91 Points / Silver Medal - IWSC. The Morgenster Lourens River Valley is an exquisite wine artfully crafted from classical varietals, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Inspired by the Bordeaux style, the winemakers set themselves apart by choosing extended ageing, which elevates the wine's complexity. On the palate, a harmonious blend of cassis and raspberry fruit flavours mingles seamlessly with impeccably balanced cedar oak, while a subtle undercurrent of smoke and s

93 Points - Greg Sherwood MW. A rich, silky Cabernet Sauvignon from the outstanding Thelema Mountain Vineyards. Thelema have firmly entrenched themselves as one of the leaders in Cabernet Sauvignon, placing Stellenbosch Cabernet’s firmly on the global wine map. 18 months spent in barrel, 45% of which is new French oak, along with careful hand sorting have produced a truly elegant and complex Cabernet Sauvignon. About the Producer Situated on the South Easterly side of the Simonsberg Mountain wit

Handcrafted, traditional, and unhurried – these are the cornerstones of Grangehurst Winery, a boutique wine cellar nestled on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain in Stellenbosch. The Walker family business took root in 1992 when proprietor Jeremy Walker began acquiring grapes and converted the property's squash court into a wine cellar. Typically, Jeremy only releases his wines once they've aged for at least ten years, ensuring they are beautifully integrated and delightfully smooth. Complex a

95 Points - Tim Atkin. De Toren Private Cellar, established in the late 1990s and located in Stellenbosch, South Africa, is renowned for its high-quality Bordeaux-style wines that beautifully capture the unique terroir of the region. The iconic Left Bank-based blend, De Toren Fusion V is meticulously crafted from Bordeaux’s ‘Noble Five’ varietals and, with its complex flavours of dark sour cherry, a spiciness of tobacco, and a hint of aniseed, it offers a stylish departure for sophisticated oeno

94 Points - winemag.co.za. Dornier is a family owned winery situated in The Golden Triangle area of the upper Blaauwklippen Valley Stellenbosch. The primary focus at Dornier lies in the production of premium quality wines with minimal intervention which are expressive to the unique terroir. Donatus Red is a classical Bordeaux blend from 5 vineyards on the slopes of the Stellenbosch Mountain. Bursting with flavours of blackcurrant and liquorice. The palate is refined and elegant with silky tannin

This exquisite Chenin Blanc is the fruit of a solitary hilltop vineyard nestled in the Polkadraai Hills, celebrated for its exceptional Chenin Blanc. Here, ancient vines flourish in rocky granite soils, caressed by the invigorating Cape South Easter winds, resulting in a Chenin Blanc that is not merely a wine but a vivid, mouthwatering revelation, brimming with vitality and charm. Tasting Note This vintage open in body and tight in texture: kelp, citrus creams and apples jump forth. The palate i

A complex, Burgundian-style Pinot Noir from Thelema's 'Sutherland' vineyards in the maritime, cool climate region of Elgin in the Western Cape. This is a great value alternative to French Burgundy, pure strawberry fruit aromas and lovely perfumed spice and earthy characters on the nose. Winemakers tasting notes "This Pinot Noir was aged in French oak barrels for 9 months and shows pure strawberry fruit aromas and lovely perfumed spice and earthy characters on the nose. The wine is wonderfully ba

96 Points - Tim Atkin MW. Keet Wines epitomises viticulturist and oenologist Christopher Keet’s philosophy that the art of viticulture and winemaking lies in the focus, attention to detail and precision nurturing of vine and wine. The grapes are sourced from some of the finest vineyards in the Stellenbosch area including the slopes of the Helderberg, Stellenbosch Mountain, Simonsberg and the Polkadraai area. An understanding of this special terroir, meticulous site selection and attention to det

94 Points - Tim  Atkin. Thelema consistently produce wines of stunning quality and value and this Chardonnay is no exception. 10 months in French oak barrels have given this wine a complex profile of ripe fruit, toasty oak with a lovely texture.  Wine Press 94 Points - Tim Atkin (2019) 91 Points - Decanter / Silver Medal "Energised citrus with nice stony notes and a hint of soy. Really saline, with an alluring fynbos note and a citrus core." Taste Winemakers tasting notes: Aromas of ripe peach,

Bronze Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards. South Africa's signature grape variety, Pinotage is a crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsault, with more of a similarity to Shiraz. The ultimate BBQ friendly wine, this Pinotage from Meinert is blended with a small proportion of Merlot to produce this multi award winning, elegant and refined wine. If you love Pinotage, look no further, if you have never had a Pinotage or yet to be convinced, this is a must try. About the Producer Meinert Wines is a small pr

95 Points - Wine Safari, Greg Sherwood MW. An Iconic wine of South Africa, the Meerlust Rubicon is a wondrously rich, polished and complex wine with a palate full of ripe fruits and silky smooth tannins. A classic 'New World Bordeaux Blend' of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot, the latest iteration of this classic wine from the hot 2018 vintage has the ageing potential of upto 30 years. Simply fantastic value for a world class wine.   Taste Winemakers tasting note: "V

93 Points - Tim Atkin MW. Ken Forrester Wines The FMC is a premium Chenin Blanc wine produced by Ken Forrester Vineyards in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The FMC stands for "Forrester Meinert Chenin", named after the winemaking partnership between Ken Forrester and Martin Meinert. This wine is made from old vines of Chenin Blanc, which are known for producing high-quality and intense flavours. The FMC is a complex and richly textured wine that exudes aromas of apricot, honey, and roasted almonds.

