South Africa
At the bottom of its great continent, South Africa is a country of unlimited natural advantages. With the confluence of two oceans at the Cape, the sheltering effect of inland mountain chains and some of the most dynamic soils in the world, every piece is in place for the production of fine wine. The most well-known region has historically been Stellenbosch, but it is the wines of Swartland that have really turned South African wine on its head in recent years.
The wine industry is in the midst of a renaissance with classically styled wines making full advantage of remarkable terroir and an adventurous spirit. As a result, South Africa is producing some truly exceptional wines of great character and value. Striking blockbuster Syrahs and Bordeaux blends to full bodied Chardonnay and crisp Sauvignon Blanc are some of this great nation’s offerings. South Africa’s own grape, Pinotage, leaves critics divided yet can produce excellent single-variety offerings as well as distinguished Cape blends.
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South Africa
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Coastal Region | 1 | - |
Inc. GST
SG$577.11 |
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Western Cape | 3 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$456.14 |
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Vinous (93)The 2018 Cartology, a blend of 90% Chenin Blanc and 10% Sémillon this year, is whole-cluster-pressed with no SO2 addition, and matured in used oak. It has a well defined, pure bouquet of dried honey, yellow flower, honeysuckle and lanolin aromas that instantly seduce the senses. The palate is beautifully balanced with a slightly oily-textured opening, the intensity deftly counterbalanced by the fine bead of acidity, and a discreet spiciness toward the finish. This is very harmonious and persistent, an effortless Cartology that should age with style. Superb. |
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Cape South Coast | 2 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$290.44 |
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Vinous (93)The 2018 Hemelrand Vine Garden is whole-cluster-pressed and matured in oak and foudres. It has a very seductive bouquet of honeysuckle, passion fruit and hints of beeswax that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is well balanced with a saline opening, plus a fine bead of acidity. There is a light saline lick toward the finish that becomes nuttier with aeration, although this does not quite deliver the complexity of Alheit’s best Chenin Blancs. Still, it is a lovely white blend that should age with style. |
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Cape South Coast | 1 | 95 (TA) |
Inc. GST
SG$319.87 |
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Tim Atkin MW (95)You know class when you taste it, and this is certainly that. Deservedly established as one of South Africa's most consistently outstanding Chardonnays, this has the structure and concentration to age, with no malolactic at all, 22% new wood and complex, nuanced, stony flavours of lemon zest, oatmeal and stone fruit – Drinking to 2028 |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$551.14 |
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Vinous (93)The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Franschhoek, matured for 22 months in 80% new French barriques, has a fresh, marine-influenced bouquet that I feel has a little more complexity than the Stellenbosch. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, lightly spiced with black pepper and bay leaf, and very focused, leading to a bright and quite structured finish. This has more class and nuance than its Stellenbosch counterpart. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 18.5+ (MJ) |
Inc. GST
SG$448.45 |
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Matthew Jukes (18.5+)Plush and packed with cassis, this is a tremendously flashy wine with deep wells of liqueur-like fruit coupled with strident oak and a lovely bright, dry finish. Yearning to be set free, BCSS is like a prize-fighter itching for the bell so it can launch itself at its opponent. This is an amazing Cabernet and while it has the stuffing to go deep into the later rounds, I love its toned flanks and glistening musculature right now. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 19+ (MJ) |
Inc. GST
SG$356.91 |
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Matthew Jukes (19+)I have never forgotten the 2000 vintage of this wine, which I wrote up in one of my books many moons ago. In the blink of an eye, the perfume on this 2018 vintage took me back to that great wine and while this label has been known to wander off into the forest in certain vintages, it is back with a brooding bang and loaded with Hermitage-like malevolence in 2018. With a melange of both red and black fruit tones and considerable aromatic lift on the nose, this is a Syrah with its feet firmly planted in the earth while its head is in the clouds such is the scale and majesty of its posture. Like the other reds in this vintage, the oak integration is near perfect and this allows the fruit to sing. If there is one wine to drink before the other reds, then this is it, and while it might be a criminal offence to drink this wine so young, I am sure you will break the law for a flavour as enthralling and all-encompassing as this one. |
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Cape South Coast | 4 | 97 (IWSC) |
Inc. GST
SG$397.26 |
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IWSC (97)Very classy wine with nicely judged oak that adds vanilla spice to the tropical fruit and toffee apple flavours. Perfectly poised with crisp acidity and an elegant, long finish. |
