NO OTHER CAPE PORT has been more highly rated during the past 12 months. In 2020 it was judged Best in Class at the Trophy Wine Show, Best in Class at the National Wine Challenge and one of the Top 10 in the Winemag’s report on the category. This after several top accolades in 2019: 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Double Gold at the Veritas Awards and a Top 10 laureate in the Cape Port Challenge.

Situated in the Port Capital of South Africa, De Krans wine cellar of Calitzdorp has been one of the country’s two most successful producers of this sweet, warming nectar for several decades and Boets Nel’s Cape Vintage Reserve ranks among South Africa’s Top 100 wines overall, featuring in the Top Wine SA Hall of Fame for many years.

And the farm’s run of good form is hardly likely to end anytime soon: apparently the yet-to-be-released 2018 vintage is yet another beauty, with a 5 Star rating in the yet-to-be-printed 2021 edition of Platter’s!

DE KRANS CAPE VINTAGE RESERVE 2017
WO Calitzdorp. From Portuguese varieties including Touriga Naçional (79%), Tinta Barocca (15%) and Tinta Roriz (6%), with some of the plantings dating back to the late 1970s. Vines trellised and micro-irrigated. Hand-picking. Spontaneous fermentation (no cultivated yeast). Fortified; port style. Maturation in large wooden vats for 20 months.
Alc 18.9 | RS 90.4 | TA 5.4 | pH 3.9
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: Black, with plum-red rim. Aromatic nose of ripe red berries and cherries, violets and dark chocolate. A big wine tasting of plums, mulberry and black currants. Smooth, dark chocolate undertones and firm tannins.
Maturation Potential: Will mature well for up to 30 years at least.
Food Pairing: Enjoy with some well-matured cheese – a blue, such as Stilton, or a strong cheddar.
Cellar-door price: R325pb.