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Pegasus Bay
Bel Canto Dry Riesling 2020
£108 per 6 x 75cl IB
Lemon-straw in colour, with an enticing medley of citrus and stone fruit on the nose, interspersed with floral notes of elderflower and honeysuckle. Layered beneath there are also hints of ginger, honey and spice. The long hang time and influence of botrytis results in a wine that is rich and full bodied, with ripe phenolics that add structure and length. It is concentrated yet delicate, with invigorating acidity and a satisfyingly dry finish.
90 points - Rebecca Gibb (Vinous.com)
This gets off to a lively start with the characteristic spritzig notes often found in Pegasus Bay's Riesling, albeit waning with bottle age, then delivers clementines, honey and spices (there's botrytized fruit included) and green asparagus. The 26 g/L of residual sugar offers plenty of sweet appeal on entry and keeps the midpalate plump. However, the finish is firm and slightly hard due to a combination of alcoholic warmth and taut acidity.
Drink: 2020 - 2022
Tasted Oct 2020
Pegasus Bay
Pinot Noir 2017
£150 per 6 x 75cl IB
Traditional Burgundian winemaking methods are used to make this wine. Bright ruby in colour with a teasing array of vibrant red fruit on the nose including raspberry, pomegranate, cherry and plum. Spice and herbal notes, as well as a savoury underlay, add to the wine’s complexity. While the palate has generous fruit weight and velvety tannins, it is balanced with refreshing acidity and a structure that gives the wine classic North Canterbury tension and pinot noir characteristics.
93 points - Joe Czerwinski (WineAdvocate)
The 2017 Pinot Noir shows admirable depth, intensity and length. It starts with an open bouquet of mixed berries and cherries, with hints of dried spices and tea leaves, then moves into a medium to full-bodied palate that's concentrated and rich without being heavy and velvety in feel, with bright, clean flavors that linger on the finish. It's the best regular Pinot Noir I can remember tasting from this Waipara stalwart.
Drink: 2020 - 2028
Tasted Feb 2020
Reyneke
Johan Reyneke took over the family farm in the late 1990s with great aspirations to establish a chemical-free farm. To him there is more in life than science, there is a spiritual element: It’s by respecting the “inherent value of things” that he has made great progress in taking his lands back to a natural balance. Not only it is better for the earth, but it makes for better wine. Reyneke was the first organic winery in South Africa to receive a 5-star Platter’s Wine Guide and Johan Reyneke is Wine Grower of the Year in Tim Atkin’s 2020 SA Report.
"We’ve made great progress. We’re nearly back where we started." Johan Reyneke
Reyneke
Biodynamic Sauvignon Blanc 2020
£66 per 6 x 75cl IB
100% Sauvignon Blanc, matured 7-months on the gross lees. This vibrant Sauvignon blanc bursts with notes of grapefruit, passionfruit and displays a distinct flintiness. The palate shows a lovely brightness and definite minerality, which reveals more complexity in time. An elegant wine that is enjoyable now, but can also be drunk over the next 5 years.
90 points - Neal Martin (Vinous.com)
The 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Biodynamic offers light grass clipping and kiwi fruit scents on the nose, touches of nettle and dandelion emerging with time. The palate is well balanced with fine acidity, taut and fresh, easing off toward a finish that would benefit from a little more weight. But this is a fine Sauvignon Blanc overall.