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Coastal Region | 5 | - |
Inc. GST
SG$480.47 |
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Characterised by undying refinement and complexity, the Cape Winemakers Guild De Trafford Reserve Chenin Blanc 2018 is a sterling exhibit of South African artistry. Landed from the sun-drenched vineyards of Stellenbosch, this wine is a creation of acclaimed winemaker David De Trafford. Reserved for the best harvests, the grapes undergo careful selection, ageing on lees for eleven months, imparting this wine with an optimised body and structure. Each sip unveils a symphony of ripe peach, delicate pineapple, piquant ginger and nuanced nutty undertones, making this full-bodied wine an ambassador of elegance. The Cape Winemakers Guild De Trafford Reserve Chenin Blanc 2018 is an exemplary blend of terroir-driven minerality and vivacious acidity, garnering well-deserved recognition globally. A must-have for collectors and connoisseurs alike, this Chenin Blanc is an embodiment of South Africa's passionate winemaking tradition. Don't miss the chance to savour this rare geolocation's quintessential expression. |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 91 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$299.10 |
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Vinous (91)The 2018 Aristargos is a blend of 53% Chenin Blanc, 13% Clairette, 13% Sémillon with some skin contact, 10% Roussanne, 2% Marsanne and 9% Viognier, from a mixture of old and younger vines from across 14 vineyards, matured in neutral oak for 11 months. It has a complex bouquet of nectarine, desiccated orange peel, grilled hazelnuts and a touch of almond. The palate is fresh on the entry with a fine bead of acidity and quite neutral in style, offering subtle, fleeting glimpses of orange zest and a tang of sea salt, though I would like just a little more weight on the finish. Give this a couple of years in bottle. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$700.22 |
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Vinous (95)The 2018 Hoë-Steen is predominantly Chenin Blanc, planted toward Darling on deep iron-clay soils and usually picked after the reds. The vines were planted in 1968. This has a more stony bouquet than the Skaliekop, a very slight nutty/smoky note emanating from a few Palomino vines. The palate is just superb. It is supremely well defined with a lovely lock of salinity that runs from start to finish. There is tangible energy to this wine, which displays a hint of tangerine and even menthol toward the finish. Superb. |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$726.38 |
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Vinous (94)The name of the maiden 2018 Plat’bos (“low bush”) indicates the kind of vines it comes from, lying in a vineyard adjacent to the Skaliekop on pure granite soils. It has a unapologetically silty, stony bouquet, very reserved and austere yet with an enthralling intensity that seems almost paradoxical. The palate is very well balanced. Perhaps one of the most concentrated of David and Nadia Sadie’s wines, it reveals a crescendo of flavors, with tangerine, citrus peel, stem ginger and a touch of rhubarb toward the persistent finish. This is another impressive Chenin from this producer. |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$700.22 |
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Vinous (93)The 2018 Skaliekop comes from shale soils in the Paaderberg subregion, the Chenin Blanc vines planted in 1985. It is blessed with a very aromatic bouquet of pressed white flowers and jasmine; a little honeysuckle emerges with time. The palate is fresh on the entry with a fine bead of acidity. This is understated and very well balanced, and quite reminiscent of Chris Alheit’s style of winemaking. A delicious tang of sea salt appears toward the finish. One of those wines where the adage “more is better” is surely apt. |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$318.72 |
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Vinous (92)The 2018 Chenin Blanc comes from seven vineyards, the vines planted between 1962 and 1982 (and therefore eligible for the “Old Vine Project”). It has a lovely bouquet of apricot blossom, white peach, pine nuts and orange pith, the latter becoming more pronounced with aeration. The palate is well balanced with a smooth, rounded texture. This is a slightly richer Chenin Blanc from Sadie, yet still very well balanced. Nashi pear and clementine notes appear toward the elegant, almost understated finish. Top-class. Just 5,000 bottles. |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$461.51 |
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Vinous (92)The 2018 Grenache includes 60% whole bunches and comes from two main sites, on iron and granite soils. It has a lovely, very pure bouquet of red cherries, crushed strawberry, pressed flowers and wild hedgerow, all extremely natural and well defined. The palate is fresh on the entry, offering plenty of crunchy fruit and oddly reminiscent of an artisan Beaujolais. The light but energetic, tensile finish has just enough dryness to encourage another sip. Very fine. |
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Coastal Region | 8 | - |
Inc. GST
SG$92.45 |
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Coastal Region | 16 | - |
Inc. GST
SG$262.10 |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 97 (TA) |
Inc. GST
SG$381.96 |
