Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The red fruits shine. They are bright, fresh with nice florals. Blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, blueberries and poached strawberries. Dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, vanilla, clove, cinnamon, tobacco with ash, dark rich soils, berry cola, steeped fruit tea, red fruit liqueur notes with fresh & withering dark & red florals.

The body is full with powdery, dusty, meaty, tarry and sticky tannins. The fruits are ripe, delicious and easy to drink now but, will benefit from 6-8 more years in bottle. Blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, blueberries and poached strawberries. Dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, vanilla, clove, cinnamon, dark spice with a little heat, tobacco with ash, dark rich soils, berry cola, steeped fruit tea, red fruit liqueur notes with fresh & withering dark & red florals. The acidity is round and beautiful. The long finish is ripe, juicy, well balanced, delicious and persist nicely.

Photos of; Rustenberg’s hillside vines, our tasting lounge, fermentation cellar with hanging stainless tanks so they can work the process with gravity, and Rustenberg’s Cellar Door and grounds. — 6 years ago

Marc vanholst

9.5

Abrie Beeslaar private project where Kanonkop allows him to make some bottles under his own name at the Kanonkop winery. This is the 5th vintage of this beautiful, completely a-typical pinotage. Silky,thick and abundant in fruit. No smokiness at all but length and style. Lovely. — 8 years ago

Joanne Frette

9.3

A wine for fall, with ripe golden apples, creamy plump hazelnuts touched with vanilla. Heady honeysuckle sweetness and barley sugar give way to a note of dry hay on the nose. The nose continues to the palate which is complemented by a rich, luscious texture. The acidity is in beautiful harmony and a delicate, dry mineral quality prevails despite the suggestion of sweetness hinted at on the nose. The finish is deliciously long and rich. Perfect drinking and savoring on its own or paired with oven roasted chicken and squash.
— 9 years ago

Christopher Bates

Master Sommelier, Owner/Winemaker Element Winery

9.4

Really love this stuff. It's beginning to define a whole new category of sa wine and is so unique. More Rhone white that Loire, the wines is rich, creamy, round and concentrated without being overripe. — 9 years ago

Mark Shearing

9.1

Had as an aperitif..a little indulgent but given then heavy flavours to to follow (lamb and a biggish Rioja) was not out of place...lovely stone fruit with oak ...banging — 10 years ago

Patrick Lovewine

9.7

Very crisp, light and smooth all around. I'm almost afraid to try another Rosè — 11 years ago

Cidalia Lopes

9.5

Smooth, rich in taste and easy to drink. — 6 years ago

Eric Tan

9.6

I bought at TJs for $6. Nothing too fancy, easy to drink, enjoyable on its own, a little tart but not too tanic. Would buy again. — 7 years ago

Kim Stanbro

9.6

WOTN! Bringing some of this baby home and can't wait to try it again in a few years. — 8 years ago

with Tara, Amy and 2 others

LM Segal

9.1

Clean pure SA Syrah with a French soul. Light but intense cherry rainbow. Needed 45 mins to open up, but none of the stinky animale I associate with the region. Give it 2-3 years but not much longer. Nice! — 9 years ago

Mike Hunter

9.0

Great wine, little dry at first then smoothed out to a spice flavor. Has a big hit at a wine tasting just had today, Jan 2016. — 10 years ago

Amy Hsu

9.6

Easy drink no need to air long goes really well with steak — 11 years ago

Jonathan Hird

9.0

Beautiful floral wine. Slight acidity that is ever so pleasant, great for a summers evening but needs to be extra cold. — 11 years ago

Shay A

9.0

The winemaker from Cape Mentelle was touring through TX and stopped by Classic Wine Storage for a quick tasting.

This was served too cold at first. It was like biting in to an underripe Granny Smith Apple. Lots of tartness with a touch of sweetness. Grapefruit and melon showed up after it warmed in the glass. Finish rounded out too. — 6 years ago

with Dan and Mark

Maddie Klaman

10

My absolute favorite wine! sweet but not overly so - easy to drink in any season. — 7 years ago

Spinning_spins

9.1

A very tasty Steen. Dry, with loads of citrus and green apple, floral, herbal and mineral notes. For $10, I think one would find this to be an exceptional value. Drink it with Mussels steamed with a bit of the wine, garlic, a touch of olive oil and a bit of parsley and yowsa! — 8 years ago

Jo Holman

8.9

Medium body, med lemon, flint, Grn Apple, grassy in nose. Nice lot to med acid, lime zest, flinty, medium finish. — 9 years ago

Kyle Kroll

8.9

Fantastic Mandarin orange (and zest) and strawberry nose, almost tropical. Semi-sweet, super red fruit palate. Low tannins once decanted, and very fluid. Law acidity. Easy to drink without food pairing. — 10 years ago

Dave Kluz

8.9

Toasty with marshmallow, but not overdone thanks to fresh stone fruit — 11 years ago

Gordon Sandmeier

9.8

Thelema Mountain grown Cabernet this is a ridiculous value wine. I'd compare it to the Best Napa had to offer at a third the price retail around $45 — 12 years ago