South African Wines

Episode 29 represents the 5th ever Chenin Blanc released by The Liberator (and there you were thinking this was a blatant and cynical reference to a famous perfume). It also happens to be the single largest Liberator ‘Episode’ release to date.

This South African blend is made from grapes, mainly Shiraz, grown in the Stellenbosch, Paarl and Elgin regions. This wine is created to show the fresh, fruity and spice driven flavours of these Rhône varietals. The colour is youthful and purple/red. The nose is one of crushed black pepper, dark mulberry and mixed berry coulis.

Made reductively in order to maximize the fruit personality of the vintage. An intense nose of peaches, apricots and mineral citrus fruit. The palate is mouth-watering with minerality flinty notes on the finish.

One of our biggest selling reds, the Meerlust Red is made from the fruit that`s not quite good enough for the celebrated Rubicon, but is still an excellent expression of the style. This wine has an intense, opaque deep ruby colour, bright and vivacious in the glass, very youthful.

This vintage is a beautiful expression of the grape capturing the full flavour and potential that our terroir has to offer. It is a delicious example of cooler climate Chenin Blanc fermented in concrete and stainless steel tanks. Dry, fresh and delicious!

Making up 50% of all plantings, Kanonkop`s Pinotage vines have been retained as bush vines to provide optimum sunlight and therefore maximum ripeness. A deep purple-red colour, with a bright rim. This Pinotage offers notes of raspberry, strawberry and red cherry which is balanced by sweet spice, plum, redcurrant and supple tannins.

The latest episode in the series by The Liberator is a beautiful and complex blend of Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Franc expertly crafted by our friends at Eagles' Nest.

The juice was barrel-fermented then matured “sur lie” in the barrel for 9 months with occasional rolling of the barrels to accentuate the leesy character. 8% tank-fermented Chardonnay was blended with the barrel-fermented wine to ensure well-balanced citrus flavours.

Strong citrus and guava aromas on the nose with ripe pineapple and peach flavours that follows through on the palate along with crisp pear. These are complemented by a long, clean, crisp aftertaste making this a remarkably concentrated yet fresh and fruity style of Chenin Blanc which will develop with bottle ageing.

Super Single Vineyards Pella Oukliprant Malbec is made from hand sorted grapes and the qualtiy shines through. Both free run and pressed juice is used and the wine matures for 14months in French oak. The result is stunning.

Lysa, from the Old Norse for "to bring in the light; to proclaim" Vibrant, pure and elegant with a fruit forward style, the wine is naturally fermented with no added yeast or nutrients, unoaked with 3 months of lees contact.

Ernie Els` Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards grow on the warm north-facing slopes of the Helderberg region within the Stellenbosch appellation. Medium in body but full in character, charm and structure with notes of cassis, mint, baked plums and liquorice on the nose, leading to a richly-fruited palate.

This is a classic style, restrained elegance with a mouthfilling fruit core, and pronounced aromatics of fresh black plums, mulberries, violets and pencil shaving minerality. Tannins are supple and well structured with fresh acidity to support an opulent mid palate for texture and balance. A fantastic wine! 

Another stunner from the team at Botanica wines. This Chardonnay is pale blonde in colour and has lovely citrus notes on the nose. The lemon zest and lime comes through on the palate supported by nutmeg and a touch of vanilla. The vanilla lingers on the palate and the super creamy mouthfeel is off set by the refreshing acidity. Smashing!

Originally a section of the Groot Constantia estate, Eagles Nest is a high quality estate with winemaking/growing by Kevin Watt and Cape legend, Martin Meinert.The only white is Viognier, planted at the insistence of Executive Director, Peter Stewart, who loves the variety.

Sourced from grapes grown on the Paul Cluver farm in Elgin. Just 300 cases. The wine is raised in old oak in order to maintain elegance and delicacy.

The Mullineux Old Vines White is a Chenin heavy blend from Swartland. Pale straw in colour, this wine has a nose of ripe, green citrus fruit and Christmas spices. The palate is fresh and richly textured, with notes of ripe pears, almonds and peaches, and a clove-like finish.

From an estate part owned by Chateau Angelus and Cos, the aim of the Estate Red Blend was to make the wine as elegant and terroir expressive as possible. Rich and dark on the nose with black cherries, mulberries and spiced wood along with hints of sweet spices such as vanilla.

This cool climate Semillon, from Elgin is matured for 10 months in old oak, it’s refreshing and clean with lime green hues with green apples and straw on the nose. The third wine, after her Pinot Noir and Chenin Blanc, from this innovative winemaker who hails from the States.

Bordeaux blend. Very deep, youthful colour, intense almost purple hue. Very classic Rubicon nose with violets, ripe plum, cedarwood and intense spiceynesss. Still very young but brooding, promising further maturation potential. The palate is full bodied, structured but packed with fresh dark fruit and rounded, linear tannins.

This Chenin Blanc from Stellenbosh South Africa was awarded 5 Stars in Platter`s in 2017. The wine wine has aromatics of citrus, ripe peach, cut apple and gentle spice with a slight yeasty note. On the finish it has soft acidity with a hint of salinity. It`s a beautiful accompaniment to seafood, salad and white meat dishes.

The Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc were harvested from the 16 year old, west facing, Cobblers Hill vineyard, situated on decomposed granite soils.