South Africa
At the bottom of its great continent, South Africa is a country of unlimited natural advantages. With the confluence of two oceans at the Cape, the sheltering effect of inland mountain chains and some of the most dynamic soils in the world, every piece is in place for the production of fine wine. The most well-known region has historically been Stellenbosch, but it is the wines of Swartland that have really turned South African wine on its head in recent years.
The wine industry is in the midst of a renaissance with classically styled wines making full advantage of remarkable terroir and an adventurous spirit. As a result, South Africa is producing some truly exceptional wines of great character and value. Striking blockbuster Syrahs and Bordeaux blends to full bodied Chardonnay and crisp Sauvignon Blanc are some of this great nation’s offerings. South Africa’s own grape, Pinotage, leaves critics divided yet can produce excellent single-variety offerings as well as distinguished Cape blends.
South Africa
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Tim Atkin MW (98)
I’m making this for Syrah fanatics”, says Reenen Borman. Lucky them is all I can say, because this is another stunning release from a brilliant young winemaker. Intense, granitic and spicy, with lovely lavender and garrigue aromas, layers of dark, inky fruit, stylish oak and amazing length. What more do you want from a Syrah? 2020-30$438.00 -
(1x75cl) 2017$136.00 -
$455.00 -
(1x75cl) 2018
Vinous (94)
The 2018 Epilogue Syrah, which is 30% whole bunch fermented and matured for 13 months in 20% new 400-litre oak barrels, has an outstanding, very well defined bouquet with pure black cherries, boysenberry, iodine and violet aromas that are very expressive. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a little gamey in style, touches of fennel and white pepper, leading to a caressing, velvety finish very classy.$87.00 -
The benchmark cuvée from the exceptionally talented Reenen Borman, at the helm of this mythical estate since 2010 - this wine is spoken about in hushed tones amongst experts, critics.
50% whole-bunch fermentation has given the wine monolithic structure, without a single brick out of place. 25% of the wine was raised in 400 litre oak barrels, imparting gentle seasoning and further fine tannins, whilst the remaining 75% was raised in concrete eggs, preserving the fruit's sensational freshness and impossible purity.
Naturally, this wine is infantile due to its quality and structure, but already it displays a mesmeric mélange of violets, dried flowers, herbs and spices on the nose. Positively quivering with energy at this stage, the wine’s acidity shoots like Artemis’ arrow across the palate, losing no momentum through the endless finish. It is hard to overstate the juddering quality of Epilogue – Tim Atkin MW said of the 2017 that it was “now established as one of the Cape’s great Syrahs”... It is now one of the world’s greatest wines.$401.00 -
IWSC (97)
Very classy wine with nicely judged oak that adds vanilla spice to the tropical fruit and toffee apple flavours. Perfectly poised with crisp acidity and an elegant, long finish.$230.00 -
(6x75cl) 2018True to its terroir, the Brunia Syrah Walker Bay 2018 merits a noteworthy place in the collection of seasoned oenophiles. This Syrah is lovingly produced in the cool climate of the Walker Bay region, South Africa — a veritable paradise for viticulture. The winemaker, Brunia Wines, an uncompromising artisan renowned for championing sustainability through minimal intervention, imbues this vintage with authentic character.
The Brunia Syrah Walker Bay 2018 skillfully balances bold, aromatic side with elegant, juicy fruit flavours. The deliberate use of whole-bunch fermentation generates pronounced savoury facets, accented by supple tannins and a gratifying length. A slumber of 10 months on French Oak provides a mellowed sophistication, making this wine a testament to Brunia's commitment to harness the very best of the grape.
Mature yet vibrant, layered yet fine-tuned, Brunia Syrah Walker Bay 2018 is an assertive addition to any discerning wine enthusiast's collection, encapsulating the essence of South Africa's stellar wine craftsmanship.
$163.00 -
(6x75cl) 2018Admire the exquisite character of the Brunia White Walker Bay 2018. Produced in the cool-climate region of Walker Bay, South Africa, this formidable wine is an example of exceptional winemaking. The Brunia family's passion and heritage run deep in each bottle. Their dedication to sustainable farming and minimal intervention winemaking has resulted in an authentic wine of superior quality.
The 2018 vintage flaunts a remarkable golden hue, hinting at the complexity within. It’s a harmonious blend of Chenin Blanc and Viognier, encouraging a superb balance of acidity and opulent fruit flavours. Notes of ripe pear, honeyed apricot, and clean minerality reward the palate, whilst a crème brûlée finish hints at the delicate oak maturation.
To enjoy the Brunia White Walker Bay 2018 to its full potential, allow it to breathe before serving it modestly chilled. Whether experienced as an aperitif or with a meal, this wine is a delightful companion to your culinary journey.
