Olifantsberg is having a moment in the spotlight – and for good reason. Top critics such as Tim Atkin MW and Neal Martin have taken notice of the precision and quiet confidence that define the wines of Elizma and Ferdi Visser.
‘These are the wines we measure ourselves by,’ says Ferdi of The Matriarch 2022 and The Bull 2021. Offering sheer pleasure today, yet built to reward patience for a decade or more, these releases are ‘superlative’, says Atkin.
The Matriarch 2022 is a white Rhône-style blend. Generous yet finely tuned, textured and bright, it shows power in perfect balance. This double 95-pointer sets the pace not just for Breedekloof, but for the Cape’s new generation of white blends.
The 96-point Bull 2021 is a ‘racy, beautifully judged cuvée of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan that’s distinctly Mediterranean in feel’. It’s a multi-faceted red that commands attention, offering deep fruit, savoury spice and understated intensity.
Nestled on the slopes of the Olifantsberg Mountain, close to Worcester, the estate rises from 300 to 470 metres above sea level – bringing cool mountain air and a long, slow ripening period. The soils are a mosaic of shale and schist with underlying clay, which lends the wines their characteristic depth and mineral tension.
The Vissers have spent more than a decade refining every detail of their farming and winemaking, creating wines that embody their very special terroir. Explore their full range here.
Tasting Notes:
Olifantsberg, Soul of the Mountain The Matriarch 2022
‘Striding confidently into its third vintage, this is a brilliant Rhône Valley meets the Cape blend of Roussanne, 22% Grenache Blanc and 8% Chenin Blanc. Floral, enticing and harmonious, it moves from aromas of fynbos and baking spices to a palate of pink grapefruit, yellow apple and peach. Enticingly balanced.’ – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2024, 95/100
‘The 2022 Soul of the Mountain The Matriarch is a white Rhône blend. It has a lovely nose with lemon curd, white linen, yellow plum and mirabelle that blossoms in the glass, touches of Japanese yuzu emerging with time. The palate is very well balanced with an attractive texture, quite powerful, yet the acidity keeps this on its toes, hints of white pepper emerging towards the finish. If you love Rhône whites, you will love this gem from Breedekloof.’ – Neal Martin, Vinous, 95/100
Olifantsberg, Soul of the Mountain The Bull 2021
‘Part of a superlative range from Elizma and Ferdi Visser, who are keen to “express our place in the glass”, this is a racy, beautifully judged cuvée of Syrah, 30% Grenache, 21% Mourvèdre and 14% Carignan that’s distinctly Mediterranean in feel. Thyme, sage and fynbos aromas lead you into a palate of wet stone, plum, redcurrant and tapenade and some pepper spice from 30% whole bunches.’ – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2025, 96/100
