Crystallum is one of South Africa’s most compelling and impressive boutique wineries, founded by brothers Peter-Allan and Andrew Finlayson in the cool-climate Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus. Since its establishment, the estate has built a reputation as a benchmark producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, wines that reflect a distinctly Burgundian sensibility while remaining unmistakably expressive of their local South African terroir.
Crystallum’s Chardonnays are particularly celebrated for their precision, tension, and mineral-driven character, achieved through meticulous vineyard selection, whole-bunch pressing, wild yeast fermentation, and thoughtful use of older oak that allows fruit and site to speak clearly rather than being overshadowed by winemaking. Among these, the Clay Shales Chardonnay stands out as a wine of remarkable focus and individuality. Named for the distinctive clay-shale soils from which it is sourced, this cuvée captures the interplay between soil, cool maritime climate, and careful cellar craft. It typically shows a taut, saline minerality layered beneath ripe citrus and orchard fruit, with a textural richness balanced by vibrant acidity. The result is a Chardonnay of both elegance and structure, capable of ageing gracefully while offering immediate pleasure – a fitting emblem of Peter-Allan’s broader philosophy of letting terroir lead the way.
Crystallum Clay Shales Chardonnay 2014, WO Overberg, 13.5% Abv.
The 2014 vintage was a cooler year in South Africa and this deliciously youthful 2014 from Peter-Allan Finlayson is an absolute stunner! The Clay Shales cuvee is of course Crystallum’s top white, and this classy expression simply shines, brimming with fresh, pithy, herby aromatics of white flowers, honey suckle, lemon cordial, dried baking herbs and a delicate limestone minerality over defined leesy biscuit nuances. In the mouth, the wine is cool, fresh and crisp, the flavours taut and tight, incredibly pure and vivid with a crystalline white citrus freshness, tangy orange peel-tinged acids, notes of brioche, lemon pith, yellow grapefruit and lemon cream biscuits on the dry pithy finish. But it is the youthful clarity and structure of the wine that is simply astounding at almost 13 years old! If this wine’s ageing is linear, on the basis of this incredible bottle (sealed under DIAM and wax), it will age easily another 10+ years beneficially. What an incredible treat… for a bottle purchased on release!
(Wine Safari Score: 96/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Crystallum Wines are imported into the UK by Liberty Wines.
Over the past few years, Jérôme Galeyrand has emerged as one of Burgundy’s most quietly compelling winemakers, crafting fine wines in Gevrey-Chambertin that have quickly gained a devoted following far beyond what his modest production would suggest. Originally from the Loire, Jérôme does not come from a winemaking family, working for eight years in the food industry before turning his hand to winemaking, bringing a new sensibility to his craft, one with an instinct for balance, transparency, and drinkability that runs through every cuvée he produces.
Working with parcels across the Côte de Nuits, Jérôme favours a light touch in the cellar: whole-bunch fermentation, minimal extraction, gentle use of oak, and an unwavering focus on freshness over power. This philosophy has made his red Pinot Noir wines extraordinarily expressive of site and vintage, with a purity of fruit and a silky, energetic texture that has drawn comparisons to some of the region’s most revered producers… or part of a new group of vignerons that I personally like to call “the New Burgundy.”
His village and Premier Cru bottlings from Gevrey-Chambertin in particular have become highly sought after, prized for their perfumed elegance, textural precision, fine-grained tannins, and a remarkable sense of place, all qualities that belie their relatively accessible origins. As allocations have tightened and word has spread among collectors and sommeliers ‘in the know’, Jérôme’s reds have taken on somewhat of a cult status, personifying what many critics consider the new guard of Burgundian winemaking: precise, honest, and deeply terroir driven.
But nothing announces cult status quite like the production of a Grand Cru Burgundy. With the 2023 vintage, Jérôme produced four barrels of the revered Grand Cru red from the Clos de Vougeot vineyard as well as his first Meursault village white. Visiting Jérôme at his new cellar in Gevrey in November 2025, I got to taste the follow up vintages of both the Meursault and his Clos de Vougeot from the tiny 2024 harvest. Indeed, Jérôme only managed to produce two barrels of Clos de Vougeot in this vintage but boy what an incredible wine it has proved to be.
While Jérôme was over in London for En-primeur tastings in March 2026, trade and press were treated to another tasting of a tank sample of his fabled Clos de Vougeot 2024 Grand Cru at an event organised by his exclusive UK importer, Andrew Pavli of Musigny Wines. With all the 2024 Galeyrand wines having recently arrived into UK bonded storage, Musigny Wines took this opportunity to arrange another exceptional tasting of a selection of Jérôme’s 2024 releases at the 1 Star Michelin Restaurant Chez Bruce. The wines are now available, and remaining stocks are currently being allocated by Musigny Wines.
