerging from the glass and the bouquet concludes with apparent notes of dried violet flowers, cassis, and wild fynbos.  

Palate

The palate is rich and concentrated with the dark fruit flavours that were evident on the nose, but the mid-palate displays fantastic balance and finesse. This exceptionally cool vintage has delivered a wine that is perhaps more elegant than its couple of predecessors, but it remains a compellingly structured wine with excellent freshness and depth. The delicious, fine-grain tannins provide mouth-coating texture and excellent length. The wine comes across as tightly wound in its youth with incredible ageing potential. The typical Constantia freshness provides for a long, delicious finish that will have you beckoning for another sip.  

Vintage

“2019 was a particularly cool vintage at Constantia Glen. A cool ripening season allows for gentle and slow ripening of the grapes, and this leads to greater complexity of flavour precursors in the grapes, as well as good acidity at the time of picking. The resulting wines are elegant and fresh with bright aromatics. The slow ripening also allowed for the slow accumulation of sugars, and excellent tannin development, so we could work with grapes that had achieved good phenolic ripeness. Our dryland vineyards showed remarkable buffering capacity and the 2019 vintage has delivered extremely elegant and refined red wines with great richness, texture, aromatic purity, and persistent, mouth-coating tannins. The 2019 harvest commenced with the first blocks of Merlot and Malbec on 19 and 20 March respectively. The red wine harvest then turned into quite a rushed one, due to some inclement weather that forced us to get our grapes in with a fair amount of haste toward the end of harvest. The final picking was our estate Petit Verdot vineyard on 9 April 2019, and this variety turned out beautifully, making up an impressive 23% of this year’s blend of Constantia Glen FIVE.  "

Specifications

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

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.

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

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

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

Colour

Straw-yellow in the glass

Nose

Subdued nose with vanilla and marmalade. 

Palate

They carry on to the palate with citrus peel, almonds and butter. Lengthy and refined with steely minerality on the finish.

Vineyards

Vine age:12 years. 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 nine days, before ageing for a further nine months on its lees in French oak.

Accolades

• Platters 2023 | 95pts 
  

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

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

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

Tasting Notes 

It’s a blend of near parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, harvested in the cool hours of the morning to retain freshness, from well-exposed North-East facing slopes. After natural fermentation on skins, the wine was matured in French Oak for 18 months.

Expect indulgent notes of plum, black cherry and vanilla. Savoury and herbaceous on the palate, with classic cool-climate acidity and freshness.

The Year by Winemaker Megan van der Merwe

"2019 was a pivotal year for Beau Constantia. Our terroir faced a massive shift in climate, and I was honoured enough to take over the entire winemaking process from ground to glass. Fearful? Be not. Change is the basic law of nature, and remaining in sync with our ever-changing environment is a way of life we find humbling, exciting and rewarding."

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 Atkin | 91 Pts

“Cabernet Franc led for the first time; Lucca is a blend with 47% French clone Merlot. Green, tangy and bright, this reflects the cooler 2019 growing season in Constantia and has appealing cedarwood, black cherry and cranberry flavours complemented by fine-boned tannins.”

Specifications

One of SA’s most exciting producers? Yes. From one of SA’s premium Cab growing regions? Yep. Banging Cab? Absolutely!

Tasting Notes 

Nose

The slopes of Rondekop provide the ideal terroir for our spectacular Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine has a deep ruby core and a depth of black fruits on the nose. Black cherries, black plums and blackcurrant are present, along with spicier notes of baking spice, cigar box and lavender.

Palate

A beautifully defined palate with long-grained tannins and a mouth-watering acidity carries the fruit and the spices to an emphatic finish. 

A bold, yet elegant, Cabernet Sauvignon brimming with black fruit and cassis. In addition to the black fruit there is a bouquet of spice, ranging from tobacco to cedar. Grippy long-grained tannin and beautiful mouth-watering acidity carry the wine on the palate to a long finish. An exceptional wine to be enjoyed now, or in the next 8–10 years. 

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

Grapes were hand-picked and meticulously hand-sorted before destemming and crushing. After 5 days of cold soaking fermentation began, using on wild yeast. 1 to 3 pumpovers, at the expense of punchdowns, were done per day for optimal extraction. Post fermentation wine completed malolactic conversion and spent 18 months maturing in French oak barrels (27% new).

Accolades

• 94 points | Tim Aitkin

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

This is a full bodied and aromatic wine with hints of raspberry, mulberry and aromatic spices. On the pallet the wine is concentrated with richness and structure. The tannins are fine, ripe and creamy and in balance with the fruit. The wine has a long finish. This wine is a true reflection of Tinta Barocca from old vines in the Swartland.

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.

