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Red Blend
Ronco del Gnemiz Rosso “Dott. Palazzolo” 2020
"Savory in the glass, the 2020 Rosso del Gnemiz lifts up with dusty florals and earth tones before giving way to dried black cherries. This is pure elegance, lifted and refined, with crisp red and black fruits accelerated by brisk acidity. It finishes classically dry and with fine tannins that frame the wine perfectly, tapering off with amazing length and clarity, leaving peppery florals to linger." - Eric Guido, Vinous
J.L. Chave Sélection Côtes-du-Rhône “Mon Coeur” 2021
"A year-in, year-out smoking value as well as a great bottle of wine, the 2021 Côtes du Rhône Mon Coeur checks in as equal parts Grenache and Syrah brought up in neutral oak. Its vivid ruby hue is followed by a medium-bodied, elegant, lively red offering pretty red and black berry fruits, some spring flowers, peppery herbs, and gamey nuances, fine tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. Coming from a cooler year, it still brings plenty of richness and depth and is well worth seeking out." - Jeb Dunnuck
David & Nadia Grenache Noir 2022 Magnum
David & Nadia “Elpidios” 2021 Magnum
"Elpidios is a red version of Aristargos in a sense, using five varieties from nine different vineyards. Fermented with 40% whole bunches, it's dominated by Grenache, supported by 31% Syrah, 13% Carignan and 1% each of Pinotage and Cinsault. Stony, grippy and chiselled, it has savoury tannins, lots of granitic intensity and plum, red berry and cranberry flavours. Will age well, too." - Tim Atkin MW
David & Nadia “Elpidios” 2021
"Elpidios is a red version of Aristargos in a sense, using five varieties from nine different vineyards. Fermented with 40% whole bunches, it's dominated by Grenache, supported by 31% Syrah, 13% Carignan and 1% each of Pinotage and Cinsault. Stony, grippy and chiselled, it has savoury tannins, lots of granitic intensity and plum, red berry and cranberry flavours. Will age well, too." - Tim Atkin MW
Rall Red 2021 Magnum
"Released a year later than the rest of the Rall reds to allow the tannins to integrate, this is a serious, structured assemblage of Syrah with 13% Grenache, 7% Carignan and 2% Cinsault. Sappy and grippy, it marries blackberry and damson fruit flavours with understated oak spices and a sturdy, age-worthy finish." - Tim Atkin MW
Rall Red 2021
"Released a year later than the rest of the Rall reds to allow the tannins to integrate, this is a serious, structured assemblage of Syrah with 13% Grenache, 7% Carignan and 2% Cinsault. Sappy and grippy, it marries blackberry and damson fruit flavours with understated oak spices and a sturdy, age-worthy finish." - Tim Atkin MW
BLANKbottle “Retirement @ 65” 2022
"Retirement @ 65? Let's hope that's not in Pieter Walser's plans, so that he can go on making wines like this Darling assemblage of Cinsault with 44% Syrah. Fermented with around 50% whole bunches, this is "almost a field blend", with plum, bramble and red berry fruit, lots of zip and minerality and sinewy tannins." - Tim Atkin MW
BLANKbottle Empire 2021
BLANKbottle B.I.G. 2020
"The Swartland Revolution was exactly that: a revolution initiated by Swartland farmers which turned the premium wine market upside down. Suddenly premium higher-priced Bordeaux-style Stellenbosch wines had to share the stage with premium Rhone-style Swartland blends. And so it happened then, that for the past 8 years, the media stuck Cabernet Sauvignon in a dark and dusty corner - not “cool” enough. As some of you might know, at the moment I make wine from 30 varieties. I thought it a bright idea to do something for the neglected, fallen-from-grace Cabernet Sauvignon. I subsequently identified vineyards with vastly different heights above sea level: 7 near Somerset West (at 32 to 391 m), 2 on the outskirts of Tulbagh (both at 310 m) and 2 in the Witzenberg’s Koue Bokkeveld (at 734 and 755m).
When I first started speaking to the masters of Cabernet here at the Southernmost tip of Africa, the first thing mentioned by most was the dreaded Greenness in Cabernet Sauvignon - a very unwelcome herbaceous / vegetative character. This develops due to high levels of Pyrazines present in the wine - something that's determined by the ripeness level of the grapes. The longer the grape bunches get exposed to sunlight during the growing period, the less Pyrazines - resulting in less greenness in the end product - reducing herbaceousness and amplifying fruit. Here in South Africa we have a unique situation: although we have plenty of sunshine, it is hot and dry. In most instances, by the time the grapes are ripe for picking, it hasn't had long enough sun exposure for the Pyrazines to get to an acceptable level. And if you leave it on the vine for longer, the sugar level gets too high. These sugars are then transformed during fermentation into alcohol resulting in rather high alcoholic wines.