Domaine Jerome Galeyrand Meursault Au Village 2024
Aged for 14 months in barrel, 25% new oak, this is another very classy expression of Meursault with complex aromatics of green apple, lemon grass, and wet stone minerality. Youthful and punchy, the depth and power are super impressive, with a full throttle tangy acidity, green apple cordial notes, white peach and a leesy, biscuity depth. Phenomenal concentration, precision and harmonious balance. This is another step up in quality on the maiden 2023 vintage.
(Wine Safari Score: 94/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Domaine Jerome Galeyrand Cotes de Nuits Village Les Retraits 2024
This iconic vineyard next door to Frederic Mugnier’s Clos de la Marechale Monopole offers an intricacy and complexity almost unmatched. Layered aromatics with limestone, chalk, sapidity, wood spice and black cherry follow to a fully loaded palate packed with bramble berries, blueberries, piercing salinity and a velvety concentration that leaves you in awe. Massive concentration, effortless power, and undoubtedly one of the finest Retraits expressions I have tasted from Jérôme yet. Truly iconic!
(Wine Safari Score: 96/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Domaine Jerome Galeyrand Nuits Saint Georges Vieilles Vignes 2024
The 2024 Nuits Saint Georges from Jerome announces itself from the glass with aromas of dark damson plums, blueberries, Christmas spices, dark chocolate and delicate woodsmoke nuances. Medium-bodied, this impressive young wine is ample, fresh and perfumed with a sweet core of broody black berry fruits, powdery precise tannins and an elegant persistence. This fourth vintage could be Jerome’s best yet and is already drinking beautifully. Effortlessly classy.
(Wine Safari Score: 94/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Domaine Jerome Galeyrand Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2024
Only two barrels produced with 18 months of ageing in barrel and bottled in April 2026. The aromatics offer up a wealth of depth and breadth with plenty of perfumed violet fragrance, earthy black berry fruit notes, wood spice and a smoky graphite complexity. The palate shows weight and power, a sleek mineral limestone depth with chalky tannins and ample pithy black cherry and bramble berry fruit intensity of the finish. A very taut, chiselled, seriously impressive Grand Cru wine.
(Wine Safari Score: 95+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
The wines of Jerome Galeyrand are exclusively imported into the UK by Musigny Wines. To request a trade allocation, contact:
andrew@musigny.wine
The famous lobster raviolo at Chez Bruce.Venison and Pinot Noir – the perfect pairing.The famous Mullineux Straw Wine from the Swartland served with dessert. Grower Champagne Petit & Bajan to kick off proceedings at Chez Bruce. Imported exclusively into the UK by Musigny Wines.
The 2026 Cape Winemakers Guild Auction returns to Brickfield Canvas in Cape Town on Friday, 2nd October and Saturday, 3rd October 2026, offering rare, small-batch wines crafted exclusively for the sale by South Africa’s most respected, peer-nominated winemakers. For over four decades, this auction has been the premier showcase of the country’s finest cellars, drawing serious collectors seeking exceptional, hard-to-find bottles.
JD Pretorius (Warwick Estate) and David Sadie (David & Nadia), Guild members.
To bid, register a Bidder’s Account with Strauss & Co before Thursday, 1 October — one registration covers both sessions, with online, telephonic, and commission bidding available worldwide. Whether you attend in person or bid remotely, this is your chance to secure some exceptional South African wine history.
Gary Jordan, long time Guild member.
Auction Wines’ Critic Scores:
CE = Christian Eedes, Editor, Winemag.co.za (Tasted and Rated Sighted)
MF = Michael Fridjhon, Trophy Wine Show & Business Day (Tasted and Rated Blind)
GSMW = Greg Sherwood MW, A Fine Wine Safari (Tasted and Rated Sighted)
AA Badenhorst Akkerbos Grenache Blanc 2025, WO Swartland, 12.86% Abv.
94 CE | 87 MF | 94 GSMW
Ataraxia Echo of Earth Pinot Noir 2025, WO Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, 13.27% Abv.
93 CE | 91 MF | 93+ GSMW
Ataraxia Under The Gavel Chardonnay 2025, WO Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, 12.98% Abv.
93 CE | 93 MF | 93 GSMW
Bartho Eksteen Vloekskoot Sauvignon Blanc – Op Hout 2025, WO Cape South Coast, 13.78% Abv.
