Provenance

Private Client

Critics Ratings

2012:
‘Limited bottling from Piekenierskloof. 2012 supremely elegant, silky & balanced. Initially understated, grows in savoury & perfumed red-fruited intensity. A real sophisticated beauty. Also-tasted 2013 more overt fruit & perfume, more vivacious, outgoing. Same pedigree & good structure but not as balanced, needs more time to harmonise. Both also sold in magnum.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2016, 4.5*

‘The 2012 Grenache in fermented in stainless steel and raised in new and second-fill French oak barrels for between 14 and 18 months. It offers light dusty red fruit on the nose that needs more freshness and vigor, though the palate has some attractive, simple, tart cherry fruit and a crisp short finish.’ – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (Oct 2014)

2013:
‘Limited bottling from Piekenierskloof. 2012 supremely elegant, silky & balanced. Initially understated, grows in savoury & perfumed red-fruited intensity. A real sophisticated beauty. Also-tasted 2013 more overt fruit & perfume, more vivacious, outgoing. Same pedigree & good structure but not as balanced, needs more time to harmonise. Both also sold in magnum.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2015, 4.5*

‘The 2013 Grenache demonstrates more fruit intensity on the nose than the 2012, with pleasant raspberry and mulberry scents that are well defined. The palate is nicely balanced with supple red fruit, crisp acidity and fleshy strawberry preserve on the lively finish. My advice? Go for this over the 2012.’ – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (Oct 2014)

2014:
‘Lovely translucent and bright colour. There is a wonderful lifted perfume of dried rose petals, hedge row and cherry blossom mixing with smokey, earthy red berry and bramble berry spice. The palate is laser like with crisp acids and plenty of bright crunchy red fruits. Wonderful focus and intensity for this vintage. The finish is zesty, concentrated and long with a seductive tart cranberry finale. Really quite impressive. Drink now to 2028+’ – Greg Sherwood MW, 93/100 (Nov 2017)

‘Understated 2014 from Piekenierskloof, persistent but gentle earthy berry & sweet tobacco flavours, very smooth & lifted by fresh acidity. Lacks intensity of long-haul 2012 (4.5 stars, 92 pts) & 2013 (4.5 stars, 92 pts) but lovely to savour over next ±5 years.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2017, 4*

‘The Grenache as made by Stellenbosch cellar Vriesenhof from Piekenierskloof grapes has always be a wine of restraint and the 2014 is no exception.Matured for 14 to 18 months in first- and second-fill French oak barrels depending on vintage, the 2014 shows aromas of red and black fruit, some subtle floral perfume scrub and spice. The palate is broad but not too rich with moderate acidity and soft tannins. A most satisfying drop.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 90/100 (Feb 2016)