This is an extraordinary chance to taste some of the very best red wines being produced in South Africa. The wines are chosen by Wine Merchant Caroline Rillema each year. It is held in a vast area of the Cape Town Stadium hospitality areas. It is impossible to taste all the approximatley 82 wines, so we tried to keep it to 2 of every varietal, avoided those we have tasted and written about recently but on some we tasting more! And sadly did not get to taste other varietals like Pinotages.
Christopher Keet pouring his Keet 2022 red blend. He is a treasued friend and this was our first tasting of the evening.
The wine is a Bordeaux blend and has its classic richness on the nose, full of dark berry fruit and elegance. Silky on the palate with chalky tannins and long berry fruit flavours, this wine is made to last, already so enjoyable.
Reciprocal Trading director Tarryn Vincent showed her specialist range of Riedel wine glasses
Tokara winemaker Stuart Botha was there with his award winning 2021 Directors Reserve Red Bordeaux blend. Insence wood then beautiful bouquet of red berries. A mouthful of ripe and well handled grapes with long flavours and some tannin support.
Vilafonte Series C 2016 magnum. Its a wow, as impressive as our last tasting, layers of fruit, wood support and elegance.
Caroline van Schalkwyk showed the Vergelegen Estate Red 2022 It has good fruit in balance with acidity, lighter than some and hints of wood on the end.
Jac Borman showed the the 2024 Boshkloof Epilogue 2024 Shiraz. It iss picy and exciting with good fruit on the nose and palate. Lots of pomegranate and cherry with good wood support
Jac's son Reenen is the winemaker now that Jac has retired from the cellar. He is now more involved with the vineyards
Fairview winemaker Annette van Zyl showed her Lanner Hill 2022 Syrah
Iona Solace 2022 Syrah has a good nose with fruit to the fore with a bit of wood smoke. Silky on palate, good layers of fruit
Nicole Kilian with Keermont's Single Vineyard Series Topside Syrah 2020 always worth a taste and this one has silk spice red berry and pomegranate fruit
Tyrrel Myburgh with his Klippe Kou 2022 Syrah. An enticining and slightly mysterious nose of wood and fruit. More on the palate and a lovely balance. It develops and opens on the palate with chalk and wood support. A food wine.
Cellarmaster RJ Botha with the Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2021 Family Reserve Syrah Lots of spice ans wood on the nose, lovely layers of ripe fruit in balance with good acidity.
Oak Valley winemaker showed their Tabula Rasa PN777 2022 Pinot Noir. It is powerful on the nose "Im Pinot!" with perfume, cherry, wood smoke. Layered on the palate which start slow then open with deep long flavours. 
Crystallum Mabalel 2025 Pinot Noir was shown by Albert van den Oewer 20% new oak 10 month in barrel and surprisingly light in colour and on the attractive nose and palate.
Bosman Family Vineyards winemaker Corlea Fourie pouring the their Upper Hemel en Aarde Pinot noir 2024
Wine Masters in discussion
Master of Wine Richard Kershaw and Cape Wine Master Karen Visser
Kershaw winemaker Dudley Wilson pouring the CPS Hemel en Aarde Ridge 2021 Pinot Noir It is aromatic and very French in style with sweet and sour cherry flavours, layered on nose and palate with long delicious flavours and food calls ...
and having fun with Richard Kershaw. Lynne is enjoying his recent very educational postings about wine on line
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot noir 2024 has such quality on the nose it is soft and gentle with fruit and light smoke, while chalk and wood support the cherry fruit in layers, so delicious and satisfying.
Jessica Saurwein and Zonnika Louw with Jessica's Saurwein Om Pinot noir 2024 It has an excellent palate with lots of cherry fruit and dark oak, classy. Very enjoyable.
Paul Cluver winemaker Chelsea Gibson showed the Paul Cluver Estate Pinot Noir 2024 Another classic South African Pinot with an excellent nose, it is young and needs time
De Grendel marketing manager Righard Theron showed De Grendel Tijger Merlot 2022
Perfume and incense wood on the nose, a silky palate with layers and layers of good sweet berry fruit well supported, so covetable. And a good food wine.
Lourensford winemaker Timothy Witbooi with his Limited Release Merlot 2024 Dark cherry and plum fruit on nose and delicious palate.
Fleur du Cap Merlot 2022 shown by winemaker Samuel Viljoen. The wine has perfume smoke and fruit onthe nose. On the palate soft fruit in balance with acid, long flavours
Piekenierskloof winemaker showed the Old Vine Grenache noir 2024
The sandy soil of the area allows their vines to live long, healthy lives on original rootstocks. It is special. Minerality on the nose with spice, wood smoke and orange peel. Savouryness on the palate with minerality and salt hints, and good berry fruit. Its unusual and very, very good. Food wine
Bobby Wallace showed his Paul Wallace Black Dog Malbec 2023
The photograph of the eponymous black dog, Jake, in the photographs was taken by John in 2009
This big Elgin wine has spice and minerality. Well blanced dark fruit with layers and some supporting tannin and wood.
Boekenhoutskloof Franschhoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 was shown by winemaker Gottfried Mocke
A very well-attended event
Leeu Passant Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2024
The wine has lots of spice, incense wood and more. dry tannins on the palate aNd more hot spice on the palate then good fruit
Delaire Graf winemaker Morné Vrey showed his 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. Incense wood smoke on the nose, minerality on the palate with initally shy fruit which suddenly opens up to lots of berry fruit. Ahha! A future wine to put down in your cellar. rewarding and elegant.
Gabriëlskloof 2022 Cabernet Franc has a savoury palate and good fruit, its young and layered with interesting chalky tannins.
Gerard Holden with his Holden Manz Cabernet franc Reserve 2022 An icy entry, chilled fruit. Good sweet berry fruit on palate with supporting chalky tannins,
Raats Family Wines Vlag Vineyard Selection Cabernet frand 2022 This classic has smoke, insence wood and spice on the nose. Great fruit, tannins and wood on the palate, so special, so different, it is full on the palate, everything you wanted, with power. A great wine to end a specail tasting opportunity.
All the stories we have produced since 2012
can be opened from the archive list near the top of the column on the right of this page
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