Only the very best expressions of Chardonnay are selected for this wine. Focus is placed on blending components that are not necessarily obviously pungent and fruity, but rather those that are intensely and elegantly structured, promising fantastic ageability. On the nose there is a delicate balance of minerality with bursts of grapefruit pith, underpinned by subtle nuances of oak. The rounded, almost waxy, texture is punctuated by a distinct upfront grip and a finish reminiscent of Jasmine flowers and crushed oyster shells. Enjoy now or age up to 10 years at optimum storage conditions.

The grapes were sourced from two contrasting sites in Stellenbosch: Schapenberg and Banhoek. Schapenberg benefits from cool maritime influences off False Bay, preserving freshness and natural acidity, while Banhoek’s warm days and cooler nights contribute structure and vibrant fruit expression. The 2024/2025 season was balanced and moderate throughout. A well-timed winter ensured even budburst, and warm, dry spring conditions set healthy, moderate crops. Summer remained relatively temperate, with minimal disease pressure. Dry mid-summer conditions produced smaller berries with excellent concentration. Grapes were harvested at slightly lower sugar levels, resulting in refined alcohols, bright acidity, and exceptional overall fruit quality, with yields moderate to slightly below average.

The individual vineyard blocks selected for this wine were hand-harvested separately at optimal ripeness, between 21 and 23° Balling. A portion of the fruit was destemmed and gently crushed, with the juice receiving 12–18 hours of skin contact prior to settling. Another portion was whole-bunch pressed to preserve freshness and enhance elegance in the final blend. After 24 hours of settling, the slightly turbid juice was racked off its gross lees into stainless steel tanks and inoculated with selected slow-fermenting yeast strains. The juice was then gravity-fed into its respective fermentation vessels: 53% into 400L French oak barrels (50% new), 19% into Italian terracotta amphorae, and 28% into concrete egg tanks. The wine matured on its lees for an average of seven months before blending and preparation for bottling.

An intense bouquet that shows savoury tobacco notes along with liquorice and mint with a deep core of black plum and cassis. The palate shows a density and depth of flavor only found in the best vintages. An opulent entry of the dark fruit seen on the nose gives way to vibrant back palate with a refreshing acidity. Despite the wine’s ‘broad shoulders’ it maintains a svelte structure and almost never ending finish. A brilliant example of how great Stellenbosch Cabernet can be, highlighting the perfect balance between new-world opulence and old-world elegance.

The fruit for this wine were sourced from 2 specific vineyard blocks on our farm and two small parcels from the slopes of the Helderberg and Helderberg basin. The effect of the preceding three-year drought was still evident to us in the 2019 harvest, despite the higher rainfall during the season. This resulted in smaller crops over all for the 2018/2019 growing season. Irregular temperatures from winter to flowering led to some uneven ripening at the start of the season that was managed by removing any green or uneven bunches after véraison. The cool weather conditions towards the end of ripening constituted smaller berries, resulting in intensely flavoured, elegant wines.

After de-stemming only (no crushing) the grapes were fermented in a combination of stainless-steel tanks and traditional open-top fermenters. We used a combination of “punch- downs” and “pump-overs” at different stages in fermentation and tried to extract a lot of flavour and tannin at the beginning of fermentation. Towards the end of the process we drastically reduced the extraction and usually limit it to only one pump-over per day not to over extract the wine and ensure we achieve the best balance. After primary fermentation the grapes were gently pressed and transferred to 300L French oak barrels, 80% new and the remaining 20% a blend of 2nd and 3rd fill, for 18 months before final blending took place.

A great example of what this cultivar is capable of in Stellenbosch. A fragrant fresh bouquet with lively fruits and hints of pepper. This wine is full-bodied with great depth balanced by an elegant velvety finish. The intense but finer tannins lend itself to a variety of meat-based dishes. This wine has great drinking capability at release but could benefit from careful cellaring for up to 10 years.

The grapes for this wine were sourced from 2 different areas within Stellenbosch – namely the Helderberg mountain and Faure, a region close to False Bay. The Spring of 2020 was marked by frequent cold fronts, delaying bud burst by 5-7 days. Temperatures remained moderate during the summer, resulting in a two-week delay in the start of the harvest compared to preceding vintages. The viticultural and winemaking team had to wait patiently for the grapes to reach phenolic ripeness. The prolonged ripening meant the grapes had an intense concentration of flavours at harvest time, promising great wines with excellent aging potential.

