Provenance

Wine Cellar Private Client

Critics Ratings

2014:
‘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

'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)

‘This is loaded with layers of warm boysenberry, raspberry and blackberry confiture, stretching out over a well-embedded iron note and picking up anise, violet and juniper details along the way. Dense, lithe and seriously long. Impressive. Syrah. Best from 2017 through 2025. 500 cases made.’ – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 95/100 (Sep 2016)

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)

'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

‘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)

2016:
'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

'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)

'Ripe and inviting, with warm plum sauce and raspberry pâte de fruit notes wrapped in red licorice and roasted vanilla details. A sanguine streak contrasts with the fruit and enlivens the finish. Youthfully compact, but this displays serious latent length. Syrah. Best from 2020 through 2029.' - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 93/100 (Jun 2019)

2017:
‘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

‘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)

‘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)

‘On the nose, red and black fruit, violets, herbs, olive and earth while the palate is super-concentrated with fresh acidity and, as mentioned, oh so fine tannins. A wine of great poise and detail, this is world class.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 96/100 (Aug 2019)

'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)

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 2019, 98/100

'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)

'Beginning with a dark ruby core with magenta highlights, the 2018 Syrah open to a bright, lifted fruit array with intense aromatics of black cherry, dark plum and black raspberry before making way to a beautiful spice rack of black peppercorn, dried herbs and freeze-dried strawberry with a mineral essence. Medium to full-bodied, the wine continues to somersault in the mouth, offering a delightful array of dusty roses, lavender and lilac, black peppercorn and potpourri. Juicy acidity and high toned, red fruit flavors express in waves with a kiss of iodine and umami with a delightful mineral tension. The wine finishes with elements of graphite and black raspberry that sway with a taught, dusty essence, long, lingering spice notes and firm, buttressing tannins.' - Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate, 95/100 (May 2021)

2019:
'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

'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)

'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)

'This harmonious red draws you into the glass with a gorgeous nose of garrigue, lilac, leather and spice, serving as a fragrant overtone for the rich weave of black plum, green olive, milled pepper, smoky iron and singed citrus peel flavors. Delivers a solid core of fine tannins deftly knit to a fresh profile, which expands on the creamy finish. Hard to not drink this now, but this should only show greater expression and shine brighter with some bottle aging. Syrah. Best from 2024 through 2034.' - Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator, 95/100 (Aug 2022)