SOUTH AFRICA
South African wine has a history dating back to 1659 with Constantia, a vineyard near Cape Town, being considered one of the greatest wines in the world. Access to international markets has unleashed a burst of new energy and new investment. Production is concentrated around Cape Town, with major vineyard and production centers at Paarl, Stellenbosch and Worcester. There are about 60 appellations within the Wine of Origin (WO) system, which was implemented in 1973 with a hierarchy of designated production regions, districts and wards. WO wines must be made 100% from grapes from the designated area. "Single vineyard" wines must come from a defined area of less than 5 hectares. An "Estate Wine" can come from adjacent farms, as long as they are farmed together and wine is produced on site. A ward is an area with a distinctive soil type or climate, and is roughly equivalent to a European appellation. The grape varieties in South Africa are known as cultivar, with many common international varieties.
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ALHEIT 2016 CARTOLOGY CHENIN BLANC
Item #: i_382759Bottle Size: 750mlLearn MoreCartology is a cuvee that is composed of rare and extraordinary parcels of mature dryland bush vines. The wine is alive and vibrant. Obviously it's just a baby, but so far has a nose of lime, fennel and quince. The palate is taught, very fine and balanced, with excellent structure and a persistent finish.
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BADENHORST 2015 DASSIEKOP STEEN
Item #: 383401Bottle Size: 750mlLearn MoreFrom Jancis Robinson's website: Nuttiness and warm cobnuts and roasted cumin on the nose overlaying the sweetness of fruit on the palate. Sage and peaches, mid-summer apricots just picked. Wonderful grip and texture, taut. Plays like a Paganini violin solo. Hauntingly! -
BADENHORST 2016 CURATOR WHITE BLEND
Item #: i_381379Bottle Size: 750mlLearn MoreWinemaker's Notes - "The grapes are grown in the Swartland region which hugs the wild West Coast of Southern Africa. The vineyards are mostly bushvines growning in granite and slate soils, and sourced from a number of traditional farmers. The Chenin Blanc grape makes up the largest portion of this blend because it is the backbone and structure of this particular wine. The Chardonnay was naturally fermented and took very long to complete the fermentation – resulting in great texture and wacky aromas of dried peaches and apricots and ripe citrus. The Viognier, from one of my favourite growers and vineyards, just completes the Swartland canvas; some spice and palate length is what it brings." -
BEAUMONT 2014 PINOTAGE
Item #: i_377598Bottle Size: 750mlLearn MoreA perfect example of elegance and finesse in Pinotage. Red berries, plums and cherries on the nose, followed by a palate of excellent balance, structure and a lovely dry finish. Matches very well with bobotie, game and curries, spare ribs and pepper steak, or try snoek and grape jam. -
BEAUMONT 2017 CHENIN BLANC
Item #: i_377683Bottle Size: EACHLearn MoreLovely fresh tropical fruit aromas flow onto a crisp fresh palate with a perfect balance between the acidity and sweetness, giving this wine great length and intensity. -
BEESLAAR 2015 PINOTAGE
Item #: i_382363Bottle Size: 750mlLearn MoreWinemaker's Notes: "It has an intense ruby red color, with plum cake, red fruit, and dark chocolate aromas, offering savory finish on the palate. The first sorting was done in the vineyards. The perfect bunches were transported in bins to the winery, destemned, sorted and fermented in 5 ton open fermentors. The cap was punched every 2 hours for 60 hours until the right extraction was achieved. After pressing, malolactic fermentation was done in 15 French oak, and 300 liter American oak barrels. The wine matured for 19 months in the barrels." -
BOEKENHOUTSKLOOF 2016 THE CHOCOLATE BLOCK
Item #: i_308006Bottle Size: 750MLLearn MoreA blend of 73% Syrah, 12% Grenache, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cinsault and 1% Viognier, this is a superbly fruity, chocolatey, generally yummy South African red wine. Pour yourself a glass on a mid-summer evening and enjoy. -
BOEKENHOUTSLOOF 2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Item #: i_380118Bottle Size: 750MLLearn MoreClassical Boekenhoutskloof complexity with exceptional purity. At first there is overwhelming blackcurrant and cassis on the nose with underlying cedar and spices. The palate shows intense black fruit, prunes and sour cherries with perfect balance. This wine will improve over the next decade. -
BOTANICA MARY DELANEY 2013 PINOT NOIR
Item #: i_382340Bottle Size: 750mlLearn MoreThe inspiration for the name of the wine and design of the labels was a trip to the Yale Center for British Art. An exhibit of Mary Delany’s work, a remarkable series of botanical collages that are beautifully crafted with hundreds of tiny pieces of cut paper was breathtaking. I am fortunate to have licensed a few of her collages and created these beautiful labels with her art as the primary focal point. Mary was 72 when she created these pieces in the late 1700’s. -
