Provenance

Private Client

Critics Ratings

2010:
'Very aromatic even when just poured. Round and sweet but not heavy and with a strong mineral element to it. Bone dry. Intense Syrah character and very long.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20 (Sep 2023)

'Shows weight and cut, displaying a core of crushed plum, blackberry coulis and raspberry fruit flavors wrapped in singed bay leaf, mesquite and iron notes. Long, fleshy and mouthwatering, with persistent ferrous and woodsy accents. A serious new wine. Syrah. Drink now through 2018.' - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 93/100 (Jun 2013)

2011:
'Wow. This delivers a riveting display of singed anise, black tea, mulled blood orange and incense aromas, backed by a racy-edged core of dark cherry, raspberry and blackberry purée notes. Then everything pulls together on the graphite-edged finish and just smolders there for a while. On point right now, but no rush. Syrah.' - Wine Spectator, 94/100

'The oddball in this array of beauties. They were still learning how to cope with drought. Very deep blackish garnet. Meaty, concentrated nose. Powerful liquorice essence. Still a bit of tannin on the end. I suspect the tannin will outlast the fruit. But there is admirable fruit here too so I could be proved wrong.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 16.5/20 (Sep 2023)

2012:
'Quite a subdued, dusty mineral nose with broody pithy black fruits, stony hints, dried fennel and sweet lavender. More elegant and loose knit on the palate, the tannins are supple, polished and elegant, even sweet. Still full of potent youthful black mineral laced fruits with notable elegance and finesse. A real beauty that’s ready to go now but certainly not showing its age.' - Greg Sherwood MW, 96+/100 (2023)

‘2012 is superb! Many years ahead of it, but already shows complexity in perfumed aromas and super-subtle but intense palate, with a truly rare refinement. Also rare is lack of oak influence - in concrete ‘egg’ for a year. Tiny yield, bunch-pressed. Bone-dry; 13.5% alcohol; big tannins also a touch dry - give them time.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2015, 5*

'You’d expect a wine produced on this extreme, windblown site in the Swartland to be wild and unruly. But this is surprisingly elegant and subtle. Fermented entirely in concrete, it’s floral and scented, with silky tannins, some pepper and a core of strawberry succulence on top of mineral, stony acidity. This will be released before the more backward 2011, but it’s still a wine that will age well. A Cape classic in the making. Drink: 2012-22' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2014, 96/100

2013:
'60% foudre /40% concrete. Consistently an opaque red black colour. Lifted and perfumed with dried lavender, violets, fynbos and pithy black cherry notes. Another supple, vibrantly fresh, pinpoint palate with elegance and harmony but also intensity, purity and seamlessly tight knit powdery tannins and an exotic salty cassis reduction hint on the finish. A really spellbinding vintage. Love it!' - Greg Sherwood MW, 97/100 (2023)

‘It’s remarkable to think that this is only the fourth release from this extreme, windblown site in the Swartland. Aged in foudres and concrete eggs, it’s all about the intensity and focus of the fruit: dense, powerful and compact with thick tannins and the power to age. One of the Cape’s very best Syrah vineyards. Drink 2016-23.’ – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2015, 96/100

'The fourth vintage from this picturesque site on steep slopes. Aged in foudres and concrete eggs, it’s all about the intensity and focus of the fruit focused, dense and compact with thick tannins and the power and structure to age. A Cape classic in the making.' - Tim Atkin MW, Decanter, 96/100

‘The 2013 Porseleinberg uses whole bunch fruit and is matured 60% in foudre and 40% in concrete eggs. Winemaker Callie Louw has fashioned a wine that has a very composed, quite intense and voluminous bouquet - black cherries and iris, with less of the violets and more a brooding marine influence that with aeration takes control of the aromatics. The delineation here is very impressive. The palate is grippy on the entry, the terroir permeating this Syrah from start to finish. With a Cornas-like brutishness counterpoised with stunning delineation and focus, this is a serious Syrah for the Syrah Swartland afficionado. It has the presence to last 15-20 years and represents one of the region's best contributions to the vintage. Good luck finding a bottle! Drink 2020 - 2040.’ – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 95/100 (Nov 2015)

2014:
'Vintage coming off a very wet winter with massive rainfall. A big yielding vintage as well with 8 t/ha compared to circa 5 t/ha normally. Quite an earthy, plummy savoury nose with cured meats, dried lavender, potpourri, and a smoky, railway yard complexity. The palate shows delicious freshness, vibrant acids and a savoury melange of salty cassis, oyster shell and light soy hints, finishing with mouth coating chalky tannins without being obtrusive. A slightly unique expression but beautiful nonetheless.' - Greg Sherwood MW, 95+/100 (2023)

‘Singular Shiraz from a special Swartland site. Whole-bunch natural ferment, 14 like 13 aged a year in large older oak – 12 was unoaked. Riveting perfume (smoke, spice, flowers) leads to supple, intense palate, its fine muscularity matched by depth of fruit.’ – Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2017, 5*

