2023
BLANKbottle Orbitofrontal Cortex 2023
"Twelve different grape varieties make up the blend here, produced by Pieter Walser using his conscious mind. (There was a one-off "unconscious" assemblage as well!) Clairette Blanche, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne and Roussanne are all important components, creating a complex, layered white with lime, pear, rose water and orange zest flavours, a nip of tannin and a lingering finish." - Tim Atkin MW
BLANKbottle Moment of Silence 2023
"One of the bigger production wines at BLANKbottle - we're talking 20,000 bottles, folks - this is a Rhône style Wellington blend of mostly Chenin Blanc with 25% Grenache Blanc and a splash of Viognier. Pear, citrus, quince and ginger flavours are complemented by old wood ageing and a refreshing mineral core." Tim Atkin MW
BLANKbottle Familiemoord 2023
"Family Murder - is one of Pieter Walser's most famous wines, based on a true story with a happy ending about mistaken identity. Made with Grenache from Braam Marais' farm in Piekenierskloof, it's a refined, layered, fynbos-scented red with graceful tannins, lots of zip and minerality and flavours of pomegranate, strawberry and rooibos tea." - Tim Atkin MW
Rall Concrete Syrah 2023
"This 3 release of the Syrah made from one of the schist vineyards used for the Ava, was picked early, fermented naturally with 100% whole bunches and aged only in concrete to preserve the primary fruit and crunchy tannins of Syrah grown on these soils.
Even with a modest alc of only 12.5% this wine has a beautiful gripping structure, savoury palate and very expressive nose of fynbos, meat and dark spices. 4844 bottles produced" - Winemaker's notes
Rall White 2023 Magnum
"This blend of Chenin Blanc 71%, Verdelho 26% and Viognier 3% that started it all for Rall wines back in 2008 now already in its 16th vintage remains the cornerstone of what we do. No other wine in the portfolio has achieved the level of consistency year on year over the last decade or so and this 2023 is no differnet.
Even after 7 consecutive 5 star Platters ratings this wine I believe is another step up. Grapes are still grown mainly in the ancient granitic soils of the Paardeberg and now also contains a big portion of fruit from the oldest vineyard we work with planted in 1969. All components are fermented naturally and matured separately in a combination of 2000 litre foudre, seasoned small French oak, concrete eggs and amphora before blending and bottling after 10 months with minimal filtration." - Winemaker's notes
Rall Grenache Blanc 2023
"From 2 vineyards in this vintage predominantly the same high altitude bush vines from Piekenierskloof and another vineyard grown on schist.
In the cellar the grapes were whole-bunch pressed and transferred without settling straight to 2 concrete eggs for fermentation and maturation. This vintage has more texture than recent years, flintiness and a touch of reduction typical of early harvested grapes fermented in concrete. As always bottled early after only 8 months to preserve the freshness of this wine. 5652 bottles produced" - Winemaker's notes
Rall Cinsault 2023
"Now mainly from Darling old vines planted in 1982 and grown on iron rich clay soils. Semi-carbonic fermentation occurs naturally using 100% whole-bunches before aging for 8 months in 3000 liter Foudre and older small French oak barrels. The 2023 has lots of layers and some beautiful red fruit with crunchy, coated tannins from the stems and fresh acidity to bring the balance. No doubt our most serious Cinsault offering to date." - Winemaker's notes
Rall White 2023
"This blend of Chenin Blanc 71%, Verdelho 26% and Viognier 3% that started it all for Rall wines back in 2008 now already in its 16th vintage remains the cornerstone of what we do. No other wine in the portfolio has achieved the level of consistency year on year over the last decade or so and this 2023 is no differnet.
Even after 7 consecutive 5 star Platters ratings this wine I believe is another step up. Grapes are still grown mainly in the ancient granitic soils of the Paardeberg and now also contains a big portion of fruit from the oldest vineyard we work with planted in 1969. All components are fermented naturally and matured separately in a combination of 2000 litre foudre, seasoned small French oak, concrete eggs and amphora before blending and bottling after 10 months with minimal filtration." - Winemaker's notes
Steytler 1947 Chenin Blanc 2023
BLANKbottle Seelug 2023
"One hot day, during the harvest of ’22, I was sampling a little (as yet) un-named Chardonnay vineyard which a good friend had told me about. Situated on the lower slopes of the Helderberg, it overlooks False Bay. Glancing over towards the ocean that day, I could clearly see that the off-shore wind was blowing. This was good news to the Strand local I am, as the elusive off-shore wind grooms the waves, making them perfect for my local surf spot. I made a mental note to get a move-on with my sampling, no time to lose. But 20 minutes later, as I once again raised my head from my berry-picking, grape-squashing exercise, I glanced over the bay. D’oh! (as Homer Simpson would say) - the wind had turned onshore. I could clearly see the tell-tale "wit perdjies" on the horizon heading towards shore. In a few minutes the perfectly groomed waves would be destroyed. Deflated, I carried on with the task at hand. Then, another 20 minutes later it hit me - SEELUG! It suddenly felt like someone was spraying my sun-baked face with a cool, misty oyster extract - a fragrance of fresh, salty, damp bamboo… So whilst the onshore might be wrecking waves, it simultaneously pushes the hot air inland and hugs every Chardonnay plant in that vineyard with a fragranced coolness which not many vines ever experience. Seelug - A fresh, elegantly oaked, limey and delicious Chardonnay - more to the serious side of things." - Winemaker's notes
Alheit Vineyards Fire by Night 2023
"2023 This vintage really captures the beauty of the Paardeberg: clean air, mountain herbs,tight and pithy, sprung with coiled up energy, spring water purity, an impression finely etched in granite. The nose shows some lovely flinty reduction, green citrus, and thatch. The palate is high energy, high fidelity, pure and racy. The finish is bracing and long." - Winemaker's notes
Alheit Vineyards Hemelrand Vine Garden 2023.
"We had lovely moderate temperatures during the ripening season, punctuated by regular rain. The Chenin blanc in particular starting developing beautiful dry noblerot (botrytis) several days before picking. We always have some noble rot in Hemelrand, but the amount and the quality thereof in 2023 separates this vintage from all previous. The nose shows the classic stone fruit and exotic flavours that we expect from Vine Garden, but then there’s dried orange peel and apricot from the noble berries. The palate is full and quite powerful. The usual high acidity carries the whole wine to along, tapered finish." - The Winemaker's notes
Alheit Vineyards Hereafter Here 2023
"As with the 2022 wine, reasonably good yields meant that we had some old vineyard wine available to bolster the young vine fruit that this wine was created for. The wine is more subtle and more mellow in personality that previous vintages. It shows some yellow fruit and sweet herbs on the nose, quite pretty but not loud. The palate is savoury for a Chenin. It seems like a slow-moving deep-water swell of flavour that builds and falls in its own time. This wine will be a great companion at the dinner table." - Winemaker's notes
Keermont 4 Barrels Rosé 2023
"Pale onion skin pink in colour, this wine has powerful aromas of ripe strawberry, litchi, and cut grass. The palate is soft and textured with vibrant acidity. Beautiful berry and stone fruit flavours are complimented by vanilla undertones. Drink now, or within the next 5 years. " - Winemaker's notes