Immerse yourself in the refined elegance of the Botanica Semillon Mary Delany Collection 2015, a masterstroke of oenological craftsmanship. This sophisticated wine, revered by connoisseurs and critics alike, hails from South Africa's renowned Polkadraai Hills in Stellenbosch. Under the meticulous stewardship of producer Ginny Povall, the precious grapes are cultivated on well-aged vines, capturing the very essence of the unique terroir's character.

The wine honours Mary Delany, a British artist revered for her distinct botanical artwork. The wine mirrors her precision and devotion, showcasing impeccable balance, subtle oak notes, and citrus blossom aromas. Excellent structure supports a graceful ageing potential, making it a solid addition to any discerning cellar. The Botanica Semillon Mary Delany Collection 2015 is not only a celebration of an artist’s legacy, but also a testament to the renaissance of Semillon in the winemaking world.

International Wine & Spirit Competition ()

Elegant white flowers and tropical fruits with vibrant acidity, delicate autolysis and a fine mousse. Bronze Medal, International Wine & Spirit Competition 2020

Vinous (91)

The 2009 Cuvée Gerald Hoffnung Brut is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. It has a delightful, winsome bouquet of white flowers, brioche and Braeburn apple aromas that are very well defined. The palate is sharp on the entry, with orange peel and lemon zest flavors, and quite taut and focused, although I am seeking just a little more vigor toward the leesy finish. Still, overall this is a fine English sparkling wine that is developing a lovely creamy mouthfeel.

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.

James Suckling (99)

Extremely deep red with aromas and flavors that change all the time with blackberry, black raspberry, black licorice, floral and asphalt. Full-bodied with deep intensity, power and finesse. The tannins are wonderfully polished yet so much there. This is a tribute to the first great Barca Velhas of the 1960s. Drinkable, but better in three or four years.

James Suckling (99)

Essence of Mosel wine here, which immediately conjures up an image of tiny riesling grapes that have turned a perfect golden color in the autumn sun. Then, on the extremely rich and refined palate, comes a gigantic wave of minerality that sweeps you away. Enormously long finish of almost overwhelming beauty. Just doesn't want to stop. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink or hold.

Jancis Robinson (19)

Aromas of green and yellow fruit mix it with flinty minerality. The palate shows a little more fruit than the straight Marienburg, grapefruit with peel and pith, but without any tropical aspirations. Nuances of salt and quinine give an almost medicinal tang, but a generous texture makes the medicine go down without any resistance. Very cool, the essence of mineral Riesling.

James Suckling (94)

Intense floral aromas lead you into this very pristine Spätlese that has a gigantic, herbal (basil) freshness that whips the grape sweetness way into the background. Super clean, lemon and mineral finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink or hold.

Wine Advocate (94-96)

The Cockburn’s Vintage Port is sourced from their two main vineyards, Quinta dos Canais and Quinta do Vale Coelho, plus a small contribution from Quinta do Cachao de Arnozelo. Around 55% of the blend is sourced from Touriga Nacional vines in Quinta dos Canais, the remainder of the blend 30% Touriga Franca, 5% Sousao and 10% a mixture of old vines. The fruit was picked between September 8 and October 5 at Canais and between September 12 and 30 at Vale Coelho. It has a lifted bouquet with raisin, fresh dates and some lovely tobacco and sandalwood aromas that lend the aromatic profile complexity, although it feels rather compact at the moment. The palate is very well-balanced with a spicy, black pepper-tinged opening and very good structure. There is wonderful focus here, with a refined, clove-tinged finish and a long, spicy aftertaste so you do not forget it in a hurry. The 2011 Cockburn harks back to those classics of yesteryear. Cockburn’s is back. Tasted May 2013.