BUITENVERWACHTING 2017 BAYTEN SAUVIGNON BLANC CONSTANTIA VALLEY
Item #: i_382354Bottle Size: 750mlLearn MoreLong referred to as "Bayten" by locals, Buitenverwachting (meaning beyond expectations) is located on the east-facing slopes of the Constantiaberg on the Cape of Good Hope. Ocean breezes make this area one of South Africa's coolest winegrowing areas, allowing for slow ripening, resulting in grapes that achieve full ripeness while retaining fresh acidity. This wine was aged on the lees for three months prior to bottling. Bayten offers a melange of citrus and stone fruits with honeysuckle, jasmine and green notes on the nose. The palate reveals peaches, apricots, lemon rind and lemongrass with a nice balance of richness and refreshing crispness on the finish. -
CAPERITIF KAAPSE DIEF 750 THE GRANDE QUINQUINA SOUTH AFRICA BADENHORST
Item #: i_112104Bottle Size: 750ml -
CHAMONIX 2014 CHARDONNAY RESERVE FRANSCHHOEK
Item #: 382689Bottle Size: 750mlLearn MoreThis is a stunning, world class Chardonnay that should be on your radar. Wine Critic Tim Atkin designated it as his pick for the White Wine of the Year, calling it "the best Chardonnay I've ever tasted from South Africa." We believe this Chardonnay is worthy of the accolades and its apparent the winemaking team from Chamonix is one of the most dynamic and exciting producers in the world. Fortunately, the wines are still somewhat under the radar meaning pricing is reasonable and does not accurately reflect the quality found in the glass. The Chamonix wines are not readily available, with only a small amount imported into the United States.
TIM ATKIN MW SOUTH AFRICA REPORT 2015 97 POINTS - "This is the best Chardonnay I've ever tasted from South Africa, sold at a price that should have people besieging retailers. Tangerine, understated oak, leesy texture, some baking spices and a spinal chord of acidity: this wouldn't look out of place in a tasting of Grands Crus Burgundies. Sets a new benchmark for Cape Chardonnay. Drink: 2015-22" -
CHAMONIX 2014 PINOT NOIR RESERVE FRANSCHHOEK
Item #: i_382965Bottle Size: 750mlLearn MoreDuring a recent tasting of South African wines, the wines from Chamonix clearly stood out. Situated high above the fertile Franschhoek valley in the heart of the Cape winelands, lies a wine farm like no other. The wines from Chamonix are fantastic including the Reserve Pinot Noir which shows great purity of fruit and incredible balance. It is just what we look for in a premium Pinot Noir and we instantly knew it was worthy of being one of our top wines of the year. So complex, so delicious and so harmonious, we had to bring it into the store to share it with you. We are thrilled to be one of the few retailers in the United States to offer this fantastic pinot Noir. Enjoy!
TIM ATKIN MW SOUTH AFRICA REPORT 2015 94 POINTS - "Chamonix’s best Pinot Noir vineyards are all located above 490 metres, which partly explains why they are the best in Franschhoek. Aromatic and hauntingly perfumed, this is a quintessence of fine Pinot Noir: bright and spicy and very elegant with succulent red berries and vivid supporting acidity. Drink: 2015-20" -
CHRIS ALHEIT 2016 MAGNETIC NORTH MAKSTOK CHENIN BL
Item #: i_387949Bottle Size: 750mlLearn MoreThis is sourced from old vine Chenin planted on its original rootstock or makstok from a ?rescue block? at 520 metres on a cooler south-facing vineyard on the Skurfberg. Even though Chris has been able to add a second parcel from the same site this year (a third segment still gets delivered to the local co-operative), it still represents a total of just nine barrels in the cellar. -
CRYSTALLUM 2014 "MABALEL" PINOT NOIR
Item #: 382671Bottle Size: 750mlLearn MoreA lovely, lifted earthy perfume combines with sweet cherry, grapefruit and strawberry notes delivering a complex and alluring nose. The palate is textured and layered with a succulent core and crisp acidity owing to a cool, fresh vintage. This wine will improve over the next 5-8 years. -
DE TOREN 2014 FUSION 5
Item #: i_377711Bottle Size: 750mlLearn More"The iconic Left Bank-based blend from De Toren, Fusion V is meticulously crafted from Bordeaux’s ‘Noble Five’ varietals and, with its complex flavours of liquorice, black cherry, cedar and dark berries, it offers a stylish departure for sophisticated oenophilic tastes.Soft as spun silk, with a lingering hint of sweet fruit on the back palate, this is a wine that will only improve with age." -Winemaker’s Notes -
DE WETSHOF 2017 "LESCA" ESTATE CHARDONNAY
Item #: i_382440Bottle Size: 750mlWine Spectator: 93Learn MoreWINE SPECTATOR 93 POINTS - "Very enticing, with creamy green and yellow apple, pear and melon flavors laced with verbena and honeysuckle notes, kissed elegantly by a sweetened butter hint through the finish. This is why people love Chardonnay. Drink now through 2021." -
DELAIRE GRAFF 2015 BOTSMASKOP BORDEAUX BLEND
Item #: i_380604Bottle Size: 750mlLearn MoreWinemaker's Notes - " Rich aromas of cassis and spice with intense liquorice andblackberry flavors on the palate and fine, lingering tannins.Optimal aging potential of 5 – 8 years.
