“The thing that really interests me with wine is starting from scratch with the bare earth and designing a wine from the ground up.”
Qualified as an architect and formally untrained as a winemaker, David was integrally involved in the development of the Trafford family farm, Mont Fleur, from a young age. A working knowledge of winemaking gleaned from local winemakers, a vintage spent at Saint-Émilion in Bordeaux, France, and David’s own practical experience has ensured a small but steady flow of wines of increasing sophistication from Mont Fleur, high up on the slopes of the Helderberg.
With an acute appreciation of nature and sense of time and place, David has put the emphasis of this small French domaine-like winery on serious red wines of great concentration and structure. The De Trafford Chenin Blanc and Straw Wine have both received high praise locally and internationally.
56% Cabernet Franc, 44% Merlot
Wine of Origin Stellenbosch
This wine is a selection of the two best barrels from our Elevation 393 vineyard, uniquely situated at the intersection of the Helderberg Mountain and Stellenbosch Mountain slopes. The vineyard features relatively narrow rows, 1.8 metres wide, with an above-average vine density of 5 000 vines per hectare, producing exceptionally low yields of less than 1 kg per vine. With no added yeast, acid, or other additives apart from minimal SO2 and left unfiltered, the wine reflects its pure, natural origins.
This wine is a selection of the two best barrels from our Elevation 393 vineyard, uniquely situated at the intersection of the Helderberg Mountain and Stellenbosch Mountain slopes. The vineyard features relatively narrow rows, 1.8 metres wide, with an above-average vine density of 5 000 vines per hectare, producing exceptionally low yields of less than 1 kg per vine. With no added yeast, acid, or other additives apart from minimal SO2 and left unfiltered, the wine reflects its pure, natural origins.
Tasting Notes: Showing attractive, dense red berry, plum and blackcurrant fruit, tobacco leaf, fynbos and spice complexity. New oak is nicely integrated. Still obviously youthful, with mouth-filling fine tannins.
Ready for drinking from 2026 to 2036.
Winemaker: David Trafford
56% Cabernet Franc, 44% Merlot
Wine of Origin Stellenbosch
This wine is a selection of the two best barrels from our Elevation 393 vineyard, uniquely situated at the intersection of the Helderberg Mountain and Stellenbosch Mountain slopes. The vineyard features relatively narrow rows, 1.8 metres wide, with an above-average vine density of 5 000 vines per hectare, producing exceptionally low yields of less than 1 kg per vine. With no added yeast, acid, or other additives apart from minimal SO2 and left unfiltered, the wine reflects its pure, natural origins.
Tasting Notes: Showing attractive, dense red berry, plum and blackcurrant fruit, tobacco leaf, fynbos and spice complexity. New oak is nicely integrated. Still obviously youthful, with mouth-filling fine tannins.
Ready for drinking from 2026 to 2036.
Winemaker: David Trafford
100% Syrah
Wine of Origin Stellenbosch
Tasting Notes: Bright, medium-deep red colour. Pronounced spiciness and red berry fruit on the nose. Fine red fruit and spices on the palate with a unique creamy texture and long finish.
Ready for drinking from 2024 to 2033.
Winemaker: David Trafford
100% Chenin Blanc
A 39-year-old bush vine block on the top of the Bottelary Hills on crumbly shale soil. Picked in the cool early morning and lightly squashed and left for a couple of hours skin contact before pressing in a traditional wooden basket press and barrel fermented in neutral oak. Matured for 10 months and the best 400 litre barrel was selected for this auction wine. No yeast or acid added, and the wine was bottled unfiltered.
Tasting Notes: Deep, vibrant straw colour. Still rather closed and takes a while to evolve in the glass. Dense mineral fruit on the palate. A wine that will unfurl over many years.
Ready for drinking in 2023.
Winemaker: David Trafford
50% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot
All grapes are from our “Elevation 393” vineyard between the Helderberg and Stellenbosch mountains at the end of the Blaauwklippen valley, 393m above sea level. Narrow rows of between 1.5m and 2.0m. Destemmed and crushed, with natural yeast fermentation in small open-top tanks. Drained directly to new oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and maturation. Specific sections of the vineyard were earmarked for this wine and carefully blended for nine months before a further nine months barrel maturation and bottling unfiltered.
Tasting Notes: Deep, bright red colour. Still youthful with dark berry and cherry nose with graphite, herbs and cedar notes. Opulent, complex berry fruit on the palate with soft fine tannins.
Ready for drinking in 2024.