Drink: 2021 - 2028
Tasted July 2021
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Reyneke
Biodynamic Syrah 2019
£60 per 6 x 75cl IB
100% hand-harvested Syrah. Natural malolactic fermentation in older French casks and larger 2500L Foudres. The wine ages for 14 months in oak and another 3 months in stainless steel to harmonise after final assemblage. Bottle aging of 8 months occurs, before the final product is released. A perfumed nose with upfront white pepper, spice and red cherry aromatics. Followed by undertones of rosemary and lavender. The palate is fresh and vibrant with juicy tannins and a well balanced structure. Layers of fruit, spice and dry herbs give an elegant and well-refined wine with a lasting finish
95 points - Neal Martin (Vinous.com)
The 2019 Syrah Biodynamic is drop-dead gorgeous on the nose, offering blackberry, blueberry, crushed violet and light star anise aromas that blossom with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with velvety tannins and great depth and intensity, equaled by a finesse that leaves you wanting more on the finish. A sublime Syrah from Johan Reyneke. Drink: 2023 - 2043
Tasted July 2021
Boekenhoutskloof
Boekenhoutskloof was established in 1776 and is located in the furthest corner of the beautiful Franschhoek valley. The farm’s name means “ravine of the Boekenhout” which is an indigenous Cape Beech tree greatly prized for furniture making. The Managing Partner & Technical Director Marc Kent is the driving force behind the various brands and properties within the Boekenhoutskloof stable. Gottfried Mocke joined the winery in 2015 as Chief Winemaker. Marc and Gottfried are unafraid to experiment with the unconventional – however, their principal commitment is to quality on every level and in every detail.
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Boekenhoutskloof
Syrah 2018
£156 per 6 x 75cl IB
Up to 18 months maturation in large traditional 2,500L foudres and 600L demi-muid. The entry is savoury and earthy with the dark berry fruit of the nose following through with notes of black cardamom, sweet tobacco and cloves. The mid-palate is full-bodied, yet elegant and lithe, with grainy tannins providing good structure and integrated acidity. Flavours of cured meat, white pepper and black olives lend classic complexity. Hints of tar, aniseed and espresso linger on a fine, silky finish.
92 points - Neal Martin (Vinous.com)
The 2018 Syrah, which includes 40% whole bunch, has a very intense bouquet of macerated dark cherries, boysenberry, mint and light garrigue scents. The palate is medium-bodied with bold tannins and layers of licorice-tinged black fruit. Grippy and firm, this Syrah will require 2–3 years in bottle to soften. Very fine.
Drink: 2023 - 2032
Tasted April 2021
Boekenhoutskloof
Stellenbosh Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
£175 per 6 x 75cl IB
Perfect for drinking now
Minerality and a classic graphite-like profile.The warm, dry growing conditions of the 2016 vintage restricted yields, but offered exceptionally small berries with wonderful concentration and fruit flavour. Matured for 18 months in 60% new French oak barriques.
The nose is complex and alluring, offering redcurrant, black cherry and red plum aromas with whiffs of Herbes de Provence, Cape fynbos and clay dust. The red stone fruit of the nose follows through with flavours of youngberry, boysenberry and notes of lead pencil, pipe tobacco and tealeaf on a smooth palate. Fine-grained powdery tannins contribute to a certain nervosité on the midpalate, juxtaposed against the opulence of fragrant fruit, firm acidity and smoky cedarwood undertones from integrated French oak. Vibrant berry fruit persists on a clean, focused finish.
89 points - Neal Martin (Vinous.com)
The 2016 Boekenhoutskloof Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Helderberg region and was matured in 60% new oak, the rest second-fill, for 18 months. It has a smoky, quite meaty bouquet, and the Cabernet Franc (8% of the blend) imparts a light bell pepper aroma. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin and a little chewy in the mouth, offering blackberry and cedar, then midway more red fruit than I anticipated, and a smooth finish. Drink over the next four to six years.
Drink: 2019 - 2028
Tasted Aug 2018
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Boekenhoutskloof
Franschhoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
£156 per 6 x 75cl IB
One to put away in the cellar
Grapes picked by hand, bunch sorted with berry selection and gently de-stemmed. Matured for 22 months in 80% new light toast, long seasoned French oak.
Rich and complex on the nose with aromas of mulberry, damson and wild strawberry and gentle whiffs of smoke and sweet spice. The palate is very refined and polished, ripe red fruits following through with a delicate garrigue character and a smooth texture. Notes of lavender and thyme, precision and finesse on the mid-palate and very fine-grained, powdery tannins make for a very classic Cabernet. The wine is medium-bodied, structured, focused and balanced, with attractive, refreshing acidity. Black fruit, aniseed, cloves, pipe tobacco and cardamon, linger on the finish with hints of graphite.
93 points - Neal Martin (Vinous.com)
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.
Drink: 2023 - 2034
Tasted April 2021
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