I kicked off with some Platter top-scoring 5 star wines before a quick scoot around.
Vergelegen White 2005 – poised Bordeaux’esque blend of great sophistication and poise with classy (if a little dominant at present) vanilla bean oak – 5 stars.
Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2005 – a perennial favourite, tightly structured with a veneer of smoky oak and flint barely disguising a seam of pure mandarin – long finish, yet another 5 star vintage.
Waterford Estate Chardonnay 2005 – refined, restrained, pebbly Chardonnay; lovely – 5 stars.
De Morgenzon Chenin Blanc 2005 – Chenin supremo Teddy Hall is behind this sophisticated wine; rich, honeyed and balanced the present but well-integrated oak lends great poise – 5 stars.
Rudera Robuston Chenin Blanc 2005 - Teddy’s own label this, as the name suggests, is an outgoing wine with exuberant rich, candy-floss edged pink grapefruit – - 5 stars.
Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2004 – my amateur’s hand in this vintage – well, little fingertip (I was there for 1 week) did not show – sleek, savoury syrah with smoked meats and supple tannins to its berry fruit – 5 stars.
Raka Biography Shiraz 2004 – restrained yet confident, complex style with plush mulberry and plum fruit and a lick of malt. Very good – 5 stars.
Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 – when I left the winery, the Cab Sav was yet to come in; it subsequently rained and when I saw Marc Kent the following day he was fretting about whether he should have picked earlier. Judging by this beautifully balanced wine, the answer is no: succulent mulberry and cassis of great purity and length; nice restraint – 5 stars.
Ataraxia Mountain Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2006 – Kevin Grant, formerly the winemaker at neighbouring Hamilton Russell has set up on his own and, judging by these first releases, will be bagging some Platter high 5s soon! Delicate yet concentrated with floral and passionfruit flavours.
Ataraxia Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay 2005 – an expressive toasty nose with manadrin and cashew; the palate is much tighter with great length and a mineral finish – great potential.
Ataraxia Mountain Vineyard “Serenity” 2005 – this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz is quite beautiful with a lovely intensity of gently spice red and black fruits; great length and texture.
High Constantia Malbec 2004 – nice fruit purity with lifted violet notes to its black cherry fruit.
High Constantia Cabernet Franc 2004 – finely framed, aromatic wine with pretty red and black fruits and a touch of tobacco.
High Constantia Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 – elegant wine with good purity of blackcurrant and cassis fruit; good structure, lots of finesse.
Boekenhoutskloof Chocolate Block 2004 – very gamey, spicy and chocolatey, rich and ripe with great length – very good.
Klein Constantia Sauvignon Blanc 2006 – super long with great persistence of lively grapefruit and grassy flavours.
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2001 – put simply, not one to spit! Gorgeous marmalade and caramel flavours beautifully balanced by citrus acidity. Fab.
Raats Original Chenin Blanc 2006 – terrific concentration and purity of citrus and tropical fruit – Bruwer Raats rates this as his best yet and it’s self-evident – go buy!
Raats Cabernet Franc 2005 – lovely nose and palate of black cherry with lightly toasted almonds and liquorice; super-silky tannins. Lovely.
MVR De Compostella 2004 – this Cabernet Franc-led Bordeaux blend shows a great heft of savoury-edged fruit with leafy top notes; super-tight, mineral finish – needs time and patience! Great potential.
Bon Cap Organic Pinotage 2004 – spicy gingerbread to its briary, red and black fruits; good freshness/balance.
Bon Cap Organic Syrah 2004 – nicely structured wine with plum and berry fruit laced with dried herbs (lavender) and liquorice.
Quando Sauvignon Blanc 2006 – flinty, grassy with dried herbs, very long – excellent concentration.
Cape Chamonix Troika 2004 – lovely elegant wine with cedar and livey blackcurrant fruit; svelte.
Quoin Rock Sauvignon Blanc 2006 – lifted notes with grass, passionfruit and herbs; long, lifted palate. Very good.
Quoin Rock Chardonnay 2002 – excellent concentration of lemon and white peach fruit with well integrated oak; very long and lithe.
Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards TMV White 2005 – this blend of 90% Chenin Blanc, 6% Clairette & 4% Viognier of 2which I last tasted a barrel sample in the winery in April has really come up trumps: bright quince, grapefruit and apricot; a freshness and balance which belie its concentration of flavour. Really good.
Sarah Ahmed
The Wine Detective
September 2006
