YOU CAN COUNT the number of today’s Top Cape Vintage Port producers on one hand… Okay, maybe two. It’s very specialist, very niche, but very good. One or two in Stellenbosch, one or two in Paarl and Wellington, plus a few in various other districts, however it’s Calitzdorp that has been the Port Capital of South Africa for several decades now. In this small town, two farms stand out, two cellars whose track records for great port-style wines reviewed this century overshadow those of any other winery in the country. And the Nels, Boets and Stroebel, together with winemaker Christoff de Wet, have enjoyed another couple of glowing reviews for their flagship this year.

Having earned 5 Stars in the 2022 edition of Platter’s SA Wine Guide, the 2019 vintage of De Krans Vintage Reserve was then judged Best in Class and Sweet Wine of the Year at the 2022 National Wine Challenge. And this follows a similar accolade in Platter’s for the 2018 vintage, the title of best Cape Port at the Trophy Wine Show with the 2017, platinum for the 2016 vintage at the Michelangelo Awards, and so on… It’s one of only two Ports in the Top 100 SA Wine Classification. “We’re the biggest little winery in the world from the Klein Karoo,” as the cellarmaster likes to put it.

Portuguese varieties of grape vine for port-making are said to have been planted in Calitzdorp for the first time in 1973, Tinta Barocca being the first. De Krans’s Cape Vintage Reserve is now based on Touriga Naçional and the result is marvellous.

DE KRANS CAPE VINTAGE RESERVE 2019
WO Calitzdorp. Fortified, Port Style. 71% Touriga Naçional (planted in 1994), 23% Tinta Roriz (planted in 2007) and 6% Tinta Barocca (planted in 2008). Trellised vines, micro-irrigated. Grapes hand-picked in late-February at 26ºB. Bunches destemmed and crushed. Spontaneous fermentation in open-top concrete tank, stopped by the addition of alcohol to the must, followed by pressing of the skins. Matured in large oak vats for 20 months.
Alc 19 | RS 96 | TA 5.6 | pH 3.9
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: Dark black colour with plum red rim. Very aromatic nose of ripe red berries and cherries, violets and dark chocolate. A big wine full of ripe dark fruit notes, plums, mulberry and black currants. Well-rounded, with smooth dark chocolate undertones and firm tannins. Will mature for well over 30 years.
Producer’s Pairing Recommendation: Well-matured cheese. “Any strong matured cheddar or blue cheese will work,” says Boets Nel. “Even a good cigar!”
R375pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp.