First Cape

First Drop Wines

Mother's Milk Shiraz

Vibrant red fruit, bold tannins, peppery. — 3 months ago

Paul liked this

Kanonkop Estate

Simonsberg Stellenbosch Pinotage 2016

Deep ruby colour with lighter crimson rim, nose of red/black fruits with savoury notes.
Smooth and silky tannins and really well integrated at 9 years.
Beautiful on palate with good aftertaste and a lingering finish.
— 4 months ago

Rick, Tom and 4 others liked this

De Toren

Fusion V Stellenbosch Red Blend 2018

A blend of the five Bordeaux varietals, this is an exceptional wine. There’s a great balance of acidity, velvet tannins and black fruit. Cassis, black cherry, black plum, a light toast and vanilla oak component and developing tertiary character of leather, forest floor and cigar box. Terrifically harmonious the wine is full bodied with a sense of being heavy. A joy to consume. — 5 months ago

Tom, Paul and 2 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

Great vintage. Great first growth producer. Maybe one of the best I’ve ever had. — 7 months ago

Deborah, Daniel and 14 others liked this

Meerlust

Rubicon Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016

Another solid vintage of this South African Bordeaux-Style red. Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (49%), Merlot (28%), Cabernet Franc (20%) and Petite Verdot (3%). Aromas of black fruit, vanilla and dried rose petals. Flavors of cassis, blackberry, mulberry, black cherry, dried herbs and minerals. Lengthy finish and full bodied. Soft tannins and well structured. Nicely aged and quite elegant. — 8 months ago

Tom, Austin and 4 others liked this

Cederberg

Bukettraube 2023

I don’t know of any other producers who make a single-varietal wine from this obscure grape, but this wine is still fairly easy to find, an observation that is not difficult to understand. This wine is just plain delicious. Year after year it is in my top two or three white wines. Very aromatic, it boasts an abundance of fruity and floral aromas. On the palate, flavors of lychee and dried apricot reveal a subtle sweetness that is hard to resist. 100% Bukettraube. 4/13/25. — 9 months ago

Ken Forrester

The FMC Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc 2019

Really enjoying the aging FMC at 6yrs still improving and getting better
Golden liquid with honey mead and infused citrus flavours with a long satisfying aftertaste, yum
13% Abv.
Have a number tucked away and looking forward to trying again in a couple of years.

— 9 months ago

Bob, Ron and 2 others liked this

Thelema Mountain Vineyards

Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Smooth, rich balanced cab. Pure berry flavor with a touch of tannin. Flinty bouquet moderated by a hint of spice. Simply fantastic. — 4 months ago

Naveen Chopra
with Naveen
Tom, Bob and 2 others liked this

Rustenberg

Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2023

a no-brainer for 9€, delicious! — 5 months ago

Jan, Peter and 1 other liked this

Jean-Luc Colombo

Cape Bleue Rosé Blend 2023

67/33 blend of Syrah and Mourvèdre. Good acid, bone dry, mineral finish — 5 months ago

jesus, Ted and 2 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Somm David T
9.4

When Caymus was Caymus!!!

It is good to remember the style of wine Chuck used to make. His wine from 2011 backwards. The wine I used to collect. I refer to this now as Caymus Classic. I have requested they make this style again every time I see a Caymus representative. Just 500 cases by simply picking earlier at lower brix and applying past winemaking. They under estimate how fast those cases would sellout.

I get they made a business decision to make a sweeter wine that will drink easier young. They get better critic scores and sell to a larger customer base. A customer base that generally drinks it like supermarket buyers…within the first two weeks of purchase.

Of course, 1997 was an epic vintage in Napa and this 97 bought weeks ago has been well stored and in perfect condition. I miss this wine as it has so much more character than their 2012 vintage & forward. So do many former Caymus collectors.

The nose reveals, bright, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries that are just starting to reveal some liqueur notes, raspberries, strawberries & plum. Sandalwood, old, dry tobacco, baking soda, mid berry cola/licorice, some light graphite, dark spice, dry stems, decayed red flowers, red roses and violets.

The palate is exquisite. It is all beauty with nothing bitty or angular. Ripe, juicy, lush; blackberries, cassis, black raspberries, dark cherries with hints of some liqueur notes, raspberries, strawberries, mulberries as it unfurls & plum. Sandalwood, old, dry tobacco with ash, baking soda, mid berry cola/licorice, some light graphite, perfect dark spice with some tongue heat, mocha, dark chocolate baking bar, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg & hints of vanillin, dry herbs, baking soda, dry limestone powder, top soil with pebbles, slightly moist volcanic clay, dry stems, decayed red flowers, red roses and violets, excellent, rainfall acidity and an elegant, balanced, nicely tensioned & structured, polished finish that last two-minutes and lands on spice & gentle earthy tones. I miss their distinct spice. Glorious!!!

This bottle is somewhere on the other side of the bell curve and still singing. Still very sound. It won’t improve and recommend if you own, drink them sooner than later but certainly not a rush.

88% Cabernet, 10% Merlot & 2% Cabernet Franc. 25.95% Paladins, Skruggs, Wright-St. Helena. 52.15% Caymus Estate, Glos, Usibelli-Rutherford, 15.84% Sciambra-Atlas Peak, 6.06% Tambor Vineyards-Mt. Veeder.

Photos of: Caymus tasting room, tasting room courtyard, owner Chuck Wagner and vineyard.
— 6 months ago

Vanessa, Rick and 17 others liked this

The Grape Grinder

Paarl Pinotage

Very nice, smooth red. Good easily make it a favourite red. — 9 months ago

Kanonkop Estate

Kadette Stellenbosch Pinotage Blend 2024

Majestic - really nice, a little different. Quite strong — a year ago

Spice Route

Chakalaka Red Blend

Nice and spicy... — 4 years ago

Rustenberg

John X Merriman Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2007

8/2025. Very nice cab Merlot blend. Nice flavor and finish. Nice on the palate. — 4 months ago

Ted, Robin and 1 other liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009

So for those who don’t know, this wine is a collaboration between one of the most famous California winemakers and one of the most famous Bordeaux wine makers (the grapes are from Napa).

The young expression when I first had it 10 years ago was big bold ripe fruit, probably the quintessential Napa cab.

The aged expression had more secondary and tertiary characteristics, terroir, and represented Baron Rothschild in respects of crafting a wine that could grow and develop and express the care that goes into winemaking as opposed to simply growing good fruit.

The young version of it perfectly expresses Mondavi and Napa. The aged version captures the elegance of Bordeaux winemaking and Rothschild’s fingerprints. You cannot fully experience this wine unless you’ve had it young and old. Unbelievable experience tonight.
— 4 months ago

Dave liked this

Mulderbosch

Coastal Region Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2023

Bit by bit, the case is dwindling. Every bottle has been really excellent. — 6 months ago

Bonnie Hodur
with Bonnie

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1983

Château Latour is an iconic estate in the Pauillac commune on the left bank of Bordeaux, achieving coveted ‘First Growth’ status in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification.

The estate has roots dating back to the 14th century and derives its name ‘La Tour’ from a fortress tower built during the Hundred Years’ War, which no longer exists but is prominently featured on the label in recognition of its history.

We weren’t sure what to expect, as many have predicted these 1983s are likely past their prime, but this wine was a masterpiece. 🤩

It was medium garnet in color with expressive notes of cedar box, cigar, clove, peat, leather, forest floor, fig, prune, dried black cherry, plum, cassis, blackberry compote, cardamom, cinnamon, star anise, dried violet, potpourri, kalamata olive, pencil shavings, graphite, & bacon fat.

It had the most velvety, fine-grained tannins that washed across the palate with ease, with a gentle but notable acidity that maintained lift and balance. It was concentrated, complex, and had a long, elegant finish.
— 7 months ago

Deked1
with Deked1
Deked1, Ted and 18 others liked this
Paul K

Paul K

Happy Birthday @Vanessa way to celebrate in style!
Vanessa

Vanessa

@Paul K Thank you for the bday wishes! It was an auspicious and delicious way to start my next trip around the sun ☀️ Cheers! And we hope to reconnect with you guys soon! 🍾🥂
Paul K

Paul K

We will absolutely figure out something this summer!!!

Boekenhoutskloof

The Wolftrap Syrah Blend 2023

Light color. Rusty red. Smells like rosehip tea and hibiscus. Flavors a pretty complex and intriguing. Has a bit of a citrus (blood orange) side. Fine and full finish. This is a complex and nice balanced rule of red. — 9 months ago

Douglas and ESF liked this

A.A. Badenhorst Family Wines

Swartland Red Rhone Blend 2019

Jeremy Shanker
9.1

Always great. South African for rhone lovers. — 2 years ago

Daniel P., Douglas and 4 others liked this