Rhône theme
Timed Online Auction, 30 January - 10 February 2025
Rhône - South Africa
About the SessionOver the past decade South African Rhône-style offerings have witnessed an explosion in popularity, led by the Swartland in the 2010s and subsequently spreading across the Cape.
About this Item
Provenance
Wine Cellar Private Client
Critics Ratings
'“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)