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Tim Atkin MW (97)Even better than the 2017 release - and there aren't many top Stellenbosch Bordeaux blends that you can say that about - this is a superb Lady May that makes light of the hot, dry conditions. Something of a sleeper, it's a brooding assemblage of Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, aged in 92% new wood. Intense, smooth and textured, with graphite and cigar box aromas, fine-grained tannins and layered flavours of damson, fennel and blackcurrant leaf. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (TA) |
Inc. GST
SG$324.19 |
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Tim Atkin MW (95)It says Cabernet Sauvignon on the label, but master blender Abrie Beeslaar adds 5% Merlot and Cabernet Franc for extra nuances and layers. Sourced from three blocks that provide more pyrazine notes, this is a deceptively forward red with leafy top notes, capsicum, coffee bean and blackcurrant flavours and plenty of underlying grip and structure. |
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Coastal Region | 2 | 97 (GS) |
Inc. GST
SG$597.80 |
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Greg Sherwood MW (97)The 2018 Paul Sauer is a classical blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc from vines averaging 30 years of age grown on dryland vineyards of Decomposed Granite and Hutton and Clovelly soils. Vibrant and ruby / purple, the wine almost glows in the glass with inviting promise. At this youthful stage, the Cabernet Sauvignon component shines through strongly revealing a generally dark, broody, black fruited demeanour embellished with subtle notes of saline crème de cassis, star anise, lead pencil shavings, dried violets and signature nuances of freshly tilled earth, buttered brown toast and hints of breakfast espresso. In the mouth, the palate shows gorgeous elegance, purity and fruit focus with the most fine grained filigree tannins, soothingly generous black berry fruits and delicious mouth-watering acids. This wine is precision personified showing such effortless grace and harmony together with a measured power and intensity. The 2018 is certainly a very classically schooled expression that waltzes across the palate without ever putting a foot out of place. Like all truly great Bordeaux blends, this has the finesse and textural harmony to drink on release but also the intensity and gravitas to age effortlessly for 20 to 30+ years. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 94 (TA) |
Inc. GST
SG$385.27 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)This is one of two current releases of Terrasse, produced from an assemblage of Chenin Blanc and 39% Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. Wax and honeysuckle aromas progress into a tangy, focused, herbal palate, with some stony reduction and a textured finish. 2021-26 |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 19.5++ (MJ) |
Inc. GST
SG$530.79 |
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Matthew Jukes (19.5++)I am informed by the top man at Klein Constantia that the price will be the same as last year’s superb 2017 and all of the likely candidates in the UK are likely to hold stock. It will require a little effort on Google and you will see that a large number of wine merchants will list 2018 Vin de Constance and while the prices swing around like no other wine I know, at £60 or so, for a half litre, it certainly makes sense to me and when you consider the sheer quality of this vintage, it is a bargain for this celestial experience. Stock is likely to arrive in September 2021, but do feel free to register your interest with your preferred wine merchant now. Vintage reports suggest that the build-up to the 2018 harvest brought the highest summer rainfall of the last six years and, combined with some of the coldest night-time temperatures on record, the vines were granted a very long and very slow growing season. These conditions have imbued extreme delicacy of perfume and flavour and also staggering concentration and length in this wine. It also means that the 2018 vintage has otherworldly characteristics and I cannot remember a young vintage tasting so refined and demure. Light bunches and tiny Muscat de Frontignan berries underline just how unusual this vintage was and with a harvest that was a fortnight later than average and crops down by about 15% all of these facts make sense when you taste this ethereal wine. Aged for three years in a combination of 50% new French oak barrels, a small number of acacia barrels, as well as large format foudres, this is both a sensual and also sensitive wine. For a start, the colour is incredibly pale – think a young Sancerre! But the viscosity is amazing when you pour a glass because the liquid moves ever so slightly slower and more deliberately into the glass. The lights come on and the brain fires up immediately and it takes you by surprise just how quickly your olfactory system senses that you are in the presence of greatness. I was in a state of heightened anticipation, long before I raised the glass to my lips and the reward is exquisite. The perfume and palate combine in an astral haze of delight with orange blossom, fig, lemon verbena, wild honey and acacia notes caressing your senses. The texture is super-smooth, incredibly long and unnervingly gentle. It certainly possesses the longest finish I can remember on a Vin de Constance and I have, very fortunately, a tasted huge number of vintages of this wine. If you have never tasted this wine before, please start with this vintage – it will blow your mind. If you have and you are a fan, this is a critical purchase for your collection. I cannot wait to add this wine to my cellar later in the year. |
