SA Luxury Wines

OVER R1000 ON RELEASE

What winery proprietors present as very special achievements for very special occasions, wines that will only be enjoyed by those happy to invest considerable sums in their liquid pleasures. These are the flagships and luxury offerings from South African cellars that sell for more per bottle than what most wine lovers spend on a case or three. Click on the labels above or see below for links to more about these producers and their collector’s items.

888

The flagship of Rijk’s Wine Estate, Tulbagh. 888 Pinotage Gold is a rare wine “for the select few. Only 888 bottles produced each vintage, individually numbered and registered.”

1694 Classification

Flagship of Rust en Vrede, Stellenbosch. Red blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz. “Officially granted by the Governor of the Cape on March 12th, 1694, Rust en Vrede is proud to be part of a remarkable 300-year-old wine tradition… This wine honours the previous custodians of the Estate and it’s produced from the highest quality, designated Single Vineyards.”

Agrandi

Cuvée Agrandi is the flagship of the sparkling wine house GM&Ahrens, Franschhoek. WO Western Cape: grapes harvested from 13 different pockets. “A showstopper. The Cuvée Agrandi is a limited edition six-year matured Vintage Cap Classique, a classic blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.” Each bottle is a one-of-a-kind piece of beaded art, proudly designed and ‘painted’ with beads by a handful of artists in KwaZulu-Natal under the Ubuhle Beads brand.

Anthonij Rupert

Flagship Bordeaux-style blend of Rupert Wines, Franschhoek. WO Western Cape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from L’Ormarins in Franschhoek and Rooderust in Darling – the farms owned by Johann Rupert, brother of the late Anthonij Rupert. “The pinnacle of quality, achieved by using only the best grapes from the best-suited terroirs and processed by the most sophisticated machinery in winemaking today.”

Avalon

Flagship of Asara Estate, Stellenbosch. Amarone-style red blend: Pinotage, Shiraz. “Asara’s Speciality range is an eclectic collection of wines that represent a twist on regional specialities. Niche and unique, the range reflects the quality of an estate whose vinous history dates back to 1691.”

Banghoek

Red blend from Delaire Graff Estate, Stellenbosch. WO Banghoek, Stellenbosch: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec. “A love letter to its namesake, showcasing a delicate mélange of history, structure, aroma, tannin and flavour of poised distinction.”

Black Lion

Shiraz from De Toren Private Cellar, Stellenbosch. WO Western Cape: grapes from Swartland and Stellenbosch. “A wine crafted from the ancient soils of Africa, cultivated from specially selected vines and nurtured by special hand manicuring and individual attention. Truly an international wine, positioned to stand proud amongst its peers…”

Book XVII

Bordeaux-style red from De Toren Private Cellar, Stellenbosch. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc. “A tribute to the viticulture wisdom, research and scrupulous documentation of ancient Roman philosopher, Pliny the Elder, this limited-edition wine, produced in association with Luxumbourg-registered company, Expression Unique SARL, is worthy of its illustrious place on the global fine-wine podium… Food pairing: Cuban cigar… A showcase wine, to show the world what South Africa is capable of producing.”

Capensis

Chardonnay from joint venture between Antony Beck of Graham Beck Wines, Robertson, and Barbara Banke of Jackson Family Wines in Santa Rosa, California (USA). WO Western Cape: vineyards in Stellenbosch, Overberg, Robertson and Klein Karoo. “Capensis celebrates the character of the extreme vineyard sites of South Africa’s Western Cape through the noble white variety, Chardonnay… It embodies the unparalleled quality that comes from old, gnarled vines planted in some of the oldest soils in the world.”

Catalina

“The Benguela Cove Catalina Semillon is made from a single vineyard and celebrates exceptional quality while honouring the history of the land on which Benguela Cove is built. The wine is named after the long-lived Flying Boat that was on lease to the RAF (Royal Airforce) and operated from the Bot River Lagoon during the Second World War.”

Deconstructed

Single site, soil and clone wines from Richard Kershaw MW, who specialises in Chardonnay and Shiraz/Syrah. “The Elgin region boasts credentials that make it world-class. To bolster these regional credentials, I have set out to prove that Elgin has both a signature grape, as well as specific ‘terroirs’ / meso-climates that reflect intra-regional distinctions. To fully comprehend this, it is necessary to dig deeper into the nuances/DNA…”

Dirty Little Secret

Chenin Blanc from Ken Forrester Vineyards, Stellenbosch. WO Piekenierskloof: grapes from a very old dryland vineyard planted in 1965. “A tribute hopefully to the age and concentration of the vines, as well as to low, very low interruptive winemaking… a natural wine in every sense!”