‘Porseleinberg's 2014 Syrah has a very pure bouquet of blackberry, briary, hints of crushed violet and iris all with wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin. Compared to other vintages that I have tasted, this 2014 feels quite structured and perhaps a little more masculine than previous vintages, the schistous terroir expressive towards the mineral-driven finish. It constitutes one of the most intellectual wines from Porseleinberg that I have tasted, maybe less opulent than previous vintages, yet with great complexity and breeding.’ – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 96/100 (Apr 2017)

‘Porseleinberg is one of the greatest Syrah sites in the southern hemisphere. The vines are still young, but this brutal vineyard produces wines of incredible intensity and focus. Entirely whole bunch fermented and aged in foudres, this is slightly more forward than some recent releases, but still needs time. Fynbos, dark berry fruit, blood and stony minerality combine on the palate. Drink: 2018-26’ – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2016, 96/100

2015:
'“A stand-alone vintage” as Callie says. This shows a balance between power and finesse a la Northern Rhone with potpourri, dried perfumed lavender, red cherry spice, black berry and subtle smoky reductive cassis hints. In the mouth this is classically taut and precise framed by delicious ‘architecturally soaring’ acids, and incredibly dense fine grained chalky mineral tannins that show a harmoniously balanced power and intensity. A simply profound expression of Syrah.' - Greg Sherwood MW, 97+/100 (2023)

‘The 2015 Porseleinberg Syrah contains whole-bunch fruit matured in 90% foudres and 10% concrete eggs. It has a very well defined bouquet of brambly black fruit and white pepper, and an engaging sense of coolness pervades these aromatics. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin and almost Northern Rhône in style, offering ample freshness yet at the same time a brooding intensity. There is quality and refinement here from start to finish. A superb Syrah from winemaker Callie Louw, but one I feel needs two or three years in bottle. Want serious, world class South African wine? Get in line here.’ - Neal Martin, Vinous, 96/100 (Aug 2018)

'Sophisticated, like its minimalist embossed label. Cerebral Syrah from a special Swartland site, hands-off, whole-bunch natural vinification. Riveting perfume, supple palate, fine muscularity. One year in large older oak, 10% in concrete 'egg'' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2018, 4.5*

'Perhaps ailing a little bit from sulphurous reduction, but there’s plenty of dense fruit on the nose too. The palate is gorgeously ripe and pure with smoke, red fruit and pepper spice. Finely ground tannins, naturally bright acidic lift. Perhaps not the all-singing, all-dancing version I was expecting, but still effortlessly attractive.' - Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20 (Sep 2018)

'Sometimes you have to remind yourself how recently this amazing site was planted, making its first wine in 2010. But what a wine this is. If it grown in the Rhône, it would sell for twice the price or more. It’s the Cornas of the Cape: compact, savoury and deeply coloured, with layers of dark, inky fruit, spicy tannins and a combination of freshness and understated power. Drink 2020-32' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Wine Report 2017, 97/100

2016:
'No spring, just straight from a very dry winter into a dry summer with very dry conditions with rivers drying up in January. 1-2 t/ha yields. Nose shows a youthful sweetness of red berries, red plum sweet garrigue and dried violet flowers. The palate delivers massive weight and concentration of sweet black cherry and cassis fruit with layers of liquorice, tar, blackberry compote and subtle salty toffee and vanilla spice on the finish. An exotic, opulent but pretty vintage drinking very well now.' - Greg Sherwood MW, 96/100 (2023)

'If ever a South African wine tasted of specific place it is Porseleinberg, the Cape’s answer to Cornas in terms of its dense, compact structure, but with a personality that is all its own: wild, savoury and unruly with tannins that can be demanding in their youth. Fermented with 100% whole bunches and aged in a combination of concrete eggs and foudres, it’s ripe, but not overly so, with notes of garrigue and tangerine and a stony, compact finish. 2022-35' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2018, 96/100

2017:
'Shows again a big ripeness but with perhaps more restraint than the 2016. But of course another very dry season that was cooler with some later rains allowing 3 t/ha cropping. A very savoury Rhoney nose with aromatics of sweet herbs, garrigue, wood spice with weightless elegance, subtle restraint and incredible finesse. Texturally pinpoint but a bit of a sleeper still.' - Greg Sherwood MW, 96/100 (2023)

‘This Swartland property is owned by Boekenhoutskloof but run independently by gifted winemaker Callie Louw. Alive and dynamic, this soars out of the glass, a touch of firework smoke to the vibrant berry fruits. Incredible energy and elegance on the palate, great freshness and focus, tiny tensile tannins and zesty acidity. Very long, this crackles on and on. The handsome labels are produced at the estate on a vintage Heidelberg press – but don’t assume there is any style over substance here: the 2017 Porseleinberg is a truly great Syrah.’ – Matt Walls, Decanter.com, 98/100 (Sep 2022)

‘Has any brand in South Africa achieved quite so much as Porseleinberg in less than a decade? This is the best vintage yet from this steep, brutal, extreme schist-rich site and that's saying a good deal. Big, bold and intense, with incredible, almost feral intensity, incense, tar and black pepper aromas and layers of inky dark fruit. A stunning wine from a stunning site, made by a gem of a winemaker. 2022-35’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2019, 98/100