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Western Cape | 1 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. GST
SG$731.94 |
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Vinous (97)The 2018 Estate Reserve Syrah contains 50% whole-bunch fruit and is aged in 500- and 700-liter barrels, 30% new. It has an extremely pure, slightly floral bouquet of bright blueberry and black currant fruit infused with scents of crushed iris petals and violets, almost Burgundian in style. The palate is extremely well balanced with perfectly pitched acidity and filigreed tannins. There is an unerring sense of weightlessness about this Syrah, which is one of the most precise Lismore reds I have encountered over several years of tasting. Absolutely stunning. |
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Coastal Region | 3 | - |
Inc. GST
SG$244.60 |
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Experience the alluring intimate character of the Lukas Loggerenberg Geronimo Cinsault 2018. This exquisite 100% Cinsault hails from old bush vines in the Polkadraai Hills of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Noted wine maker, Lukas Loggerenberg, applies precision and authenticity to his minimalist interventionist approach, allowing the vineyards to candidly express their own lush, captivating personality. This vintage is whole bunch fermented and cask aged for nine months in French and Hungarian oak casks, expressing lithe red fruit flavours, layered with spicy undertones and a gratifying freshness. The Geronimo Cinsault's captivating profile is a testament to Loggerenberg’s commitment to signature natural wines. Sip and savour this classic Lukas Loggerenberg Geronimo Cinsault 2018 and delve into the harmonious marrying of earthy tones with soft, tannic textures. This South African gem is a must for discerning oenophiles, an absolute testament to the captivating magic of Stellenbosch terroir. |
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Coastal Region | 10 | - |
Inc. GST
SG$317.63 |
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The Lukas van Loggerenberg Breton Cabernet Franc 2018 is a captivating expression of a South African terroir wine emerging from Stellenbosch, the heartland of Cape Winelands. As an ode to his ancestor's Loire Valley origins, the winemaker, Lukas van Loggerenberg, celebrates the elegance of a French-centric style. Harvested from dry farmed vineyards with an intentional low yield, this 100% Cabernet Franc employs whole bunch fermentation in old open-top barrels adding depth and complexity. Aged for 11 months in French oak, it showcases a fragrant nose of raspberry and rose petals complemented by a nuanced palate featuring spice, forest floor and fresh cherries. The tannins are finely grained, supporting a wine that is fruity yet restraint in its character. With only 2000 bottles made, the Lukas van Loggerenberg Breton Cabernet Franc 2018 is a limited production, proving the meticulous craftsmanship of this passionate viticulturist. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (GS) |
Inc. GST
SG$412.50 |
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Greg Sherwood MW (95)The 2018 Rubicon is a classical blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, with every parcel of each variety fermented separately before undergoing malolactic fermentation in 300 litre barrels and large foudré. After 8 months in barrel, the components were blended and given another 10 months in barrel for harmonization before bottling. Wonderfully deep in colour, the nose is splendidly expressive showing quintessential Cabernet Sauvignon notes of pressed violets, black plum, sun raisin black currants, black salty liquorice, black chai tea, sweet cedar spice and layers of graphite and spearmint. While the aromatics are dominated by rich, dark berry fruits, the palate is classically proportioned with plenty of overt elegance and textural finesse – a great feat considering the heat and drought of the 2018 vintage. The extra bottle age before release has undoubtedly been a positive for this powerful, structured blend, helping to further round out the suave creamy tannins and harmonise the earthy black berry fruit layers, making the acids polished, glassy and fresh rather than taut and crunchy like many other 2018 reds. Unexpectedly approachable in its youth, I would have no hesitancy to cellar this super smart blend for another 10 to 15+ years. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (TA) |
Inc. GST
SG$291.60 |
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Tim Atkin MW (95)Block W is located in Faure, very close to the cooling breezes of False Bay on the Bredell farm and is my pick of the Mulderbosch Chenins in 2018. Intense, focused and mealy, with some added texture from 100% malolactic fermentation, lovely weight and concentration and a lingering, bone dry finish. |
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Coastal Region | 2 | 96 (TA) |
Inc. GST
SG$937.90 |
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Tim Atkin MW (96)One of a trio of brilliant soil-based Syrahs from the Mullineux in 2018, Granite hails from a 30-year-old vineyard on the Paardeberg. Structured and grippy, it's a wine that will reward patience, with clove spice from 100% whole bunches, notes of blood orange and blackberry, fine oak and a tangy, refreshing finish. |
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Western Cape | 3 | 96 (TA) |
Inc. GST
SG$940.06 |
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Tim Atkin MW (96)Now that Porseleinberg has changed in style, the Mullineux's Iron Syrah can adopt the mantle of the Cornas taste alike of the Swartland. Tannic and intense, it's a wild, dense, blood and guts style wine with lots of whole bunch intensity and a ferrous finish. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 97 (TA) |
