Constantia Glen FIVE 2022
TASTING NOTE
This wine has a vibrant and youthful dark ruby colour. On the nose, pronounced aromas of Morello cherries, ripe blackcurrant, and plums are elevated by a delicate fragrance of violets and dried herbs. Underlying savoury notes of tobacco pouch, cedar, and graphite add complexity and intrigue.
On the palate, the wine is rich and concentrated, with bold dark fruit flavours that are beautifully balanced by this blend’s inherent freshness. The fine-grained tannins provide a mouth-coating texture and wonderful persistence that creates a lingering finish. This wine is beautifully structured, showcasing a harmonious blend of dark fruit, elegance, and finesse. The wine comes across as tightly wound in its youth, but with all the potential for incredible ageing potential.
TECHNICAL DATA
A carefully crafted blend of 28% Cabernet Franc, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 14% Petit Verdot and 9% Malbec, matured for 19 months in 80% new and 20% secondfill 225 litre French oak
barrels. Following barrel maturation, the wine received a very light filtration before making its way into bottle on 12 December 2023. With no fining agents used during the production of this wine, a harmless sediment may occur during maturation in the bottle. This is a classic and bold vintage of the Constantia Glen FIVE, which will continue to age and develop admirably in bottle for up to 10 to 15 years from harvest, under correct cellaring conditions.
Cavalli Warlord 2021
A Bordeaux blend consisting of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec and 16% Petit Verdot. Notes of fresh plum, black-forest cake and cedar spice. The wine shows a delicate mid-palate with soft, rounded tannins that complement a well-balanced acidity.
Exuding luxury and elegance, named to embody the very essence of power and prestige, this Bordeaux-style blend consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Malbec, was one of the first wines ever produced at Cavalli Estate.
Cape Point Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2023
A refreshing coastal style, with aromas of white grapefruit and floral fynbos, through to a palate dancing with elegant layers of fruit, steely minerality and a long, vibrant finish
The grapes were fermented with selected yeasts, 97% in stainless steel tanks, while 3% was barrel-fermented imparting delicate complexity. The wine spent eight months on its fine lees in tank, prior to release.
2023 Sauvignon Blanc Noordhoek comes from estate fruit matured in stainless steel, aged on the lees for ten months. There’s green apples, citrus peel and kiwi fruit on the nose, and just a little pyrazines here. The palate certainly has more vigor and tension than the regular Sauvignon Blanc. It’s taut and crisp, very malic, with quite a penetrating finish that cries out for some oysters. Very fine. Neal Martin, Vinous
Vilafonte Series C 2022
The Blend
22 months in 73% new French oak barrique, with the balance in older French oak.
Series C 2022 consists of Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Merlot (24%), Cabernet Franc (10%) and Malbec (10%).
64 barrels were produced.
A compelling expression of Series C with a quiet reflection of the time and place.
It presents a deep, dark-red core to garnet edge. The aromatics are captivating, leading with an exotic blend of jasmine and oud perfume, interwoven with layers of blue and black fruits — Damson plum, blackberry, and cassis. A subtle hint of dried citrus peel and smoky char adds complexity. On the palate, this wine is broad and dense, yet exhibits an understated elegance. It moves gracefully, with a svelte texture that coats the mouth. The dense, sweet fruit is complemented by a fine, dark chocolate
finish, leading to a long, generous aftertaste. While the 2022 Series C is remarkably complete in its youth, this blend will reward those who exercise patience as it continues to evolve and develop complexity. Enjoy now or cellar for two decades or more.
Vilafonté Series M 2022
Series M 2022
Immersive & Engaging
Expect this vintage of Series M to provide increasing finesse and pleasure over time. It’s colour is deep, garnet-red colour with a dense centre. The entry is pure-fruited and focused, showcasing a vibrant medley of pomegranate, cranberry, raspberry, and blueberry compote. These are layered with sweet notes of crème brûlée and vanilla pod, complemented by intriguing hints of tarragon, cardamom, and a touch of savoury character. On the palate, the wine is broad and luscious from the first sip, with plush, crushed velvet tannins. The palate continues seamlessly from the nose, with abundant red fruits leading to a long, delicious finish.
While the 2022 Series M is remarkably complete in its youth, this blend will reward those who exercise patience as it continues to evolve and develop complexity. Enjoy now or cellar for two decades or more.
