Swartland Revolution

You would be barking mad not to try this wine....

An elegant and balanced wine packed with flavours of ripe blueberry and mulberry, exotic spice and creamy vanilla with evident ripe tannins and a long lingering finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Pinotage

The wine is dark and dense on appearance. The brooding nose is intense and shows an abundance of dark fruits. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, baking spices and heady whiffs of violets create complexity. Dark berry fruit, liquorice, notes of sweet tobacco and allspice follow through onto a vibrant mid-palate with bright, svelte tannins and a silky texture. The wine shows exceptional balance with fresh, integrated acidity. Dark plums, black olives and hints of tar and cigar box linger on an earthy finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland

Grapes: Syrah 91%; Mourvèdre 8%; Viognier 1%

ABV: 13.5%

The nose is clean, fresh and inviting with its green apple, white peach and yellow plum aromas, with whiffs of angelica and lemon zest. The mid-palate shows an array of stone fruit with flavours of nectarine, pear, cling peach and tangerine creating complexity. The acidity is integrated, and the wine is medium-bodied, fleshy and smooth with slight spicy undertones from careful oaking. The finish is vibrant and refreshing with hints of bruised apple, tarragon and honeysuckle.

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland

Grapes: Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon, Grenache Blanc, Viognier

ABV: 13.5%

Light, fruity, juicy and ripe red. Full of flavour and vibrant, crunchy red fruit character. Good stuff!

Country: South Africa

Region: Paarl

Grapes: Cinsault

ABV: 13%

Food pairing: pan fried duck breast with a berry sauce or cheese and cured meats with quince jelly.

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%

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%

Iconic South African wine by Marc Kent, one of the most innovative winemakers in South Africa. The 2022 wine is bigger and better than ever!

An earthy, rustic nose gives up aromas of leather, earth and spices over a backdrop of blackcurrant and ripe raspberry fruit. Harmonious and powerful on the palate, with a cocoa and pepper complexity. Most at home with spice-rubbed steaks, roast rib of beef, or game dishes.

Country: South Africa

Region: Franschhoek, Swartland

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: 64% Syrah, 14% Grenache, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cinsault, 1% Viognier

Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, baking spices and heady whiffs of violets create complexity. Dark berry fruit, liquorice, notes of sweet tobacco and allspice follow through onto a vibrant mid-palate with bright, svelte tannins and a silky texture. The wine shows exceptional balance with fresh, integrated acidity. Dark plums, black olives and hints of tar and cigar box linger on an earthy finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland

Grapes: Shiraz, Cinsault, Mouvedre, Grenache Noir, Malbec

ABV: 13.5%

A fruity, juicy, medium-bodied Swartland red blend. Generous red fruit flavours balanced with soft, earthy tannins.

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland

Grapes: Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvedre

ABV: 13.5%

A luminous and lifted red blend from Mr Badenhorst. Predominantly Shiraz, with Grenache, Tinta Barocca and some Cinsault from mostly old bushvines growing in the decomposed granite soils of the Paardeberg mountain. Very youthful, with a kaleidoscope of aromas - cherries, blackberries and redcurrant coulis, and multi-layered floral aromas-roses, lavender, pink peppercorns and violets.

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland

Grapes: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Tinta Barocca

ABV: 14.5%

Adi Badenhorst is DEFINATELY one the most exciting winemakers in South Africa - part of the Swartland revolution movement...

Stunning, concentrated  barrel fermented white Grenache, from very old vines in the Swartland. Aromatic on the nose with stone fruit and hints of floral notes with a touch of minerality on the palate, long finish. Very limited production of only 9 barrels.

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland, Riebeek Valley

Grapes: Grenache Blanc

ABV: 14.5%

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.

Porseleinberg is the result of Marc Kent’s search for the best Syrah grapes, a journey
that inevitably took him to the Swartland. It was here that Kent found an isolated and
windswept wine farm perched atop the Porseleinberg mountain.
The site is now recognised as one of the greatest Syrah vineyards in the world.

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland

ABV: 13.9%

Grape: Syrah

Organic

The 4th vintage of applying the submerged cap technique, which continues to emphasise Porseleinberg's unique tannin profile. A reserved start is noticeable, after which the wine opens to red and black fruit, with a mineral and savoury spice. A crunchy, dry and grippy, yet fine tannin soundly carries the fruit to cover ones palate. The finish is long and fresh with good fruit concentration and some salty minerality. Drink from 2031-35. Winemaker Callie Louw

Porseleinberg is the result of Marc Kent’s search for the best Syrah grapes, a journey that inevitably took him to the Swartland. It was here that Kent found an isolated and windswept wine farm perched atop the Porseleinberg mountain. The site is now recognised as one of the greatest Syrah vineyards in the world.

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland

ABV: 13.9%

Grape: Syrah

Organic

Tim Atkin MW  

Porseleinberg Syrah 2022

99 points

Produced in the teeth of what Callie Louw calls a "crazy year", with lots of winter rain and one of the hottest Januarys ever, this is the latest in a series of world-class Syrahs from the brilliant Callie Louw. Fermented and aged in foudres and 15% concrete, using the submerged cap technique that has transformed the style here, this has 95% whole bunches, fynbos and Mediterranean herb aromas, sculpted, detailed tannins and layers of plum, blackberry and raspberry and impressive freshness for a wine with a pH of 4.1. A refined wine from a brutal site.

Drinking 2025-40