Cape Winemakers Guild

Ataraxia Under The Gavel Chardonnay 2019

100% Chardonnay

Wine of Origin Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge

Sourced from a single south-facing vineyard on The Skyfields, home to Ataraxia in the Hemel- en-Aarde outside Hermanus. Minimalist winemaking and a sensitive wooding regime ensure the most accurate and intimate expression of site and place possible. Entirely fermented in small, tight-grained French oak barrels, custom selected from specific Burgundian coopers, this wine was aged for a further nine months before being bottled.

Tasting Notes: This is Ataraxia’s quintessential “vin de terroir”, in that it is an interpretation of our dirt (soil) in bottled form! Precise, complex, lingering and pedigreed!

Ready for drinking now until at least 2029.

Winemaker: Kevin Grant

Bartho Eksteen Vloekskoot Sauvignon Blanc 2019

100% Sauvignon Blanc

Wine of Origin Cape Coast

Whole bunch pressed, no settling. Naturally fermented in older, big wood. Matured for 11 months on lees. Bottled with minimum interference. Serve with crayfish bisque, petit poulet and creamed spinach or alikreukel trio (ref. the CWG book “Cellarmasters in the Kitchen”). Accoladed 92 – 96, 5-star Platter’s, Tim Atkin’s winning wine out of 41 world class entries by producers from around the globe, and the most successful Sauvignon Blanc in the history of the CWG auction – a true benchmark.

Tasting Notes: Nods towards Pessac-Léognan but has a Cape character all of its own. Flinty, grapefruit, fresh lime, green herb flavours. Focussed, with superb intensity. Older oak adds complexity and gravitas.

If you can put away some bottles for a couple of years, you can delay the pleasure and have it back with interest for anything up to 6 years after harvest.

Winemaker: Bartho Eksteen

Boplaas Cape Vintage CWG Reserve 2015

80% Touriga Nacional, 10% Touriga Franca, 6% Souzão, 4% Tinta Barocca

Wine of Origin Western Cape 

Only the finest Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barocca and Souzão grapes were selected from specific low-yielding vineyards. All the fruit was hand harvested at optimum ripeness, fermented and fortified in small lagares and barrel matured in large seasoned oak barrels for 12 months to craft this distinctive full-bodied, complex and structured, dry-styled Cape Vintage Auction Reserve. 2015 was one of the best years for Cape Vintage production in the last 30 years.

Tasting Notes: An inky black wine with hints of ripe apricot, dried peach, a mélange of mulling spice, fynbos, intense plum, black hedgerow fruit and liquorice. A long, lingering aftertaste with firm rich tannins. 36 cases of this wine were previously sold on the 2018 CWG Auction.

Ready for drinking now and until 2045.

Winemaker: Carel Nel

Boschkloof Epilogue Syrah 2018

100% Syrah

Wine of Origin Stellenbosch

The grapes were harvested in three stages with 30% fermented whole bunch press. Fermentation was natural and in open top fermenters. After fermentation a portion was matured in concrete tanks and a portion was matured for 13 months in 30% new 400 litre French oak barrels. A special barrel selection was made for the CWG Auction.

Tasting Notes: A breath-taking nose of violets, white pepper, bramble berries and mixed spices. Seductive Syrah fruit and freshness on the palate. Refined, satin-like tannins give this wine great ageing potential.

This wine will be ready for drinking in 2021 and beyond.

Winemaker: Jacques Borman – Resigned Member

Cederberg Teen Die Hoog Shiraz 2018

100% Shiraz

Wine of Origin Cederberg

Grapes are hand harvested from a unique red slate parcel against a southern slope. Berry sorting followed by 2 days of cold soaking in tank leads to an intense development in colour. During fermentation, two punch-downs a day of the grape cap with gentle pump-overs every six hours is completed for extraction. Extended maceration for two additional 10 days before light pressing. Barrel maceration for 15 months, thereafter a premium selection of only three barrels is made. 85% first fill, 15% second fill barrel. A wine of stature and elegance crafted from an extreme high-altitude mountain vineyard in the Cederberg.

Tasting Notes: This Shiraz shows great fruit intensity of red cherries with a subtle hint of sweet spice and violets. A full-bodied wine with structure and finesse.

The wine will be ready for drinking from 2025 onwards.

Winemaker: David Nieuwoudt

De Grendel Wooded Sauvignon Blanc 2019

100% Sauvignon Blanc

Wine of Origin Darling

Crushed, 18 hours skin contact. Settling. Fermentation for 10 days in third fill barrels. 110 days lees contact in barrel. Stabilization and bottling.

