THE TOP-RATED wine going into the final round of judging at the 2025 Veritas Awards – the biggest, longest-running wine competition in South Africa where very high scores are tough to come by. The 2021 vintage of Dornier's Cape Bordeaux-style red blend Donatus – the name being Latin for a ‘gift from God'. The panel of judges: Rust en Vrede winemaker Danielle le Roux (convenor), Meerlust cellarmaster Wim Truter, Hermanuspietersfontein winemaker Wilhelm Pienaar, SA wine consultant Susan Erasmus and wine educator Yoshi Takahashi of Japan. Who wouldn't want to check it out!
Dornier is one of the few wine farms in Stellenbosch's Upper Blaauwklippen Valley, having undergone substantial investment since it was acquired in 2020 by successful businessman Jan Rupert, a member of various boards over the years and a cousin of Johann Rupert who heads up companies including Richemont and Remgro as well as various wine estates. During the past five years, some 50 000 new vines were planted (predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot but also Chardonnay, Semillon and Malbec), while buildings are being repurposed and restored – the accommodation facilities could be reopened in 2026 and the wine-tasting room is undergoing major refurbishment. Food offerings include charcuterie platters as well as bagels and Flammkuchen, with a restaurant being considered in development plans for the future.
No longer ‘flying under the radar', as some might have described Dornier a few years ago, Dornier is becoming a regular recipient of glowing reviews, particularly on the red wine front. Before the Donatus 2021 was judged 98/100 at Veritas '25, the 2021 Malbec was rated 96 points at the 2024 Veritas Awards, and the last three Dornier Merlot releases (vintages 2019, 2020 and 2021) have been winners in the annual Merlot SA Top 10 competition.
DORNIER DONATUS 2021
WO Stellenbosch. Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (13%), Malbec (13%), Cabernet Franc (7%) and Petit Verdot (7%). Trellised vines, drip irrigation. Vineyards planted between 2000 and 2009 on the slopes of Stellenbosch Mountain where the soil has a high clay content. Grapes hand-picked and sorted in the cellar. The different varieties were kept separate in open-top fermenters with pump-overs four times a day. Malolactic fermentation in 225L French oak barrels (a third new), where the wine was then matured for 24 months before blending. Fined and lightly filtered. Ready to enjoy on release. Maturation potential: five to seven years at least.
Alc 14.5 | RS 2.8 | TA 5.8 | pH 3.5
From Winemaker Philip van Staden's Tasting Notes: The nose is bursting with flavours of blackcurrant and liquorice. The palate is refined and elegant with silky tannins – abundant flavours of blackberry and cassis, with hints of dark cherry and cedarwood.
Producer's Pairing Suggestions: Lamb, venison or rare beef fillet; springbok carpaccio, beef or lamb stews prepared with red wine and tomatoes; earthy, rich vegetarian dishes.
R410pb ex-cellar, Blaauwklippen Road, Stellenbosch.