94 CE | 94 MF | 94+ GSMW
Beaumont Family Wines GG’s Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2025, WO Bot River, 12.33% Abv.
96 CE | 96 MF | 96 GSMW
Beaumont Family Wines Hope Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2025, WO Bot River, 12.07% Abv.
95 CE | 92 MF | 94+ GSMW
Gary Jordan tasting Abrie Beeslaar’s CWG wine.
Beeslaar CWG Pinotage 2024. WO Stellenbosch, 14.25% Abv.
96 CE | 92 MF | 96 GSMW
Boschkloof CWG Auction Epilogue Syrah 2024, WO Stellenbosch, 13.66% Abv.
98 CE | 94 MF | 97+ GSMW
Cederberg Black Slate Shiraz 2024, WO Cederberg, 13.66% Abv.
92 CE | 95 MF | 95 GSMW
David & Nadia Veiling Chenin Blanc 2025, WO Paardeberg, 11.85% Abv.
96 CE | 94 MF | 95 GSMW
David Finlayson Wines Sleepless Nights Grenache Noir 2024, WO Stellenbosch, 13.6% Abv.
91 CE | 89 MF | 92 GSMW
De Grendel Rietfontein Syrah 2023, WO Ceres Plateau, 13.74% Abv.
93 CE | 94 MF | 93+ GSMW
De Grendel West Side Merlot 2024, WO Cape Town, 14.58% Abv.
92 CE | 94 MF | 93 GSMW
De Trafford Cabernet Sauvignon 2024, WO Stellenbosch, 15.04% Abv.
91 CE | 93 MF | 93+ GSMW
De Trafford Chenin Blanc L17 2025, WO Stellenbosch
94 CE | 95 MF | 95 GSMW
Delaire Graff Estate Banghoek Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, WO Banghoek, Stellenbosch, 14.71% Abv.
95 CE | 97 MF | 94 GSMW
Dewaldt Heyns Family Wines Saailand Shiraz 2024, 14.11% Abv.
Van Loggerenberg CWG Auction Chenin Blanc 2025, WO Piekenierskloof, 13.24% Abv.
97 CE | 90 MF | 96+ GSMW
Van Loggerenberg CWG Auction Syrah 2025, WO Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch, 13.61% Abv.
96 CE | 96 MF | 97 GSMW
Warwick Auction Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, WO Simonsberg, Stellenbosch, 14/5% Abv.
94 CE | 93 MF | 95 GSMW
Auction Registration Details:
The auction takes place on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd of October at Strauss & Co, Brickfield Canvas, Cape Town, with online bidding also available. For tickets, bidding registration and more information, see:
Founded in 1638, Kopke is the oldest Port wine house in existence, and its vintage ports carry nearly four centuries of Douro heritage. Declared only in exceptional years, Kopke Vintage Ports come from the finest grapes of the Douro’s Cima Corgo, including Quinta São Luiz. Aged just two years in barrel before bottling, they can continue evolving for decades. Expect a deep, opaque colour, concentrated black fruits, floral notes, and firm but fine tannins that soften into spice, cocoa, and dried fruit nuances with time. Although Kopke is often celebrated for its Tawnies and Colheitas, its vintage Ports offer a beautifully age-worthy expression of the Douro Valley.
The 2024 vintage has been widely declared across the Douro, confirming it as another year of real significance. Conditions through the growing season delivered excellent fruit quality, with both ripeness and freshness retained. The resulting wines show classic structure, depth and definition, with the balance required for long-term ageing. Fully declared vintages remain relatively rare, reinforcing the collectability and long-term appeal of wines from this year. Watch out for my Burmester Vintage Port 2024 review coming soon.
Kopke Vintage Port 2024, 20% Abv.
This young, vibrant Port has all the intensity, concentration and power you expect from a declared Vintage wine. Never built around mere sweetness or fatness, vintage Port requires a steely precision, focus, acid frame and a weightless intensity. The aromatics are layered with earthy blue and black berry fruits that waft over a spirity, heady lift that intermingles with liquorice, black cherry and graphite hints. Fabulously compact, plush and powerful, the palate shows in underlying wound spring tension and a pithy, cassis laden, spicy blue berry persistence. Plenty of pedigree on display here. Drink on release to 2050+.
