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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Vinous (94)
The 2021 Grenache Noir comes from five vineyards with younger vines than the Chenin, mainly planted in the early 2000s that oblige two green harvests. Sixty percent is fermented and matured in concrete and using 60% whole bunch. The bouquet is very well defined and transparent; red cherries intermingle with raspberry and slate-like scents. The palate is well-balanced with fine tannins and superb acidity. Fine, bitter cherry notes towards the finish fan out wonderfull; this is a top-notch Grenache.Inc. GSTSG$302.43 -
(1x150cl) 2023Vinous (94)
The 2023 Grenache Noir, which was picked before 100mm of rain fell, has an expressive bouquet with Morello cherry, wild strawberry and wilted rose petal scents that open beautifully in the glass. The palate is well balanced with vivacious cranberry and pomegranate fruit, nicely detailed tannins and a poised, persistent finish. Very sophisticated.Inc. GSTSG$151.31 -
Vinous (90)
Bright ruby-red. Sexy, soil-inflected scents of blueberry, tobacco, black tea and spices. Plush, pliant and sweet on the palate, offering considerable immediate appeal and finishing with a fine dusting of tannins and very good length. Not especially complex but delicious and perfumed right now; sweeter and more pliant than the 2013 version but without that wine's lift or tannic clout.Inc. GSTSG$374.31 -
Vinous (91)
Bright ruby-red. Lovely floral lift to the aromas of blackberry, blueberry, tobacco and licorice. Plush, very ripe aromas of medicinal black cherry, dark berries and licorice. An almost creamy style of Cabernet Franc but with a restrained sweetness. Not hugely deep but finishes with sneaky length. Ultimately more complex and gripping than the 2012 version.Inc. GSTSG$355.78 -
Inc. GSTSG$345.97
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Inc. GSTSG$324.17
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Vinous (90)
Bright ruby-red. Musky aromas of black raspberry, smoke, nuts and coffee. Sweet and supple on the palate, with a pliant texture but not quite the consistency of ripeness as the 2009 version. Dark berry flavors are joined by tobacco, truffle and herbs. Here the tannins are a touch green and less refined than those of the 2009, but the finish is still rich and persistent.Inc. GSTSG$620.65 -
Vinous (90)
(15.8% alcohol; Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 7% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc; 40% new French oak): Liqueur-like black cherry, blueberry, mocha and licorice on the nose, along with hints of pepper, fresh herbs and woodsmoke. Hugely ripe, plush and chewy but initially a bit dulled by alcohol. Rich, deep dark berry and chocolate flavors emerged with air. Finishes long, sweet and ripely tannic, with enough acidity to maintain its balance. A major no-holds-barred mouthful of Cabernet.Inc. GSTSG$461.48 -
Vinous (91)
Full ruby-red. Brooding aromas of black cherry, cassis and licorice. Rich, sweet, seamless, plush cabernet with an almost chocolatey ripeness as well as a medicinal reserve to its pliant dark berry flavors. Wonderfully creamy, edge-free wine to drink soon or lay down. But will it be as expansive as the 2012? Lots of dusty tannins here.Inc. GSTSG$449.52 -
Inc. GSTSG$436.44 -
Vinous (89)
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from two parcels, blended with 5% Merlot and matured in 35% new oak for 22 months. The bouquet has an attractive bouquet, quite pure with blackberry, raspberry coulis and light tobacco notes. The palate is medium-bodied with tertiary black fruit, cigar box and a touch of fig, nicely proportioned and classic in style with an almost Bordeaux-like finish. One for those who like a more classic-styled Cabernet.Inc. GSTSG$149.11 -
Vinous (89)
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from two parcels, blended with 5% Merlot and matured in 35% new oak for 22 months. The bouquet has an attractive bouquet, quite pure with blackberry, raspberry coulis and light tobacco notes. The palate is medium-bodied with tertiary black fruit, cigar box and a touch of fig, nicely proportioned and classic in style with an almost Bordeaux-like finish. One for those who like a more classic-styled Cabernet.Inc. GSTSG$417.91 -
Wine Advocate (88)
A full range of fruits can be seen with the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon. Red, black and blue fruit are all present on the nose, with oak tones hiding in the back as well as subtle earth and cigar box aromas. Medium to full-bodied in the mouth, dark cherry, cassis and juicy blueberry glide across the mid-palate, showing integrated soft, earthy aromas of leather and inorganic rock, ending with a long finish. This is a pleasing and structured Cabernet with a focused balance. The wine spent 22 months in oak barrels, 35% new. 8,040 bottles were made.Inc. GSTSG$392.84 -
Inc. GSTSG$130.58 -
Inc. GSTSG$374.31 -
Platter’s Wine Guide (95)