James Suckling (99)

This shows fantastic graphite and dark-berry character with black-stone undertones and hints of dried roses. Full-bodied and very tight and precise. Good kick in the end. Love the polished tannins, which are totally folded into the wine. Reminds me of the 1947 Cockburn. Try in 2024.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2018 Vintage Port Quinta da Roeda is a field blend aged for approximately 18 months in very large used wooden vats. It comes in with 104 grams of residual sugar. Ripe and expressive, this delicious single-quinta Porto also has fine concentration and some pop on the finish. Indeed, as this sits and airs out, it proves it has a real backbone. Two days later, it was pretty tight. This is more about fruit than structure, though, and this sexy, nuanced and succulent Port is going to be hard to resist as it ages. Likely to be accessible on the younger side, it should still hold very well. I need to see a bit more to be fully convinced, but right now this seems like the steal and sleeper of the Fladgate Partnership trio this issue (the Fonseca and Taylor's being the others). For the moment—and young Ports do change notably as they age—this would be my favorite of the trio. The price references a full bottle, although this was tasted from a half bottle.

Richard Mayson (19)

Croft has developed its own rather ripe, voluptuous and rather jammy style in recent years, distinguishing the wine from the firmer, perhaps more challenging character of Fonseca and Taylor. Perhaps 2017 has been kind to Quinta da Roêda which provides the ‘cornerstone’ of this Port: surprisingly closed on the nose with plump juicy fruit underlying, ripe plums and cherries; similarly plump and voluptuous initially with a wonderfully ripe, broad tannic core rising in the mouth, dense and rather gorgeous all the way through to a fresh, vibrant finish. This has it all and maybe the wine of the vintage.

Wine Advocate (92-95)

The 2011 Croft is initially taciturn on the nose, even after allowing it 20 minutes in my glass. A light swirling immediately awakens the aromatics to offer blackberry, Seville orange marmalade, blueberries and dried fig – complex and quite compelling. There is real mineralite within this bouquet that, returning after 30 minutes, offers alluring ocean spray scents rolling in off the ocean. The palate is medium-bodied with a velvety-smooth opening that belies the fine, structured tannins underneath. It clams up a little towards the finish, shuts the lid tight and consequently there is the sensation of less persistency here compared to the Taylor’s or Fonseca. But Croft has a knack of filling out with bottle age and becomes both gentle and generous with the passing years. Tasted May 2013.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2016 Vintage Port is a field blend originally seen about a week before bottling. It comes in with 104 grams of residual sugar. Not a lot has changed except that it seems even more approachable and much better balanced now. It also seems drier than its statistics would suggest. Tight and intense on first taste, this comes around relatively well with a couple of hours of air on the first day tasted, but it isn't expressive until a couple of days later. The initial firmness moderates to some extent, showcasing a relatively approachable young Port. (That doesn't mean it is ready or close to it.) The concentration seems good enough now, so that the hints of alcohol that I saw in June—and again this time around when this was in its first 90 minutes of aeration—seem under much better control. The balance is just more appealing. It shows beautifully with a couple of days of air. As with all Ports of any quality, this could use some time. This is gripping, but it won't sear your mouth with tannins. You are going to have to cellar it awhile to allow it to acquire more complexity and more harmony, though. This is showing more promise than ever.

Savour the elegance of the Daniel Twardowski Pinot Noix Ardoise 2014, an epitome of grandeur in Pinot Noir. Crafted with creativity in the slate-rich vineyards of Mosel, Germany, its luxurious character is deeply rooted in the unique minerality of its terroir. Vinified with utmost precision, care, and minimal intervention by the avant-garde winemaker himself, Daniel Twardowski, this wine embodies old-world finesse with a contemporary spin.

The grapes are hand-selected and processed to retain purity. The result? An elixir that exhibits captivating depth, vibrant acidity and sumptuous berry flavours. Its velvety texture and the pleasing finish is a testament to its ultra-long fermentation period. The Daniel Twardowski Pinot Noix Ardoise 2014 gracefully unfolds on the palate, promising an immersive tasting experience.

Store it correctly, and its beauty enhances over time, mirroring the master vineyard's passion for perfection. Choose this exquisite wine for an absolute fine-dining indulgence.