Divas

Chenin Blanc from DeMorgenzon, Stellenbosch. The Divas grapes are selected from a special parcel of low-yielding vines planted in 1972. “A wine of incredible density and precision… A true statement of DeMorgenzon’s dedication to excellence.”

Echo of G

Multi-terroir red blend from 4G Wines of Cape Town (head office in Switzerland). WO Western Cape: Cabernet Sauvgnon, Petit Verdot, Shiraz and Cabernet Franc selected from 10 different vineyards. “Second wine to the ‘First Growth of the Cape’, this œuvre enjoys the same uncompromised quality as G.”

Eden

Cabernet Franc from Raats Family Family Wines, Stellenbosch. Grapes from a high density single vineyard the size of a garden. “Quality by design… Soil preparation, clone selection, high-density planting formation… Exceptional wines with a unique sense of place.”

Elevation 393

The flagship wine of De Trafford in Stellenbosch. A selection of the best barrels from the home vineyard at 393m above sea level. “Usually the core of the blend is Cabernet Sauvignon which is in the middle of the vineyard. Followed by Merlot, from the richer clay soil at the bottom of the vineyard & Syrah, at the highest and steepest section…”

Elysium

Top of the range red blend from Holden Manz, Franschhoek. “This unique co-fermented wine is only possible due to the rare occurrence of Merlot and Syrah ripening at the same time… The individual varietals were hand-picked… then hand-sorted, allowing only the most optimally ripe berries to be used for this wine. Only 800 bottles produced.”

Erica

Limited premium range from Raka, in the foothills of the Kleinrivier Mountains between Stanford and Caledon where fijnbos including ericas (wild heather) abounds. “A special wine… A small amount… Only sold locally… Exceptional: as unique as the ericas.”

G

Multi-terroir red blend from 4G Wines of Cape Town (head office in Switzerland). WO Western Cape: Cabernet Sauvgnon, Petit Verdot, Shiraz and Cabernet Franc selected from 10 different vineyards. “First Growth of the Cape. Drawing from the best of the Old and the New World. Destined to take its place among the greatest wines of the globe… Uncompromised quality is the Leitmotiv for this wine.”

Gargantua

Single Vineyard Muscadel from Thelema, Stellenbosch. Luxurious sweet wine with remarkable flavour profile.

Garland

Flagship red from Simonsig, Stellenbosch. Simonsig’s first super premium wine, The Garland is made from single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon grapes situated against the slopes of Stellenbosch’s Simonsberg Mountain, famous for its superb terroir and ideal soils to grow world-class Cabernet Sauvignon.

Grand Constance

Dessert wine from Groot Constantia. Natural Sweet: Muscat de Frontignan. “An important part of World Wine Heritage and South Africa’s oldest wine. Grand Constance, the French translation for Groot Constantia, was an established brand revered in the time of Napoleon Bonaparte, King Louis Philippe of France and Frederic the Great of Prussia when they were clients of Groot Constantia. Modelled on remnants of bottles found in the USA, Scandinavia, Europe and UK, dating back to the late 1700s, Grand Constance is a celebration of the legendary wines that made Groot Constantia world famous.”

Hanneli R

Flagship red blend from La Motte Estate, Franschhoek. WO Western Cape: a Shiraz-based, Rhône-style blend for which the mix of varieties varies from vintage to vintage. Bearing the name of property owner, Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg. Embodying the values of dedication and excellence.

Hazendal Carignan

Limited release from Hazendal Estate in Bottelary, Stellenbosch. WO Wellington. Single barrel.

Jem

Flagship of Waterford Estate, Stellenbosch. Red Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Barbera. The Jem is “named after the owner of Waterford Estate, Jeremy Ord, or ‘Jem’, as he is affectionately known. This is a master blend of different red varietals that collectively epitomise the best of the vintage at Waterford Estate… Cabernet Sauvignon serves as the base and the blend is completed by different varietals of Mediterranean origin.”