5* Exceptional wine in standout vintage, 'similar to 2007,' per David Trafford. Intense and structured, savoury tapenade undertone to black fruit and morello cherry aromas and flavours, mineral finish. Miniscule yield, just 1.2kg per vine; combo own (Mont Fleur) and neighbour (Keermont) grapes. Follows equally stylish 2016. 22 months oak, 35% new. Unfiltered.Inc. GSTSG$337.25 -
Vinous (91)
Straw-gold. Peach, honey, menthol, herbs and flowers on the complex nose and palate. Honeyed, thick and brisk, with penetrating, ripe acidity perfectly buffering the wine's sweetness. Finishes very long, smooth and surprisingly dry. Very rich and very well balanced chenin blanc, one of the best of my tastings this year.Inc. GSTSG$408.14 -
Vinous (91)
Bright yellow-gold. Deep, complex aromas of yellow fruits, smoke and honey, lifted by a subtle note of white flowers. At once dense, smooth and light on its feet, showing a fruitier personality and an airier texture than the 2015, not to mention an element of saline minerality. Here the oak influence gives shape to the wine and draws out its tactile finish. This may go truffley in its golden years.Inc. GSTSG$361.27 -
Vinous (89)
Pale gold-tinged yellow. Slightly musky, subdued scents of pineapple and fig. Broad, plush and dry, conveying serious palate presence and a suggestion of spicy oak that gives the finish a bit of phenolic firmness. A rather uncompromising Chenin Blanc, notable more for its texture than for its lift or fruit definition.Inc. GSTSG$332.93 -
Wine Advocate (88)
A clean and refreshing Chenin with classic citrus tones, the 2017 Chenin Blanc was 100% barrel fermented with natural yeasts. On the palate, the wine is consistent with nose and has a good structure, showing clean, correct citrus along with soft, just-ripe stone fruits and white flowers. Medium-bodied, the wine ends clean and crisp with a moderate to long finish. Just over 10,000 bottles were made.Inc. GSTSG$294.78 -
Inc. GSTSG$93.54 -
Inc. GSTSG$257.74 -
Inc. GSTSG$275.68 -
Vinous (93)
(a blend of 50% cabernet sauvignon, 37% merlot and 13% shiraz; 15% alcohol): Medium ruby. Rather reticent aromas of spices, dark chocolate and licorice. Dense and very ripe but juicy, with a lively acid backbone currently suppressing the brooding dark berry and licorice flavors. Finishes with very ripe, dusty tannins and palate-staining persistence. This powerfully concentrated wine needs several years of additional bottle aging.Inc. GSTSG$867.03 -
Wine Advocate (91)
The 2007 Elevation 393, a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 20% Shiraz and 13% Cabernet Franc, has a very ripe blackberry, boysenberry and iodine aromas cloaked in vanilla-y oak. The palate is medium-bodied with cedar-infused, charred black fruit, crisp acidity and a rather brusque but appealing, masculine finish. Drink now-2018+Inc. GSTSG$642.49 -
Wine Spectator (93)
Dark earth, roasted plum, singed cedar and coffee notes form the frame of this old-school Cabernet, with bay, tobacco, mulled currant, mint and steeped blackberry fruit at the core. The long finish lets the savory notes play out beautifully. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Franc.Inc. GSTSG$642.49 -
Vinous (91)
(15% alcohol; 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 14% Shiraz and 3% Cabernet Franc; aged in 100% new French oak): Full ruby-red. Lively aromas of dark plum, currant, coffee and mocha complicated by an herbal/peppery aspect and a note of menthol. Suave and smooth in the mouth, with currant, plum and spice flavors complicated by subtle hints of underbrush, truffle and menthol. Conveys a lovely impression of slow ripening. This plush, full, satisfying Cabernet finishes with big but ripe tannins and subtle persistence, and without obvious heat.Inc. GSTSG$625.03 -
Vinous (91)
(15.5% alcohol): Saturated bright ruby. Pungent aromas of blackberry, cassis, spices, violet and peppery herbs, along with some exotic chocolatey oak notes. Plush, velvety wine with some high tones of dried herbs. Wonderfully broad and concentrated, although some will find this a bit herbal. Finishes very long, with serious dusty tannins and surprising energy and lift. There's no rush to drink this blend; as sweet as it is, there's good spine and structural support here for further development in bottle.Inc. GSTSG$622.87 -
Inc. GSTSG$679.55 -
Wine Advocate (90)
The 2012 Elevation 393 is a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The wine spent 23 months in new French oak and underwent spontaneous fermentation. The nose begins with complex dark fruits, smoky tones with a black spice and a fine dusty minerality, which Stellenbosch typically lends to a wine. There are bitter black tea and herbal notes that are expressed over the mid-palate and meshes well with the dark fruit and spice notes here. The finish is long and full-bodied, with a tight tannic grip. 3,504 bottles were bottled by hand, unfiltered and unfined.Inc. GSTSG$707.89
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Vinous (94)
