Dinner with Neal Martin – Thursday, 1 August
R 4,450 PER PERSON

Our annual dinner with Neal Martin of Vinous is back! This year we’ll be at the legendary Rust en Vrede Restaurant in Stellenbosch, where chef Fabio Daniel heads the kitchen. The evening includes a four-course dinner with leading wines from Bordeaux and South Africa. We’ll be pouring Mouton Rothschild, Léoville-Las Cases, Le Riche and Kanonkop, and look out for an ultra-rare red from a Bordeaux vineyard planted in 1850 – produced from ungrafted vines that pre-date phylloxera. Join Wine Cellar and Neal, arguably the finest critic in the world, for sensational wines and top-end South African cuisine.

Book now >

Pédesclaux Pauillac 2014
R 1,150 PER BOTTLE

Our recent visit to this up-and-coming property confirmed the fine value on offer at this Pauillac address. The 2014 vintage is often overlooked because rain interrupted the harvest in the Southern Médoc. However, the wines from Pauillac and further north were spared the untimely wet weather. Ideal with hearty winter food, the 2014 Pédesclaux is drinking beautifully. Neal Martin calls it ‘a very capable vintage from the rejuvenated château’, and we couldn’t agree more.

Order online >

Mellish Family Vineyards Bakenkop Syrah 2021
R 245 PER BOTTLE

Everything we love about Syrah is packed into this 95-point wine from Andrew Mellish – think black jacks, olive tapenade, black cherries, spice and fine tannins. The 2021 Bakenkop Syrah is produced from the historic Welbeloond farm, which dates back to 1785, when the homestead was used as an outpost by Jan van Riebeeck. The wine sees 35% whole bunch and spends nine months in old French oak before bottling. Championing simple winemaking and great vineyards, this is a must for any Syrah lover.

Order online >

Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage Sicamor 2021
R 550 PER BOTTLE

A ‘legendary Rhône Winemaker’ (Decanter), biodynamically grown grapes and a farm with over 200 years of winemaking history come together to produce this 2021 Crozes Hermitage Sicamor. Michel Chapoutier is a master of terroir, which explains how he’s able to successfully release his single-vineyard wines in the middle of Bordeaux en-primeur campaigns. This unique, cooler vintage Crozes-Hermitage has shifted from its usual dense and brawny profile, becoming a ‘medium bodied wine with great volume and control’, says James Suckling. Notes of dark berries, smoke, herb and pepper are ‘elegantly framed by fine-grained, silky tannins and a long, lingering finish’ (Wine Advocate).

Order Online>

Tempier Bandol Rouge Lulu & Lucien 2020
R 745 PER BOTTLE

The perfect winter wine must be Tempier’s flagship 2020 Bandol Rouge ‘Lulu & Lucien’. A blend of 75% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache, 9% Cinsault and 2% Carignan, it’s everything that Bandol Rouge stands for. The wine opens with pure black fruit, smoke, black olives, florals, and dried herbs, then moves with amazing energy and depth to a graphite, stony minerality, a fleshy palate and tangy acidity. On the open market this vintage already goes for an average of R995 ex VAT, but it’s sitting pretty here in South Africa at R745. Alongside a soup, stew or slow-cooked brisket, it will warm you right up on these rainy days.

Order online >

Premium WSET Level 2 Award in Wines
R 12,995 per person, Starts 5 August

Wine Cellar is excited to play host to the Premium WSET Level 2 Award in Wines, in partnership with the International Wine Education Centre (IWEC). This exclusive premium version of the course will teach you about the key grape varieties grown around the world and the different styles of wine produced. It will also introduce the Systematic Approach to Wine Tasting (SAT). Level 2 is an ideal introduction to the world of international wines and wine law, and is suitable for beginners as well as those who have already studied South African wines. The course will include a bonus lecture and deep dive into SA wine, a field trip to Tim Atkin MW’s annual tasting, and a visit to a premium local producer.

Book now >