Journeyman

Red blend from Boekenhoutskloof, Franschhoek. “Over time, Boekenhoutskloof has established that Cabernet Franc is the cultivar best suited to the terroir of our property in the furthest corner of the beautiful Franschhoek valley, with three top-performing blocks having been planted in 1994 and 1995. The remainder of the grapes comes from a [1996] Merlot block, also on Boekenhoutskloof.”

Kanonkop Black

Pinotage from Kanonkop Wine Estate, Stellenbosch. “To many, Kanonkop is considered to be the South African equivalent of a Premier Cru or First Growth. For others, Kanonkop is not just a wine estate…” A single Pinotage vineyard planted in 1953 is the birthplace of this prized red wine with a black label.

Laurence Graff

Flagship red from Delaire Graff Estate, Stellenbosch. WO Banghoek, Stellenbosch: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec. “The diamond among the jewels…” The only wine from the estate to also carry the first name of the owner, jeweller and diamond dealer, art collector and philanthropist, Laurence Graff.

Le Lude

Méthode Cap Classique sparkling wines from Le Lude, Franschhoek. WO Western Cape: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir. “The Prestige Agrafe is the best of the best… Selected from the best parcels of the vintage… Undergoes a second fermentation under a specifically selected cork [instead of metal crown cap] and remains on the lees for 60 months…” One of several cuvées in a range of luxury wines.

Leeu Passant

‘Dry Red Wine’ from Mullineux & Leeu, Franschhoek. WO Western Cape: a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Cinsaut from Wellington, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, with the two Cinsaut vineyards dating back to the early 1900s. “Inspired by the classic French wines of the Cape from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s which were unique to the culture, terroir, history and tastes of the Cape.”

Lost & Found

Straw Wine from Alheit Vineyards, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Grapes from old Hanepoot vines, WO Breedekloof.

Maandans

Single Vineyard Pinotage from Longridge, Stellenbosch. Heritage block of vines over 40 years old. Grown naturally. Extraordinary wine.

Misterie

Merlot from Longridge, Stellenbosch. From two blocks of vines farmed according to biodynamic/organic practices Extraordinary vintage.

M.P.H.S.

The pinnacle of the range from Alto, Stellenbosch. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. “A flagship release made in tribute to the estate’s previous winemakers, whose initials make up the name. Produced only in exceptional vintages, this exclusive blend of noble cultivars encapsulates the thread of family, tradition and quality that has run through Alto for close on a century. The final blend is never cast in stone; it must simply be the very best wine of the best harvest. Alto M.P.H.S. is the ultimate expression of Alto.”

MR

MR de Compostella from Mzokona Mvemve and Bruwer Raats, Stellenbosch. Red Blend: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot. “Consistent, world-class quality wine every vintage… The magic of MR is in the process, as each vintage requires refined craft, skilled precision and endless patience.”

Mullineux

Produced in exceptional vintages and in small quantities, a range of ultra premium, terroir-specific Swartland Syrah labelled Schist, Iron and Granite. From Andrea and Chris Mullineux of Riebeek-Kasteel.

Navitas

Red blend from Avondale, Paarl. “An exclusive, limited release, elegantly-wooded wine, Navitas is a slow-made, traditional Rhône Blend of organically grown Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache grapes that is presented in a beautiful Gift Box.”

O.T.V.

Flagship of Uva Mira, Stellenbosch. Red Blend: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon. Commemorating the lifework of property owner Ockert Tobias Venter. “Single varietals blended to enhance their individual virtues of flavour and texture. Predicting the future, imagining evolution… A wine of distinction.”

Olerasay

Straw Wine from Mullineux, Riebeek Kasteel: a special, fractionally-blended sweet Chenin Blanc made in a solera style with the grapes from vines on the slopes of the Kasteelberg and the Paardeberg, WO Swartland. Every year that a vintage straw wine is bottled, a portion is held back to blend and mature in a solera which contains some of every Mullineux Straw Wine dating back to 2008, continually gaining complexity and concentrating in flavour, richness and acidity.

Pionier

Pionier is the flagship Pinotage of Lanzerac in Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch. “The year 1925 saw Professor Abraham Izak Perold, the first Professor of Viticulture at the University of Stellenbosch, successfully cross two grape varietals, Pinot Noir and Hermitage (Cinsaut). Lanzerac Pionier Pinotage is a tribute to the world’s first bottled Pinotage – a 1959 Lanzerac Pinotage. This visionary release marked the birth of Pinotage as a unique variety from South Africa.”