The 2021 Grenache Noir comes from five vineyards with younger vines than the Chenin, mainly planted in the early 2000s that oblige two green harvests. Sixty percent is fermented and matured in concrete and using 60% whole bunch. The bouquet is very well defined and transparent; red cherries intermingle with raspberry and slate-like scents. The palate is well-balanced with fine tannins and superb acidity. Fine, bitter cherry notes towards the finish fan out wonderfull; this is a top-notch Grenache.In BondSG$224.00 -
(1x150cl) 2023
Vinous (94)
The 2023 Grenache Noir, which was picked before 100mm of rain fell, has an expressive bouquet with Morello cherry, wild strawberry and wilted rose petal scents that open beautifully in the glass. The palate is well balanced with vivacious cranberry and pomegranate fruit, nicely detailed tannins and a poised, persistent finish. Very sophisticated.In BondSG$121.00 -
Vinous (90)
Bright ruby-red. Sexy, soil-inflected scents of blueberry, tobacco, black tea and spices. Plush, pliant and sweet on the palate, offering considerable immediate appeal and finishing with a fine dusting of tannins and very good length. Not especially complex but delicious and perfumed right now; sweeter and more pliant than the 2013 version but without that wine's lift or tannic clout.In BondSG$284.00 -
Vinous (91)
Bright ruby-red. Lovely floral lift to the aromas of blackberry, blueberry, tobacco and licorice. Plush, very ripe aromas of medicinal black cherry, dark berries and licorice. An almost creamy style of Cabernet Franc but with a restrained sweetness. Not hugely deep but finishes with sneaky length. Ultimately more complex and gripping than the 2012 version.In BondSG$267.00 -
In BondSG$258.00
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In BondSG$238.00
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Vinous (90)
Bright ruby-red. Musky aromas of black raspberry, smoke, nuts and coffee. Sweet and supple on the palate, with a pliant texture but not quite the consistency of ripeness as the 2009 version. Dark berry flavors are joined by tobacco, truffle and herbs. Here the tannins are a touch green and less refined than those of the 2009, but the finish is still rich and persistent.In BondSG$510.00 -
Vinous (90)
(15.8% alcohol; Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 7% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc; 40% new French oak): Liqueur-like black cherry, blueberry, mocha and licorice on the nose, along with hints of pepper, fresh herbs and woodsmoke. Hugely ripe, plush and chewy but initially a bit dulled by alcohol. Rich, deep dark berry and chocolate flavors emerged with air. Finishes long, sweet and ripely tannic, with enough acidity to maintain its balance. A major no-holds-barred mouthful of Cabernet.In BondSG$362.00 -
Vinous (91)
Full ruby-red. Brooding aromas of black cherry, cassis and licorice. Rich, sweet, seamless, plush cabernet with an almost chocolatey ripeness as well as a medicinal reserve to its pliant dark berry flavors. Wonderfully creamy, edge-free wine to drink soon or lay down. But will it be as expansive as the 2012? Lots of dusty tannins here.In BondSG$353.00 -
In BondSG$341.00
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Vinous (89)
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from two parcels, blended with 5% Merlot and matured in 35% new oak for 22 months. The bouquet has an attractive bouquet, quite pure with blackberry, raspberry coulis and light tobacco notes. The palate is medium-bodied with tertiary black fruit, cigar box and a touch of fig, nicely proportioned and classic in style with an almost Bordeaux-like finish. One for those who like a more classic-styled Cabernet.In BondSG$117.00 -
Vinous (89)
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from two parcels, blended with 5% Merlot and matured in 35% new oak for 22 months. The bouquet has an attractive bouquet, quite pure with blackberry, raspberry coulis and light tobacco notes. The palate is medium-bodied with tertiary black fruit, cigar box and a touch of fig, nicely proportioned and classic in style with an almost Bordeaux-like finish. One for those who like a more classic-styled Cabernet.In BondSG$324.00 -
Wine Advocate (88)
A full range of fruits can be seen with the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon. Red, black and blue fruit are all present on the nose, with oak tones hiding in the back as well as subtle earth and cigar box aromas. Medium to full-bodied in the mouth, dark cherry, cassis and juicy blueberry glide across the mid-palate, showing integrated soft, earthy aromas of leather and inorganic rock, ending with a long finish. This is a pleasing and structured Cabernet with a focused balance. The wine spent 22 months in oak barrels, 35% new. 8,040 bottles were made.In BondSG$301.00 -
In BondSG$100.00
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In BondSG$284.00
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Platter’s Wine Guide (95)
