2023
Estate Argyros Assyrtiko 2023
The flagship wine is the Santorini Assyrtiko. This is produced from meticulously selected parcels of vines, some of which are over 100 years of age. Fermented in stainless steel at cool temperatures and aged for two months in stainless steel tanks on the fine lees, this is the wine at the very heart of the family estate.
Estate Argyros Atlantis White 2023
Newton Johnson Albariño 2023
Newton Johnson Albariño 2023, "This vintage marks the tenth release of an Albariño from the Newton Johnsons, who now have three hectares of the variety in the ground. Very lightly wood in stainless steel, concrete eggs and (for 9% of the blend) an old foudre, it has peach and passion fruit flavours, a hint of appealing bitterness and a stony finish." - Tim Atkin MW
BLANKbottle Orbitofrontal Cortex 2023
"Twelve different grape varieties make up the blend here, produced by Pieter Walser using his conscious mind. (There was a one-off "unconscious" assemblage as well!) Clairette Blanche, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne and Roussanne are all important components, creating a complex, layered white with lime, pear, rose water and orange zest flavours, a nip of tannin and a lingering finish." - Tim Atkin MW
BLANKbottle Familiemoord 2023
"Family Murder - is one of Pieter Walser's most famous wines, based on a true story with a happy ending about mistaken identity. Made with Grenache from Braam Marais' farm in Piekenierskloof, it's a refined, layered, fynbos-scented red with graceful tannins, lots of zip and minerality and flavours of pomegranate, strawberry and rooibos tea." - Tim Atkin MW
David & Nadia Grenache Noir 2023 Magnum
"Four different vineyards on iron, granite, schist and clay soils, supply the fruit for this impressive Swartland Grenache. Fermented with 60% whole bunches followed by a further month on skins, this is deceptively light and ethereal, with redcurrant, strawberry and pomegranate flavours, fine-boned tannins and a mineral core." - Tim Atkin MW
David & Nadia “Aristargos” 2023 Magnum
"Chenin Blanc based, with the other 49% made up of eight different, mostly Mediterranean varieties, this is a beautifully judged assemblage from David and Nadia Sadie. Curated in neutral oak, with subtle bitterness from partial skin contact, it has enticing layers of passion fruit, pear and lemongrass and a stony, slightly salty finish." - Tim Atkin MW
David & Nadia Chenin Blanc 2023 Magnum
"Our bread and butter", is how David Sadie describes this old-vine Chenin Blanc, sourced from eight different sites on the Paardeberg, most of which are on granite. Earthy, stony, layered and refreshing, it offers scents of fennel and lanolin and a palate of citrus, green apple, leesy complexity and a palate-cleansing finish." - Tim Atkin MW
David & Nadia Grenache Noir 2023
"Four different vineyards on iron, granite, schist and clay soils, supply the fruit for this impressive Swartland Grenache. Fermented with 60% whole bunches followed by a further month on skins, this is deceptively light and ethereal, with redcurrant, strawberry and pomegranate flavours, fine-boned tannins and a mineral core." - Tim Atkin MW
David & Nadia Aristargos 2023
"Chenin Blanc based, with the other 49% made up of eight different, mostly Mediterranean varieties, this is a beautifully judged assemblage from David and Nadia Sadie. Curated in neutral oak, with subtle bitterness from partial skin contact, it has enticing layers of passion fruit, pear and lemongrass and a stony, slightly salty finish." - Tim Atkin MW
David & Nadia Chenin Blanc 2023
"Our bread and butter", is how David Sadie describes this old-vine Chenin Blanc, sourced from eight different sites on the Paardeberg, most of which are on granite. Earthy, stony, layered and refreshing, it offers scents of fennel and lanolin and a palate of citrus, green apple, leesy complexity and a palate-cleansing finish." - Tim Atkin MW
Rall Concrete Syrah 2023
"This 3 release of the Syrah made from one of the schist vineyards used for the Ava, was picked early, fermented naturally with 100% whole bunches and aged only in concrete to preserve the primary fruit and crunchy tannins of Syrah grown on these soils.
Even with a modest alc of only 12.5% this wine has a beautiful gripping structure, savoury palate and very expressive nose of fynbos, meat and dark spices. 4844 bottles produced" - Winemaker's notes
Rall White 2023 Magnum
"This blend of Chenin Blanc 71%, Verdelho 26% and Viognier 3% that started it all for Rall wines back in 2008 now already in its 16th vintage remains the cornerstone of what we do. No other wine in the portfolio has achieved the level of consistency year on year over the last decade or so and this 2023 is no differnet.
Even after 7 consecutive 5 star Platters ratings this wine I believe is another step up. Grapes are still grown mainly in the ancient granitic soils of the Paardeberg and now also contains a big portion of fruit from the oldest vineyard we work with planted in 1969. All components are fermented naturally and matured separately in a combination of 2000 litre foudre, seasoned small French oak, concrete eggs and amphora before blending and bottling after 10 months with minimal filtration." - Winemaker's notes
Rall Grenache Blanc 2023
"From 2 vineyards in this vintage predominantly the same high altitude bush vines from Piekenierskloof and another vineyard grown on schist.
In the cellar the grapes were whole-bunch pressed and transferred without settling straight to 2 concrete eggs for fermentation and maturation. This vintage has more texture than recent years, flintiness and a touch of reduction typical of early harvested grapes fermented in concrete. As always bottled early after only 8 months to preserve the freshness of this wine. 5652 bottles produced" - Winemaker's notes
Rall Cinsault 2023
"Now mainly from Darling old vines planted in 1982 and grown on iron rich clay soils. Semi-carbonic fermentation occurs naturally using 100% whole-bunches before aging for 8 months in 3000 liter Foudre and older small French oak barrels. The 2023 has lots of layers and some beautiful red fruit with crunchy, coated tannins from the stems and fresh acidity to bring the balance. No doubt our most serious Cinsault offering to date." - Winemaker's notes
Rall White 2023
"This blend of Chenin Blanc 71%, Verdelho 26% and Viognier 3% that started it all for Rall wines back in 2008 now already in its 16th vintage remains the cornerstone of what we do. No other wine in the portfolio has achieved the level of consistency year on year over the last decade or so and this 2023 is no differnet.
Even after 7 consecutive 5 star Platters ratings this wine I believe is another step up. Grapes are still grown mainly in the ancient granitic soils of the Paardeberg and now also contains a big portion of fruit from the oldest vineyard we work with planted in 1969. All components are fermented naturally and matured separately in a combination of 2000 litre foudre, seasoned small French oak, concrete eggs and amphora before blending and bottling after 10 months with minimal filtration." - Winemaker's notes
Alheit Vineyards Hemelrand Vine Garden 2023.
"We had lovely moderate temperatures during the ripening season, punctuated by regular rain. The Chenin blanc in particular starting developing beautiful dry noblerot (botrytis) several days before picking. We always have some noble rot in Hemelrand, but the amount and the quality thereof in 2023 separates this vintage from all previous. The nose shows the classic stone fruit and exotic flavours that we expect from Vine Garden, but then there’s dried orange peel and apricot from the noble berries. The palate is full and quite powerful. The usual high acidity carries the whole wine to along, tapered finish." - The Winemaker's notes
Alheit Vineyards Hereafter Here 2023
"As with the 2022 wine, reasonably good yields meant that we had some old vineyard wine available to bolster the young vine fruit that this wine was created for. The wine is more subtle and more mellow in personality that previous vintages. It shows some yellow fruit and sweet herbs on the nose, quite pretty but not loud. The palate is savoury for a Chenin. It seems like a slow-moving deep-water swell of flavour that builds and falls in its own time. This wine will be a great companion at the dinner table." - Winemaker's notes
