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Angus Paul is a young, exciting new talent on the Cape wine scene producing some very accomplished wines in his own right, none more so than his Old Vine Chenin Blanc expressions. While I was in the Cape recently, I caught up with Angus, not to show me his wines, but to taste an exciting new Syrah wine made in a small new project … “formed from an unlikely partnership and friendship between a steel construction worker and a financial planner, both of whom have a passion for talking about wine and drinking fine wine” – that has now led to the Staanspoor collaboration.

Staanspoor, meaning departure point in Afrikaans.

Staanspoor, means the departure point in Afrikaans, and this wine’s departure is a shared passion between wine-loving friends. Produced by Angus Paul from fruit sourced from the famous Karibib vineyard in the Polkadraai Hills, on the False Bay facing Granitic slopes just above the Reyneke winery, which is home to fruit also sourced by producers such as Duncan Savage and Mick and Jeanine Craven. Angus brought me the maiden 2022 and also the new 2023 to taste and assess.

Staanspoor Syrah 2023, WO Polkadraai Hills, Karibib, Stellenbosch, 14% Abv.

An incredibly attractive aromatics packed full of sweet black and blue berry fruits with hints of black olive tapenade, black peppercorns, salty black currant, incense, and warming Christmas spices. The palate is rich but vibrant, tightly packed with saline black berry fruits, oyster shell and hints of nori seaweed nuances. The frame is chiselled and taut, sleek and notably mineral with a fine vein of granitic spice and maritime salinity on the finish. A very classy, old world Northern Rhone lookalike that’s absolutely delicious. Drink now to 2035+.

(Wine Safari Score: 95/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Staanspoor Syrah 2022, WO Polkadraai Hills, Karibib, Stellenbosch, 14% Abv.

This maiden release is made in a ripe, opulent style with aromatics of black liquorice, chargrilled meats, sweet black peppercorns, spicy black currants and dusty Granitic mineral spice. The texture is impressively pithy and tight grained, even picante, with a Granitic wet stone minerality, fynbos and garrigue herbal spice on the slightly wild brambly finish. Drink now to 2032+.

(Wine Safari Score: 93+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

During lockdown, I was kindly delivered this interesting wine by hand and popped it in the fridge. But as the Covid pandemic took grip, I forgot to crack this bottle until more recently.

Made from a north-east facing trellised vineyard at 300 metres altitude planted in Bokkeveld shale with a high clay content in the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, this wine piqued my interest immediately as I’d already tasted Berene Saul’s delicious 2019 Ridge Chardonnay that had reminded me so much of a steely Chablis 1er Cru expression.

*Draaiboek Wines, a new premium brand to watch out for.*

The Onskuld Chardonnay was whole bunch pressed with only the free run juice portion used. After settling, the must was allowed to naturally ferment in 300 litre and 225 litre French oak barrels, 30% of which were new. The wine was matured on its fine lees for 10 months prior to bottling unfiltered.

Draaiboek Wines Onskuld Chardonnay 2019, WO Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, 13.5% Abv.

This is classic Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge cool climate Chardonnay fruit that bristles with a crystalline steeliness more reminiscent of classy cool climate Chablis. The aromatics are lean and stony, flushed with sinuous tones of white citrus, lime peel pith, dried herbs and delicate nutty, leesy, biscuit notes. The palate is linear and taut with a glassy pure acidity, wet river pebble liquid minerality and a spicy, zesty, slightly phenolic finish of green melons, crunchy Granny Smith apples and greengage plums. A fabulous old world leaning expression of Chardonnay that is sure to find an instant following. Drink now or cellar for 3 to 8 years. (1,300 bottles produced.)

(Wine Safari Score: 92/100 Greg Sherwood MW)