Jasper Wickens is one of the Swartland’s most exciting young winemakers. He began working with Adi Badenhorst in the Paardeberg in 2009, then left after the 2018 harvest to focus on his own Swerwer range, founded in 2012, from the converted cellar on his Waterval farm next door. The farm’s vineyards are grown on deep decomposed Granite soils, and that terroir most definitely runs through his wines, with Jasper’s Swerwer Chenin Blanc a fine benchmark example. Even more compelling is his Wolwekop Old Vine Semillon coming from a single vineyard planted in 1963, which delivers vintage after vintage, intense, focused, fresh whites that rival the best South Africa produces. The 2021 earned an admirable 97/100 from A Fine Wine Safari.
This is where old-vine viticulture proves its worth. Vines that have spent decades in the meagre Granite soils send their roots deep, yielding modestly and delivering fruit with an intense natural concentration, balance and a depth of flavour that stays vibrantly fresh rather than heavy. These are wines shaped by their vineyards’ terroir, made with a light minimalist hand but also built to age.
JC Wickens Swerver Chenin Blanc 2024, WO Swartland, 13% Abv.
With so many 2025 wines coming on to the market already, this merely serves to differentiate the 2024 vintage Swartland wines all the more, after the region saw a beautifully wet, rain soaked winter to top up the ground water reserves. This Chenin Blanc from Jasper carries all the archetypal 2024 characteristics with a cool, linear, crystalline aromatics layered with white peach, dusty straw bales, yellow apples and delicate Granitic mineral nuances. The palate is incredibly pure, crystalline and precise, the texture steely, bright, and fresh with an underlying purity and clarity. This is Jasper making a very precise wine, elegant, linear and beautifully delicious. Medium bodied but very light on its feet, fresh, energetic and mouth watering, this wine will make a lot of new friends. Real class. Drink now to 2034+.
(Wine Safari Score: 94+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
JC Wickens Wolwekop Old Vine Single Vineyard Semillon 2024, WO Swartland, 12% Abv.
It’s hard not to get seduced by old vine wines but this 2024 Semillon made from vines planted in 1963 is simply another stunner. The aromatics are packed with orange and lemon citrus oil, white peaches, wet straw, and delicately leesy biscuit nuances. The palate shows massive concentration along side soft, supple acids, a delicious biscuity, mealy complexity and notes of lemon pith, finishing with a tangy, mineral laden Granitic finish. More accessible than some vintages, but showing beautiful complexity. Buy this to drink now and over the next 5-8+ years.
(Wine Safari Score: 95+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
The JC Wickens wines are imported exclusively into the UK by Museum Wines.
Cap Classique has emerged as one of the sparkling wine world’s most compelling success stories. Produced using the same traditional method as Champagne – secondary fermentation in the bottle, or “méthode cap classique” – these wines undergo extended lees ageing of minimum 12 months that develops the complex, toasty, brioche-like character prized by connoisseurs worldwide. South Africa’s diverse terroirs, from the cool coastal vineyards of Robertson, Walker Bay and Elgin to the historic slopes of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, provide the ideal conditions for growing the classic varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, that form the backbone of exceptional Cap Classique wines.
What sets this category apart is its remarkable combination of Old World craftsmanship and New World vibrancy and precision. Winemakers here have spent decades researching and refining their techniques, and the results speak for themselves: bright steely acidities, fine persistent mousse, and layered autolytic complexity that rivals wines costing a great deal more.
International recognition has followed accordingly and Cap Classique producers now regularly claim top honours at global sparkling wine competitions, while exports continue to climb as sommeliers and consumers discover the category’s exceptional value proposition. With over 100 producers now crafting these wines and quality standards continuing to rise, the Cap Classique category represents not just a regional specialty, but a genuine contender on the world sparkling wine stage.
Pieter “Bubbles” Ferreira
As a long time lover and aficionado of both top Champagne and Cap Classique sparkling wines having done my Master of Wine dissertation on Cap Classique production in Constantia Valley, I relish every opportunity to taste new releases as the wines seem to simply get better and better. Hot on the heels of Pieter “Bubbles” Ferreira retiring from Graham Beck as head winemaker and cellar master to focus on his own eponymous Cap Classique venture, Pieter and his wife Anne were in London recently firstly for Pieter to receive the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Lifetime Achievement Award and secondly to present, on behalf of the Cap Classique Association, an impressive line up of current release Cap Classique sparkling wines over a stunning breakfast.
Springfield Estate Garuzis Brut NV Cap Classique
Zippy and zesty aromatics, crisp, saline and incredibly elegant with an understated intensity.
(Wine Safari Score: 93/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut 2024 Cap Classique
Rich bold toasty aromatics with honeycomb, brioche and leesy biscuit length. A classic.