Blend: 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 10% Malbec, 6% Cabernet Franc" -
EBEN SADIE 2015 COLUMELLA
Item #: i_382692Bottle Size: 750mlWine Spectator: 94Learn MoreWINE SPECTATOR 94 POINTS - "This sports a core of dark plum and blackberry paste flavors, staying polished and refined in feel, relying more on acidity than tannins, with the structure fully enmeshed in the fruit. Black tea, tobacco and alder hints chime through the finish. Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Tinta Barroca, Cinsault and Carignan. Best from 2019 through 2023. 790 cases made." -
EBEN SADIE 2015 PALLADIUS WHITE
Item #: i_382425Bottle Size: 750mlWine Advocate: 94Learn MoreWINE SPECTATOR 94 POINTS - "Opulent, lush and creamy in feel, this lets lemon curd, glazed peach and creamed pear and yellow apple flavors drape over the palate, while light verbena, shortbread and honeysuckle notes give this just the requisite lift and energy for balance. A long heather echo completes the seduction. A hedonistic delight. Drink now through 2023. 130 cases imported." -
EBEN SADIE 2016 SOLDAAT GRENACHE NOIR
Item #: i_382471Bottle Size: 750mlWine Spectator: 93Learn MoreWINE SPECTATOR 93 POINTS - "A bright, fresh style, with unadorned raspberry and boysenberry fruit flavors streaming through, flecked with dried anise, black tea and shiso leaf notes. A well-embedded iron hint through the finish adds spine and cut. Very refined. Grenache. Drink now through 2022. 572 cases made." -
EDEN SADIE OLD VINE 2015 TREINSPOOR TINTA BAROCCA
Item #: i_382798Bottle Size: 750mlWine Advocate: 96Learn MoreWINE ADVOCATE 96 POINTS - "The 2015 Old Vine Series Treinspoor, Eben's Tinta Barocca cuvée, which he said has "the biggest passport in South Africa" since the grape has been grown there for a long time for fortified wine production, has a lucid ruby color. Eben told me that it is actually one of his most difficult sells but I am of the opinion that it is one of his best wines. Darker in colur than then other OVS labels, it has a captivating bouquet with raspberry, cranberry leaf, tobacco and damp wet clayey aromas. The palate has firm tannin that Eben compared to Piedmont, which I can understand. The acidity is beautifully judged with killer salinity and mineralité on the finish that both linger in the mouth. This is an outstanding South African wine." -
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ENGELBRECHT ELS 2014 RED BLEND
Item #: i_381018Bottle Size: 750MLWine Advocate: 91Learn MoreWINE ADVOCATE 91 POINTS - "The 2014 Proprietor's Blend equates to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, 5% each of Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Merlot. It has a composed bouquet with red cherries and crushed strawberry, quite an attractive floral scent emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin: plenty of cedar-infused black fruit laced with black pepper and cloves, leading to an engaging and assured finish. This is a well-crafted red blend that shows more composure and refinement than previous vintages." -
ERNIE ELS 2012 BORDEAUX BLEND
Item #: i_381019Bottle Size: 750MLWine Advocate: 92Wine Spectator: 93Learn MoreWINE SPECTATOR 93 POINTS - "A dark, alluring style, with gunpowder tea and warm ganache notes underscoring the core of steeped red and black currant fruit. Features a singed cedar and alder frame, accented by a tobacco hint. Should open up nicely in the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2017 through 2022."
WINE ADVOCATE 92 POINTS - "The 2012 Signature is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% each of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot; it has a very pure bouquet with cedar-infused blackberry and strawberry fruit. With further investigation, there are touches of incense and cassis, the latter from the Petit Verdot. The palate is smooth and sensual on the entry, just a hint of chocolate (though there is no American oak), with very good depth and it fans out nicely on the finish. It has a hedonistic bent for sure, but Louis Strydom is a skilled winemaker and he pulls it off here, as he has done in previous vintages."
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