Awards

• Platter's Wine Guide | 4 stars

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

‘Kleinboet’ translates to ‘Little Brother’ from Afrikaans. This alludes to the fact that this Bordeaux Blend is incredibly elegant, with only 12.5% alcohol, compared to other South African Bordeaux Blends.

Although quite the lad, he’s not too big for his boots

Larger than life, there’s nothing small about him! The agile charmer, living life to the full. Simple, down to earth. With energy and a second breath, he’s not the kind to be second guessed…

Tasting Notes  

Nose

Bright red and purple fruit such as raspberries and blueberries; savoury notes; dried herbs (oregano and rosemary).

Palate

Generous offering form entrance to finish; supple and full without over-saturating the palate with tannin; persistent with good length.

Vinification

A Bordeaux blend that is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and comprises of all five ‘noble’ varietals (Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet franc and Malbec). The use of 2nd, 3rd and 4th fill oak over 24 months ensures a beautiful “marriage” between the different varietals. The wine showcases bright red and purple fruit such as raspberries and blueberries; savoury notes; dried herbs (oregano and rosemary). On the palate this wine presents a generous offering from entrance to finish.

History

You’ve probably heard of the quaint beach town of Hermanus, situated on South Africa’s famous Whale Coast. Between 1855 and 1902, it was called Hermanuspietersfontein. In 1902, the local postmaster decided to shorten the name of the town to make addressing letters to the locals easier.

150 years later, the wine farm Hermanuspietersfontein, or HPF for short, craft outstanding wines with a serious sense of place. Their grapes come from Sondagskloof, which competes with Elgin and the Ceres Plateau for South Africa’s coolest wine growing region.

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

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

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

A distinctive wine with a personality in place!

Tasting Notes 

Nose

 This Grenache offers a vibrant bouquet of rhubarb, blood orange, and watermelon, with hints of cinnamon and star anise. 

Palate

On the palate, it presents a savoury sweetness, balanced by beetroot, red peppercorns, and earthy wet soil. The wine's vibrant acidity adds freshness, while elegant grainy tannins provide structure. It has excellent aging potential, with its character evolving over time. In its youth, the wine benefits from increased oxygen contact, so we 
recommend decanting it to fully appreciate its intricate layers.

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

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

Winemaking & Maturation

Grapes were picked by hand from 15-year-old bush vines on granitic soil at 410m above sea level. Bunches and berries were meticulously sorted. 1/3rd whole bunch and 2/3rd whole berry fermentation. Wild fermented in a stainless-steel tank with punch-downs and pump-overs 1-2 times per day. The wine was basket pressed and malolactic 
conversion took place in barrels. The wine was then matured for 14 months in old 300L French oak barrels.

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

Vintage

The Cape Winelands 2015 vintage is a brilliant vintage – known as a ‘rockstar’ year for wine – due to mild, temperate conditions during the growing season which allowed for even-ripening of grapes. These beautiful ripeness levels in the Pinot Noir allowed for a wine offering a bright fresh acidity between the layers of structured complexity.

Vinification

Prior to pressing, the whole bunches were allowed a brief, fleeting period of enzymatic colour extraction to draw sufficient natural colour from the red skins. The whole bunches were gently pressed, with the separation of cuvée from the taille after which the clear juice was fermented in stainless steel. After the first fermentation, the wine was prepared for secondary fermentation in the bottle. The wine was left on the lees for 72 months before the sediment was removed in the traditional process of remuage and dégorgement. The bottles were then corked and laid down for a further six months cork maturation.

Ratings

"Pouring a lovely pale salmon hue, 2015 was the first vintage for this rosé. Wild strawberries, raspberries, light biscuit works across a doughy core, with lovely development. Pinot Noir certainly likes more time under cork. After 7 years on lees, this spent 6 months on cork before release." 95/100 Jamie Goode

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

The vineyard’s pure fruit quality radiates pear, white peach and lemon. Bright stone fruit follows through on the palate which is marked by a rich texture and a thrilling line of acidity. The wine has a persistent finish showing subtle hints of white spice and orange blossom. 

Vinification

This Chenin Blanc has been fermented and aged as naturally as possible, without intervention and in search of an authentic reflection of its origin. The grapes were handpicked in the early morning hours to preserve fruit integrity. The fruit was then gently pressed after a brief period of skin contact. The juice was settled overnight without the use of settling enzymes and from here it was fed directly to French oak barrels (all seasoned oak) where fermentaion occured spontaneously. The wine was aged on its lees in barrel for 9 months, with no batonage. The wine was bottled after a coarse filtration in November 2020. 

