We were invited by Tom Mills, the WineMiller, to a tasting of the wines on his list
at Galjoen / Belly of the Beast restaurant in Harrington Street on the Womens' Day public holiday
It was a boisterous and very well attended Trade tasting
The restaurant is on the top floor of the building, so we climbed several flights of stairs
to be greeted by Soné le Roi with a glass of Prosecco
There was a good crowd of wine lovers enjoying the vibe
Biltong, droëwors and pecans on each table to snack on, a very good idea.
Jacques du Plessis, Oak Valley winemaker
The Fountain Of Youth Sauvignon Blanc always lives up to expectations and the two Pinots are excellent
Samantha Suddons showed her VineVenom wines from the Swartland
She was extremely popular and we could not get near
But we have tasted and written glowingly about them recently
She was extremely popular and we could not get near
But we have tasted and written glowingly about them recently
Alex Starey, Keermont winemaker
His 2024 Terrasse has six different white wine varieties planted on their steep terraces
The blend may change every year, but he uses Chenin, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier
All vinified separately and matured in seasoned oak
It produces a complex and delicious blend, so satisfying and good for food
His 2024 Terrasse has six different white wine varieties planted on their steep terraces
The blend may change every year, but he uses Chenin, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier
All vinified separately and matured in seasoned oak
It produces a complex and delicious blend, so satisfying and good for food
Great to see Christa von La Chevallerie with her Huis van Chevallerie wines from Malmesbury
Most of her wines go into the restaurant trade, so you will see them on good wine lists
Her exciting and crispy, crunchy Fillia Blanc de Blanc is a wow
Her 2022 Bergskilpad Old Vines Chenin is full and has salty minerality with oak backup
Most of her wines go into the restaurant trade, so you will see them on good wine lists
Her exciting and crispy, crunchy Fillia Blanc de Blanc is a wow
Her 2022 Bergskilpad Old Vines Chenin is full and has salty minerality with oak backup
Tom Mills with Lynne. We have known dear Tom since he was a teenager
and have loved watching his progression in the wine industry
He has some very impressive wines on his portfolio
and have loved watching his progression in the wine industry
He has some very impressive wines on his portfolio
The first of a series of delicious canapés - spicy white fish fritters with a cheese topping
Leon Coetzee with his The Fledge wines, grapes sourced from all over the Western Cape and made in Calitzdorp
His 2026 Klipspringer Chenin is very aromatic and full on the palate
We love Blanc Fumé and this did not disappoint, full of fruit on the juicy palate and well supported by wood smoke
His Grenache is delicious, good varietal fruit, smoke and quality
His 2026 Klipspringer Chenin is very aromatic and full on the palate
We love Blanc Fumé and this did not disappoint, full of fruit on the juicy palate and well supported by wood smoke
His Grenache is delicious, good varietal fruit, smoke and quality
Galjoen chef patron Isca Viljoen doing her magic
in her open kitchen
Chris Groenewald, winemaker for Pounding Grape wines
with Adel and Liebet, chef and manager of Seebamboes
with Adel and Liebet, chef and manager of Seebamboes
Delicious, very tender mouthfuls of beef picanha
Daschbosch wines from Breedekloof
The 2023 Avon Clairette Blanc has smoke on the nose and is juicy and layered on the palate
The 2024 Mossiesdrift Steen (Chenin) is aromatic on the nose,
skin contact on the wine gives the palate complexity and charm
The 2023 Avon Clairette Blanc has smoke on the nose and is juicy and layered on the palate
The 2024 Mossiesdrift Steen (Chenin) is aromatic on the nose,
skin contact on the wine gives the palate complexity and charm
Salmon sushi which was delicious with good flavour
Vonn Family Wines have some impressive labels
The 2025 Old Vines Chenin Blanc is crisp and long with character and is a food wine
2025 Thief Durif (aka Petit Shiraz) has rose perfume and good dark fruit
and the 2025 Tandem Tannat/Cinsault is different, has good layers, Incense wood on nose,
the palate is a bit harsh with dark licorice, wood and complex black fruit and plum
The 2025 Old Vines Chenin Blanc is crisp and long with character and is a food wine
2025 Thief Durif (aka Petit Shiraz) has rose perfume and good dark fruit
and the 2025 Tandem Tannat/Cinsault is different, has good layers, Incense wood on nose,
the palate is a bit harsh with dark licorice, wood and complex black fruit and plum
More sushi
Brandon Wightman of Wightman and Sons have wines from the Perdeberg region
Fresh oysters with a pickled herbal dressing
Lowerland wines from Prieska on the south bank of the Orange River in the hot Northern Cape
The 2024 Wonderdraai is a blend of Chenin Blanc, supported by Colombard and a touch of Sauvignon Blanc
The wine is fresh with honeyed yellow fruit notes, citrus and is aromatic. It's a versatile food wine
The 2024 Wonderdraai is a blend of Chenin Blanc, supported by Colombard and a touch of Sauvignon Blanc
The wine is fresh with honeyed yellow fruit notes, citrus and is aromatic. It's a versatile food wine
A selection of imports shown by Herve of Premier Cru
The non vintage Champagne Baron Albert Brut earned a Wow, good mousse and prickle, crisp fruit and very dry
The 2024 Argentinian Catena Malbec has quality, violets on the nose, lovely juicy red berry fruit, depth,
long flavours and well wooded
long flavours and well wooded
Christo Kotze, La Vierge winemaker from Hemel en Aarde
showed us his Hemel and Aarde style 2023 wooded chardonnay
The 2024 Story Teller Chardonnay has a dive in nose with good crisp fruit
The 2024 Storyteller Pinot Noir is a winner , a good expression of the terroir and great to drink
showed us his Hemel and Aarde style 2023 wooded chardonnay
The 2024 Story Teller Chardonnay has a dive in nose with good crisp fruit
The 2024 Storyteller Pinot Noir is a winner , a good expression of the terroir and great to drink
Vondeling from Voor Paardeberg always consistent
We tasted the 2024 Barrel Selection Chardonnay, round on the nose with good fruit and wood
On the palate, golden fruit, clean, with marmalade and toast notes, crisp and long. Impressive
We tasted the 2024 Barrel Selection Chardonnay, round on the nose with good fruit and wood
On the palate, golden fruit, clean, with marmalade and toast notes, crisp and long. Impressive
Glen Heatlie winemaker Joan Heatlie with her 2025 Frontier Grenache blanc. In 2024 she won a Platter 5 star
It impressed us a lot. Quality on the nose with shy fruit, then opening out
Juicy, full fruit, long classic flavours on the palate with good supporting wood
We know it will age well, we tasted her 2020, sadly no longer available but excellent
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
