Wine Cellar

Wine:  Red

Wine:  Ashbourne

the 2007 Pinotage that is blended with 10% Bordeaux varietals and is graced with a lifted dark plum and damson-scented bouquet. The palate has fine tannins and fresh dark berry and damson tinged fruit with good acidity and freshness on the finish. This is a very fine Pinotage built with propensity to age. Drink 2012-2017 WA Clear and beautiful, like Portuguese Garnets, smells like strawberry dough, and blue berry muffins, delicate spice, black pepper and a touch of nut meg. The palate follows through from the nose with a savory element of cured pork and earthiness; it has a centered strength of flavor tightly packed and dissolves slowly into your saliva releasing floral tones of roses and violets. It’s extremely smooth, delicate and oh so feminine. WA

Wine:  Red

A blend of 74% Shiraz, 10% Cinsault plus Grenache, Carignan and Mourvedre aged for 14 months in old French casks, the entry-level 2010 Secateurs Red Blend has ripe raspberry, blackberry and wild hedgerow on the nose that is well defined and very natural. The palate is medium-bodied, supple on the entry with juicy bright red berries, raspberry, red currant and has a touch of citrus peel lending freshness and vitality. Drink now-2013 WA

Wine:  Secateurs Red

A blend of 74% Shiraz, 10% Cinsault plus Grenache, Carignan and Mourvedre aged for 14 months in old French casks, the entry-level 2010 Secateurs Red Blend has ripe raspberry, blackberry and wild hedgerow on the nose that is well defined and very natural. The palate is medium-bodied, supple on the entry with juicy bright red berries, raspberry, red currant and has a touch of citrus peel lending freshness and vitality. Drink now-2013 WA

Wine:  Little Merlot

Wine:  Merlot

Wine:  Diesel Pinotage

Wine:  Chocolate Block

Wine:  Syrah

Wine:  Galpin Peak Pinot Noir

Rich and ripe, but very stylish, with gorgeous mulled spice, blackberry, briar, spice bread and incense notes all woven together and driving through the long, black tea-tinged finish. This winery is now quietly rivaling Hamilton-Russell for best South African Pinot Noir. Drink now through 2013.—J.M.

Wine:  Hannibal

Wine:  Hannibal

Wine:  Christine

Wine:  Splattered Toad Red

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Wine:  Pinot Noir Reserve

Sourced from four high-altitude blocks, the 2009 Reserve Pinot Noir is whole bunch fermented and raised for 15-16 months in Allier oak with 60% new. It has an intense bouquet with red cherries, wild strawberry and a dash of black pepper that lends it an almost Barolo-like allure. The palate is medium-bodied with a slight chewiness to the tannins and notes of crisp red-berried fruit, red currant and red cherries that segue nicely towards a crisp, intense, edgy finish. This is a finely made South African Pinot. Drink now-2015. WA

Wine:  Pinot Noir Reserve

shows savoury cedar whiffs, with bright cherry & strawberry aromas powering through tealeaf cigarbox spice. Plush tannins, sweet berry notes. Integrated 80% new French oak, natural ferment. Even more vibrant & detailed than finely managed ‘09″. Gottfried Mocke

Wine:  Crescendo

Wine:  Syrah

The 2009 Syrah has a slightly subdued nose that demands coaxing from the glass, but there is good definition once those aromatics kick into life with dark blackberry and a touch of camphor. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannins, good acidity and a lush texture. Very clean fruit with a lovely, ripe silky finish of black cherries, black olive and a twist of sour lemon lend it an edge. This is a very succinct, high quality Shiraz from Hemel-en-Aarde WA

Wine:  Syrah Grenache

The 2009 Shiraz/Grenache (80% and 20% respectively) has a very refined, vivacious bouquet with lifted red cherries and wild strawberries with a hint of sous-bois. The palate is very well defined with luscious red cherries, sweet wild strawberries and a very fine, almost Pinot Noir-like tannic structure. It is beautifully controlled with superb freshness on the silky finish. In a word: delicious! Drink now-2017.