Tasting Notes: Granadilla, gooseberries and blackcurrant leaf greet the taster with pleasing aromas and secondary characteristics of asparagus. The extended lees contact and use of oak ensure a lengthy finish.

36 cases of this wine were previously sold on the 2019 CWG Auction.

Ready for drinking now.

Winemaker: Charles Hopkins

Delaire Graff Estate Banghoek Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

55% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec

Wine of Origin Banghoek – Stellenbosch

From 16-year virus-free vineyards on Delaire Graff Estate. Cool and slow whole berry fermentation with limited punch downs. Four weeks post-ferment maturation on skins before being basket pressed. Matured in 40% new French 225 litre barrels for 16 months and a further 45 months in bottle.

Tasting Notes: Bright red fruit with subtle oak spice and violets. Firm but delicate tannin structure with crisp fresh red fruit finish.

Ready for drinking now and until 2030.

Winemaker: Morné Vrey

Edgebaston Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2017

95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc

Wine of Origin Stellenbosch 

Made from grapes picked off the clay-heavy section of our prestige GS vineyard; these grapes were picked five days earlier than the rest of the vineyard. They were fermented in a small 1.5 ton fermenter and punched down three times a day. After 21 days on skins they were matured in new French oak for 24 months. A small percentage Cabernet Franc was added to the barrels to soften the tannin structure and add a twist of difference to the usual CWG wine which has always been 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tasting Notes: Typical of the house style, a big, iron-fisted style Cabernet Sauvignon with boysenberry and cassis on the nose. Ripe bramble, cassis fruit with a touch of vanilla oak and solid tannins on palate.

Drink from 2028 onwards.

Winemaker: David Finlayson

Ernie Els CWG 2017

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Shiraz, 10% Cinsault

Wine of Origin Stellenbosch

The grapes were hand-picked in the cool of early morning. Grape bunches were gently destalked and lightly crushed. On the sorting table, all excess stalks and rotten berries were carefully removed by hand. Fermentation took place in small 300 litre open top oak barrels with three weeks extended maturation. The wines were punched down manually five times per day ensuring maximum colour extraction from the skins. Each variety was separately vinified and blended after 18 months of maturation.

Offering you the best of the Helderberg – the cornerstone of Ernie Els Wines and the Louis Strydom vision.

Tasting Notes: Mouth-filling density, that covers every taste bud. Undeniably powerful and one for long ageing with balancing freshness. Towering, big and full-bodied with great fruit purity and refined oak integration.

Ready for drinking in 2030.

Winemaker: Louis Strydom

Graham Beck Cuvée 129 Extra Brut 2009

51% Pinot Noir, 49% Chardonnay

Wine of Origin Western Cape

This Cap Classique epitomizes the crucial factor of time on the lees. Cuvee 129 ‘MGA’ Extra Brut expresses exactly this! The name of the Cap Classique – Cuvée 129 – refers to the number of months on the lees aging – 129 months, that equates to 10 years and 9 months on the lees. “MGA” is short for Multi Geographical Areas.

A unique Cap Classique carefully selected from six different geographical areas – Franschhoek, Robertson, Stanford, Stellenbosch, Slanghoek and Walker Bay. The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes were hand-picked, whole bunch pressed with only cuvée fraction (450 litres/ton) used for the base wine. All seven components were fermented separately and after blending, lightly fined. Then tirage bottling occurred on 29/09/2009. Left on the yeast for 129 months – ten years, nine months. Disgorgement 29/06/2020.

Tasting Notes: Gold straw colour. Rich brioche notes with nice toasted almonds on the nose. Rich Pinot entry and multi-layered complexity. Intense, complex with a long finish. Very fine persistent mousse.

Ready for drinking now and until 2025.

Winemaker: Pieter Ferreira

Groot Constantia CWG Gouverneurs Reserve 2018

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Cabernet Franc

Wine of Origin Constantia

The backbone of this blend is Cabernet Sauvignon on free-draining gravel soil on a northerly facing slope. A big dollop of Cabernet Franc adds the aromatics and perfume to the blend. Both components were fermented in open top fermenters with regular punch-downs to maximise extraction. After the fermentation, the wines were pressed and aged in 75% new French oak for 15 months before the components were blended and bottled.

Tasting Notes: The wine shows richness with blueberry and blackberry aromas, a hint of floral perfume and subtle cedarwood flavours. The palate is powerful and fine tannins promise good ageing potential.

Drink over the next 10 years.