(Wine Safari Score: 93+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Babylonstoren Sprankel Brut 2019Cap Classique
Fulsome and creamy in the mouth, expansive mousse, very fine bubbles with a saline, oyster shell finish.
(Wine Safari Score: 92/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
L’Ormarins Brut Classique Rose 2022Cap Classique
Delicate rose petals and cherry blossom perfume with hints of ginger and cranberry, finishing with a nutty, creamy length. Very impressive.
(Wine Safari Score: 92+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Paul Rene Wines Pinot Noir / Chardonnay Brut Rose 2022Cap Classique
Strawberries and cream top notes with pink musk and delicately savoury nuances. Fulsome palate with zesty fresh medley of red fruits. Very classy, accomplished Cap Classique.
(Wine Safari Score: 93+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Domaine des Dieux Rose of Sharon Rose 2016Cap Classique
Orange copper colour, aromatics show tertiary depth, brioche, macerated strawberries, blood orange and a delicately savoury saline finish.
(Wine Safari Score: 92+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Krone Twee Jonge Gezellen Blanc de Blancs 2021 Cap Classique
Chalky, stony, lemon sherbet bon bons notes, the palate taut and nervy, crisp, steely and focused with a salted brioche length.
(Wine Safari Score: 93+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Pieter Ferreira Blanc de Blancs Brut 2020 Cap Classique
Sleek, spicy lemon grass and grapefruit citrus, super fresh after 5 years on lees, tight knit, saline with a steely focus. Such incredible precision.
(Wine Safari Score: 94+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Jacques Bruere Bon Courage Blanc de Blancs Brut 2015 Cap Classique
100% Chardonnay, shows rich, leesy, smoky aromatics, with apple strudel, brioche and sourdough complexity. Tart tangy acids rest comfortably alongside, lemony, leesy tertiary hints.
(Wine Safari Score: 92/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Steenberg Lady R 2019 Cap Classique
Delicate, subtle aromatics of lemon peel, limestone and dried herbs follow to a leesy, biscuity palate with salted pistachios and kelpy, saline apple strudel nuances.
(Wine Safari Score: 93+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Graham Beck Cuvee Clive 2019 Cap Classique
Deep complex aromatics show salted brioche, leesy biscuit and delicate kelpy oyster shell nuances. Pinpoint and precise, incredibly focused and fine, a dreamy creamy mousse with such elegance, tension and finesse.
A steely, saline, oyster shell aromatics with briney, kelpy nuances. Palate is plush and broad, creamy and intense with salted brioche, apple strudel pastries and a long, leesy nutty finish.
(Wine Safari Score: 94/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Krone Twee Jonge Gezellen Borealis Vintage Cuvee Brut 2024 Cap Classique
Lemon and herbs, spicy brioche and lemon peel notes, salted pistachios with a picante fine mousse and a persistent salinity.
(Wine Safari Score: 92+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Neetlingshof Brut NV Cap Classique
Bready, biscuity doughy aromatics, with hints of wild strawberry and peach skins before a creamy, zesty explosive saline finish.
(Wine Safari Score: 93/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Domaine Des Dieux Claudia Brut 2021Cap Classique
Delicately earthy and savoury with macerated red berries, brioche and stewed strawberries. Complex autolytic notes with a crisp, energetic mousse, finishing with a tangy vibrant finish.
(Wine Safari Score: 92+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Krone Twee Jonge Gezellen Rose Cuvee Brut 2024Cap Classique
Dense and complex, this shows real depth and precision, macerated strawberry, savoury hints, ginger and potpourri spice. Tangy, intense and impressive.
(Wine Safari Score: 93+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Villiera Tradition Brut Rose NVCap Classique
Complex nose of wet tobacco leaf, cranberry and rose petal hints with limestone mineral nuances. Full in the mouth, plush and creamy with an enticing candied red cherry fruit length.
(Wine Safari Score: 92/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Graham Beck Pinot Noir Rose 2019Cap Classique
Macerated strawberries and red berry fruits, with hints of musk and limestone. Cool, linear and precise, an explosive mousse and real energy and precision.
(Wine Safari Score: 93/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Steenberg 1682 Chardonnay Brut Cap Classique
Lemon and lime peel zest, pure fresh and taut, the mousse delicately sappy and smoky with a savoury, creamy finish.
(Wine Safari Score: 91/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Paul Rene Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut NVCap Classique
Complex oyster shell notes with limestone, kelpy nuances, lemon and lime characters coming through on the savoury finish.