Accolades

• 95 points Tim Atkin

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"From a coastal Old Bush Vines but somehow it feels riper than the Metzer Montane (also Bush Vine but inland). Non-interventionist winemaking at its purest. Clean, fresh fruit, with a seam of bright acidity & salinity. Some complexity due to some time on lees possibly? No real oak Inuence but a perfectly drinkable fresh, clean, linear white with good fruit intensity and that interesting mineral salinity. Maybe a touch pricey at £24 but a good, well-made wine - nevertheless. 

We had this with curry and the palate felt a little subdued but on it's own it’s showing really well with multiple layers, impressive fruit delivery and perfect poise & balance - with good, holding length."

Specifications

‘Swartskaap’ translates to ‘Black Sheep’ from Afrikaans. HPF’s iconic Cabernet Franc that really stands out from the herd!

The odd one out. He goes about life in ways different to the rest of the Family. He’ll zig while others zag. When they shake their heads, it means deep down they’re proud of him…

Tasting Notes 

This wine is the heart and soul of HPF. Delicious now, but also has very good ageing potential.

Nose

Bright red and purple fruit, raspberries and blackcurrants; black olive; green herbal spice

Palate

Generous offering; density and fruit intensity; milk chocolate praline; supple and full with persistent length; sweet herbal spice (rosemary, thyme, mint) providing freshness on the palate

Vinification

Our iconic Cabernet franc! This wine is the heart and soul of who we are and what we do…no surprise that this vineyard is planted in the “heart” of our property! As a single varietal wine, Cabernet franc poses a great challenge both in the vineyard and the cellar due to its robust nature. The wine ages in old (50%) and new (50%) French oak barrique (50%) and pigeons (50%) for a 24 month period. Post bottling, we then cellar the wine for a further 24 months before the wine is released onto the market. Our aim is to be meticulous creating something that will not just please but hopefully shift boundaries. On the palate this wine embodies our wine philosophy of BALANCE,ELEGANCE, FRESHNESS, DRINKABILITY, LONGEVITY! These wines will age for 10 years and beyond, provided stored under optimum conditions.

History

You’ve probably heard of the quaint beach town of Hermanus, situated on South Africa’s famous Whale Coast. Between 1855 and 1902, it was called Hermanuspietersfontein. In 1902, the local postmaster decided to shorten the name of the town to make addressing letters to the locals easier.

150 years later, the wine farm Hermanuspietersfontein, or HPF for short, craft outstanding wines with a serious sense of place. Their grapes come from Sondagskloof, which competes with Elgin and the Ceres Plateau for South Africa’s coolest wine growing region.

Accolades

• 94 points - Platters 2024

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.

Alan's Personal Notes

"A pure, citric and stone fruit mineral style of Chardonnay - with just a hint of oak - more Chablis style than Meursault but equally complex and with a delicious long finish for new world Chardonnay. Toasty oak and vanillin start to release themselves with a bit of oxidation and a degree or two less cold." May 2024

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

Tasting Notes 

Bright, pale straw colour with delicate scent of wild flowers and fruit, especially Cape Honeysuckle. White peaches and pineapples with a delicate underlying minerality. The palate fully matches the nose with a creamy sensation and a texture that combines elegance and intensity and concentrated fruit flavours.

Vintage Conditions

Dornier is one of a select few wineries situated on the slopes of Stellenbosch Mountain. The Chenin Blanc vineyard used for the Moordenaarskloof is planted on the Keerweerder property on a site that has proven to be suited for making wines that express characteristics of quality and elegance. The vineyard was planted in 1986 at the foot of the Moordenaarskloof at an elevation of 230 metres above sea level. Although the plot is small it consists of three very different soil types that contribute to the complexity and many faces of this wine. The vineyard is also known for the natural balance between growth and yield displayed every year.

Fermentation & Aging

The grapes were harvested by hand during the cool mornings of early February. After gentle pressing of the bunches and cold natural clarification of the juice, fermentation was completed in old 300-litre French oak barrels. The wine was left on the lees until bottling as is unmistakable in the texture on the pallet. The wine was made with minimum interference to reflect the true character of the Moordenaarskloof vineyard.

Accolades

• Double Gold National Wine Challenge 2022 (2021 Vintage)
• 4.5 John Platter Stars
• 91 Tim Atkin Points

For all those wondering what 'Moordenaarskloof' means - it translates as 'Murderers Gorge' (there must be a story there!).

Specifications

A wine is only bottled under the Waterkloof label when one of the vineyard blocks on the Schapenberg offers up something extraordinary. This fourth such release from a great vintage for reds is a wonderfully complex Bordeaux blend, predominantly Cabernet Franc.

Tasting notes

Sublimely complex aromas of redcurrant, plum and red cherry with cedary spice and a hint of pencil shaving. The predominance of Cabernet Franc gives a wine of subtlety and elegance with lifted berry fruit and a supple, finely structured mid palate. Firm yet fine tannins frame the spicy, ethereal finish.