Winemaker: Boela Gerber

Hartenberg CWG Auction Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine of Origin Bottelary, Stellenbosch

Estate grown, Bottelary Cabernet on tough iron laterite gravel, producing pea-sized, concentrated berries. Picked at full ripeness, 20 days on skins, 20 months in 50% new 225 litre French oak barrels. Hartenberg has been producing high-end estate grown Cabernets since the 1960s.

Tasting Notes: Lifted aromatics, perfumed, cedary, cigar box and lead pencil. Soft palate entry. The mid-palate is melded and fresh and the wine ends with fine, dry tannins.

Ready for drinking from 2022 through to 2038.

Winemaker: Carl Schultz

Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2017

76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot

Wine of Origin Simonsberg, Stellenbosch

Winemaker Abrie Beeslaar The different vineyards are planted next to each other on the lowest lying part of the farm. The grapes are destemmed, sorted and then fermented in open top “kuipe” for six days. After malolactic fermentation in tank, the blend is made and the wine is then matured in 100% new French oak barrels for 24 months.

Tasting Notes: A beautiful balance between perfumed floral notes and blackberry on the nose. On the palate this wine has great balance, with a lively acid, and a dry finish.

Ready for drinking in 2024 and beyond.

Winemaker: Abrie Beeslaar

Leeu Passant Radicales Libres 2015

100% Chardonnay

Wine of Origin Klein Karoo

This is the follow-up vintage to my force-of-nature, concentrated wine which was inspired by the extended barrel- aged white wines of the Jura and Rioja. It was created by picking at normal ripeness levels followed by fermentation and FIVE years of maturation and intensification by natural slow evaporation in oak. This means it has self-stabilised during a time and free radical dance and was reborn into this salty, zesty, marzipan textured wine.

From the incredibly cool Barrydale valley in the Klein Karoo, after fermentation this Chardonnay was aged in barrel for a further FIVE YEARS! In that time, as water evaporates, everything else in the wine concentrates. It is an intentionally powerful experience.

Last year the 2014 Radicales Libres scored 97+ points from Greg Sherwood M.W. and was awarded Platter’s 5-Stars.

“We passed upon the stair, We spoke of was and when Although I wasn’t there, He said I was his friend Which came as a surprise, I spoke into his eyes I thought you died alone, A long long time ago “ – David Bowie

Winemaker: Andrea Mullineux

Luddite The Lone Stranger Mark II 2018

50% Mourvèdre, 40% Shiraz, 10% Grenache Noir

Wine of Origin Bot River

All portions of the blend were fermented in small, open fermenters with regular hand punch-downs. After fermentation, the wines were pressed directly into barrel and were allowed to mature for two years before the blend was made up. Being a Rhône fan, this is my interpretation of the Bot River version.

Tasting Notes: Plummy, juicy, spicy.

Drink now and for the next 15 years.

Winemaker: Niels Verburg

Miles Mossop Wines Saskia-Jo 2018

65% Chenin Blanc, 25% Clairette Blanche, 10% Grenache Blanc

Wine of Origin Swartland 

The three bush vine vineyards that make up this wine are all from the same part of the Paardeberg, Swartland, and growing in decomposed granite soils. The fruit was whole bunch pressed together and the juice co-fermented in a small concrete egg, where it matured for a total of 11 months before being bottled without fining or filtration. Only sulphur was added in the making of this wine giving a true expression of the vineyards and the region.

This is my expression of the region and the vineyards the grapes originate from – Saskia complete.

Tasting Notes: Stunning perfume of citrus blossom, underpinned by stone fruit and orange preserve notes. The flavours are full and rich; yet the mid-palate is focused and clean leading to a dry textured finish.

Drink now, but will improve with maturation for a further 8 years.

Winemaker: Miles Mossop

Neil Ellis Wines Amper Bo Tempranillo 2015

100% Tempranillo

Wine of Origin Bottelary

Whole berry fermentation is initiated in stainless steel tank. The grapes underwent a series of punch-downs and pump-overs until dry. Malolactic fermentation completed in new and second fill French oak barrels. This wine spent 18 months in 60% new French oak barrels and 40% in second fill.

Tasting Notes: A subtle nose reflecting dark cherry and violets, with herbaceous characters and a leather finish. The palate, dense and complex, is packed with dark berries and plum and unfolds with great length, freshness and balance. 40 cases of this wine were previously sold on the 2018 CWG Auction.

Ready for drinking now and over the next 5 – 10 years.

