Autumnal Reds

Subtle, lifted, fragrant black pepper, blueberry and rose petal nose with ripe cherry and plum fruit characters. The palate has a beautiful silky texture with fresh red berry fruit and a fine savoury tannin finish. Drinking well now and for the next 10-15 years.

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland,

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Syrah

The Syrah grapes come mainly from the Porseleinberg vineyard - one of the best sites in the world to grow the variety. Renowned winemaker and viticulturalist Callie Louw farms the land. The 'brutal' soils (according to winemaker Marc Kent) are made up of Mica and Schist. 10% of the grapes are from the Goldmine vineyard which has brown schist soil.

Tim Atkin MW

97 points. Given that 90% of its raw material comes from Porseleinberg - the other 10% comes from Boekenhoutskloof's Roundstone property - it's no surprise that this is such an impressive Syrah. Fermented with 65% whole bunches, it combines fynbos, lavender and Asian spice aromas with a palate of white pepper, barbecued meat, oregano and blackberry framed by sappy, granular tannins. World class. 2025-35.



James Suckling

94 points. Lovely fragrance with thyme, cracked pepper, iron, coriander and black berry fruit. Medium-bodied, peppery and compact, with vibrant acidity and a focused finish. Long and persistent. Drink or hold.



Neal Martin – Vinous.

93+ The 2021 Syrah was picked later than the 2020. It contains more whole bunches than prior vintages (65%) and matured for 18 months, 90% in Stockinger foudre and Stockinger demi-muids. This is quite concentrated on the nose with dark berry fruit, bay leaf and white pepper, perhaps less floral than some of its peers. The aromatics feel tightly coiled at the moment. The palate is smooth and harmonious on the entry, with a fine structure. It is compact at the moment with cracked black and white pepper and garrigues notes flourishing toward the persistent finish. Much more backward than expected. I would cellar this for three to five years before cracking open as it’s a serious Syrah.

Pinot Noir is one of Romania’s greatest hidden secrets. Probably the only place in the world that can do this grape variety justice at such brilliant value.

Delicate aromas of blackberry and touches of violets. A juicy, light-bodied palate with black cherry flavour and fresh finish. Enjoy slightly chilled with rich, creamy fish dishes.

Country: Romania

Region: Recas and Minis

ABV: 12.5%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

As you walk through the rolling vineyards of the 700 hectare Cramele Recas estate, two things are inescapable. The first is the scale of the transformation that Englishman Philip Cox and his wife Elvira have managed to achieve, replanting 700 hectares of decrepit vineyards and replacing them with immaculately tended sites the equal of anywhere else in the world. The second is that if you didn't know where you were, you'd be convinced you were in Tuscany or any other "Classic" wine producing region. And, to a certain extent you are, Romania has a history of winemaking stretching back millennia and it was this potential that has driven this dynamic duo to dedicate their lives to driving forward Romanian winemaking to it's current state of rude health. A 20 million euro investment in the vineyards and brand new winery.

This wine has an attractive shiny light ruby colour. It is both refined and very frank on the nose and palate. It opens to aromas of red fruits. Its silky tannins support the balance of a wine, such that it can be kept for some time (5 to 7 years) while remaining pleasant in its youth.

Country: France

Region: Burgundy

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Food Match:  Serves well as an aperitif for fresh and savoury tapas, soft-boiled eggs or roasted fish.

Maison Chanzy is a highly respected Burgundian producer, their wines are a classical demonstration of premium vineyard sites in Côte Chalonnaise, Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits.

Their range has been carefully engineered by winemaker Max Blondelle, whose primary task is to create wines that eloquently communicate their respective terroir, whilst remaining hands-off in his approach. As such, Chanzy are one of the few Burgundy producers to achieve Haute Valeur Environnementale level 3; the most highly regarded certification for agriculture in France.

Pinot noir is the heritage of Red Burgundy. The pinot noir grape was born in Burgundy and has carried the name since 1375. Pinot noir is the hereditary source to all of the great red wines from Burgundy vineyards. Pinot noir is jealously desired, but it is fragile and it requires very careful care during its vegetative period.

Such a treat to drink Saperavi, Georgia's flagship, indigenous red grape variety with a bit of age. Eight years of barrel and bottle age has softened the tannins of this rich, meaty red. It is extremely silky and well balanced, but still has lovely ripe mulberry, blueberry and cassis aromas and flavours.

Country: Georgia

Region: Mukhrani

Grapes: Saperavi

ABV: 12.5%

Food matches: red meat or game grilled or in rich stews go very well with this wine.

Located between the Trialeti Mountains and the Caucasus, the beautiful Château Mukhrani is just 35km from Georgia's capital, Tbilisi. Definitely worth a visit if you are travelling to this historic winemaking country.

Read all about Penny's recent trip to the cradle of wine, Georgia in her blog here.

Bright purple in colour with a deep violet rim. The nose offers upfront aromas of perfume, violets, glazed gammon, pepper and buchu. The wine presents a smooth entry on the palate, with soft and seamless layers of cloves, nutmeg and warm spices, underpinned by a savoury and meaty finish.

Country: South Africa

Region:  Paarl and Firgrove, Western Cape

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Shiraz

The De Grendel Shiraz will marry exceptionally well with pork neck steaks served with a cranberry reduction, a traditional glazed gammon during the festive season and, in particular, with game and venison cuts during the colder winter months.