Winemaker: David Trafford
The grapes are produced by top quality, low yielding clones SN220 and SN24
from an 11-year-old, meticulously managed Keermont vineyard. This is a
single, 225 litre barrel of Chenin Blanc that took nearly a year to complete
its natural ferment and turned out exceptionallywell. We nurtured the wine
for a further 9 months in the same barrel before bottling by
hand,
unfiltered as usual.
Tasting Notes: Deep straw colour. Fresh dusty apricot nose with complex creaminess from the long lees contact. Honey, beeswax and floral notes. Vibrant creamy palate with layers of flavours and a long, nutty finish.
Winemaker: David Trafford
The best new French oak barrels of our Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from our Mont Fleur vineyard 393m above sea level were selected. After a year, the barrels were blended into a single old 700 litre barrel and matured for a further nine months. Twothirds were bottled especially for the Guild Auction and the balance added to our Elevation 393 blend. Wild yeast fermentation, no fining, no filtration.
Tasting Notes: Deep, bright red colour. Dark berry and cherry nose with graphite, herbs, chalk and cedar notes. Tightly structured, elegant palate with fine tannins and well balanced fruit and savoury aspects.
Winemaker: David Trafford
The best new French oak barrels of our Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from our Mont Fleur vineyard 393m above sea level were selected. After a year, the barrels were blended into a single old 700 litre barrel and matured for a further nine months. Twothirds were bottled especially for the Guild Auction and the balance added to our Elevation 393 blend. Wild yeast fermentation, no fining, no filtration.
Tasting Notes: Deep, bright red colour. Dark berry and cherry nose with graphite, herbs, chalk and cedar notes. Tightly structured, elegant palate with fine tannins and well balanced fruit and savoury aspects.
Winemaker: David Trafford
The best Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon barrels were selected from our Mont
Fleur
vineyard at an average elevation of 393m above sea level. At
around nine months the
three barrels spent the summer in a single 700
litre barrel before spending the winter
back in three new 225 litre
French oak barrels. The best two barrels were bottled in spring
after
about 21 months and the other included in our Elevation 393 blend. Wild
yeast
fermentation, no fining, no filtration.
Winemaker: David Trafford
The best Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon barrels were selected from our Mont
Fleur
vineyard at an average elevation of 393m above sea level. At
around nine months the
three barrels spent the summer in a single 700
litre barrel before spending the winter
back in three new 225 litre
French oak barrels. The best two barrels were bottled in spring
after
about 21 months and the other included in our Elevation 393 blend. Wild
yeast
fermentation, no fining, no filtration.
Winemaker: David Trafford
The best Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon barrels were selected from our Mont
Fleur vineyard
at an average elevation of 393m above sea level. At
around nine months the three barrels
spent the summer in a single 700
litre barrel before spending the winter back in three new
225 litre
French oak barrels. The best two barrels were bottled in spring after about
21
months and the other included in our Elevation 393 blend. Wild yeast
fermentation, no
fining, no filtration.
Winemaker: David Trafford
Both the Syrah and Mourvèdre were naturally fermented in open top tanks after which they were pressed in a traditional basket press. Vinified separately, the Syrah was drained into a new French oak barrel where it spent one year before being blended with the Mourvèdre in a 400 litre barrel, for a further nine months of ageing.
Winemaker: David Trafford
Both the Syrah and Mourvèdre were naturally fermented in open top tanks after which they were pressed in a traditional basket press. Vinified separately, the Syrah was drained into a new French oak barrel where it spent one year before being blended with the Mourvèdre in a 400 litre barrel, for a further nine months of ageing.
Winemaker: David Trafford
Viognier performs particularly well on the schist and puddingstone soils of Malgas, but it is not an easy variety on its own. Blended with our best rich and ripe Chenin and some exciting Roussanne. All barrel fermented in 400 litre French oak barrels for 10 months, 50% new. Pressed in a traditional basket press, natural yeast fermented and bottled unfiltered.
Winemaker: David Trafford
A selection of two new barrels. One from our neighbours Keermont and one from our Mont Fleur vineyard. Both on decomposed granite mountain slopes. Natural yeast fermented, like all our wines, in open top tanks. Blended after one year and matured for a further nine months in second fill barrels. Bottled by hand, unfined and unfiltered, on the property.
Winemaker: David Trafford
A selection of two new barrels. One from our neighbours Keermont and one from our Mont Fleur vineyard. Both on decomposed granite mountain slopes. Natural yeast fermented, like all our wines, in open top tanks. Blended after one year and matured for a further nine months in second fill barrels. Bottled by hand, unfined and unfiltered, on the property.