Inc. GST
SG$880.15 |
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Tim Atkin MW (97)My pick of the three top Mullineux Syrahs in 2018, this world-class red is the most perfumed and alluring of the trio right now. Combining fruit from the Kasteelberg and Roundstone, this has violet and lavender aromas, some sap and grip from 100% whole bunches, incredible focus and grip and a plush, seductive mid palate. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Coastal Region | 1 | - |
In Bond
SG$476.00 |
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Western Cape | 3 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$367.00 |
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Vinous (93)The 2018 Cartology, a blend of 90% Chenin Blanc and 10% Sémillon this year, is whole-cluster-pressed with no SO2 addition, and matured in used oak. It has a well defined, pure bouquet of dried honey, yellow flower, honeysuckle and lanolin aromas that instantly seduce the senses. The palate is beautifully balanced with a slightly oily-textured opening, the intensity deftly counterbalanced by the fine bead of acidity, and a discreet spiciness toward the finish. This is very harmonious and persistent, an effortless Cartology that should age with style. Superb. |
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Cape South Coast | 2 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$213.00 |
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Vinous (93)The 2018 Hemelrand Vine Garden is whole-cluster-pressed and matured in oak and foudres. It has a very seductive bouquet of honeysuckle, passion fruit and hints of beeswax that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is well balanced with a saline opening, plus a fine bead of acidity. There is a light saline lick toward the finish that becomes nuttier with aeration, although this does not quite deliver the complexity of Alheit’s best Chenin Blancs. Still, it is a lovely white blend that should age with style. |
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Cape South Coast | 1 | 95 (TA) |
In Bond
SG$240.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (95)You know class when you taste it, and this is certainly that. Deservedly established as one of South Africa's most consistently outstanding Chardonnays, this has the structure and concentration to age, with no malolactic at all, 22% new wood and complex, nuanced, stony flavours of lemon zest, oatmeal and stone fruit – Drinking to 2028 |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$449.00 |
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Vinous (93)The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Franschhoek, matured for 22 months in 80% new French barriques, has a fresh, marine-influenced bouquet that I feel has a little more complexity than the Stellenbosch. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, lightly spiced with black pepper and bay leaf, and very focused, leading to a bright and quite structured finish. This has more class and nuance than its Stellenbosch counterpart. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 18.5+ (MJ) |
In Bond
SG$354.00 |
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Matthew Jukes (18.5+)Plush and packed with cassis, this is a tremendously flashy wine with deep wells of liqueur-like fruit coupled with strident oak and a lovely bright, dry finish. Yearning to be set free, BCSS is like a prize-fighter itching for the bell so it can launch itself at its opponent. This is an amazing Cabernet and while it has the stuffing to go deep into the later rounds, I love its toned flanks and glistening musculature right now. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 19+ (MJ) |
In Bond
SG$272.00 |
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Matthew Jukes (19+)I have never forgotten the 2000 vintage of this wine, which I wrote up in one of my books many moons ago. In the blink of an eye, the perfume on this 2018 vintage took me back to that great wine and while this label has been known to wander off into the forest in certain vintages, it is back with a brooding bang and loaded with Hermitage-like malevolence in 2018. With a melange of both red and black fruit tones and considerable aromatic lift on the nose, this is a Syrah with its feet firmly planted in the earth while its head is in the clouds such is the scale and majesty of its posture. Like the other reds in this vintage, the oak integration is near perfect and this allows the fruit to sing. If there is one wine to drink before the other reds, then this is it, and while it might be a criminal offence to drink this wine so young, I am sure you will break the law for a flavour as enthralling and all-encompassing as this one. |
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Cape South Coast | 4 | 97 (IWSC) |
In Bond
SG$311.00 |
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IWSC (97)Very classy wine with nicely judged oak that adds vanilla spice to the tropical fruit and toffee apple flavours. Perfectly poised with crisp acidity and an elegant, long finish. |
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Coastal Region | 5 | - |
In Bond
SG$322.00 |