(Wine Safari Score: 91+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
L’Ormarins Blanc de Blancs Vintage 2022Cap Classique
Wonderfully fresh and zesty, sleek and precise with lime peel, waxy lemons, chalky minerality and a compact, energetic mousse. Youthful but impressive pedigree.
(Wine Safari Score: 93+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Many thanks to Clare Malec at Island Media and the Cap Classique Association for organising this excellent event. For more information, contact:
Stellenbosch’s 2022 Chenin Blanc vintage stands out as one of the region’s most balanced in recent memory. A cooler, more temperate growing season allowed grapes to ripen slowly and evenly, preserving the natural acidity that gives Chenin Blanc its signature steely freshness. Winemakers reported healthy yields and excellent fruit concentration, with old bush vines, many decades old, producing wines of remarkable depth and texture. The result is a vintage marked by vibrant citrus and stone fruit notes, layered with honied complexity and a distinct minerality drawn from Stellenbosch’s Granite and Sandstone soils. Overall, 2022 has been praised as a near benchmark year, showcasing why Chenin Blanc remains South Africa’s flagship white cultivar.
Having been a little bit quiet lately, I manage to catch up with Ian Naude in Cape Town in August 2026 (well, on the beach in Melkbosstrand actually) to discuss his new impending releases. Ian Naude is obviously renowned for holding back vintages and releasing both his reds and whites with considerable time in bottle.
Tasting with Ian Naude in Melkbosstrand near Cape Town.
But of course, Ian’s steely, early picked, low pH style of winemaking demands this extra bit of bottle ageing to allow the wines to settle, fully integrate and lose an element of their youthful nervousness while still allowing the wines to age gracefully for a further decade of more from final release. The 2016 Chenin Blanc from Ian is only just coming into its prime and currently drinking exceptionally well on its 10th birthday. Finally, don’t miss my upcoming review of his long awaited Old Vine Werfdans 2018 Cinsault published soon.
Naude Wines Chenin Blanc 2022, WO Stellenbosch, 12% Abv.
The Naude Wines 2021 Chenin Blanc was an incredibly taut, steely, focused white wine from a cool 5 star vintage and the 2022 seems to pick up squarely where the phenomenal 2021 left off. A pale straw colour in the glass, the aromatics speak with an incredible clarity and purity, showing a subtle, intricate array of white peach, green apples and pear drop fruits with an overlay of dried hay and dusty Granitic minerality. The palate is every bit as steely, crystalline and intense with classical hints of yellow stone fruits, honeycomb and crunchy green pear fruits with a kiss of wet river pebble stony minerality on the drying saline finish. Laser focused, texturally quite angular still with an impressive palate balance and symmetry. This is a grown up Chenin Blanc for connoisseurs. Drink from 2027 to 2038+.
Le Riche Wines, based in Stellenbosch, is undoubtedly one of the country’s most respected Cabernet Sauvignon specialists – a producer whose entire identity has been built around a single premium grape variety. The estate was established in 1996 by Etienne Le Riche, an “estate-winemaker-turned-garagiste” who spent two decades making wine at the historic Rustenberg Estate before striking out on his own. His son Christo, who began helping with punch downs at the winery’s open-top concrete fermenters as a young teenager, is now head winemaker, continuing a deep family knowledge of Stellenbosch’s varied Cabernet terroirs sourced from over a dozen growers.
At the heart of the Le Riche range sits the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, the coveted flagship of the portfolio, blended exclusively from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes drawn from the estate’s best-performing vineyard blocks around Stellenbosch. Reserve status is only awarded when the grapes and finished wine reach an exceptional standard, making it a limited quantity, allocation-only release. The wine undergoes extended maceration to boost age-worthiness, followed by up to two years in a generous proportion of new oak with further bottle ageing before release. The results speak for themselves… earlier vintages have earned accolades such as John Platter’s Red Wine of the Year, while the 2020 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded Best in Show at the Decanter World Wine Awards, cementing Le Riche’s reputation among South Africa’s Cabernet elite.
Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2023, WO Stellenbosch, 14.38% Abv.
1.3g/l RS | 5.6g/l TA | 3.72pH
This is another excellent 2023 Stellenbosch red that is proof that the vintage did indeed produce several exceptional wines. As usual, the Reserve is comprised of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon fruit from 13 different vineyard components located in several Stellenbosch wards (Helderberg Coastal, Helderberg North, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Jonkershoek Valley) that were aged for 24 months in French oak barrels, 75% new. The aromatics are beautifully ripe and lifted showing layers of sweet violets, earthy black currant, tilled earth, cigar wrapper and subtle baking spices alongside sappy cedar oak notes with a dusting of graphite. Impressively elegant and silky on the palate revealing medium bodied layers of crème de cassis, blueberry and picante black cherry fruits that melt away into a supple, creamy mouthfeel with soft plush tannins and a well-integrated mellow acidity, finishing with a seductive chocolate orange nuance. An accomplished wine that is already generously accessible now but offers a decade or more of beneficial cellaring potential.