$163.00 -
Characterised by undying refinement and complexity, the Cape Winemakers Guild De Trafford Reserve Chenin Blanc 2018 is a sterling exhibit of South African artistry. Landed from the sun-drenched vineyards of Stellenbosch, this wine is a creation of acclaimed winemaker David De Trafford. Reserved for the best harvests, the grapes undergo careful selection, ageing on lees for eleven months, imparting this wine with an optimised body and structure.
Each sip unveils a symphony of ripe peach, delicate pineapple, piquant ginger and nuanced nutty undertones, making this full-bodied wine an ambassador of elegance. The Cape Winemakers Guild De Trafford Reserve Chenin Blanc 2018 is an exemplary blend of terroir-driven minerality and vivacious acidity, garnering well-deserved recognition globally. A must-have for collectors and connoisseurs alike, this Chenin Blanc is an embodiment of South Africa's passionate winemaking tradition. Don't miss the chance to savour this rare geolocation's quintessential expression.
$238.00 -
Decanter (94)
This is Jackson Family Estate's first foray into South Africa – and what a debut by winemaker Graham Weerts and vineyard manager Rosa Kruger who sourced the fruit from exceptional sites in Stellenbosch, Overberg and Robertson. The wine carries the 55% new French oak with ease to reveal a profoundly complex Chardonnay with heft, depth and well-judged acidity. Stone fruits, pear, herbs, lees and hay notes and long saline finish, make this a very complete and complex effort. A star in the making.$313.00 -
Experience the sheer elegance of Charla Haasbroek Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, artfully crafted under the skilful hands of winemaker Charla Haasbroek. This artisanal wine is produced in the renowned Stellenbosch region of South Africa, famous for its optimal grape-growing conditions. Charla's meticulous winemaking approach, aligning traditional methods with innovative techniques, results in Cabernet Sauvignon of distinctive character.
The wine displays rich dark fruit aromatics, underscored by nuanced notes of leather and spice. On the palate, it reveals a robust structure with velvety tannins and a harmonious balance achieved through 18 months of French oak barrel maturation. The Charla Haasbroek Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 could be described as a modern classic: a wine that pays homage to its varietal heritage with a discernible expression of its unique terroir.
Ly celebrated for her dedication to crafting authentic wines that echo their origins, Charla Haasbroek's Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is a sublime testament to her passion and expertise.
$129.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (93)
Five different vineyards in Ceres, the Overberg and the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge make up the blend of this pan-regional Chardonnay. Lightly wooded in foudres and larger, older barrels, it carries its full malolactic lightly, showing flavours of lemon butter, stone fruit and citrus zest and a focused, mineral-etched finish.$219.00 -
(1x75cl) 2021Tim Atkin MW (96)
Clay Shales is made with fruit purchased from a vineyard in the central part of the Hemelen-Aarde Ridge. Fermented with native yeasts in older wood, it's a nicely worked style with lots of layers and understated power, mixing flavours of oatmeal, toffee fudge and fresh citrus zing. Structured and intense.$107.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (96)
Clay Shales has helped to create the reputation of the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge as a top area for Chardonnay. The 2023 is a supremely elegant, focused white with impressive structure, intensity and depth. Deftly oaked in 20% new Stockinger barrels, it has wet stone and citrus peel flavours and undertones of pistachio, cinnamon spice and wet earth. 2025-32.$409.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
Part of a brilliant line up of Pinot Noirs from Crystallum in 2020, this is a wine with evident tannin and extraction - more Nuits-St-Georges than Chambolle-Musigny perhaps - with plenty of grip, dark cherry and raspberry fruit, subtle 20% new wood and added complexity from 40% whole bunches.$1,045.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (96)
Cuvée Cinéma showcases the quality of a vineyard at 320 metres on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Denser and more powerful than the other Crystallum Pinot Noirs, this has some underlying grip, top notes of blood, fynbos and iron and a medley of bramble, raspberry and black cherry fruit framed by scented 20% new wood. 2025-35.$1,175.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (93)
Ferrum uses grapes from a vineyard that sits just beyond the boundary of the Hemel-enAarde Ridge and was grafted over from Sauvignon Blanc in 2018. Smart choice. This has subtle 10% new Austrian oak, good breadth and texture, an appropriately ferrous undertone and flavours of pear, lemongrass and patisserie spices.$509.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (92)