Wine:  Cuvee Cinema

Our entire allocation of 2009 Crystallum Peter Max and Cuvee Cinema was sold in 4 hours! These revolutionary Pinots from Peter Alan Finlayson show a real Burgundian edge coupled with fine tannins and pure red-berry fruit. Their purity and lack of new-oak flavours set them apart from many other local offerings. Most of the 2010s were therefore allocated to the 2009 purchasers, but we have an increased allocation and small quantities of the 2010s are available. 2010 was actually a smaller vintage and only 500 cases in total were produced. With the 2009 vintage pinots exuding richness, polish and the immediate ‘wow factor’, the 2010s are more classic and will probably require more time to show their full potential. Both Cuvee Cinema and Peter Max are intriguing and more delicate, but continue in the house style of elegance and class. Both have complex, savoury characters woven over a core of bright red berry fruit and a dry old-world finish. A recent tasting of the 2008 Cuvee Cinema, just coming around for optimal drinking, proved the delicious rewards these wines deliver. The Peter Max is made from a blend of Elgin and Upper-Hemel-en-Aarde fruit, whilst the Cuvee Cinema is only Upper-Hemel-en-Aarde fruit.

Wine:  Peter Max

Our entire allocation of 2009 Crystallum Peter Max and Cuvee Cinema was sold in 4 hours! These revolutionary Pinots from Peter Alan Finlayson show a real Burgundian edge coupled with fine tannins and pure red-berry fruit. Their purity and lack of new-oak flavours set them apart from many other local offerings. Most of the 2010s were therefore allocated to the 2009 purchasers, but we have an increased allocation and small quantities of the 2010s are available. 2010 was actually a smaller vintage and only 500 cases in total were produced. With the 2009 vintage pinots exuding richness, polish and the immediate ‘wow factor’, the 2010s are more classic and will probably require more time to show their full potential. Both Cuvee Cinema and Peter Max are intriguing and more delicate, but continue in the house style of elegance and class. Both have complex, savoury characters woven over a core of bright red berry fruit and a dry old-world finish. A recent tasting of the 2008 Cuvee Cinema, just coming around for optimal drinking, proved the delicious rewards these wines deliver. The Peter Max is made from a blend of Elgin and Upper-Hemel-en-Aarde fruit, whilst the Cuvee Cinema is only Upper-Hemel-en-Aarde fruit.

Wine:  Shiraz

Wine:  Fusion V

A sleek, solid and focused red, with hints of grilled herb and toast well-integrated into the core of red currant and damson plum fruit. A touch of red licorice adds length to the finish. A remarkably consistent wine from year to year. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2013.—J.M.

Wine:  Fusion V

Wine:  Blue Print Syrah

This wine produced mostly from neighbouring vineyard and winery, Keermont has always been overshadowed by the high performing “estate” Syrah below, but has also not received a score lower than 90 from the Wine Spectator since the first vintage in 2003. We certainly seem to be in an enclave of Syrah excellence with nearby Waterford and Stellenzicht having excellent established reputations and more recently Tamboerskloof committing itself entirely to Syrah and Viognier, gaining a solid reputation too.

Wine:  Cabernet Franc

Deep red colour. Attractive bright red fruit on the nose with typical spicy, dry leaf Cabernet Franc notes. A subtle dusty cedar from the barrel maturation adds complexity. Soft bright red fruit on palate with nice ripeness and elegant understated structure. Drink young to enjoy the fresh red fruit character, but should keep at least 10 years

Wine:  Cabernet Sauvignon

Medium deep, dark red colour. Red & blue berry nose with attractive cedary, spicy oak and fruit aromas. Softly tannic palate hiding a lot of fine fruit that opens up in the glass. Softer, more elegant and finer than most vintages, a little less intensity and long term ageability. Drink 2012 to 2020. Delicious with most meat dishes, especially roast lamb.

Wine:  Cabernet Sauvignon Magnum

Impressive, deep red colour. Intense blackcurrant and other complex berries with some spice, fresh toast and floral aromas. Delicious now with a thick chunk of beef on the braai, drink between 2011 and 2020. Big, intense palate with a thick, broad texture and a long, fine, dry finish.

Wine:  CWG Perspective

This wine has deep foundations, a tannic structure and alcoholic proportions. A big, bright façade, a dark, mysterious interior and a sumptuous finish. Probably best between 2005 and 2015. Ideal with a rich, juicy steak.

Wine:  CWG Perspective

Wine:  Elevation 393

Our flagship blend Elevation 393, always released a few years later to allow the all new French oak to integrate better and the wine to show something of its tremendous potential. Probably the most European styled vintage since 1997 and probably the best Elevation we’ve released to date.  This year we included a little Cabernet Franc (13%) to accentuate the elegance of the vintage, but the core of the blend remains Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Merlot (27%) and Syrah (20%). Although this wine usually takes a little longer to sell than the Syrah, it is rightfully gaining a reputation as one of South Africa’s top reds and availability will be extremely limited.