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Characterised by undying refinement and complexity, the Cape Winemakers Guild De Trafford Reserve Chenin Blanc 2018 is a sterling exhibit of South African artistry. Landed from the sun-drenched vineyards of Stellenbosch, this wine is a creation of acclaimed winemaker David De Trafford. Reserved for the best harvests, the grapes undergo careful selection, ageing on lees for eleven months, imparting this wine with an optimised body and structure. Each sip unveils a symphony of ripe peach, delicate pineapple, piquant ginger and nuanced nutty undertones, making this full-bodied wine an ambassador of elegance. The Cape Winemakers Guild De Trafford Reserve Chenin Blanc 2018 is an exemplary blend of terroir-driven minerality and vivacious acidity, garnering well-deserved recognition globally. A must-have for collectors and connoisseurs alike, this Chenin Blanc is an embodiment of South Africa's passionate winemaking tradition. Don't miss the chance to savour this rare geolocation's quintessential expression. |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 91 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$215.00 |
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Vinous (91)The 2018 Aristargos is a blend of 53% Chenin Blanc, 13% Clairette, 13% Sémillon with some skin contact, 10% Roussanne, 2% Marsanne and 9% Viognier, from a mixture of old and younger vines from across 14 vineyards, matured in neutral oak for 11 months. It has a complex bouquet of nectarine, desiccated orange peel, grilled hazelnuts and a touch of almond. The palate is fresh on the entry with a fine bead of acidity and quite neutral in style, offering subtle, fleeting glimpses of orange zest and a tang of sea salt, though I would like just a little more weight on the finish. Give this a couple of years in bottle. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$583.00 |
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Vinous (95)The 2018 Hoë-Steen is predominantly Chenin Blanc, planted toward Darling on deep iron-clay soils and usually picked after the reds. The vines were planted in 1968. This has a more stony bouquet than the Skaliekop, a very slight nutty/smoky note emanating from a few Palomino vines. The palate is just superb. It is supremely well defined with a lovely lock of salinity that runs from start to finish. There is tangible energy to this wine, which displays a hint of tangerine and even menthol toward the finish. Superb. |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$607.00 |
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Vinous (94)The name of the maiden 2018 Plat’bos (“low bush”) indicates the kind of vines it comes from, lying in a vineyard adjacent to the Skaliekop on pure granite soils. It has a unapologetically silty, stony bouquet, very reserved and austere yet with an enthralling intensity that seems almost paradoxical. The palate is very well balanced. Perhaps one of the most concentrated of David and Nadia Sadie’s wines, it reveals a crescendo of flavors, with tangerine, citrus peel, stem ginger and a touch of rhubarb toward the persistent finish. This is another impressive Chenin from this producer. |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$583.00 |
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Vinous (93)The 2018 Skaliekop comes from shale soils in the Paaderberg subregion, the Chenin Blanc vines planted in 1985. It is blessed with a very aromatic bouquet of pressed white flowers and jasmine; a little honeysuckle emerges with time. The palate is fresh on the entry with a fine bead of acidity. This is understated and very well balanced, and quite reminiscent of Chris Alheit’s style of winemaking. A delicious tang of sea salt appears toward the finish. One of those wines where the adage “more is better” is surely apt. |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$233.00 |
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Vinous (92)The 2018 Chenin Blanc comes from seven vineyards, the vines planted between 1962 and 1982 (and therefore eligible for the “Old Vine Project”). It has a lovely bouquet of apricot blossom, white peach, pine nuts and orange pith, the latter becoming more pronounced with aeration. The palate is well balanced with a smooth, rounded texture. This is a slightly richer Chenin Blanc from Sadie, yet still very well balanced. Nashi pear and clementine notes appear toward the elegant, almost understated finish. Top-class. Just 5,000 bottles. |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$364.00 |
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Vinous (92)The 2018 Grenache includes 60% whole bunches and comes from two main sites, on iron and granite soils. It has a lovely, very pure bouquet of red cherries, crushed strawberry, pressed flowers and wild hedgerow, all extremely natural and well defined. The palate is fresh on the entry, offering plenty of crunchy fruit and oddly reminiscent of an artisan Beaujolais. The light but energetic, tensile finish has just enough dryness to encourage another sip. Very fine. |
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Coastal Region | 8 | - |
In Bond
SG$67.00 |
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Coastal Region | 16 | - |
In Bond
SG$187.00 |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 97 (TA) |
In Bond
SG$293.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (97)Even better than the 2017 release - and there aren't many top Stellenbosch Bordeaux blends that you can say that about - this is a superb Lady May that makes light of the hot, dry conditions. Something of a sleeper, it's a brooding assemblage of Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, aged in 92% new wood. Intense, smooth and textured, with graphite and cigar box aromas, fine-grained tannins and layered flavours of damson, fennel and blackcurrant leaf. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (TA) |
In Bond