(Wine Safari Score: 95/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
The Le Riche wines are imported into the UK by Boutinot Wines. The Cabernet Reserve 2023 was offered retail in South Africa at circa R1,050 per bottle.
Brookdale Estate is undoubtedly a winery that rewards the curious. Founded by UK-born proprietor Tim Rudd, who saw immense potential in what was once overgrown, underutilised land in the Klein Drakenstein Valley, the estate was built with a clear vision: to craft world-class blends from varietals rarely seen in South African vineyards. Set beneath the Granite peaks of Paarl, this is terroir explored in unconventional ways — a growing range of maverick wines each harvest.
Since its first vintage in 2017, the estate has built a reputation for character-driven, elegant wines, guided today by rising winemaker star Xander Sadie alongside Shanice du Preez, following a period of early consultation from Duncan Savage, one of South Africa’s most respected cellar minds.
Tasting in Cape Town last year with winemaker Xander Sadie.
Across the Brookdale and second label Mason Road ranges, you can expect Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir, and Syrah worked with old-world restraint and new-world daring, boasting honeyed stone fruits, saline Granitic minerality, and long, textured finishes rather than obvious fruit-forward simplicity. This is a wine estate for connoisseurs drawn to provenance and experimentation in equal measure: minimal intervention, thoughtful farming, and a genuine sense of place and terroir. Brookdale Estate doesn’t chase trends so much as quietly redefine what Paarl can do, one unusual and deliberate bottling at a time.
Brookdale Estate Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2024, WO Paarl, 13% Abv.
This is the wine that started the whole Brookdale story almost 10 years ago with the release of the 2017 Chenin Blanc. Today, this Old Vine Certified Heritage vineyard planted in 1985 is widely recognized for its premium quality and unique Paarl terroir. With the 2024 release, you have yet another classically imposing Chenin Blanc expression showing evocative aromatics of white peach, ripe quince, honey and pineapple pastille before intricate terroir notes of fynbos, wet straw bales and herbal spice nuances. The palate is explosive and intense, deliciously glycerol and concentrated with textural layers of peachy flesh, honeycomb and subtle hints of salted caramel that melt away into apple puree notes. The acids are exceptionally well integrated, delectably tangy, supporting the palate breadth and depth admirably. This is a substantial 2024 offering that perhaps has more in common stylistically with the more concentrated expressions of the 2025 vintage than the more ethereal, crystalline styles that typify 2024. Undoubtedly a triumph for Brookdale and a triumph for Old Vine Chenin Blanc pedigree. Drink now to 2036+.
(Wine Safari Score: 96/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Brookdale Bradbourne Estate White Blend 2025, WO Paarl, 13.5% Abv.
In 2025, the Estate White blend features 59% Grenache Blanc, 23% Roussanne, 12% Marsanne, 4% Palomino and 2% Vermentino aged for 10 months in large-format oak barrels. This Mediterranean meets Rhone blend shows plenty of stone fruit characters with aromatics of lemon grass, crystalised stem ginger and sweet herbs over a lemon citrus and lemon biscuit complexity. As expected from 2025, the palate is majestically focused and intense, richly textured and characterful, packing plenty of tightly wound pithy fruit concentration, bright tangy acids and a long, savoury, leesy, delicately stony mineral finish with a notable phenolic grip. Drink now to 2034+.
(Wine Safari Score: 95/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Brookdale Estate Grenache Blanc 2025, WO Paarl, 13% Abv.
This is my first encounter with the Grenache Blanc from Brookdale after walking the young newly planted vineyards multiple times over the years. Listed under Brookdale’s “Rare & Unusual” range, Grenache Blanc is slowly building up quite a quality performance record in the Cape winelands and this delightful 2025 continues this trend. The aromatics are incredibly pure and precise with focused aromas of pithy lemon and lime citrus, lemon grass, dried baking spices and subtle Granitic mineral stony nuances. The palate shows an equally pure crystalline character with delicate candied ginger notes emerging alongside crystalised lemon slices, Schweppes bitter lemon and yellow candied bon bon confectionary notes. Delicately spicy, deliciously tangy and beautifully refreshing. What a cracker! Drink now to 2034+.