Wine:  Elevation 393

Attractive deep red colour. Elegant lifted aromas of dry fruitcake, cinnamon and smoky blackberry. Lovely plumminess and well integrated oak. Very attractive firm, dry tannin structure running through the wine from beginning to end. Long fine finish with elegant fruit carrying to the finish. Best 2010 to 2020. Ideal with a variety of fine rich, roasted or grilled red meat dishes.

Wine:  Placemat Syrah 1 x 5 Collection

Springfontein – WO Walker Bay – Limestone Probably our pick of the bunch! Herbaceous and earthy notes combine with beetroot, cinnamon and ample red fruit purity. The palate is rich with a refreshing acidity, keeping all flavours moist and silky. This follows through to sour cherry, bitter dark chocolate and a refined, concentrated finished. It opens up beautifully now but she will keep well for the next 3 to 5 years. Benguela Cove– WO Walker Bay - Shale Olives and centipedes, savoury basted beef and faint rose-petal perfume contrasts squashed red and black fruits. The entry is light-footed and yet very rich in its sleekness. One can almost feel the heartbeat of the wine, with the lively acidity leading to a smouldering smokiness on the finish. Complex and agile, this wine will prosper nicely over the next 5 to 9 years. Mullineux – WO Swartland - Shale The nose is intense, elegant and powerful with creamy plum pie; the 16% alcohol is almost undetectable! The palate is currently hibernating however and it took more than 2 days to show its inner core! Powerful, weighty and stately, this should be the last to open and we would love to experience it in 7 to 10 years… Sijnn – WO Malgas - Shale Not surprisingly this is the most unique in the series; cool plum and black berry fruit notes lead to wet earth and tobacco. It gradually opens to shows huge intensity, concentration and power. And is eventually fades with salty liquorice, black olive tapenade and a charcoaled, inky finish. This has a full circumference of big rich flavours balancing its impressive weight. Drink now and over the next 10 years. Judging from the quality here, Malgas could be a shiraz Eden! De Trafford – WO Stellenbosch - Granite Coffee, liquorice, dried sugar-dusted fig squares and a touch of beetroot and earth. The tannins are big and dry, giving structure to masses of red fruits. This one needs a couple of hours decanting to show its true self and it will certainly benefit with bottle age. WINEMAKING We received all grapes (400kg from each vineyard) in good condition and de-stemmed and crushed directly into old 400L barrels with the heads removed. No yeast or anything else added, except about 20ppm SO2. The cap of skins was punched down 2 to 3 times a day and after 12 to 13 days the wine was drained and pressed to old 225L barrels. The wines matured for 19 months with two rackings prior to bottling by hand directly from the barrels, unfined and unfiltered.

Wine:  Syrah 393

The 2008 was rated “Red Wine of the Year” by the Platter Wine Guide and the 2007 was rated 95 points in the Wine Spectator, jointly the highest rating ever for a South African wine. 3 of the last 4 vintages were rated 5 stars by the Platter Guide and every vintage since the first in 1998 has been rated 90 points or more by the Wine Spectator. There is no doubt in my mind that this is one of the great vineyards of the world and it is only time and our manmade limitations holding us back from getting to the next level. 2009 is considered by most fellow winemakers as the vintage of the decade. After 12 successful vintages we’ve decided to change the name to Syrah 393 to connect with our Elevation 393 from the same vineyard.

Wine:  The Delight

This wine is also a co-ferment of Barbera and Shiraz with 4 week skin contact and 20 months barrel maturation, it too has a very delicate mouthfeel with almost undetectable tannins. A faint resonance of cold roast, beef white pepper, plums and red cherries notes all bound in a 100% feminine in style. 