SG$240.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (95)It says Cabernet Sauvignon on the label, but master blender Abrie Beeslaar adds 5% Merlot and Cabernet Franc for extra nuances and layers. Sourced from three blocks that provide more pyrazine notes, this is a deceptively forward red with leafy top notes, capsicum, coffee bean and blackcurrant flavours and plenty of underlying grip and structure. |
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Coastal Region | 2 | 97 (GS) |
In Bond
SG$493.00 |
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Greg Sherwood MW (97)The 2018 Paul Sauer is a classical blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc from vines averaging 30 years of age grown on dryland vineyards of Decomposed Granite and Hutton and Clovelly soils. Vibrant and ruby / purple, the wine almost glows in the glass with inviting promise. At this youthful stage, the Cabernet Sauvignon component shines through strongly revealing a generally dark, broody, black fruited demeanour embellished with subtle notes of saline crème de cassis, star anise, lead pencil shavings, dried violets and signature nuances of freshly tilled earth, buttered brown toast and hints of breakfast espresso. In the mouth, the palate shows gorgeous elegance, purity and fruit focus with the most fine grained filigree tannins, soothingly generous black berry fruits and delicious mouth-watering acids. This wine is precision personified showing such effortless grace and harmony together with a measured power and intensity. The 2018 is certainly a very classically schooled expression that waltzes across the palate without ever putting a foot out of place. Like all truly great Bordeaux blends, this has the finesse and textural harmony to drink on release but also the intensity and gravitas to age effortlessly for 20 to 30+ years. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 94 (TA) |
In Bond
SG$300.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)This is one of two current releases of Terrasse, produced from an assemblage of Chenin Blanc and 39% Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. Wax and honeysuckle aromas progress into a tangy, focused, herbal palate, with some stony reduction and a textured finish. 2021-26 |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 19.5++ (MJ) |
In Bond
SG$450.00 |
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Matthew Jukes (19.5++)I am informed by the top man at Klein Constantia that the price will be the same as last year’s superb 2017 and all of the likely candidates in the UK are likely to hold stock. It will require a little effort on Google and you will see that a large number of wine merchants will list 2018 Vin de Constance and while the prices swing around like no other wine I know, at £60 or so, for a half litre, it certainly makes sense to me and when you consider the sheer quality of this vintage, it is a bargain for this celestial experience. Stock is likely to arrive in September 2021, but do feel free to register your interest with your preferred wine merchant now. Vintage reports suggest that the build-up to the 2018 harvest brought the highest summer rainfall of the last six years and, combined with some of the coldest night-time temperatures on record, the vines were granted a very long and very slow growing season. These conditions have imbued extreme delicacy of perfume and flavour and also staggering concentration and length in this wine. It also means that the 2018 vintage has otherworldly characteristics and I cannot remember a young vintage tasting so refined and demure. Light bunches and tiny Muscat de Frontignan berries underline just how unusual this vintage was and with a harvest that was a fortnight later than average and crops down by about 15% all of these facts make sense when you taste this ethereal wine. Aged for three years in a combination of 50% new French oak barrels, a small number of acacia barrels, as well as large format foudres, this is both a sensual and also sensitive wine. For a start, the colour is incredibly pale – think a young Sancerre! But the viscosity is amazing when you pour a glass because the liquid moves ever so slightly slower and more deliberately into the glass. The lights come on and the brain fires up immediately and it takes you by surprise just how quickly your olfactory system senses that you are in the presence of greatness. I was in a state of heightened anticipation, long before I raised the glass to my lips and the reward is exquisite. The perfume and palate combine in an astral haze of delight with orange blossom, fig, lemon verbena, wild honey and acacia notes caressing your senses. The texture is super-smooth, incredibly long and unnervingly gentle. It certainly possesses the longest finish I can remember on a Vin de Constance and I have, very fortunately, a tasted huge number of vintages of this wine. If you have never tasted this wine before, please start with this vintage – it will blow your mind. If you have and you are a fan, this is a critical purchase for your collection. I cannot wait to add this wine to my cellar later in the year. |
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Western Cape | 1 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
SG$622.00 |
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Vinous (97)The 2018 Estate Reserve Syrah contains 50% whole-bunch fruit and is aged in 500- and 700-liter barrels, 30% new. It has an extremely pure, slightly floral bouquet of bright blueberry and black currant fruit infused with scents of crushed iris petals and violets, almost Burgundian in style. The palate is extremely well balanced with perfectly pitched acidity and filigreed tannins. There is an unerring sense of weightlessness about this Syrah, which is one of the most precise Lismore reds I have encountered over several years of tasting. Absolutely stunning. |
