Boekenhoutskloof

The nose is complex and inviting, offering Morello cherry, cranberry, raspberry and whiffs of candyfloss, rose petal and acacia blossom. The palate shows red apple and nectarine flavours with hints of green plum, citrus and rosewater following through. The wine is focused and balanced with a well-rounded, smooth mid-palate and integrated natural acidity. It ends clean and fresh with an attractive cherry finish and hints of exotic spices and cling peach. Great mouthfeel and complexity for a wine made in this style and a very versatile partner to everything from seafood to hot Thai dishes..to braais!

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland

Grapes: Cinsault 69%; Syrah 21%; Grenache Noir 10%

ABV: 12%

What's not to love about this wine?! A very rich, appealing nose of black and blueberry aromas and hints of cigar box and tobacco spiciness. The palate is exceptionally full and round, yet precise with a crème de cassis, black currant and Cedar wood of the nose following through with notes of pencil shavings, red capsicum, tea leaf and notes of clove. Grainy tannins and a perfect acidity balance the dark berry fruit on a rich mid-palate, suggesting significant ageing protentional. The finish is smooth and complex with its offering of red liquorice, fennel and exotic spice and an impressive length.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV: 14.5%

Tim Atkin MW

95 points. Gottfried Mocke sources this Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon from two growers - one on the Helderberg, the other in Stellenbosch Kloof - to produce what is always the denser than its companion Franschhoek bottling. Inky and grippy, with top notes of menthol, mocha and dried herbs, lots of energy and vibrancy and a core of plum, blueberry and cassis. 2025-35



James Suckling

93 points. Pretty nose of blackcurrants, sage, blackberry leaves and nutmeg. Firm and well-framed, with a full body and solid tannin structure. Excellent freshness, too. Drink or hold.



Neal Martin – Vinous.

91 points. The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch contains no Cabernet Franc. It is matured 60% in new French barriques for 22 months. This is more compact on the nose than the Franschhoek bottling with darker fruit, perhaps a little more Old World inspired. The palate is medium bodied with fine tannins, crips and focused. IT’s edgier than the Franschhoek cuvee, full of energy with a focused, graphite-infused finish lingering long in the mouth. Excellent.

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%

Stunning wine as always! A very elegant, floral nose of violets, menthol and blueberry aromas and hints of cigar box and tobacco spiciness. The palate is exceptionally full and round, yet precise with a crème de cassis, black currant and Cedar wood of the nose following through with notes of pencil shavings, red capsicum, tea leaf and notes of clove. Grainy tannins and a perfect acidity balance the dark berry fruit on a rich mid-palate, suggesting significant ageing protentional. The finish is smooth and complex with its offering of red liquorice, fennel and exotic spice and an impressive length.

Country: South Africa

Region: Franschoek

Grapes: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc

ABV: 14.5%

Tim Atkin MW

96 points. Boekenhoutskloof's Franschhoek Cabernet Sauvignon is picked two weeks later than its Stellenbosch stable mate and is a fresher, more refined wine. Benefitting from the inclusion of 12% Cabernet Franc from the vines around the winery, it has aromas of graphite, violet and eucalyptus, palate-caressing, granular tannins and red berry and blackcurrant leaf flavours. 2024-35



James Suckling

94 points. Lovely spicy fragrance of thyme, licorice and clove to the dark berry fruit. Full-bodied, deep and polished, with sturdy tannins. Spicy and muscular. Cabernet sauvignon with 14% cabernet franc. Try from 2024.



Neal Martin-Vinous.

89 points. The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Franschhoek, blended with 12% Cabernet France, is naturally fermented and aged over 22 months, 95% French barriques. It has a more fruit forward bouquet than its Stellenbosch counterpart; brambly red fruit, blood orange, hints of marmalade and tobacco. Quite exuberant with touches of menthol developing. The medium bodied palate has succulent tannins, juicy and generous with black pepper-infused black fruit. Oddly, this is quite Syrah-like in style a “fun” Cabernet leaving the seriousness to the Stellenbosch Cabernet.

Exceptional! Elegant aromas and flavours of pineapple, apricot and fresh green apple. Zippy, honeyed, lingering 

Country: South Africa

Region:Franschhoek

Grapes: Semillon

ABV: 9.5%

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.

The nose is delicate, restrained and elegant with its grapefruit, greengage, chamomile and apple blossom aromas and whiffs of exotic spice. The floral character of the nose follows through onto a richly textured mid-palate, showing yellow peach, poached pear and nectarine against a backdrop of fresh mandarin and green fig flavours with integrated acidity and a full body. The ripe stone fruit character adds to the complexity on the palate and the spicy finish with hints of fenugreek, black cardamom and Cape fynbos complements a very balanced wine.

Country: South Africa

Region: Franschhoek Valley

Grapes: Semillon (97%), Muscat d'Alexandrie (3%)

ABV: 13.5%

Great with Cape Malay dishes such as beef baboti - a well-known South African dish consisting of spiced minced meat baked with an egg-based topping.

Tim Atkin MW
96 points. Boekenhoutskloof's world-class Semillon uses grapes from three distinct blocks in Franschhoek, planted in 1902, 1936 and 1942, combining these with 3% Muscat d'Alexandrie. Showing more acidity and restraint than the stunning 2020, and less of the struck match character, it has notes of lemongrass, custard and beeswax and a core of chiselled acidity. Drinking 2024-32