Wine:  Grand vin de Glenelly

Cropped at 44 hectoliter per hectare, the 2007 Grand Vin de Glenelly is a blend of 44% Shiraz, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot raised for 18 months in one-third new oak. It has a very ripe, broody bouquet with blackberry, iodine, cassis and a touch of brine that handles the oak very well. The palate is medium-bodied with good acidity and very impressive harmony, the oak is seamlessly integrated and leads to a very seductive, tobacco and spice-tinged finish. This should age well. Drink now-2017. WA

Wine:  Lady May

The flagship 2008 Lady May is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petit Verdot that is raised for 24 months in new French oak. It has a very controlled, refined bouquet with intense blackberry, raspberry and cedar aromas with just a slight pepper/herbaceous edge. The palate is full-bodied with firm, grippy, austere tannins and superb balance that makes this so fresh and vibrant. There is a sense of symmetry and control that May-Elaine has imported from Pauillac. With great tension and persistence on the finish, this is a Bordeaux blend that merits cellaring. Drink 2014-2020+ WA

Wine:  Lady May

Wine:  The Glass Collection Shiraz

The 2009 The Glass Collection Shiraz is fresh and lively on the nose with minty black fruit and good delineation. The palate is well balanced with ripe blackberry, boysenberry, black olive and a touch of fennel that dovetails into a focused, well-defined finish that shows great persistence. Drink 2012-2018. WA

Wine:  Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Wine:  CWG Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine:  Nikela

Wine:  Pinotage

Wine:  Ashbourne Pinot Noir

Wine:  Pinot Noir

"A tangy, racy style, boasting a core of mulled cherry, red currant and incense notes backed by a long, iron-tinged finish. Taut but vigorous, this should stretch out a touch with brief cellaring. Drink now through 2012

Wine:  Pinot Noir

Cropped at 3.2tons/ha and raised entirely in French oak (45% new) the delectable 2009 Pinot Noir has a lifted bouquet of bright red cherries, red currant and a hint of dried blood. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins and a lovely caressing texture in the mouth, fine tension and poise with crisp red-berried fruits on the shimmering finish. Drink 2012-2017+ WA

Wine:  Pinot Noir

The wine has a beautiful – and characteristic for Hamilton Russell Vineyards – vibrant, energetic, mineral core, with the usual fine tannins resulting from our high clay-content, iron-rich shale derived soils. A voluptuous coating and athletic structure.  Yields were low (as always) at only 31.8 hl/ha and the alcohol at 13.6% is right on our "sweet spot" for phenolic ripeness in a vintage with temperatures almost exactly equal to our long term average. HRV

Wine:  Pinot Noir 3litre

Wine:  Pinot Noir 5litre CWG

Wine:  Aeon

Wine:  Aeon

Wine:  Pillars

Wine:  Hornfels

Wine:  The Quarry

Mostly merlot and proud of it! Alongside Shannon Mount Bullet and perhaps vintage Veenwouden, this must be the best Merlot in SA. You have to love the elegance and light body of this wine, combined with bright cherry fruit and Bordeaux fineness. It reminds of Chianti with its cool acidity, moderate alcohol (13%) and tangy edge. The hint of greenery, which is not the nasty kind, seems to fade away with a few days open and gathers more berry goodness. Already soft and sumptuous, it will age well for another 5 years or so.

Wine:  Black Label Pinotage

Our team had a head start on sampling a precious bottle: a couple of words that flew around the office were suave, sleek, dense, elegant, encapsulated and Regal……It reminded me of arriving at a large homestead braai. Stacks of raw meat, with mixed berry pie baking in the oven, dry earth beneath and kindling of wood, with a festive atmosphere. Then the early hours after the festivities….smoldering coals, savory cooked meat, cool damp earth all intermingling…… I look forward to drinking this wine in 10 to 20 years, when I think we’ll taste the life of the party.' Tessa

Wine:  Black Label Pinotage

It was love at first sight with the 2010 Black Label! She is a solid garnet colour with a polished, glowing translucent edge. Showing more feminine characters this year, her bouquet is filled with perfume, rose-petals and juicy strawberries crushed over blackberries. Her entry is broad after the very hospitable nose, with a balanced complexity and almost limey, mineral-like freshness. The core shows hints of wet clay, smouldering coals and a deep, sexy, black spice. Finely tuned tannins frame notes of wet biltong wilting over a sweet and sour finish. Extremely youthful, it has the purity and concentration that will certainly keep it beyond 2020

Wine:  Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine:  Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine:  Paul Sauer

Wine:  Pinotage

Nose of violets and jasmine quiet primal, plums, dark chocolate and roses, flavor comes through very much like a stamp, confident and abrupt, there is a smoked beef and game component. Nose follows through onto palette, a live entry, with a speck of roughness, flavour plaits together and refines into an umami of forest floor with  moss surrounded by wild berries. Its quiet beautiful tasted 12/4/2011