The 2021 vintage is one of the finest in recent memory. You heard right – we think this outstanding vintage will rival 2017 and likely trump 2015 in the long haul! Cooler average temperatures and later harvest dates led to wines with terrific tannin quality, freshness and depth. ‘The Cape has always had its lesser and greater years,’ notes Tim Atkin MW, and ‘(2021) has turned out to be one of the best.’
We’ve put together a must-have portfolio of wines from 2021. This is based on sheer enjoyment and quality rather than investment value, with a view to keep for the medium to long term. That said, many of these exceptional wines are set to build value in your long-term collection.
SUMMARY
– 108 bottles made up of 24 wines, by 20 producers
– R75,000 per unit
– Two years of free professional cellaring. This constitutes a R5,040 saving or a 6.3% discount to the value on offer
– Considering various major critics, the average score of the portfolio is 95.5/100
– Units are limited as some wines are already past their 2021 release
THE WINES
The higher proportion of white wines compared to our traditional portfolios is reflective of the quality that abounds in 2021. Reyneke Reserve White is unique and criminally underappreciated – imagine the tension and texture of Bordeaux with the generosity of South African sunshine. Ava Marie from Restless River is continually among the finest in its category, and it will be fascinating to watch its development in bottle. Tokara’s top white has the track record and intrinsic quality to make us believe there’s a decade plus in the bottle here, and both Cape Point and Lismore’s outstanding expressions of Sauvignon Blanc can be drunk now, or wait two years to allow multilayered development. Damascene’s Stellenbosch Chenin was endorsed with a 97-point rating from the Wine Advocate – a feat that’s not common for South African whites. Enjoy it over the next decade.
The reds include Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage, MR de Compostella and Vilafonté Series C – luxury wines that are absolutely superb in 2021. Mullineux Schist Syrah 2021 is possibly one of the finest releases from this stable and among the most exciting young reds we have tasted. We believe Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is the apex of the variety in South Africa, able to compete with many top Californian or Bordeaux examples with ease. We’ve included Syrahs from Damascene on account of their purity and superlative quality, and Porseleinberg Syrah remains a benchmark for the variety in South Africa – drink from 2028. Botmaskop from Delaire Graff is a tremendous release, in the shadow of many great wines due to its price tag. But don’t be fooled! This is world-class and will age for 15+ years. David & Nadia’s Elpidios hits a new level of refinement and depth in 2021, as its Wine Advocate review shows, and forget what you think you know about South African Merlot and get stuck in with Meerlust – Wim Truter’s vineyard and winery changes are already paying dividends. Ernie Els’ Major Series Cabernet first made an impression with its 2017 vintage. The 2021 is a deceivingly serious wine – delicious now, but keep it for a decade or more.
| PRODUCER | WINE | VINTAGE | RATING | QTY | PRICE | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boekenhoutskloof | Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon | 2021 | 95 TA | 6 | R525 | R3,150 |
| Boekenhoutskloof | Syrah | 2021 | 97 TA | 6 | R525 | R3,150 |
| Boschkloof | Syrah | 2021 | 94 TA; 93 CE | 6 | R280 | R1,680 |
| Botanica | Big Flower Cabernet Sauvignon | 2021 | 93 TA | 3 | R220 | R660 |
| Cape Point | Reserve Sauvignon Blanc | 2021 | 94 TA | 6 | R245 | R1,470 |
| Damascene | Cederberg Syrah | 2021 | 96 TA; 95 WA | 3 | R525 | R1,575 |
| Damascene | Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc | 2021 | 97 WA | 3 | R525 | R1,575 |
| Damascene | Stellenbosch Syrah | 2021 | 96 TA; 94 WA | 6 | R525 | R3,150 |
| David & Nadia | Elpidios | 2021 | 96 WA | 3 | R450 | R1,350 |
| Delaire Graff | Botmaskop | 2021 | 95 CE | 6 | R430 | R2,580 |
| Ernie Els | Major Series Cabernet Sauvignon | 2021 | 93 CE | 6 | R300 | R1,800 |
| Kanonkop | Black Label Pinotage | 2021 | 97 CE | 3 | R2,450 | R7,350 |
| Kanonkop | Pinotage | 2021 | 95 CE; 94 TA | 6 | R550 | R3,300 |
| Le Riche | Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | 2021 | 96 CE | 3 | R1,050 | R3,150 |
| Lismore | Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc | 2021 | 95 CE | 3 | R250 | R750 |
| Luddite | Shiraz | 2021 | 94 CE | 3 | R1,040 | R3,120 |
| Meerlust | Merlot | 2021 | NR | 6 | R425 | R2,550 |
| MR | De Compostella | 2021 | 97 WA | 3 | R2,250 | R6,750 |
| Mullineux | Schist Roundstone Syrah | 2021 | 98 CE | 3 | R1,425 | R4,275 |
| Porseleinberg | Syrah | 2021 | 97 NM | 6 | R750 | R4,500 |
| Restless River | Ava Marie Chardonnay | 2021 | 96 TA; 96 CE | 3 | R595 | R1,785 |
| Reyneke | Reserve White | 2021 | 95 TA | 3 | R430 | R1,290 |
| Tokara | Director’s Reserve White | 2021 | NR | 6 | R340 | R2,040 |
| Vilafonté | Series C | 2021 | 99 WA | 6 | R2000 | R12,000 |
| 108 | R75,000 |
Please send your request to Johan@winecellar.co.za.