Wine Advocate (97)

The 2019 Kröver Steffensberg Riesling Auslese (Gold Capsule) is clear, piquant and spicy on the coolish, earthy and darker-toned nose compared to both Goldgrube Auslesen. Cumquat and orange notes emerge after a while in the glass, indicating a certain percentage of perfect botrytis. The palate is round and intense yet weightless and very elegant, with a crystalline, beautifully seamless texture and salty-piquant and nervy mineral acidity. In fact, this is a great synthesis between the two sweet Goldgrube selections since it paints the finesse of the regular Wolfgrube with the intensity and richness of the gold-capsuled Auslese. 8.5% alcohol. Tasted from AP 06/20 in June 2020.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90)

Full medium ruby. Roasted black raspberry and cassis lifted by musky espresso and an exotic smoky, peaty element. Dense and rich; sweet and approachable but with shape and grip. A bit youthfully grapey in the mouth, with smoke and earth notes. Finishes with building, slightly austere tannins and very good length. (Kobrand, Inc., New York, NY)

Wine Spectator (95)

Wonderful aromas of blackberry, lilac and a bit of stems. Full-bodied, with silky tannins, medium sweetness and a long finish. Solid. Needs a little time still. Seems to be coming together now. '77/'85/'97 blind Port retrospective.

The case contains one bottle each of: Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Axpoint 2017 (90 Points, Wine Advocate) Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Achleiten 2017 (95 Points, Wine Enthusiast) Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Kellerberg 2017 (95 Points, Wine Enthusiast) Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Kirnberg 2017 Riesling Smaragd Ried Achleiten 2017 (96 Points, Wine Enthusiast) Riesling Smaragd Ried Kellerberg 2017 (91 Points, Wine Advocate) Riesling Smaragd Ried Loibenberg 2017 (92 Points, Wine Enthusiast) Riesling Smaragd Ried Singerriedel 2017 (94 Points, Wine Advocate) Roter Traminer Reserve Ried Setzberg 2017 ABV's: - Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Axpoint 2017 - 13.5% - Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Achleiten 2017 - 14.5% - Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Kellerberg 2017 - 14.0% - Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Kirnberg 2017- 13.5% - Riesling Smaragd Ried Singerriedel 2017- 13.5% - Riesling Smaragd Ried Achleiten 2017 - 14.0% - Riesling Smaragd Ried Kellerberg 2017 - 14.0% - Riesling Smaragd Ried Loibenberg 2017 - 13.5% - Roter Traminer Reserve Ried Setzberg 2017- 13.0%

James Suckling (99)

Such a wide spectrum of super fine yellow-fruit aromas and a floral note that you struggle to take it in all at once. So sensual and silky that descriptors like “full” and “light” become redundant. Then the finish literally takes your breath and leaves you breathless for a long time. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (95)

Dense, grapefruit and sage aromas, then a wonderful combination of great power and stunning vibrancy on the palate. Very long, smoky-mineral finish with great clarity. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (94)

Wonderful yellow-fruit aromas, ranging from very ripe lemons to mangoes. Fullish body in this context, but this is a properly dry wine with a distinct, chalky texture that stands out at the bold finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold.

Vinous (95)

Like its Brücke counterpart, this Auslese reflects genuinely botrytis-free grapes, said Dönnhoff, but ones that were too numerous and too high in sugar to use elsewhere, “and certainly not in the Grosses Gewächs, which would then have ended up with 14% alcohol.” Sea breeze on the nose intimates the sweet-saline savor of raw scallop that emerges on this wine’s lusciously lingering, mouthwateringly umami-rich finish. White peach and quince preserves feature throughout, reinforced on the soothingly creamy palate by nougat-like nut essences. There is an animating, juicy fresh-fruit aspect as well, and a wonderful sense of both focus and transparency to stony and ore-like nuances.

Wine Advocate (97)

The 2019 Riesling Auslese Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle is crystalline and flinty on the precise, ethereal and bright nose that represents the terroir of the Hermannshöhle beautifully and irresistibly. On the palate, this is a highly finessed, filigreed, playful and delicate Auslese with stimulating piquancy and salinity on the weightless and frisky but elegant finish. This is a fascinating Auslese with great detail and precision. Personally, I even prefer this clear and bright version (AP 17 20) to the richer, sweeter and more concentrated one that will be auctioned (AP 19 20) and possibly has the greater aging potential. However, both will live longer than I will anyway. Tasted in May 2020.

James Suckling (99)

What a nose! This smells like essence of peach with a delicate, floral-honey overtone. Seems to vibrate on the palate, thanks to the staggering minerality and totally vibrant acidity. Extremely complex and energetic finish that goes on and on. Very limited production. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold.