OVER R1500 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

A 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.

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.” Top of the range: Capensis Fijnbosch.

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.”

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 (cellar in Somerset West, 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.”

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.”

G

Multi-terroir red blend from 4G Wines of Cape Town (cellar in Somerset West, 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.”

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 Label

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 Agrafe

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.”

Misterie

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

MR

Mvemve Raats 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

Ultra-premium relative to the ‘Signature’ and Kloof St’ wines is the ‘Single Terroir’ range of wines produced in exceptional vintages and in small quantities – terroir-specific Swartland Syrah labelled Schist (Roundstone), 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.

Patronus

Malbec from De Toren Private Cellar, Stellenbosch. “Born from a desire to craft one of the finest ultra-premium Malbec wines in the world, comes the distinct De Toren Patronus. Harvested from decades-old vines.”

Rust en Vrede Single Vineyard

From Rust en Vrede, Stellenbosch. First a Single Vineyard Syrah, then also a Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. “Generational contribution to the family legacy,” a pure expression of only the best that Rust en Vrede has to offer, priced just below the estate’s ‘1694 Classification’ Cab/Syrah blend.

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

The flagship Merlot from Shannon Vineyards in Elgin. “Each year one of the five aspects or clones of the Mount Bullet 3ha single vineyard shows unique characteristics of that vintage. If special enough it is nurtured further in the cellar and then a small amount has an extraordinary sovereign hand-bottling.”

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.”

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.”

 

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