Provenance

Private Client

Critics Ratings

Boschkloof Epilogue 2021
'I was lucky enough to taste this wine from tank, some time before it was bottled, so I had some idea of how special it is. But the finished result managed to surpass even my high expectations. This is one of the Cape's greatest ever wines, a Syrah that will easily age for another decade or more. Very lightly wooded - two-thirds are aged in concrete - with 60% whole bunches, it has effortless concentration, brooding, granitic intensity and focus, violet and liquorice top notes and flavours of blackberry, tapenade and orange zest. "The best Syrah I've made," says Reenen Borman. It sure is. 2025-35' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2023, 100/100

‘The 2021 Epilogue is from a single vineyard, 60% aged in concrete and 40% new 400-liter oak barrels. It is more floral than the previous vintage with more garrigue-like scents - wild fennel, rosemary and just a hint of lavender. The new oak is barely noticeable, which Boorman told me he has "toned down" in recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied, with filigree tannins framing the pure, tensile dark berry fruit and hints of white pepper and clove. This has so much energy and poise; the terroir is coming through perhaps more than the 2020. Superb.’ – Neal Martin, Vinous, 95/100 (Aug 2023)

‘Always one of SA’s best syrahs. Freshness of 2021 lends initial impression of delicacy & lightness, with beguiling spice & floral fragrance. Greater density & concentration than Syrah sibling never at expense of finesse in suppleness or fine tannins. The flavours grow, leaving memorable savoury length. 60% wholebunch, 60% aged in concrete, rest new oak. 13.7% alc.’ - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2015, 5* (97/100)

Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2015
'A great wine, with a distinguished track record in one of the best-ever Cape vintages: if any South African wine deserves 100 points, and I strongly believe that it does, then it is the brilliant 2015 Paul Sauer, one of the greatest young wines I have ever tasted.’ - Tim Atkin SA Special Report 2018, 100/100

'Rightly regarded as SA ‘first growth’ Bordeaux blend, traditionally cab-based with merlot, cab franc; 70/15/15 in 2015 which, though less plush than 2014 in cooler summer, exudes a controlled opulence thanks to satisfying dry finish & firm tannic foundation for extended ageing.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2019, 5* (95/100)

'Sumptuous, luxurious nose with superb clarity of blackcurrant and cherry fruit. Fine vanilla essence on the palate and expertly crafted tannins. Really great purity and density, without being forced at all. There’s no doubt it is an exemplary vintage of a great Bordeaux blend, and its track record suggests it should age for decades, bringing out plenty more complexity.' - Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17.5/20 (Sep 2018)

Mullineux Olerasay No.2 NV
'It is an ethereal wine that gives me no choice but to use a simple word loaded with meaning and one I rarely use with respect to wine...perfection. The 375ml bottle was examined over the course of two weeks during which time it barely changed. Each time I put it under a microscope looking for a fault. I never found one. Golden in colour, it has an intoxicating bouquet with orange sorbet, quince, lemon verbena and a very slight Aszú-like note that hovers in the background. Having recently tasted plenty of Sauternes, I can’t help noticing how the aromatics are unencumbered by a thick cloak of oak, thereby lending the bouquet brightness and vividness that is totally enthralling. This all translates across to the crystalline palate. The perfect seam of acidity cuts like an ancient Samurai sword through the viscous fruit whose purity is off the charts. This electrifying Olerasay does not mess about – it immediately thrills the senses with its mélange of blood orange, apricot, crushed minerals and passion fruit. There is so much energy in this wine. The finish has a weightless quality that means, despite its high residual sugar level, the wine is actually easy to drink and is not weighed down by its own unctuousness. The killer aspect of this is the soupçon of bitter orange that hits the back of the throat. I suspected that a perfect Olerasay was possible after the first iteration. This is it. Despite this being a Cellar Favorite, don’t feel you are committing a heinous crime popping the cork now because who knows where we will be by the end of 2020. Just bear in mind that this wine will last decades.' - Neal Martin, Vinous, 100/100 (Jul 2020)

'A total one-off in the world of South African wine, this is the second release from the Mullineux's Chenin Blanc solera, made with components that date back to 2008. It has a cavity-challenging 331 grams of sugar, but you don't notice the sweetness because of the balancing acidity. Almond, marzipan, apple tart, citrus peel and layers of balsamic complexity make this one of the best sweet wines in the Cape. 2020-28' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2020, 97/100

Porseleinberg Syrah 2018
'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 2020, 100/100

'Flattering, mulberry nose. Salty and sweet and very juicy. Lots of fruit, and tannin only on the end. Tannin and liquorice on the finish. Very polished. Clean and fresh. Long.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17.5/20 (Sep 2023)

Sadie Family Columella 2019
‘Swartland sextet, mainly syrah, blended to reflect area. 2019 rebounds with joyous expression after drought-affected 2018 (4.5 stars, 94 pts): aromatic spice, nuts & dark-berry medley gently scented with violets. Rich & savoury, with freshening manicured tannins. Possibly their finest red to date, among SA’s best too. Year in small oak, 10% new, then another in foudre.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2022, 5* (98/100)

'It's entirely appropriate that Columella should achieve a 100-point score in its 20^th vintage, having completed two decades of trail-blazing brilliance. Based on Syrah with 55% Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault and Tinta Barocca, it's a seamless Rhône-meetsthe- Douro cuvée with violet, thyme and lavender aromas, subtle oak and peppery whole bunch spices, cassis, blackberry and cranberry flavours, thrilling acidity, minerality and haunting palate length. A truly great wine at the peak of its considerable powers. 2023-35’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2021, 100/100

‘The 20th bottling of this wine, it is an essential reference point in understanding the ongoing fine wine revolution in this country, the 2019 vintage more refined than ever. The aromatics are riveting with notes of red and black berries, fynbos, potpourri, pepper and other spice. The palate, meanwhile, is both vivid and already so harmonious. Full bodied but balanced with lovely fruit purity, a cracking line of acidity and powdery tannins. Plenty of detail, plenty of sappy refreshment value and an umami-like, super-dry finish.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 97/100 (Aug 2021)

Sadie Family Skurfberg 2019
‘A one-hudred-point white? From South Africa? I can almost hear the tutting and clucking from here. But I defy anyone to taste this monumental wine, preferably among a line-up of other, world-class wines and resist its charms. The crop was down 60%, resulting in an old-vine Chenin of mind-blowing focus, depth and concentration. Quince, lemon and subtle Asian spices segue into a palate of nuances, corners, light and shade and dark. Well done, Eben Sadie. Well done, the van Lill family, who grow the grapes. Well done, South Africa. 2023-31’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2020, 100/100

‘From Olifants River Chenin Blanc. Classic aromatics of white peach, citrus, talcum powder and dried herbs while the palate has astounding concentration but also a very smart line of acidity, the finish extraordinarily long. This is the pick of the white wines from the vintage but I’m not sure it’s the greatest Skurfberg ever, the 2018 for instance being arguably a little more graceful.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 96/100 (Feb 2021)

‘The 2019 Skurfberg, which is whole-cluster-pressed Chenin matured in old foudre, has an understated bouquet of subtle undergrowth, chalk and chai tea scents that take their time to find their groove. The palate is very well balanced with a fine degree of acidity, more neutral in style than Sadie’s other 2019s, just a touch of orange zest lighting up the finish. This Skurfberg needs 4–5 years in bottle but it will certainly be worth your patience and may merit a higher score down the line.’ – Neal Martin, Vinous, 95+/100 (Apr 2021)