Another great evening with the opportunity of tasting some of South Africa's top white wines
chosen by Caroline Rillema, owner of Caroline's Fine Wine Cellar
The White Wine Review was in the Members Lounge
at the DHL Stadium in Green Point
a well-attended event in a spacious venue
We began, as always, with the Cap Classique selection
L'Ormarins Private Cuvée 2016 from Antonij Rupert wines
This wine is unusual in that is 92% Chardonnay and only 8% Pinot Noir, and the Pinot is present
It is clean and fruity, and shows some good maturity
We like age on these wines; it's called the Gout Anglaise (the English taste)
It was made by Zanie Viljoen
They also showed the Jean Roi Rosé 2025, made by Mark van Buuren
Bon Courage presented the Jacques Bruère Vintage Blanc de Blanc 2013 made by Lee-Irvine Geduld
This is aging very well and has very good flavours
A small hint of wood from some of the chardonnay, matured in old barrels
Colmant Brut Reserve NV Cap Classique, made by Paul Gerber and Kalissa de Kok
Always enjoyable, this one appears slightly sweeter with 6% RS and with a distinct fruitiness
Megan Mullis with her Domaine des Dieux Claudia Brut Cap Classique 2021 from the Hemel en Aarde
76% Chardonnay with 24% Pinot Noir
Fresh and crisp with hints of crisp apple, lemon, and a delicate biscuity finish, very enjoyable
and Nico Grobler showed his La Brune Blanc de Blancs Cap Classique 2023 from Elgin
This wine is extra dry and full of lime and lemon, very good indeed
Kobus van der Merwe of KWV has been making this wine, the Laborie Blanc de Blanc 2019,
from the excellent grapes on Laborie farm in Paarl for several years
and it has become a favourite of ours, especially when it has some age
It has age and richness on the nose and palate, deep flavours and is still crisp and exciting
It earned an Investec Trophy this year and is still very competitively priced
Anne Ferreira pouring Pieter Ferreira's Blanc de Blancs 2019
This exciting Cap Classique is perfumed with Jasmine aromas that Lynne loves to wear
It has spent 5 years on the Lees and has a really lovely mousse
It is Ice clean on the lovely dry lime and lemon palate. A stunner
It was still unlabelled as they wanted to show it at this tasting. Now available
Strandveld Skaamgesiggie Pinot Noir 2023 Cap Classique made by Conrad Vlok near Cape Agulhas
We still have some in our cellar and it is drinking so well. Really classic Pinot Noir fruit
Spier Prestige Cuvée Brut 2018, made by Heidi Dietstein from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Elgin
The classic blend had 10% matured in 400L French oak barrels, which is noticeable on the palate
with apple, ripe lemon and a biscuity finish
On then to taste the Sauvignons Blanc
Antonij Rupert 2025 Altima Sauvignon Blanc, made by Vernon van der Hoven
A great nose with greenness and fullness on the nose and layered palate, a food wine with aging potential
Diemersdal The Journal Sauvignon Blanc 2024 made by Juandre Bruwer. It won well at Veritas
Tropical in style with good layers of fruit, a Durbanville benchmark
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon blanc 2023 made by cellarmaster RJ Botha
was the wine of the evening for Lynne. Layered and sophisticated with minerality and complexity
on the nose and fine palate, 90% aged in wood which is just supporting it well
Klein Constantia winemaker Matthew Day
showed the Klein Constantia Perdeblokke Sauvignon Blanc 2023,
a typical Constantia Sauvignon Blanc showing terroir and potential
Winemaker Sjaak Nelson with the Jordan Timepiece Sauvignon Blanc 2024
The grapes were from the second oldest Sauvignon Blanc vineyard in Stellenbosch
Sjaak says it was made like a Chardonnay. A portion was fermented in their amphora,
which adds so much to this enjoyable wine
Miles Mossop Chapters Old Vine Stellenbosch Sauvignon blanc 2023 was shown by Vamana Roux
Very French in style, clean and crisp, rather like a Sancerre,
layered and special and a food wine too, so sophisticated! Look for it on restaurant wine lists
Conrad Vlok with his Strandveld Vineyards Pofadderbos Sauvignon Blanc 2025 from near Cape Agulhas,
about as far south in Africa as you can get. Always green, crisp and true to the varietal, we love it
Then on to taste the White Blends, and some are unusual
Brookdale Estate Sixteen Field Blend 2024 made their previous winemaker, Kiara Scott
Shanice du Preez, the current winemaker with Xander Sadie, presented it
A field blend is something that is often grown in France
In the two hectare vineyard, sixteen varietals are interplanted as bush vines with all the varietals in each row
It is very complex given the many varietals involved, with some sweet fruit and minerality
A toast from Lynne, discussing the wine with Shanice
Keermont Terrasse 2023,
a white blend of 46% Chenin Blanc, 20% Chardonnay, 14% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Roussanne, 8% Viognier and 2% Marsanne
was made by Alex Starey and shown by Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Lulo Bulo, who came to Elsenburg from Pretoria
Next she will move to a stint at Mullineux
Nicola Tipping showed the Mullineux Old Vines White 2024 made by Chris Mullineux in Riebeek-Kasteel,
a complex blend of Chenin Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Grenache Blanc, Semillon Gris and Viognier
Remarkable and excellent, as expected from this farm, full of flavour and class
Olifantsberg Family Vineyards winemaker Elizma Visser showed her Soul of the Mountain The Matriarch 2022
A blend of 69% Roussanne, with Grenache Blanc and a little Chenin Blanc
Delicious, with light but complex biscuity flavours and fruit brightness. From Breedekloof
