Superstar South Africans

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 2020 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%

Gorgeous, dark garnet colour with a bright ruby edge. Aroma’s of black cherry, plum and peppery notes with a subtle hint of liquorice. The palate shows dark fruit and sweet spice supported by fine, supple tannins and a fresh finish. 

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV: 14.5%

Neil Ellis Wine

Superb blend of Chenin , white Grenache and Viognier. All three are fermented separately in old oak, amphora and clay vats. This as well as some skin contact gives lovely texture and body to the wine. Slightly saline finish. A Cellar Door team favourite.

Country: South Africa

Region: Wellington

Grapes: Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Viognier

ABV: 13.5%

Blankbottle Wine

The nose shows a mixture of ripe mulberry and white pepper, framed in a touch of toasty, vanilla oak and just the faintest hint of minty caramel chocolate. The palate echoes the blackcurrant, mulberry and dark cherry. The tannins are super smooth, long and persistent.

Country: South Africa

Region:  Overberg

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: 40% Malbec 32% Syrah 10% Pinot Noir 10% Touriga Nacional 8% Tannat

If you're a rich white Burgundy fan - then this is the wine for you. A rich nose of lemon curd and freshly baked butter biscuits. The beautifully fruity core is perfectly balanced by layers of oak spice, vanilla and roasted almonds. Supple with fresh acidity and an underlying minerality, which adds focus and length to the finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Paarl, Western Cape

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV: 14%

Food Match: The elegance and substance of the wine will
complement mushroom risotto, rich fish dishes and also steak béarnaise.

Ready to be enjoyed within the year of production, but will
mature well for the next four to six years.

Tropical fruit - especially passion fruit and pineapple on the nose. Hints of gooseberries and fresh herbs. On the palate, this lovely SA wine is very elegant, with a complex body and a crisp, slightly creamy texture. Long, herbaceous finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc

ABV: 13%

Neil Ellis Wine

Now this is something very special! Dried apricot and fresh ginger with hints of honeysuckle through to a concentrated palate with fresh, clean acidity which supports the extravagance of the palate. Astonishingly good. 

Country: South Africa

Region: Greyton, Western Cape

Grapes: Viognier

ABV: 14%

Lismore Wine

Californian wine pioneer, Samantha O'Keefe has found paradise and the perfect terroir in Greyton, Western Cape, South Africa. Tucked into the foothills of a dramatic mountain range in Southern Africa, Lismore Estate Vineyards was born alongside her family. A passionate vision, combined with vines planted at 300 metres, which are chilled by cold winters and nourished by the African sun, produces classic, cool climate wines which are rich, complex and hand crafted with care.

Aromatic, medium to full bodied and powerful, with good extraction of the sweet flavours of black ripe fruits. Elegant with good texture and firm tannins, giving wine great ageing potential. A touch of mint, with lavender notes. Firm, well balanced oak and long finish with fresh, spicy, integrated mouthfeel.

Country: South Africa

Region: Wellington

ABV: 14%

Grape: Shiraz

Andreas Wine

Andreas only produce this wine - and they are good at it. The wine is aged for 18 months in French and American oak and bottle matured for another year. Winemaker Shaun Meyeridricks' first first vintage was in 2018, since joining Andreas from Boekenhoutskloof where he was previously making exemplary Shiraz.

Complex and waxy with a bit of age on it. Layered aromas of pineapple, mandarin and orange . Fresh and earthy palate with a creamy vibrant texture, smooth, round finish. A very good example of how white wine can age beautifully.

It turned out this was a wine that was made and bottled but was never released for export because it wasn't deemed to be ready. And so to the back of the Mentors Cellar it went, forgotten about until Izele, the winemaker rediscovered it late last year. A few years later and it is now absolutely ready and drinking beautifully. We've been lucky enough to get our hands on a few cases - so grab it and enjoy drinking it while you can!

Country: South Africa

Region: Paarl

Grapes: Semillon

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes were handpicked in the vineyards and only individually selected grapes were harvested at maximum flavour intensity. The grapes were hand sorted in the KWV Mentors cellar. Destemming and crushing was followed by 2 hours of skin contact. The juice was settled for 48 hours, racked and then inoculated with yeast.
A portion of the wine was barrel fermented to add richness and complexity. The remaining components were fermented in tank at low temperatures to allow for maximum fruit and varietal expression. The wine was left on the lees for 6 weeks with batonage once a week before being racked, filtered and bottled.

A stunning example of a restrained, cool climate Chardonnay. Intense citrus aromas and classic soft fruits, jasmine and walnut are layered with honey and vanilla notes. The palate is beautifully balanced with a refreshing, crisp acidity and a distinct minerality. Concentrated and refined, with a crisp, clean citrus finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Greyton, Western Cape

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV: 13.5%

Lismore Wine

Californian wine pioneer, Samantha O'Keefe has found paradise and the perfect terroir. Tucked into the foothills of a dramatic mountain range at the bottom of Africa, Lismore Estate Vineyards was born alongside her nascent family. A passionate vision, combined with vines planted at 300 metres, which are chilled by winter snow and nourished by the African summer sun, produces classic, cool climate wines which are rich, complex and lovingly hand crafted.