Peter Max is Crystallum's entry-point Pinot Noir, as it were, combining components from the Overberg with 15% each from Elandskloof and the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Fermented with 10% whole clusters, it's an engagingly commercial style with white pepper and rose petal top notes and flavours of red cherry, plum and wild strawberry.$342.00 -
Wine Advocate (93)
Crystallum's biggest Pinot Noir release is this 35,794-bottle production, with fruit sourced from across the Western Cape. The 2023 Peter Max Pinot Noir stands out for the same high quality found in the rest of this excellent portfolio. This is a spot-on wine made by Andrew and Peter-Allan Finlayson. With a total of 125 barrels created, it ages in mostly third- and fourth-year 228-liter barrels for 11 months. Wild cherry and violet cede to blood orange and spice.$200.00 -
Vinous (92)
The 2017 Aristargos is a blend of several white varieties from 14 different vineyards that includes Marsanne for the first time. It is whole-bunch-pressed, with the Sémillon kept on its skins for a few days and then matured in 300-liter used barrels for 12 months. It has a vivacious bouquet of yellow plum, mirabelle and jasmine aromas, all wonderfully defined. The palate is well balanced with a waxy texture and notes of stone fruit, sesame, walnut and orange peel . A very subtle flor-like element lends tension on finish. Superb.$207.00 -
Vinous (91)
The 2018 Aristargos is a blend of 53% Chenin Blanc, 13% Clairette, 13% Sémillon with some skin contact, 10% Roussanne, 2% Marsanne and 9% Viognier, from a mixture of old and younger vines from across 14 vineyards, matured in neutral oak for 11 months. It has a complex bouquet of nectarine, desiccated orange peel, grilled hazelnuts and a touch of almond. The palate is fresh on the entry with a fine bead of acidity and quite neutral in style, offering subtle, fleeting glimpses of orange zest and a tang of sea salt, though I would like just a little more weight on the finish. Give this a couple of years in bottle.$201.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (94)
I did a double take when I realised this was the tenth vintage of Aristargos - 2010 seems like yesterday - but what a great and reliable wine it has become. Chenin-based with 50% Clairette, Semillon, Roussanne, Viognier, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Verdelho, it's wonderfully complex and layered, with pear, citrus and herbal notes, a hint of peach and a long, stony finish. 2021-27$194.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (93)
Seventeen vineyards, 25 pickings and no co-fermentation" says David Sadie of this tasty, complex cuvée of Chenin Blanc with 51% Roussanne, Semillon, Marsanne, Clairette, Viognier, Verdelho, Grenache Blanc and Colombard. Perfumed, focused and textured for a white with just 12.5% alcohol, it's waxy, subtle and nuanced, with citrus, apple and nectarine flavours and very little oak. 2021-26$186.00 -
(6x75cl) 2021Wine Advocate (93+)
Starting with a broad and waxy nose of elegant yellow apples, sweet citrus and plum blossom, the 2021 Aristargos is delightful and intricate in the glass. Medium-bodied, the mouthfeel is enticing with the flavors of Meyer lemon and spiced white tea, while displaying a dusty mineral tension that evolves over the long, spicy and complex finish. It’s a brilliantly layered wine that will remain food-friendly for years to come.$153.00 -
(6x75cl) 2023Tim Atkin MW (94)
Chenin Blanc based, with the other 49% made up of eight different, mostly Mediterranean varieties, this is a beautifully judged assemblage from David and Nadia Sadie. Curated in neutral oak, with subtle bitterness from partial skin contact, it has enticing layers of passion fruit, pear and lemongrass and a stony, slightly salty finish.$174.00 -
$276.00 -
(6x75cl) 2015$159.00 -
Vinous (92+)
The 2016 Elpidios is a blend of red Rhône varieties, although with new vineyard plantings there is more Carignan. It includes 30% to 50% whole bunches and was matured in used French oak for 12 months, and another 12 months in bottle. It has a backward bouquet at first that opens with time, but it is very well defined, featuring blackberry, clove, bay leaf and white pepper, very understated in style but gaining clarity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin, quite insistent in terms of grip, and possesses fine backbone courtesy of the Carignan on the slightly ferrous finish. Excellent.$201.00 -
(1x75cl) 2019Tim Atkin MW (96)
One of a trio of world-class single site Chenin Blancs from David and Nadie Sadie (no relation to Eben, by the way), this hails from a two-hectare vineyard that was planted in 1968 and is often picked late. Completing full malolactic - such is the acidity in the grapes - this is leesy, focused and taut, with some ferrous grip and a textured palate. 2021-29$95.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (96)
One of a trio of world-class single site Chenin Blancs from David and Nadie Sadie (no relation to Eben, by the way), this hails from a two-hectare vineyard that was planted in 1968 and is often picked late. Completing full malolactic - such is the acidity in the grapes - this is leesy, focused and taut, with some ferrous grip and a textured palate. 2021-29$436.00