‘The 2017 Porseleinberg has a compelling bouquet of blackberry, fynbos, Provancal herbs and veins of blue fruit, all showing stunning delineation and composure. The palate is medium bodied with fine-grained tannins and pure blackberry ans raspberry fruit laced with thyme, sage and white pepper. This is utterly refined and intense yet sophisticated. A quite stunning wine.’ – Neal Martin, Vinous, 97/100 (Oct 2019)

2018:
'Submerged cap used a la Jamet for the first time in 2018. Another dry year, the wine is packed with tannins but they are less obvious allowing fruit power and concentration to shine. “Eminently age worthy” according to Callie. The nose shows plenty of sweet herbs, sappy spice, sandalwood, garrigue and savoury Rhoney notes of black berries, cured smoked meats and olive tapenade. The palate shows massive concentration with elegance, finesse and a profound, mouthwatering tangy acidity with pithy red plum and mulberry notes on the finish. Suave tannins, creamy elegant length and a real Northern Rhone presence. This is of course the fabled Tim Atkin MW 100 pointer… but a delicious wine nonetheless!' - Greg Sherwood MW, 97+/100 (2023)

'The nose shows red and black berries, dried herbs, a hint of olive, some floral perfume as well as tiny hint of reduction. The palate, meanwhile, has good fruit definition, lovely bright acidity and fine tannins, the finish long and dry. If earlier renditions of this wine provided a thrilling sense of excitement, here you have to admire how stylish and sophisticated it is.' - Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 97/100 (Feb 2021)

'In the right hands, great sites produce great wines. Since its inception in 2010, Porseleinberg has been one of the Cape's most exciting reds, but nothing quite prepared me for the transcendent brilliance of this wine. Influenced by some time spent at Domaine Jamet in Côte Rôtie - particularly their use of a submerged cap during fermentation - Callie Louw has made a stunning Syrah, proving his skills as both a farmer and a winemaker. In 2018, the style has shifted, away from power and grip to something more scented and refined. Focused, nuanced and very delicately oaked, with raspberry and wild strawberry fruit, clove and white pepper spice and textured tannins. Simply world class. 2023-35' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2019, 98/100

2019:
'Dark opaque black plum colour with a more translucent ruby rim. Slightly subdued aromatics with earthy, sappy notes of black plum, black berry and savoury raw meat nuances. Soft and supple on the palate, there is plenty of green herby spice, green peppercorns, coriander and sweet leaf with fine grained mineral tannins, ample grip but a slightly shorter finish. Leave this one in your cellar for now.' - Greg Sherwood MW, 95+/100 (2023)

'A brilliant and shining star, the 2019 Syrah bursts with savory herbs, red florals and spiced red fruit tones. Medium to full-bodied, the palate shows an umami character with impressive mineral tension, succulent acidity and balanced tannins before concluding with a long, seductive and spicy finish. The wine continues to reveal its secrets with the persistent lingering aftertaste. 24,000 bottles were made from 100% whole-cluster Syrah.' - Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate, 95+/100 (Dec 2022)

'Has any brand in South Africa achieved quite so much as Porseleinberg in less than a decade? This is the best vintage yet from this steep, brutal, extreme schist-rich site and that's saying a good deal. Big, bold and intense, with incredible, almost feral intensity, incense, tar and black pepper aromas and layers of inky dark fruit. A stunning wine from a stunning site, made by a gem of a winemaker. 2022-35' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2019, 98/100

2020:
'Dark garnet. Not intense but lively, with sweetness and saltiness. Round and charming. Fine tannins.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20 (Sep 2023)

'An enticing red, this lures you in with aromas of dried flowers and herbs, leather and spices -- a fragrant thread that winds through the wine. Meanwhile, the plush texture wraps around firm, fine-grained tannins and carries rich flavors of baked black plum and cassis, bay leaf and eucalyptus and a subtle base note of ashy smoke. You'll discover more with each sip, so sit a while with this wine. Syrah. Drink now through 2033.' - Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator, 95/100

2021:
'Given its consistently outstanding quality, it’s easy to forget that the average age of Porseleinberg's 14 hectares of vineyards is only seven years' old. Showing what Callie Louw calls a "little more crunch" in 2021, this is a Syrah with time on its side. Wild herb aromas of sage, oregano and rosemary introduce you to a palate that's dense yet refined, with lots of whole bunch spice and structure, negligible oak influence, detailed, layered tannins, some underlying grip and layers of dark berry fruit. One of the world's great reds from a very special site. 2025-32' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2023, 99/100

'Less-developed nose at the moment, still introvert but with the ingredients there.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17++/20 (Sep 2023)

'Ripe yet still firm, the 2021 Syrah is fresh and savory with a delightfully floral element that sways with spicy and dark red-fruited essences. Medium-bodied, the palate is balanced, fresh and firmly structured with gripping tannins and an elegant mineral tension. The wine ends with a ripe and spicy finish. 47,000 bottles were produced after resting 12 months in foudre before bottle aging for 16 months. Between the 2020 and the 2021, the 2021 is the one you want. Just give it another year in bottle, and enjoy through the middle of the next decade.' - Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate, 95/100 (Dec 2023)