A wonderful cool climate South African Chardonnay from the Elgin Valley in the Western Cape. This fresh and creamy oaked Chardonnay from Thelema Mountain Vineyards is a great alternative to a Bourgogne Blanc, for a fraction of the price.  About the Producer The Elgin Valley is located 70km southeast of Cape Town in the Overberg region. It is uniquely set on a high plateau surrounded by four mountain ranges. Sutherland Vineyards are situated just 9km off the Atlantic Ocean with altitudes of 140 t

Angus Paul's unwavering dedication revolves around South African heritage varietals, with a particular enchantment for Chenin Blanc, Pinotage, and Cinsault, while passionately upholding the principles of minimal intervention winemaking. Transient Lands Pinotage is an ongoing project to source, blend and bottle special parcels of Pinotage across the Western Cape and become an expression of each vintage through the grape’s proverbial lens. The blend incorporates Pinotage from diverse locations, ea

92 Points - Tim Atkin. This elegant and complex Merlot from the beautiful Stellenbosch region in South Africa is polished with layers of generous dark fruit, concentrated flavours on the palate and soft, polished tannins with hints of mocha and spice, this is a wonderful winter warmer. Taste Winemakers tasting note: The wine shows bright, red fruit and hints of spice on the nose, with concentrated flavours on the palate and soft, polished tannins. Hints of dark chocolate complete this wonderfull

A small family-owned business, driven by a profound passion for winemaking. The wines for the Pilgrim Wines brand are thoughtfully crafted by the renowned Winemaker Henry Kotzé, previously associated with Morgenster and currently at the iconic Mulderbosch. The vines for their Shiraz produce amazing fruit on the slopes of Stellenbosch Mountain. The production style is aimed at harnessing fruit and extraction, with focus on spice. The palate exudes fine tannins with a long serious focus on the len

This is an utterly delicious white that tastes very much like barrel-fermented Chardonnay - perhaps from Burgundy. It is rich and sumptuous, with creme anglaise, pineapple, butter and delicate wood character. Intense, with a sustained, flavoursome finish. The wine's story makes it even more fascinating. When visiting friends in Zurich, Martin Meinert was introduced to a white wine made with Merlot grapes from Ticino - the southern, Italian, part of Switzerland. He loved it so much that he resolv

Decanter World Wine Awards: 2019 – 90 Points. The grapes for 'The Graduate' are sourced from a single Syrah block in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde, overlooking the coast. Enjoying the cool sea breeze, this limited production (only 3000 bottles) Syrah is a hand crafted, premium wine from a Wine Maker dedicated to quality and refinement.  About the Producer Meinert Wines is a small premium producer located in the picturesque Devon Valley within the Stellenbosch Region of the Western Cape of South Afri

Meinert Merlot is a classic, elegant and refined style, bridging the gap between old and new world merlot. A complex blend of two Merlot vineyards selectively harvested over five pickings spanning 2 weeks difference in harvest dates. "Wonderful velvet softness that you expect of great Merlot. On the nose, rounded and supple fruit with a roasted pepper and herbal character. The texture is beautifully supple, and the tannins smooth. A lovely wine with great balance." - Just delicious ! About the P

94 Points - Winemag.co.za. Dornier is a family owned winery situated in The Golden Triangle area of the upper Blaauwklippen Valley Stellenbosch. The primary focus at Dornier lies in the production of premium quality wines with minimal intervention which are expressive to the unique terroir. Donatus Red is a classical Bordeaux blend from 5 vineyards on the slopes of the Stellenbosch Mountain. Bursting with flavours of blackcurrant and liquorice. The palate is refined and elegant with silky tannin

92 Points - Tim Atkin MW. The fourth vintage of a very small parcel of Chenin Blanc grapes from the cool climate region of Elgin, Off the Record Chenin Blanc is an exciting project between the Wallace brothers, Mark and Bobby. Barrel-fermented, it exhibits appealing citrus fruit and flint characteristics, reminiscent of Pouilly-Fumé in style, with a rich, creamy mouthfeel. Wine Press Ratings 92 Points - Tim Atkin MW Tasting Note Barrel fermented in French Oak (2nd, 3rd and 4th fill) with partial

National Wine Challenge (Top 100) - Double Siler - Martin Meinert and Brendan Butler make a very small and personalised range of wines in limited quantities at the hillside Devon Crest vineyard outside Stellenbosch. Their Cabernet Sauvignon, with a dash of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot is aged for 24 months in oak barrels to produce a wine with silky soft tannins, and polished, ripe fruit. Dense deep fresh red colour. The nose displays red berries, typical Cabernet herbs, spicy toasty

90 Points - Platter's. The name Giorgio Dalla Cia will forever be intertwined with the legendary Meerlust Rubicon, an early Bordeaux-style blend that earned him the title of South Africa's Champion Winemaker in 1980 and the distinction of producing the world's finest red blend in 2006. Dalla Cia Giorgio is aged for 18 months in a combination of 80% new and 20% second-fill French oak barrels and boasts a captivating bouquet featuring notes of blueberries, cherries, violets, tobacco leaf, and spic

Cooled by the prevailing breeze from the False Bay coast located a mere 5km away, the growing season here is more moderate compared to the hot inland temperatures of the Western Cape. Sourced from 6 different vineyard blocks situated on the Estate, the oldest vineyards were planted in 2007 on predominantly decomposed granite soils giving a greater fruit expression. Vineyards planted on the lower weathered shale and greywacke soils express more citrus and delicate fruit aromas. The result is a be