THE GOOD people of Capensis don't have their own winery, and would rather not say where it is that they're renting cellar space. But does it matter? These Chardonnay specialists, who use vineyards in various regions of South Africa's Cape winelands, do their entertaining at ‘Kliphuis' in the Banghoek valley on the eastern side of Stellenbosch, i.e. on the Zevenrivieren Road off the Helshoogte Pass (R310) leading to Franschhoek. Built at Fijnbosch Vineyards, the home farm of Capensis, their ‘stone house' began taking shape in 2022 and has gone on to attract attention as a wine-tasting venue with a difference, a space to relax inside or out, surrounded by fynbos (indigenous plants) and grape vines. A smart yet rustic address in a beautiful part of the countryside with neighbours including Bartinney and Oldenburg. Who minds if their fermentation tanks and oak barrels are located somewhere else…
Meaning ‘from the Cape', Capensis belongs to Barbara Banke, proprietor of the Jackson Family Wines' group of estates based in California, USA. The outfit now also features a Cabernet Sauvignon, the maiden vintage 2023 in the process of being launched at the time of writing, however it's with different expressions of Chardonnay that SA winemaker Graham Weerts and his team have built the brand's reputation, getting rave reviews by various top panels over the years. Of late, the single-vineyard Capensis Fijnbosch 2020 was rated 96 out of 100 in Platter's 2025 SA Wine Guide, and, particularly impressive given that it sells for a fraction of the price that the Fijnbosch is priced at, the 2022 Capensis Silene Chardonnay achieved a gold medal at the 2024 Global Wine Masters in London shortly after being scored 97 points at the International Wine & Spirit Competition, also in the UK.
And talk about consistency! The 2021 Silene was scored 96 points and won a trophy at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards and International W&S Competition respectively; the 2020 Silene was one of the Top 12 most highly rated Chardonnays at the 2023 Global Wine Masters; the 2019 Seline achieved a 96-point rating in the 2022 edition of Platter's…
CAPENSIS SILENE CHARDONNAY 2022
WO Stellenbosch: 45% of the grapes from the Helderberg, 28% from Banghoek. Wine aged for 10 months in French oak barrels (30% new).
Alc 14 | RS 2.5 | TA 6.3 | pH 3.37
IWSC Tasting Notes: Aromas of golden apples, fresh pears and a hint of tropical mango led to a palate bursting with lively lemon and quince. A touch of vanilla oak complements the long and elegantly creamy…
Producer's Tasting Notes: Alluring citrus notes of lemon peel, grapefruit and subtle notes of nectarine on the back palate, refined by a hint of cream. Ample grip and intensity…
R395pb ex-producer, Banghoek-Stellenbosch.