Made from very small quantities of selected grapes from a specific block on the Andreas estate. Intense, concentrated dark red colour with aromas of black ripe fruit and sweet spice. The palate is richly raisined with hints of charcoal and earthy minerality, softened with a hint of white pepper.

Country: South Africa

Region: Wellington

ABV: 13.5%

Grape: Shiraz

Andreas Wine

Aromas and flavours of pure dark red berry and cherry fruit, with intriguing notes of nuts and spices, with a touch of forest floor. Lovely fine, dry tannin and a soft, long finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch, Helderberg

Grapes: Merlot

ABV: 14.5% 

Deep and generous red colour with a dark core. Ripe red and black fruit with liquorice and black olive notes. The palate is seamless, sophisticated and stylish. Structure and texture weave into a tightly focused, multi-dimensional palate. Fine and persistent tannins work well with the bright acidity and will give this wine great longevity.

Country: South Africa

Region: Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch

Grapes: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot ,20% Syrah

ABV: 14%

Another beauty from genius winemaker Pieter Walser. A tiny production and not made every year, 100% Verdelho, from the oldest vineyard of the variety in the country. Incredible concentration and energy and what a great nose! Concentrated lime peel and a little chalkiness too, with a super zingy palate - apples and sherbert, gloriously mouth-filling, broad and long, with a very biscuitty finish and saline streak.

Country: South Africa

Region: Wellington

Grapes: Verdelho

ABV: 13.5%

Blankbottle Wine 

NEAL MARTIN - VINOUS.COM

Stunning wine drinking beautifully now, but will age well for another 15 to 20 years! An elegant, appealing nose of black and blueberry aromas and hints of cigar box and tobacco spiciness with a touch of dark chocolate. The palate is full and round, yet precise with a crème de cassis and black currant on the nose following through with notes of pencil shavings, red capsicum, tea leaf and notes of clove. The finish is long, smooth and complex.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Cabernet Franc

ABV: 14.5%

The grapes come from Helderberg Mountains and the Polkadraai Hills of Stellenbosch. The Helderberg is often referred to as the Paulliac of South Africa and in this wine is there is definately a resemblance. 

Tim Atkin 96 points
This superb, ageworthy cuvee of Cabernet Sauvignon with 10% Cabernet Franc hails from three vineyards on the Helderberg and one from the Polkadraai Hills. Violet and thyme aromas lead into a structured palate of cassis and dried herbs, with intense tannins and fine 75% new wood. Drink 2023-2035

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 15-20 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.

Special Limited parcel wine from talented young South African winemaker Izele Van Blerk. Drinking window 2020 - 2028. Only 1000 bottles made!

Full-bodied, intense and concentrated. Aromas and flavours blackberries, freshly ground black pepper and plums with hints of lavender, blueberries and vanilla. The palate is rich and full with prominent fruit sweetness. Great tannic structure and a well balanced, lingering finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Paarl

Grapes: Malbec

ABV: 14.5%

Made from the northern Italian staple variety, Barbera, this wine is rich and inviting, with scents of mulberry, black cherry, white pepper and fynbos herbs. Ripe and balanced on the palate with an excellent acidity. Long spicy finish.

Country: South Africa

Region:  Overberg

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Barbera

A very special limited parcel wine from talented young South African winemaker Izele Van Blerk. Drinking window 2023 - 2028. Only 1300 bottles made!

The wine spent 36 months in 2nd and 3rd fill 500L French oak barrels and 24 months in bottle before release. The grapes are from 136 very old vines!

This full-bodied wine explodes with aromas of rose petals, red cherries and raspberries with hints of lavender. The palate is focused with an undertone of cloves, dried fruit and
leather. The grippy tannin structure and zippy acidity is well integrated and delivers an intense, lasting finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Nebbiolo

ABV: 14.5%

Food match: Beef Tenderloin,
braised duck, wild mushrooms and aged Gouda.

A complex and textured expression of Sauvignon Blanc.Wild yeast fermentation and oaking give aromas of white flowers and fresh herbs, are supported by stone fruits and honeysuckle. A round and creamy mouth feel complemented by gentle minerality contributes to a youthful and vibrant finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc

ABV: 13%

Neil Ellis Wine

The name of the wine refers to Pieter, the winemaker's feelings about Stellenbosch being overlooked as a great wine producing region following the Swartland winemaking revolution. This white is rich and textured having spent time in concrete eggs and clay amphora. 

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Verdelho, Marsanne, Viognier, Chardonnay, Rousanne, Chenin Blanc

ABV: 13.5%

Blankbottle Wine

Winemakers don't come much more creatively brilliant than the genius that is Pieter Walser. He's the sort of man that's had more fantastic ideas before breakfast than we manage in a whole week and that talent shines through in his wines. Each comes with a story often as captivating as they are mystifying so we've asked him to record a few to give you an insight into the magic behind the vino!