The fruit was carefully handpicked in three batches, with the first batch ripening in Paarl. It was fermented for two weeks in closed conical shape tanks using the more delicate aerated pump-over method, ensuring softer tannins, delicate spicy flavours and a deep colour. The second and third batches from Firgrove were separately fermented using the pneumatic punch-down method four times a day to produce more robust tannins with excellent structure and concentration. The three batches were then blended and allowed to undergo natural malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks before being racked three times and transferred into Oak barrels. Barrel maturation took place over a period of 13 months in 10% new American Oak, 10% in new French Oak and 80% in second and third fill French Oak barrels. 

Enjoy the Shiraz now or allow it to mature for a further 5 – 8 years.

De Grendel Wine

Dark ruby/garnet in colour. Red berries with some mint, cedar and coffee aromas and flavours. A full-bodied, elegant barrel matured red wine with silky, ripe tannins. Recommended drinking up to 20 years from vintage. 

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon 45% Pinotage 31% Shiraz 16% Merlot 7% Mourvèdre 1%

ABV: 14.5%

Food Matches: Enjoy with  yellow fin tuna ravioli, balsamic and pan seared chicken livers, grilled kabeljou (white fish) or slow-roasted lamb shanks.

Selected from prime Helderberg and Simonsberg vineyards in Stellenbosch. The southerly summer sea-breezes that blow over the cool waters of False Bay contribute greatly to the quality of the grapes from these vineyards – especially those in the Helderberg.

Handcrafted. Traditional. Unhurried. These three words epitomise Jeremy Walker’s
winemaking, with one notable omission - Delicious. By ‘Unhurried’, Jeremy is alluding to
the fact that he doesn’t release a wine until he believes it is ready to be enjoyed, which is
evident in the current vintages being 2008, 2009 and 2011!
Jeremy Walker founded Grangehurst in 1992, when he converted his fathers’ squash
court into a makeshift wine production cellar. He used the ‘squash court cellar’ to make
his first 6 vintages, only moving out after the 1998 vintage.
Jeremy was invited to join the prestigious Cape Winemakers Guild in 1996 and was one
of the longest standing members when, in order to let a young winemaker take his
place in the sun, he elected to step down in 2021.

Light with strawberry and cherry fruit aromas and flavours. Great juicy acidity, subtle savoury notes and a silky tannin structure ending in a lovely, smooth finish.

Country: Australia

Region: Limestone Coast, South Australia

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 14%

Saperavi is tipped to be the 'new Malbec' by a few well known wine critics. This ripe, Georgian red is full of red cherry and mulberry aromas and flavours, with layers of vanilla. Wonderful, soft rounded tannins with a long, juicy finish.

Country: Georgia

Region: Kakheti

Grapes: Saperavi

ABV: 13%

Food Matches: Red meat dishes, stews and casseroles, roast lamb or mature hard cheeses.

Read all about Penny's recent trip to the cradle of wine, Georgia in her blog here.

George Margvelashvili is the founder at Tbilvino Wines - where this delicious wine is made. Established 60 years ago, and over this period Tbilvino have become one of Georgia’s pioneering producers. Almost dormant at the end of the Soviet era, the winery was acquired by the Margvelashvili brothers, who set out to restore the facilities, and moved away from quantity to quality production.

Deep purple/red colour with an opaque core. On the nose it is rich with sweet red and black berry notes, some vanilla and sweet spice. On the palate it is much weightier than the nose suggests.  Very opulent, but elegant and balanced at the same time.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

ABV: 14%

Grape: Shiraz

A very classy Nebbiolo from Alba with an affordable price tag.

Delicious lifted aromatics of liquorice, redcurrant and ripe red fruit on the nose, mingling with sour cherry, blossom and notes of leather on the palate. A richly flavoured and multi-layered wine combining vibrant acidity, perfectly poised tannins and rich spicy fruit. 

Country: Italy

Region: Piemonte

ABV: 14% 

Grape: Nebbiolo

Food Match: Serve with grilled steak and red meat, or alternatively robust pasta dishes with wild boar or rabbit ragu

A deliciously rich yet supple red that's perfect to enjoy along side hearty, rustic Italian cuisine.

Intense ruby-red colour with a complex bouquet reminiscent of prunes, cherries and redcurrants.  The oak ageing adds a pleasant roasted and spicy aroma. On the palate it is full-bodied, supple and well-balanced with a long finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

ABV: 13%

Grapes:  70% Corvina, 20% Rhondinella, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

Food Match: Great with Antipasto like cured meats and olives, but equally as good with hearty bean and beef stews.

2022 5 star platter!!!

Iconic South African wine by South African Winemaker of the year 2020 Gottfried Mocke, one of the most innovative winemakers in South Africa. Tim Atkin has rated this vintage 92 points in his latest South African report The 2022 wine is bigger and better than ever!

The nose is dark, intense and brooding with aromas of black cherries, cardamom, sweet tobacco, espresso and subtle whiffs of perfume. The dark fruit character of the nose follows through onto an exceptionally complex, juicy palate with gentle nuances of ripe plums, violets, black olives, cloves, and liquorice. The mid-palate is focused, lithe and elegant with very fine, cocoa powdery tannins. The wine is medium to full bodied, very balanced with an earthy, layered character, covering the entire spectrum of berry fruit - from tart red plums to rich blue and black berries. The finish is svelte, clean and dry, peppery and lingering, with hints of dried cranberry, tar, graphite and smoke.

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: Syrah 71%; Grenache 11%; Cinsault 9%; Cabernet Sauvignon 8%; Viognier 1%