The Blend
22 months in 30% new French oak barrique, with the balance in older French oak.
Series M 2022 consists of Merlot (40%), Malbec (39%), Cabernet Sauvignon (16%) and Cabernet Franc (5%).
80 barrels were produced.
VERGELEGEN V 2017
VERGELEGEN V 2017 is from a small selection of the best barrels from Vergelegen's Stone Pine IV Vineyard. It should be no surprise that this blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot is once again 'extraordinarily good' (CE) considering 2017 is what Tim Atkin MW calls 'one of the best ever South African vintages'.
Scoring 96 points from WineMag's Christian Eedes, 95 points from Atkin and 94+ points from the Wine Advocate's Anthony Mueller, this is a 'fresher and more nuanced' (TA) V than the 2018 vintage that will follow. The nose is initially a bit reductive but opens up to reveals classic 'ripe, succulent aromas' (WA) of red and black berries, tea leaf, violets and cedarwood. The most significant feature of the 'tight and complex' (WA) is its 'reined-in power' (CE). Its combination of 'lovely fruit purity, fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins' (CE) make this a 'steadfast and pleasurable' (WA) Bordeaux blend that is sure to delight for many decades to come.
Buitenverwachting Christine 2018
Meerlust Pinot Noir 2023
The Meerlust Pinot Noir 2023 from Stellenbosch shows a vibrant garnet colour with a youthful appearance. On the nose the wine shows pronounced lifted floral perfume with a brooding and seductive red berry fruit, earthy, wild mushrooms, and hints of spice. On the palate there are very pure Pinot fruit flavours on entry with red cherry and musk flavours coupled with fresh acidity. The wine has layered complexity with great elegance and finesse. Fine lacy, almost powdery tannin on the finish.
Vilafonte Seriously Old Dirt 2022
Vilafonté Seriously Old Dirt 2022 is a vibrant, medium-bodied South African red with an enticing mix of black and red fruits, floral lift and warm spice. It’s plush on the palate with silky tannins, fresh acidity and a savory finish, making it both enjoyable now and capable of developing further in bottle.
Critics’ scores
James Suckling: 93–94 / 100
Rich, polished and fruit-driven with a creamy texture and good depth.
Wine Advocate (Robert Parker): ~93 / 100
Structured, concentrated, and well balanced with dark fruit and savoury complexity.
Wine Spectator: 91–92 / 100
Solid, well-made Bordeaux-style blend with good freshness and length.
Tim Atkin MW: ~91 / 100
Well judged, harmonious, and true to the Vilafonté style.
Vinous (Neal Martin): 89 / 100
More restrained and herbal in style, medium-bodied with good balance but less power than top peers.
Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
95% Cabernet Sauvignon
4% Cabernet Franc
1% Petit Verdot
Tasting Notes
Colour and condition:
Deep brick red hue; bright condition.
Nose:
An intense array of primary fruit notes, including blueberries, raspberries, red currant, mulberry, plum and musk, as well as a touch of nutmeg, cinnamon and clove spices. Cabernet Sauvignon’s classic floral note of violets adds volume. The complexities in the background include cedar, tobacco and tar, the “cigar box” combination, plus some light toasty oak.
Palate:
The theme of the red and dark fruits continues, with black currant, cherry, blueberry, mulberry and dark jube flavours filling the mouth. They sit over a medium to full body, with bright acidity and soft, well integrated, svelte, almost chocolate-like, tannin. The wine is long and finishes with cedar and toasty oak, with perhaps a touch of star anise.
Moss Wood Amy’s 2023
Moss Wood Amy’s is With lifted dark fruit aromas of mulberries and blackcurrants, backed by some spicy, white pepper notes from the Malbec and musk-like perfumes from the Petit Verdot and with complex cedar and tarry notes in the background. The palate is dominated by dark fruit notes, with juicy blackberry and red currant flavours backed by firm but ripe tannins and juicy acidity.
63% Cabernet Sauvignon
23% Merlot
7% Malbec
7% Petit Verdot
Mullineux Old Vines White 2024
Mullineux Old Vines White 2024
This Swartland Chenin blend has upfront aromas of fresh stone fruit and lightly poached pears which follow through to a complex palate which has layers of yellow grapefruit and nectarines, a vibrant acidity with hints of ginger and citrus-like galangal on the finish.
11 months in 3rd to 5th fill French oak 500L barrels and two new 2000L Foudre