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Coastal Region | 3 | - |
In Bond
SG$165.00 |
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Experience the alluring intimate character of the Lukas Loggerenberg Geronimo Cinsault 2018. This exquisite 100% Cinsault hails from old bush vines in the Polkadraai Hills of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Noted wine maker, Lukas Loggerenberg, applies precision and authenticity to his minimalist interventionist approach, allowing the vineyards to candidly express their own lush, captivating personality. This vintage is whole bunch fermented and cask aged for nine months in French and Hungarian oak casks, expressing lithe red fruit flavours, layered with spicy undertones and a gratifying freshness. The Geronimo Cinsault's captivating profile is a testament to Loggerenberg’s commitment to signature natural wines. Sip and savour this classic Lukas Loggerenberg Geronimo Cinsault 2018 and delve into the harmonious marrying of earthy tones with soft, tannic textures. This South African gem is a must for discerning oenophiles, an absolute testament to the captivating magic of Stellenbosch terroir. |
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Coastal Region | 10 | - |
In Bond
SG$232.00 |
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The Lukas van Loggerenberg Breton Cabernet Franc 2018 is a captivating expression of a South African terroir wine emerging from Stellenbosch, the heartland of Cape Winelands. As an ode to his ancestor's Loire Valley origins, the winemaker, Lukas van Loggerenberg, celebrates the elegance of a French-centric style. Harvested from dry farmed vineyards with an intentional low yield, this 100% Cabernet Franc employs whole bunch fermentation in old open-top barrels adding depth and complexity. Aged for 11 months in French oak, it showcases a fragrant nose of raspberry and rose petals complemented by a nuanced palate featuring spice, forest floor and fresh cherries. The tannins are finely grained, supporting a wine that is fruity yet restraint in its character. With only 2000 bottles made, the Lukas van Loggerenberg Breton Cabernet Franc 2018 is a limited production, proving the meticulous craftsmanship of this passionate viticulturist. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (GS) |
In Bond
SG$323.00 |
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Greg Sherwood MW (95)The 2018 Rubicon is a classical blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, with every parcel of each variety fermented separately before undergoing malolactic fermentation in 300 litre barrels and large foudré. After 8 months in barrel, the components were blended and given another 10 months in barrel for harmonization before bottling. Wonderfully deep in colour, the nose is splendidly expressive showing quintessential Cabernet Sauvignon notes of pressed violets, black plum, sun raisin black currants, black salty liquorice, black chai tea, sweet cedar spice and layers of graphite and spearmint. While the aromatics are dominated by rich, dark berry fruits, the palate is classically proportioned with plenty of overt elegance and textural finesse – a great feat considering the heat and drought of the 2018 vintage. The extra bottle age before release has undoubtedly been a positive for this powerful, structured blend, helping to further round out the suave creamy tannins and harmonise the earthy black berry fruit layers, making the acids polished, glassy and fresh rather than taut and crunchy like many other 2018 reds. Unexpectedly approachable in its youth, I would have no hesitancy to cellar this super smart blend for another 10 to 15+ years. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (TA) |
In Bond
SG$220.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (95)Block W is located in Faure, very close to the cooling breezes of False Bay on the Bredell farm and is my pick of the Mulderbosch Chenins in 2018. Intense, focused and mealy, with some added texture from 100% malolactic fermentation, lovely weight and concentration and a lingering, bone dry finish. |
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Coastal Region | 2 | 96 (TA) |
In Bond
SG$807.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (96)One of a trio of brilliant soil-based Syrahs from the Mullineux in 2018, Granite hails from a 30-year-old vineyard on the Paardeberg. Structured and grippy, it's a wine that will reward patience, with clove spice from 100% whole bunches, notes of blood orange and blackberry, fine oak and a tangy, refreshing finish. |
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Western Cape | 3 | 96 (TA) |
In Bond
SG$807.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (96)Now that Porseleinberg has changed in style, the Mullineux's Iron Syrah can adopt the mantle of the Cornas taste alike of the Swartland. Tannic and intense, it's a wild, dense, blood and guts style wine with lots of whole bunch intensity and a ferrous finish. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 97 (TA) |
In Bond
SG$756.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (97)My pick of the three top Mullineux Syrahs in 2018, this world-class red is the most perfumed and alluring of the trio right now. Combining fruit from the Kasteelberg and Roundstone, this has violet and lavender aromas, some sap and grip from 100% whole bunches, incredible focus and grip and a plush, seductive mid palate. |
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