Wine Cellar

Wine:  Red

The 2009 Family Red Blend is aged in a 40-year old foudres. It has a ripe bouquet of mulberry, raspberry leaf and a touch of sea foam that is well defined. The palate is sweet and plush on the fleshy entry that caresses the senses: layers of sweet ripe strawberry and cherry fruit laced with white pepper. There is almost a honeyed richness towards the finish that demonstrates great persistency. Just delicious! Drink now-2017. Adi Badenhorst is the charismatic winemaker who alongside Eben Sadie has put Swartland on the map. Outspoken, opinionated and talented, his charisma rubs off upon the wines he creates. Moreover, they are available at extremely affordable prices and serve as a perfect introduction to the delights of Adi’s and Swartland’s wines. WA

Wine:  Red

Wine:  Secateurs Red

The 2011 Secateurs Red Blend has light raspberry, briary and tertiary scented bouquet that is vibrant and demonstrates wonderful clarity. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh, ripe redcurrant and wild strawberry fruit. It is very pure with supple tannins and a refined, natural finish. This is beautifully crafted courtesy of the inimitable Mr. Badenhorst. Drink now-2015. Adi Badenhorst is the charismatic winemaker who alongside Eben Sadie has put Swartland on the map. Outspoken, opinionated and talented, his charisma rubs off upon the wines he creates. Moreover, they are available at extremely affordable prices and serve as a perfect introduction to the delights of Adi’s and Swartland’s wines. WA

Wine:  Lace

Blend of Shiraz (36%), Merlot (28%), Cabernet Sauvignon (18%), Cabernet Franc (17%), Viognier (1%). Palate of upfront layered fruit supported by 15 months ageing in French barriques. The wine was allowed natural fermentation and extended skin contact before malolactic fermentation in barrel. Natural acidity and purity of fruit make for an elegant wine with a lingering finish.

Wine:  Syrah

Elgin's high elevation and diurnal variation, with warm days and cool nights, allow for long ripening time. This translates into complex aromas including dark plum & blackberry and warm, earthy, spicy, slightly meaty notes. Natural settling and wild yeast fermentation. Aged for 16 months in exclusively French oak barrels. Elegantly structured, full-bodied palate. Supple texture with fruit concentration. Fine grained tannins and a long lingering finish. Will reward cellaring.

Wine:  Syrah

This natural Swartland Independent wine is unashamedly chasing earthiness and minerality, as these are the prized features of a genuine wine, or if you wish in grand speak: authentic wine. This we get from our typical Swartland shale and schist soils. Winemaker Johan Meyer and his team harvested the grapes from 20 year old vines - some bush vines and the rest from typical Swartland-style low-trellised vines – and proceeded to express the characteristics intrinsic to these south facing slopes. Half of the harvest was destemmed and fermented as whole berries in a stainless steel tank. The rest was crushed and fermented as whole bunches on stalks and skins in a stainless steel and 4 000 litre stukvat. Warm post-fermentation maceration was allowed to ensure optimal integration of acid and tannin components and to build the wine’s mineral core and long aftertaste. Both batches are being aged in 225 litres used French oak barrels and will be bottled after six months. We do not like too much alcohol in our wines as it inhibits or enjoyment of what should be above all a refreshing beverage. So we harvested the grapes on taste from bush vines and they turned out to be between 22 and 23.5 ° balling. The wine is unfiltered. So sediment may occur. Drink now, because it is deliciously drinkable. Or cellar for as long as you dare.

Wine:  Ashbourne

Pinotage led. Enriched with equal dabs of shriaz and cabernet sauvignon. Cool black cherry and clean leather, coupled with Old World savouriness, subtle oaking & leafy tannins.

Wine:  Machado

Wine:  Little Merlot

The Little Merlot is a wine that emphasizes the fruity side of this variety. It regularly convinces with fresh berry flavours and a silky texture and offers early drinking pleasure. This wine is generally less tannic and earlier accessible than the Bein Merlot, though we still see it as a very serious wine, well able to mature for another 2-4 years. It is ideally served at 18ºC, and shows its best sides as companion to a meal. With it's attractive berry flavours and its juicy texture, it sits well on any table, from vegetarian to richly sauced beef.

Wine:  Merlot

A Merlot in classic Pomerol style, elegant and complex. It is our flagship, the optimal synthesis from the wines of our various batches, reflecting best the integrated terroir of our cool southern slope. This wine strives for perfect balance between primary fruit and sweet-spicy barrel flavours.

Wine:  The Bernard Series Pinotage

Wine:  Diesel Pinotage

Intense sweet plum and black cherry fruit with spicey cedar aromas from the oak. Abundance of fruit flavours on the palate with well integrated oak on the end. A wine with big structure, intense fruit, great balance & apleasant mocha finish. This big pinotage will keep in the bottle for 15years and goes best with rich game dishes including Kudu & Springbok. WA 92

Wine:  Diesel Pinotage

Wine:  Field Blend

Wine:  Pinot Noir

Wine:  Syrah Grenache

Wine:  Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine:  Chocolate Block

The 2011 Chocolate Block is a blend of Syrah (69%); Grenache Noir (14%); Cabernet Sauvignon (11%); Cinsault (5%) and Viognier (1%). The influence of the Grenache’s red fruits on this wine is striking. The nose shows an abundance of redcurrant, plums, crushed rock, and an array of spices. The floral notes adds to its complexity. The freshness of the wine puts its head in front of the previous vintages. Spicy oak aromas cover a rounded mid-palate that reveals layers of fruit with intense purity. Textured, composed and seamless in style.

Wine:  Syrah

Wine:  Cecil John Reserve Shiraz

Wine:  Pinot Noir

Elgin grapes for my first attempt at pinot noir. Layers of strawberries and cherries with a soft vanilla finish.

Wine:  Galpin Peak Pinot Noir

This bottling is rich with luscious soft tannins and dark-coloured forest fruits, deftly balanced on a cord of lingering plum and raspberry delights. Expected to age with appealing composure.

Wine:  Hannibal

The excitement of the Hannibal blend lies in the indulgence of pitching French and Italian grape varieties together. Arguably the world’s best varieties with Sangiovese established as the principle cultivar (52%) in this mix. My best description of Hannibal 2011 is that it is the kind of wine which one pulls the cork on while cooking only to discover the bottle is empty before sitting down to dinner. It is perfectly elegant with sufficient “leather” in its taste profile – a reminder of its Italian links. All Barrel matured for sixteen months after fermenting the different grapes separately. This vintage comprises Sangiovese 52%, Pinot noir 13%, Shiraz 13%, Mouvedre 13%, Nebbiolo 6% and Barbera 4%. These grapes ripened well to produce friendly wild berry flavours with opulent, gentle tannins providing long and harmonious finish! Enjoy now or cellar to perfection.

Wine:  Hannibal Vintage Pack

A pack containing the vintages of 2008, 2009 and 2010. The 2010 being a Platter 5 Stars!

Wine:  Christine

Cabernet Sauvignon (34%), Cabernet Franc (30%), Merlot (33%), Petit Verdot (3%) . Aged for 24 months in 100% new French Oak. The wine offers rich red fruit characters reminiscent of ripe cherry and black currant with dark chocolate and tobacco undertones. Great with all red meats and game. Succulent roasts and ostrich.

Wine:  Greywacke Pinotage

2013 Platter Winery of the Year ! 90 WA The Greywacke Pinotage has a deep garnet red colour with tinges of dark violet when young. The bouquet is complex with scents recalling wild berries, spice and cherries. On the palate the wine shows full body and rich dark chocolate bitles extract with fruit flavours balanced elegantly by tannins in a long finish that reveals a sweetness reminiscent of liquorice. WA 90

Wine:  Pinot Noir Reserve

2013 Platter Winery of the Year ! The Chamonix Pinot Noir Reserve shows a ruby red colour, with notes of cherry, wild red berries, crushed black pepper, cinamon and violets on the nose. Although firm in structure and intense in flavour, textures are mellow and round, expanding with time to extraordinary opulence and length on the palate. It should reach its prime in about 5-8 years after release.

Wine:  Troika

Wine:  Dry red

Wine:  Bona Fide

Wine:  Cuvee Cinema Pinot Noir

The 2011 Cuvée Cinema Pinot Noir is produced from fruit grown from a single vineyard one of the highest in the Hemel-en-Aarde region. This region is characterised by a moderate climate which results in delayed ripening and a late harvest. The soils are clay and shale in composition, which allows optimum fruit development while naturally restricting vigour and keeping crop levels low.

Wine:  Peter Max Pinot Noir

100% Hemel-en-Aarde fruit. Completely loaded with crushed strawberry, cranberry and blueberry fruit, it has astonishing purity. The potent yet fragrant entry is all wound up by gorgeous complexity of damp earth, forest floor and whiff of smoke. All finishing with elegant tannins, freshness and poise. Impossible to resist now, it will drink well for 5 years.

Wine:  Giorgio

An opulent, well-structured and full-bodied red blend with complex and generous chocolate-berry flavours, generous mouthfeel, and enduring finish.

Wine:  Grenache Noir

To be released in June! Grenache noir from Paardeberg Mountain’s Granite soils are harvested from an organic farmed Vineyard. Volumes are very limited.

Wine:  Botmaskop

Wine:  Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

The 2009 Delaire Graff Cabernet Sauvignon is raised in 80% new French oak and is a selection of the finest five barrels. It has a lifted nose of black cherries, kirsch and a touch of balsamic with fine delineation. The palate is very concentrated with supple tannins and acidity. It is tightly wound, perhaps a little pinched on the finish at the moment although that will loosen up with time. There is a plenty of pure red cherry fruit here and the finish is long and persistent. Drink 2013-2019. I attempted to taste the full range of wines from Delaire Graff Estate, but a succession of trips abroad and missed phone calls thwarted my attempts and unfortunately, reviews for this producer’s wines will have to wait until the next report. The one sample I did encounter in Cape Town bodes well. WA

Wine:  Shiraz

Wine:  Vera Cruz Shiraz

Wine:  Book XVII

De Toren BOOK XVII  2011 is a Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc Malbec blend from 100% De Toren Fruit, and has gone through extreme wine making to achieve this cultish style. The 2011 tasting note is on its way, but in the meantime here's Neal Martin's take on the 2010 - “It has a super-ripe crème de-cassis, fruitcake and fig scented bouquet with a palate that is ostentatious to the point of vulgarity. However, this full-bodied turbo-charged wine is so damn silky smooth and seductive in a super-Tuscan kind of way, that its charms will be near impossible to resist. I found this to be a big, powerful, quite alcoholic wine that is more reminiscent of some cult Napa Valley wines and they would certainly appeal to those who appreciate that style.”

Wine:  Fusion V

A dark intense colour reveals levels of fine spices and an array of flavours combined. Intensive Black fruit, wood tannins combine with well integrated ripe grape tannins to create an intense wine has never been achieved before. A powerful earthy wine with an elegant palate that has a long, sweet finish with a creamy richness. If stored in optimal conditions, this wine should last 10 – 15 years.

Wine:  Blue Print Syrah

Even better is the 2009 Blueprint Syrah. It has a wonderful peppermint scented bouquet that is very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins and superb balanced. It is a more sophisticated Syrah than the "393" with a sensual, silky smooth finish that is long and pure. This is opulent and yet utterly elegant. Drink now-2020. Another set of superb wines from one of Stellenbosch's finest exponents: David Trafford (see also Sijnn.) These were mainly very well crafted, expressive of both varietal and place and should merit cellaring. WA

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

Wine:  Cabernet Sauvignon

Deep, dark red colour. Cassis & blue berry nose with attractive cedary, lead pencil and spicy oak aromas. Rich, tannic palate hiding a lot of intense fine fruit that opens up in the glass (or with decanting). Exceptional maturation potential. Drink 2016 to 2024. Delicious with most red 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

Showing attractive blackcurrant, plum and red berry fruit, tobacco leaf and dusty earth complexity. New oak nicely integrated already at time of Auction. Still obviously youthful, but with soft tannins. Expected optimum drinking 2013 to 2018. Ideal with roast Karoo lamb.

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. "The 2007 Elevation 393 (scored 91 with WA) a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 20% Shiraz and 13% Cabernet Franc, has a very ripe blackberry, boysenberry and iodine aromas cloaked in vanilla-y oak. The palate is medium-bodied with cedar-infused, charred black fruit, crisp acidity and a rather brusque but appealing, masculine finish. Drink now-2018+ Another set of superb wines from one of Stellenbosch's finest exponents: David Trafford (see also Sijnn.) These were mainly very well crafted, expressive of both varietal and place and should merit cellaring." WA

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. "The 2009 Syrah 393 is raised 50% in finely grained new French oak for 20 months. It has a vivacious, opulent bouquet of cassis, redcurrant jus and fresh fig that is well defined and opens nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with liquorice-infused black fruit and a touch of spice and sage towards the heady finish. This is an opulent, well-crafted, modern style of South African Syrah. Drink now-2017. Another set of superb wines from one of Stellenbosch's finest exponents: David Trafford (see also Sijnn.) These were mainly very well crafted, expressive of both varietal and place and should merit cellaring." WA

Wine:  Little Eagle

This wine is reminiscent of Right-Bank Bordeaux. The underlying spiciness, typical of cool climate grapes, pushes through the fruit quite powerfully. On the palate, the wine enters with the fruit profile of the nose carrying through to the taste buds. Plenty of ripe red and blackberries coupled with spiciness entice the tongue. These flavours carry right through supported, by elegant ripe soft tannins, which give a long and lingering finish.

Wine:  Merlot

An underlying spicyness shows quite powerfully - giving indication of the cool climate. This profile carries through to entry on the palate with ripe red berries & prominent spiciness, lingering in an elegant finish where ripe, soft tannin carry the flavours through.

Wine:  Shiraz

Stuart Botha is one of South Africa’s rising stars and Eagle’s Nest is one of Constantia’s finest producers. The question was: could Eagle’s Nest follow up his stonking 2009 with a worthy 2010? The answer is a resounding yes! WA A Shiraz of cool climate character with a intense, dark- plum colour. On the nose the prominent pepper tones, a hall mark of the Eagles’ Nest Shiraz, are complemented with black cherry fruit and subtle violets. These primary aromas are lovingly enveloped by hints of rich cured meat like aromas which derive from the wine’s maturation in barrel. On the palate one realises the integration of all flavours and aromas, with crushed pepper and black berry fruits remaining the driving force. Soft, integrated tannins and a structured mid palate hold true and follow through to an extended mouth coating after taste.

Wine:  Verreaux

The 2009 Verreaux is a blend of 85% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Petit Verdot and 7% Cabernet Franc. It comes from north and east-facing vineyards and is a tripartite maturation in first, second and third fill French oak barrels. It has a lifted bouquet strawberry jam, raspberry and a slight tinny scent. It is well defined and fresh. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe raspberry and pomegranate notes on the entry. It builds nicely with a lovely honeyed finish that caresses the senses: voluptuous without being overbearing. This is outstanding winemaking. Drink now-2018+ Stuart Botha is one of South Africa’s rising stars and Eagle’s Nest is one of Constantia’s finest producers. The question was: could Eagle’s Nest follow up his stonking 2009 with a worthy 2010? The answer is a resounding yes! WA

Wine:  Cuvee 1693

Wine:  Pinot Noir

Ripe Strawberries, red cherries, with a hint of clean leather. Succulent fruit on thr palate with secondary flavours beginning to develop.

Wine:  Bobbejaan - Syrah

100% Syrah. Colour: Violet with crimson hues. Bouquet: Concentrated berries & dusty oak with subtle tobacco & chocolate nuances. Palate Dark cherries smooth rich palate with good length and fine tannins Cellaring 5-8 years Food Red meat and game

Wine:  Lion's Whisker - Syrah Mourvedre

79% Syrah, 21% Mourvedre, Deep crimson hues, Bouquet: Rich floral bouquet with dusty overtones. Palate: Berry fruits and tobacco with soft elegant tannins and a dusty finish. Cellaring: 5yrs. Food: Game and white meat dishes.

Wine:  Pinot Noir

Exciting aromas of bramble fruit and spice are beautifully complemented by hints of mulberry and chocolate. On the palate a medley of strawberry and raspberry is subtly complemented by well-integrated oak.