Grapes were hand harvested early in the morning, de-stemmed and sorted before being transferred to stainless steel tank for fermentation. The 2021 vintage is a continuation of many years of experimentation to facilitate a style shift from a wine labelled as Shiraz, to Syrah. This was achieved by incorporating wholebunch fermentation or addition of ripe stems in to the ferments on certain vineyards and a move away from heavily toasted new oak. 65% new French oak is used, with the remaining 35% made up of 2nd and 3rd fill barrelsThe superb structure was achieved through a combination of open and closed pump overs and careful monitoring to ensure a balanced wine.

The intensely structured palate is laden with aromas of tropical fruit, supported by a backbone of the grassy and fresh aromas that Sauvignon Blanc is so well-known for. Subtle notes of oak round out the long finish of the wine with a gentle touch honeyed complexity. The palate is vibrant and textured. This is a serious wine with a long future and will reward careful cellaring for the next 5 to 8 years.

The grapes were selected from vineyards in Durbanville Darling and Stellenbosch, all near the cooling breeze of the Atlantic Ocean. The 2024 season began with expectations of a larger crop, but early disease pressure, a wet spring, and a hot, dry summer reduced yields. Timely rain before véraison supported vineyard health. Although smaller than anticipated, the crop was healthy, and the vintage produced quality Sauvignon Blanc with expressive fruit and balance.

The grapes were harvested in the cool of the early morning to preserve freshness and aromatics. From vineyard to fermentation, the Sauvignon Blanc was handled reductively, with dry ice used from picking through to the fermentation vessel to protect purity and prevent oxidation. A total of 53% of the blend was barrel fermented, with a further 25% fermented and matured in concrete. These portions were crafted exclusively from whole-bunch pressed grapes rather than the traditional crushed and destemmed method, lending enhanced finesse, texture and phenolic clarity. The remaining 21% was tank fermented to retain vibrant fruit expression and precision. All components were matured on their gross lees in their respective vessels for nine months prior to blending, building complexity and mouthfeel. A small portion of the barrel-fermented wine underwent malolactic fermentation, contributing subtle roundness and layered depth. Only a light, coarse filtration was applied on the bottling line to retain character and structure.

Only the finest Chenin Blanc parcels are selected for this wine. The emphasis is on components that may not display overt fruit intensity, but rather offer precision, layered structure, and excellent potential for ageing.
The nose reveals white peach complemented by subtle notes of citrus pith. On the palate, the wine shows understated power, a pronounced mineral finish, and a delicate floral nuance that lingers. Approachable in its youth yet structured for longevity, carefully cellar for up to 15 years under optimal storage conditions

The Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2024 was crafted from vineyards across different wards in Stellenbosch, where vines grow predominantly on decomposed granite soils, each contributing to the wine’s complexity. As with the two preceding vintages, the 2024 is certified as originating from Heritage Vineyards, which consist mainly of bush vines. The canopies were suckered and tipped to maintain a cool microclimate around the bunches, preventing direct sun exposure and avoiding botrytis.
Excellent winter rainfall in 2023 was followed by an extremely dry summer and accompanied by strong winds during flowering. This significantly affected fruit set in earlier cultivars such as Old Vine Chenin Blanc, resulting in lower yields. In addition, the unusually hot and dry conditions desiccated the topsoil to such an extent that the grapes ripened up to 14 days earlier than usual. The season was characterised by smaller bunches and berries, promising wines of remarkable flavour concentration.

The different grape parcels were harvested separately between 20 and 22° Balling, with a deliberate decision to pick at slightly lower sugar levels in order to retain freshness in the final wine. The grapes arrived at the winery early in the mornings, where they were crushed into holding tanks, and underwent skin contact for 12–18 hours prior to settling.
After just one day of settling, the slightly turbid juice was racked off its gross lees into a stainless-steel tank and inoculated with selected slow-fermenting yeast strains. It was then gravity-fed into 400 L French oak barrels, Italian terracotta amphorae, and concrete eggs for fermentation, with barrel-fermented wine making up 50% of the final blend. No new oak was used, to preserve the delicate flavours of Chenin Blanc. The wine spent a further nine months on the lees in the respective fermentation vessels and was bottled without fining or filtration.