Saxenburg Select

Shiraz Select is the flagship of Saxenburg Estate in Kuils River, Stellenbosch. “A collection of uncompromised perfection in a bottle. Produced only in optimal years and sourced from the best vineyards on the farm… The true expression of Saxenburg’s very finest grapes.”

Sekelmaan

Saronsberg’s flagship, the ‘Sickle Moon’ is the first single-vineyard wine from the estate in Tulbagh, their finest Shiraz. “Respect for the integrity of time is embedded in each one of the 1500 bottles… From the careful handpicking of grapes, through extended maceration on the skins during open-tank fermentation, to the 20 months in new French oak and a further 60 months spent maturing in bottle – everything about this wine epitomises that true quality cannot be rushed.”

Shannon Black

Flagship red of Shannon Vineyards, Elgin. 100% Merlot. “Each year one of the five aspects or clones of the Mount Bullet 3ha single vineyard shows unique characteristics of that particular vintage. If special enough, it is nurtured further in the cellar…”

Sir David Graaff

Flagship blend of De Grendel in Panorama, Durbanville Wine Route. WO Western Cape: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot from vines over 30 years old. “In honour of the life and legacy of Sir David Pieter De Villiers Graaff, the 1st Baronet of Cape Town, this red wine of exceptional quality was produced in tribute to the exemplary character and remarkable achievements of this great man.”

Sophia

Red blend from Jordan Wine Estate, Stellenbosch: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc. “Sophia, meaning wisdom in Greek, is presented  with an owl on her shoulder, symbolising wisdom. In her right hand she holds a laurel wreath, the symbol of peace and success. Her three daughters, the Saints Faith, Hope and Charity or Love – Pistis, Elpis and Agape – are symbolised by the sun, moon and earth, representing the characteristics of the three classic Bordeaux varieties that make up this exceptional wine.”

Teano

Flagship wine of Dalla Cia, Stellenbosch. “A blend of classic Bordeaux varieties and the elegant Tuscan Sangiovese grape… Classically styled… Elegant and approachable… From the best grape growers in the Stellenbosch area… Built out of respect for the grape and terroir.”

Telos

Flagship red blend from Tokara, Stellenbosch: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot. A Greek term, Telos translates as: end, purpose or goal – an ultimate object(ive) or aim. “A wine of great precision and intensity from the first taste to the persistent finish.”

Tête de Cuvée

Flagship of Bouchard Finlayson, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. A cameo selection of the top Pinot Noir barrels from any particular vintage. “This is our winemakers’ opportunity to showcase the very best… Tête de Cuvée is not presented at every vintage, but only considered in those that offer exceptional quality fruit. The emphasis here is placed on attaching the best Pinot Noir ferments to best new wood with the intention of sculpting a top quality,
collectors wine.”

V

Cab-based red blend of Vergelegen, Somerset West. WO Stellenbosch District: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from Schaapenberg vineyards. The flagship red from an estate whose winemaking philosophy is simple: “There must be harmony between the old and the new.”

Vilafonté

Series C is a Cab-based blend from red wine cellar Vilafonté, Stellenbosch. WO Paarl: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec. The Vilafonté philosophy embodies an obsession with quality, from the soil through to the bottle, and an absolute focus on luxury positioning.

Vin de Constance

Natural Sweet dessert wine from Klein Constantia. Muscat de Frontignan. “Over 300 years of history in every bottle… A recreation of the original mythical Constantia sweet wine so beloved in the 18th and 19th centuries… Legendary wine… [Re]introduced in 1986, Vin de Constance has consistently appeared in lists of the world’s top wines.”

Webb Ellis

Flagship of Neil Ellis, Stellenbosch. Red blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Shiraz. “Webb Ellis bridges the way going forward, embracing the past, the present and the future. The wine is symbolic of the sharing of knowledge and wisdom from generation to generation, marrying traditional methods with new techniques, and embodying a spirit of innovation, open mindedness and joint respect. It is finesse and integrity.”

 


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One comment

  • Wonderful to be considered one of South Africa’s luxury wines – and to be listed amongst such incredible wines.