Winemaker: Warren Ellis

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Windansea Pinot Noir 2017

100% Pinot Noir

Wine of Origin Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

This is a bare-bones glimpse of Windansea, the power dimension to Pinot Noir on our farm. In the stoniest and most clay-rich of our granite soils, the bunches were selectively picked by the family for this small cuvée. Made without sulphur in the winemaking, allowing diverse micro-organisms from the grape itself to flourish unrestrained in the fermentation, enhancing complexity. 11 months maturation with a further six months élevage in large oak. Unfiltered, it will age over many years in bottle.

Tasting Notes: A lavish vintage, saturated with blackberry, liquorice and rich red currants. Lingering impressions of soft spice and freshly turned earth. Bountiful and seamless tannin texture in to a chalky finish.

40 cases of this wine were previously sold on the 2018 CWG Auction.

Drink in 2020 and for the next 12 years.

Winemaker: Gordon Newton Johnson

Paul Cluver The Wagon Trail Chardonnay 2018

100% Chardonnay

Wine of Origin Elgin

Grapes for the Wagon Trail Chardonnay are selected from the oldest Chardonnay vineyard on our Estate, planted in 1987, and also the oldest Chardonnay vineyard in the Elgin valley. After careful hand selection the grapes were gently whole bunch pressed, the juice was settled for two days without any settling or fining agents. Thereafter, the juice was transferred to barrel for fermentation without inoculation. The wine aged on its lees for nine months with minimal battonage before final selection and bottling.

Tasting Notes: An amazing expression of an elegant Chardonnay, the nose is bursting with citrus and hints of oatmeal. The palate is a study of precision, great minerality and balance, complex and lingering finish.

Ready for drinking now and over the next 5 – 10 years.

Winemaker: Andries Burger

Raats Family Wines The Fountain Terroir Specific Chenin Blanc 2019

100% Chenin Blanc

Wine of Origin Stellenbosch

The wine offers a complex nose showing quince, peach and apple, whilst fenugreek spices give more dimension alongside the mineral intensity of the wine. The stone fruit core follows through onto an exceptionally balanced, very delicate and fine-textured palate showing depth and intense character with an exquisite length and freshness. The wine lingers with hints of ripe nectarine and apricot, zesty lemon and wet chalk. Raats Fountain Terroir Specific Chenin Blanc is the best barrel of Chenin Blanc that Raats produce. It is reserved for the Cape Winemakers Guild Auction every year.

Tasting Notes: The wine offers a complex nose showing quince, peach and apple, with lemongrass and ginger spices; giving it more dimension alongside the mineral intensity of the finish.

Drink now until 2025.

Winemaker: Bruwer Raats

Rijk’s CWG Chenin Blanc 2018

100% Chenin Blanc

Estate Wine of Origin Tulbagh

Grapes from a 14-year-old bush vine vineyard were picked by hand in the cool of the night to capture the true flavours of this diverse variety. The wine was naturally fermented in a new and second fill 300 litre French oak barrel and left for 14 months before racking and bottling. After fermentation, sulphur was only added before spring 2018. This allowed for yeast cell autolysis to take place, preventing any sulphur compounds forming that could lead to reductive characters. No malolactic fermentation took place.

Even though 2018 was a vintage of drought, we still managed to produce a wine with great power, without compromising on elegance.

Tasting Notes: Fresh white peach and gooseberry nose accompanied by notes of cracked almonds. These aromas carry through on a rich, multi-layered palate with a lingering, yet gentle, aftertaste.

Ready for drinking in 2024 and beyond.

Winemaker: Pierre Wahl

Rust en Vrede CWG Auction Estate 2017

75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Syrah

Wine of Origin Stellenbosch

The grapes were handpicked between 6 and 26 March. The Cabernet Sauvignon was sorted and fully destemmed. The Syrah was partially destemmed. Individual parcels and grape components were vinified separately. Fermentation took place in open-top fermenters and the cap was manually punched down four times daily. The maceration period varied between 14 and 30 days. This was followed by barrel maturation in 300 litre and 500 litre French oak barrels for 22 months. The wine was bottled on 14 February 2019.

Tasting Notes: Cassis and raspberry aromas are complemented by savoury cedar and cinnamon spice. Cassis follows onto the palate along with fresh red currant. Chalky tannins balance the juicy lingering mouthfeel.

Ready for drinking between 2024 and 2029.

Winemaker: Coenie Snyman

Saronsberg Die Erf Shiraz 2017

100% Shiraz

Wine of Origin Tulbagh 

The best barrel of Block 27, our Die Erf Shiraz vineyard grown on a mixture of weathered shale soils and broken rock. Handpicked in the early morning, bunch sorted, destemmed and berry sorted. During fermentation the skins were mainly punched down by hand. After extended maturation, the total time on the skins was 27 days. Malolactic fermentation was completed in barrel. Aged for 20 months in a new French Allier oak barrel, the wine was given a fine filtration prior to bottling.