So in general, Cabernet creators are in fact chased by the Green Monster. Defended by some, feared by most. What confuses me, though, is that one could argue that this greenness is a stylistic characteristic of wines closer to the ocean, which makes it acceptable. Or does it? Where the exact point lies where herbaceousness turns into greenness - I am not sure. That’s why I decided to make a Cabernet Sauvignon led blend and identified 9 vineyards from different heights above sea levels. The closest vineyard to the ocean is 3km and the furthest 3 hours drive. We made them all separately and aged them all in French oak for one and a half years - picked mainly when we thought the grapes tasted best. Interestingly enough, the first vineyard on the Helderberg ripened in late February whereas the last vineyard in Ceres Plateau (about 3 hours drive from the first) reached optimum ripeness on 22 April - 100 days into harvest and also the very last grapes to hit the cellar." - Winemaker's notes
Domaine de Triennes Rosé 2021
Domaine de Triennes Rosé 2021, "This wine has a bouquet of strawberries and white flowers with hints of vanilla. It has the harmony and elegance that has earned world-wide appreciation of the rosés of Provence. Triennes Rosé is the perfect accompaniment to a sunny summer afternoon." - Winemaker's notes
Château Musar Hochar Père et Fils Red 2018
Chateau Musar Hochar Père et Fils Red 2018, "An attractive clear ruby colour and aroma to match, with a subtle peppery spice and ripe red fruits. This continues through to the palate where sweet-ripened red fruit dominate the glass with a slight savoury note and soft, elegant finish." - Winemaker's notes
Château de Pibarnon Bandol Rosé Nuances 2019
Château de Pibarnon Bandol Rosé “Nuances” 2019, Light, brilliant orange. Expansive, mineral-accented blood orange, red currant and nectarine aromas are complemented by suggestions of succulent herbs, honey and lavender. Sappy, chewy and penetrating on the palate, offering densely packed red berry, pit fruit and floral flavors underscored by a vein of chalky minerality. Smoothly plays power off finesse and finishes minerally and extremely long, with repeating floral and pit fruit notes." - Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Château de Pibarnon Bandol Rouge 2018
"The 2018 Red is a deep, vertical, and devilishly seductive wine. Mourvèdre, a rather masculine archetype, here takes on the air of Pinot. A hodgepodge of red and black fruits gradually reveals the expression of the limestone terroir, spices and garrigue. This wine is full, enjoys a particularly tasty and vibrant, reactive tannin texture." - Winemaker's notes
Château de Pibarnon Bandol Rouge 2019
Pibarnon's 2019 Bandol is marked by scents of vanilla, black cherries and plums. An assemblage of 90% Mourvèdre and 10% Grenache, it's ripe, even a touch jammy, in a powerful, modern style. Full-bodied, supple and rich, it finishes with a gentle coating of soft tannins. I suspect my rating is conservative, but in this year's blind-tasting, I actually preferred the less expensive Restanques de Pibarnon bottling. - Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate
Château de Pibarnon Bandol Rosé 2021 Magnum
Château de Pibarnon Bandol Rosé 2021
Antinori Solaia 2019
"The 2019 Solaia is fabulous. Deep and exquisitely layered, the 2019 is so expressive right out of the gate. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice, incense, pipe tobacco, chocolate and grilled herbs all take shape. Here, too, the aromatics are alluring. Cabernet Franc is bumped up a bit in the blend, and that works so well here. Solaia is often a bombastic, intense wine. The 2019 is incredibly refined and buttoned up. Readers will have to be patient. The 2019 Solaia is the sort of wine I would like to spend a whole evening with. Aging was 18 months in 100% new French oak." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge “Piedlong” 2020
"The 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Piedlong is 90% Grenache from the lieu-dit le Pied Long (sometimes written as one word), plus 10% Mourvèdre from Pignan, so sandy soils—in contrast to Vieux Telegraph's preponderance of la Crau's galets roulés. At 50% whole bunches, it's a bit stemmy and herbal but also soaring and gorgeous on the nose, with scents of roses, menthol, cherries and raspberries. Full-bodied but airy in feel and silky in texture, with a long, lingering finish, it looks to be pretty special this vintage." - Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate
Lucien Aviet & Fils, Trousseau “Cuvée des Géologues” 2021
In 2021 they had very low yields and they didn't have enough wine to bottle the Ploussard separately, so they did a 2021 Trousseau-Ploussard Cuvée des Geologes without any vineyard designation, as it blends different crus, with 30% Ploussard. It's fine and elegant, with a vibrant palate and very fine tannins, with great acidity and no rusticity. It has great balance and some aging potential. 1,800 bottles produced. - Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate
Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva 2018
Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva 2018, "Textbook stuff from the Mugas, this is a pan-regional assemblage of Tempranillo with 30% Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano. Youthful, structured and refreshing, it's the kind of Reserva that will reward cellaring but will be drunk too young. Textured and balanced with racy acidity and flavours of liquorice, blackberry and vanilla. 2023-30" - Tim Atkin MW
Château Musar Red 2014
Château Musar Red 2014 "A deep red colour, with aromas of sweet cherry, plum and dried fruit together with a subtle spice element and hint of tobacco. The wine has a soft, rounded mouthfeel with lots of flavour and fruit concentration – caramel, mocha, ripe red fruits which are supported with soft, velvety tannins and a spicy finish.- Winemaker's notes