Elizma was named Tim Atkin’s Young Winemaker of the Year in 2021
Donovan Rall's Rall White 2024, a blend of 69% Chenin Blanc, 29% Verdelho and 2% Viognierhas a quite foreign nose and is unfamiliar on the superb palate
but, oh, vive la difference, it makes such a good statement and succeeds in layers of seduction
Another perfect food wine
Stephanie Wiid's Thistle & Weed Khakibos White Blend 2024
is a blend of Verdelho, Chenin Blanc, Palomino, and Fernão Pires grapes,
all bought in as she does not have a vineyard
John Seccombe's Thorne and Daughters Rocking Horse Cape White 2023 made from 30% Roussanne, 28% Chenin blanc, 20% Chardonnay, 15% Semillon blanc and 7% Clairette blanche
Next came the Chardonnays, the biggest category in the tasting
Almenkerk Chardonnay 2023 was made by Cameron Corney. Crisp and enticing, good Elgin fruit
Boschendal Appellation Series Elgin Chardonnay 2022 was made by Charl Schoeman
It is wooded and a portion was fermented in foudres and concrete vessels
Boekenhoutskloof's Cap Maritime Chardonnay 2023 from the Hemel en Aarde was made by Gottfried Mocke
Shy at first on the nose, then complexity on nose and palate as it wakes up and shows its layers
Carefully made, as one would expect from Gottfried
Capensis Silene Chardonnay 2023, made by Graham Weerts and Mario Damon
Glenwood Vineyards Grand Duc Chardonnay 2023 from Franschhoek
made by Natasha Pretorius under the guidance of cellarmaster DP Burger
Delaire Graff Estate Banghoek Chardonnay 2024, shown by sales manager Jan-Nico Coetzee and Maggie Marais
Another excellent wine made by Morne Vrey
De Wetshof Estate Bateleur Chardonnay 2024, made by Johann de Wet in Robertson
It is the top wine in the range. It impressed us at the Cape Wine Chardonnay tasting in Franschhoek
and continues to do so
Sales manager Wim Braak showed the Peter Falke Chardonnay 2023, made by Werner Schrenk
Morvino and Siris directors Terence van der Walt and Clark Truter
enjoying a glass of Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Chardonnay 2024
with Wine Concepts Gardens owner Sue Proudfoot
It was made by Gordon Newton Johnson in the Hemel and Aarde
As always, impressive and the cool climate style we love to enjoy
Kershaw Wines Clonal Selection Chardonnay 2021, with their winemaking team, Dudley Wilson and Richard Kershaw MW
Hannes Nel showed his Lourensford Kleipot Chardonnay 2020 and it is rather special
No wood, made in tank with a portion from their clay pot (amphora)
Complex, nuanced, rather foreign in style with lovely fruit
Next a small but excellent category: White Bordeaux Blends
Sales manager Thea van der Merwe with Journey's End winemaker Mike Dawson
showed their enjoyable Journey's End Ad Infinitum 2022 white blend
made from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon; their maiden vintage
Winemakers Yolande van Staden and Matthew Andersen
showed the Morgenster The Reserve White Bordeaux blend 2023
Lovely greenness from the Sauvignon and full on the palate
Nitida Coronata Integration 2023 white Bordeaux blend from Durbanville was made by Helgard van Schalkwyk
The Tokara 2022 Directors Reserve White by winemaker Stuart Botha has good incense wood,
a great nose followed by judiciously used wood on the palate
Lovely crisp and lean flavours of lime and lemon and then the seductive Semillon appears
Next came the Chenin Blancs
De Trafford Chenin Blanc Reserva 2022 made by Hendry Hess
is full and friendly with good layered fruit. It was matured for 22 months in older oak
Leeuwenkuil Heritage Chenin Blanc 2021, made by Pieter Carstens, has wood to the fore, and follows with fruit
McFarlane Wines Monday's Child Chenin blanc 2024, made by Alexandra McFarlane
The wine is rounded on the palate with good layered warm fruit
Lynne with Alexandra
Perdeberg The Dry Land Collection Courageous Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2024 made by Andri le Roux
Always impressive. Hot grasslands on the nose, it is beautiful country for Chenins
Dry at first, then aromas and tastes of white pear and crisp lime
Pierre Wahl showed his Survivor Reserve Chenin Blanc 2022
Another warm country Chenin; crisp and layered, a hint of wood or lees
Winemaker Charles Lourens with the Zevenwacht Z Collection Chenin Blanc. The 2024 has lovely ripe quince fruit
And, finally, the Niche Varietals
Wynand Grobler showed his De Kleine Wijn Debutant Semillon 2023 from Franschhoek
Shy but yeasty on nose. Good layers of crisp fruit, chalky tannins, long and complex on the palate,
high quality, slightly French in style, and add food for magic
Winemaker Ruan van Schalkwyk showed the Boekenhoutskloof Semillon 2022
It could be nothing else than a complex, layered Semillon from the La Colline vineyard in Franschhoek
De Krans Tritoria Verdelho 2023 from Calitzdorp, where Portuguese varietals flourish, has Chanel perfume on the nose
Round on the palate with layers of crisp fruit, it spends 12 months in barrel, so long flavours which finish dry
A definite food wine for restaurant menus
It was shown by winemaker Christoff de Wet
Rene Reiser showed his Jacaranda Wine Estate Kintsugi Viognier 2024
It smells sweet, as Viognier often does, but it is not
Well balanced with a lovely mouthfeel, dryness from tannins, naturally fermented, another for food
Jessica Saurwein showed her Saurwein Chi Riesling 2025
The wine has lovely freshness, crispness and some sweetness, as one expects from well-made Riesling
An almost dry finish and long flavours. 8.5 gram/litre residual sweetness, so just off-dry
and, as we were leaving at the close, Caroline was busy at the sales counter. We thanked her for a marathon tasting
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