Tasting Notes: The wine has a deep, dark purple colour with prominent ripe plum, dark berry and floral flavours and undertones of spice. The oak is well balanced with full, firm yet accessible tannin.

This wine will be ready for drinking from 2023.

Winemaker: Dewaldt Heyns

Silverthorn Big Dog VI Méthode Cap Classique 2015

70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir

Wine of Origin Robertson 

Made in the traditional Cap Classique method, both the Chardonnay and the Pinot Noir were whole bunch harvested and pressed. The Chardonnay portion was barrel fermented and aged in old French oak to enhance complexity and richness, while the Pinot Noir was cold fermented in stainless steel to accentuate berry characters. After blending, the wine was bottle fermented and aged on the lees for 50 months. The wine was aged on the cork for nine months.

2020 saw Silverthorn Wines produce its first vintage in a specialised Cap Classique cellar on Silverthorn Farm.

Tasting Notes: Big Dog VI is a rich and complex Cap Classique, made without compromising finesse and elegance. The nose has enticing roasted almond and marzipan notes, supported by a succulent creamy palate.

For maximum reward and expression drink from 2022 onwards.

Winemaker: John Loubser

Simonsig Mediterraneo 2015

66% Roussanne, 28% Grenache Blanc, 6% Verdelho

Wine of Origin Stellenbosch 

Carefully selected high-altitude vineyards in Stellenbosch and the oldest Verdelho vineyard in South Africa provided the grapes. Hand-picked and hand selected before the grapes were cooled overnight. Whole bunch pressing gave only the most delicate free run juice which was fermented in seasoned French oak with wild and cultured yeast. Minimal interference was used but did include battonage during the nine months on primary lees. The delicate fruit was preserved with minimal oak influence.

Tasting Notes: Beautiful freshness with zesty citrus rind and lime aromas followed by sweet riper yellow apple and subtle oak characters. Extra years in bottle have brought delicious texture and layers of complexity.

50 cases of this wine were previously sold on the 2016 CWG Auction.

Ready for drinking now and until 2025.

Winemaker: Johan Malan

Spier Frans K Smit Auction Selection 2017

60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine of Origin Stellenbosch

The grapes were hand-picked, destemmed and hand-sorted before fermentation. The wine was naturally fermented in a 400 litre roller barrel and an open top wood fermenter. Maturation for 22 months in barrel before being bottled.

Tasting Notes: It’s a silky textured concentrated wine with hints of blackberry and black cherry. The wine has a dense core with beautiful fresh tones of red fruit lingering on the palate. This is the first Certified Organic Red Wine to be offered on the CWG Auction. Biodynamic principles were used in both farming and winemaking processes.

Ready for drinking now and until 2032.

Winemaker: Frans Smit

Strydom Family Wines The Game Changer 2017

80% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot

Wine of Origin Stellenbosch

The grapes are grown in the Helderberg ward on north facing slopes. Both varieties ripened during February and were harvested during the morning. In the cellar they were rigorously sorted before whole berry fermentation in open fermenters. During the first half of fermentation we pumped over and punched down three times a day and afterwards, only twice. After pressing both did malolactic fermentation in barrels. Blending was done after 12 months. A further six months maturation took place prior to bottling.

Exceptional vintage, precision blending, happy winemaker – The Game Changer 2017.

Tasting Notes: Perfume, glazed red cherries and fresh raspberries with hints of graphite on the nose. The palate has a soft entry, elegant spicy mid-palate, red fruit power and finishes with a chalky edge.

Drink now with decanting, otherwise cellar until 2025.

Winemaker: Rianie Strydom

Villiera Drip Barrel Cabernet Franc 2018

100% Cabernet Franc

Wine of Origin Stellenbosch

Ripe Cabernet Franc was crushed and destalked, followed by fermentation in a pump-over container to maintain the integrity of the skins. We were only interested in the Drip Barrels. This is the fermenting wine that drips out of the berries under the weight of the skins after drawing off. It is the heart of the wine. The juice is dark, clear, beautifully balanced and intense. The fermentation completed in a mix of new and used French oak barrels and after 18 months of maturation, it was bottled.

This is my version of the now trendy Cabernet Franc, from a mature block reflecting its terroir.

Tasting Notes: Intensely perfumed with dark berry fruit and integrated oak spice, with a hint of minerality. It is ripe with textured tannins and a long finish.

Ready for drinking from 2023 to 2030.

Winemaker: Jeff Grier – Resigned Member