(Wine Safari Score: 95+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Brookdale Estate Sixteen White Field Blend 2025, WO Paarl, 14% Abv.
Always one of the most intriguing wines in the Brookdale range, this 2025 is an absolute superstar made up of sixteen different bush vine cultivars interplanted in a single vineyard. The aromatics are bold and bright, brimming with pithy yellow citrus, white peach, honeysuckle floral perfume, before green pear, dried herbs and a strong, stony mineral vein. The palate is fleshy and textural while retaining a certain crispness, refreshed by tangy bright acids alongside a big fruit concentration of peaches, quince and delicate stone fruits. Very expressive and confident, this could be the finest Sixteen produced to date. Drink now to 2036+.
(Wine Safari Score: 96/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Brookdale Estate Grenache Noir 2025, WO Paarl, 14.5% Abv.
Also a first tasting for me of the Brookdale Grenache Noir, which in 2025 was 20% whole-bunch fermented before being matured for eight months in 2,500 litre foudre. On the nose, plenty of exotic notes emerge with hints of potpourri, rose petals and Asian five spice over a medley of red and black berry fruits which retain a certain bloody, irony spiciness and a seductively wild hedgerow bramble berry earthiness. In the mouth, there is plenty of succulent red berry fruit with a comfortingly fleshy, generous texture, fine creamy tannins and long, warming glycerol finish with yet more exotic spices. A ripe, bold style of Grenache that manages to retain a sense of grace and elegance. Drink now to 2034+.
(Wine Safari Score: 93/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
Brookdale Estate Twenty Red Field Blend 2025, WO Paarl, 14.5% Abv.
Following in the footsteps of the Sixteen White Field Blend, the Twenty does exactly what it says on the tin, being a field blend of twenty red cultivars interplanted as bush vines in a single vineyard. Matured for around a year in concrete eggs and 500-litre barrels, the aromatics are explosive with high toned perfumed violets and cherry blossoms bursting from the glass, complemented by black cherries, blueberries and earthy black currant fruits. On the palate, there is a cool, refined elegance, the texture satin soft and creamy, before layers of succulent blue and black berry fruits emerge, cushioned by soft integrated acids, a warming alcohol and silky tannins. A truly fascinating, seductive offering that harks back to the classical field blend reds of yesteryear produced in Spain and Portugal. Drink now to 2034+.
(Wine Safari Score: 94/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
The Brookdale Estate and Mason Road wines are imported into the UK exclusively by Hallgarten Wines.
The Welbedacht Wine Estate is a historic property in Wellington, in the heart of South Africa’s Cape winelands. Though the farm’s roots trace back to the 1830s, its modern chapter began in 1997 when former Springbok lock Schalk Burger Sr. acquired the estate, later building a 1,000-ton cellar completed in time for the 2005 harvest. Today, Welbedacht is recognised as one of the Wellington region’s leading producers, blending old vine vineyards, some over 40 years old, with new plantings guided by generations of winemaking experience.
At the heart of the estate’s portfolio stands its flagship wine: Die Afrikaanse Patriot Kaapse Versnit, a Cape Blend crafted as a tribute to the Afrikaans-speaking community and its contribution to South Africa’s cultural landscape. The wine draws its name and meaning from the historic Groenberg school on the Welbedacht farm, a site closely tied to the early movement for the recognition of Afrikaans as an official language. Carefully composed from classic varieties in the tradition of award-winning Cape reds, the blend reflects the depth, complexity, and character of the Boland’s vineyards.
More than just a wine, Die Afrikaanse Patriot 2024 Cape Blend is a bottled piece of heritage, connecting Welbedacht’s terroir to the deeper story of language, identity, and culture in the Cape.
Welbedacht Estate Die Afrikaanse Patriot 2024 Cape Blend, WO Groenberg, 14% Abv.
A blend of Pinotage, Mourvedre, Syrah and Petit Verdot creates a plush luxurious expression with opulent hedonistic aromatics of hoisin plum sauce, mulberries and macerated earthy black currants with a dusting of vanilla pod spice. In the mouth, the palate is broad and lush, medium to full bodied with a seamlessly elegant texture, compact creamy tannins and a pronounced undertone of cassis leaf and boiled black currant rock candy. Impressively elegant with a harmonious mouth coating intensity, this red is undoubtedly one of the jewels in the Welbedacht crown. Drink now and over the next decade.
(Wine Safari Score: 94+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
The Welbedacht wines are available in the UK from importer The Sporting Wine Club.
