Would you like to receive our exclusive offers and latest news?
Fill in your details below to subscribe
Red Blend
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
Domaine Lafarge-Vial Côte de Brouilly 2021
Domaine Lafarge-Vial Côte de Brouilly 2021, "Pretty aromas include those of raspberry, cherry, earth and a suggestion of crushed fennel. This isn't quite as dense but I very much like the sense of energy to the medium weight flavors that possess slightly better depth, though like the Joie du Palais, the balance isn't perfect." - Allen Meadows', Burghound
David & Nadia Grenache Noir 2022 Magnum
David & Nadia Grenache Noir 2022
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
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 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
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
Château Cantemerle Haut-Médoc 2019
The 2019 Cantemerle has a fruit-driven bouquet with opulent blackberry and blueberry fruit, certainly one of the most floral in the flight with pressed violets developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with very supple tannins, fleshy and rounded, though I am looking for more tension and precision on the finish. This is a really fabulous Cantemerle that surely represents outstanding value. No excuse not to have this in your cellar. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. - Neal Martin, 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
Château Musar Red 2016
Château Musar Red 2016 "Our 2016 vintage is deep ruby in colour with high viscosity. Red cherries, plums, carob and figs dominate the nose with a hint of eastern spice. Kirsch and plums follow through to the palate with blackcurrant and chocolate. The tannins are velvety soft and this wine has a lot of depth and fruit concentration with a long finish. Winemaker's notes
Keermont Amphitheatre 2016
The 2016 Keermont Amphitheatre, a Bordeaux blend matured in seasoned oak for 20 months, has a pretty, floral bouquet with raspberry, wild strawberry and a very light lavender scent that percolates through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy opening, fine acidity, decent structure and grip with a lightly spiced finish. You could drink this now, but it will age in bottle for a decade or more." - Neal Martin, Vinous
Keermont Amphitheatre Magnum 2016
"The 2016 Keermont Amphitheatre, a Bordeaux blend matured in seasoned oak for 20 months, has a pretty, floral bouquet with raspberry, wild strawberry and a very light lavender scent that percolates through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy opening, fine acidity, decent structure and grip with a lightly spiced finish. You could drink this now, but it will age in bottle for a decade or more." - Neal Martin, Vinous