5* Exceptional wine in standout vintage, 'similar to 2007,' per David Trafford. Intense and structured, savoury tapenade undertone to black fruit and morello cherry aromas and flavours, mineral finish. Miniscule yield, just 1.2kg per vine; combo own (Mont Fleur) and neighbour (Keermont) grapes. Follows equally stylish 2016. 22 months oak, 35% new. Unfiltered.In BondSG$250.00 -
Vinous (91)
Straw-gold. Peach, honey, menthol, herbs and flowers on the complex nose and palate. Honeyed, thick and brisk, with penetrating, ripe acidity perfectly buffering the wine's sweetness. Finishes very long, smooth and surprisingly dry. Very rich and very well balanced chenin blanc, one of the best of my tastings this year.In BondSG$319.00 -
Vinous (91)
Bright yellow-gold. Deep, complex aromas of yellow fruits, smoke and honey, lifted by a subtle note of white flowers. At once dense, smooth and light on its feet, showing a fruitier personality and an airier texture than the 2015, not to mention an element of saline minerality. Here the oak influence gives shape to the wine and draws out its tactile finish. This may go truffley in its golden years.In BondSG$276.00 -
Vinous (89)
Pale gold-tinged yellow. Slightly musky, subdued scents of pineapple and fig. Broad, plush and dry, conveying serious palate presence and a suggestion of spicy oak that gives the finish a bit of phenolic firmness. A rather uncompromising Chenin Blanc, notable more for its texture than for its lift or fruit definition.In BondSG$250.00 -
Wine Advocate (88)
A clean and refreshing Chenin with classic citrus tones, the 2017 Chenin Blanc was 100% barrel fermented with natural yeasts. On the palate, the wine is consistent with nose and has a good structure, showing clean, correct citrus along with soft, just-ripe stone fruits and white flowers. Medium-bodied, the wine ends clean and crisp with a moderate to long finish. Just over 10,000 bottles were made.In BondSG$215.00 -
In BondSG$68.00
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In BondSG$183.00
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In BondSG$179.00
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Vinous (93)
(a blend of 50% cabernet sauvignon, 37% merlot and 13% shiraz; 15% alcohol): Medium ruby. Rather reticent aromas of spices, dark chocolate and licorice. Dense and very ripe but juicy, with a lively acid backbone currently suppressing the brooding dark berry and licorice flavors. Finishes with very ripe, dusty tannins and palate-staining persistence. This powerfully concentrated wine needs several years of additional bottle aging.In BondSG$740.00 -
Wine Advocate (91)
The 2007 Elevation 393, a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 20% Shiraz and 13% Cabernet Franc, has a very ripe blackberry, boysenberry and iodine aromas cloaked in vanilla-y oak. The palate is medium-bodied with cedar-infused, charred black fruit, crisp acidity and a rather brusque but appealing, masculine finish. Drink now-2018+In BondSG$534.00 -
Wine Spectator (93)
Dark earth, roasted plum, singed cedar and coffee notes form the frame of this old-school Cabernet, with bay, tobacco, mulled currant, mint and steeped blackberry fruit at the core. The long finish lets the savory notes play out beautifully. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Franc.In BondSG$534.00 -
Vinous (91)
(15% alcohol; 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 14% Shiraz and 3% Cabernet Franc; aged in 100% new French oak): Full ruby-red. Lively aromas of dark plum, currant, coffee and mocha complicated by an herbal/peppery aspect and a note of menthol. Suave and smooth in the mouth, with currant, plum and spice flavors complicated by subtle hints of underbrush, truffle and menthol. Conveys a lovely impression of slow ripening. This plush, full, satisfying Cabernet finishes with big but ripe tannins and subtle persistence, and without obvious heat.In BondSG$516.00 -
Vinous (91)
(15.5% alcohol): Saturated bright ruby. Pungent aromas of blackberry, cassis, spices, violet and peppery herbs, along with some exotic chocolatey oak notes. Plush, velvety wine with some high tones of dried herbs. Wonderfully broad and concentrated, although some will find this a bit herbal. Finishes very long, with serious dusty tannins and surprising energy and lift. There's no rush to drink this blend; as sweet as it is, there's good spine and structural support here for further development in bottle.In BondSG$516.00 -
In BondSG$568.00
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Wine Advocate (90)
The 2012 Elevation 393 is a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The wine spent 23 months in new French oak and underwent spontaneous fermentation. The nose begins with complex dark fruits, smoky tones with a black spice and a fine dusty minerality, which Stellenbosch typically lends to a wine. There are bitter black tea and herbal notes that are expressed over the mid-palate and meshes well with the dark fruit and spice notes here. The finish is long and full-bodied, with a tight tannic grip. 3,504 bottles were bottled by hand, unfiltered and unfined.In BondSG$594.00