Winemaker: David Trafford
A single, new oak barrel selected from Merlot from our Mont Fleur vineyard 400 metres above sea level. This wine spent its second year in a second fill barrel. Tasting Notes: Rich, lively, true red colour. Fruitcake, blackberry and plum nose envelops a fine cedary oak and chalky, charcoal component. Firm, dusty tannins carry the rich fruit nicely on the palate.
Winemaker: David Trafford
The best Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon new oak barrels selected from our Mont Fleur vineyard 400 metres above sea level. After 1 year the selected barrels were blended in a second fill 700 litre oak barrel and matured for another 9 months. Tasting Notes: Plummy Merlot character shows at first on the nose, followed by a creamy red berry and dusty-cherry character. This echoes on the palate with ripe berry fruit followed by spicy cherry flavours and elegant, dry, soft tannins and a long finish.
Winemaker: David Trafford
A selection of three old 225 litre barrels from a particularly low yielding (approximately 2 tons/hectare) section of bush vines on pure shale and slate ‘soil’. The wine was natural yeast fermented and matured in old barrels for 20 months. Bottled unfiltered. Tasting Notes: 2011 was a great vintage at Malgas. Dense, red berry and dark cherry fruit with damp slate, salty renosterbos and a subtle white pepper nose. A long, dry, complex palate with many years ahead.
Winemaker: David Trafford
A selection of three old 225 litre barrels from a particularly low yielding (approximately 2 tons/hectare) section of bush vines on pure shale and slate ‘soil’. The wine was natural yeast fermented and matured in old barrels for 20 months. Bottled unfiltered. Tasting Notes: 2011 was a great vintage at Malgas. Dense, red berry and dark cherry fruit with damp slate, salty renosterbos and a subtle white pepper nose. A long, dry, complex palate with many years ahead.
Winemaker: David Trafford
The grapes are from our carefully managed Mont Fleur vineyard around 400 metres above sea level, between the Helderberg and Stellenbosch mountains. Steep, decomposed granite soils. Planted in 1994 with narrow 2 metre rows and a high planting density of 5000 vines/ hectare. Open top fermentation with indigenous yeast, including a pre and post fermentation maceration. A total of 14 days on skins. Drained into new small French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and 20 months maturation before bottling unfiltered. No fining. Tasting Notes: 2009 is a great vintage with exceptional ageing potential. Still obviously young, but showing intense, complex fruit and serious, fine tannins. 100% new oak nicely integrated on the palate with a long finish. Should develop well for many years.
Winemaker: David Trafford
The grapes are from a single clone 470 from a new section planted in 2002 on our Mont Fleur vineyard 400 metres above sea level. Steep, strong granite based soils on small terraces on narrow 1.8 metre wide rows and a high vine density ensuring a maximum 1.2kg/vine. A single 225 litre new French oak barrel (Boutes Grand Reserve) was selected and the wine matured in it for nearly 3 years before being bottled unfiltered with no fining. Tasting Notes: The fruit of this exceptional vintage and vineyard is cloaked in a fine new oak wrapping that will unfold in time to showcase the inherent beauty. Almost a Cabernet-like structure on the palate.
Winemaker: David Trafford
Cabernet Franc 50%, Merlot 25%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25% The grapes are from our carefully manicured Mont Fleur vineyard 400m above sea level, between the Helderberg and Stellenbosch Mountains. Planted in 1994 with narrow 2m rows and a high planting density of 5000 vines/hectare. Open-top fermentation in a small tank, two days pre-fermentation soak, fermentation with indigenous yeast and four days post-fermentation maceration. A total of 14 days on skins. Drained into new French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and 20 months maturation before bottling unfiltered. No fining. Tasting note: Still obviously very youthful, but showing some attractive fruit and soft fine tannins. 100% new oak nicely integrated on the palate with a long finish. Complexity should develop with time. Drink this wine in 4 to 10 years.
Winemaker: David Trafford
Cabernet Franc 50%, Merlot 25%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25% The grapes are from our carefully manicured Mont Fleur vineyard 400m above sea level, between the Helderberg and Stellenbosch Mountains. Planted in 1994 with narrow 2m rows and a high planting density of 5000 vines/hectare. Open-top fermentation in a small tank, two days pre-fermentation soak, fermentation with indigenous yeast and four days post-fermentation maceration. A total of 14 days on skins. Drained into new French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and 20 months maturation before bottling unfiltered. No fining. Tasting note: Still obviously very youthful, but showing some attractive fruit and soft fine tannins. 100% new oak nicely integrated on the palate with a long finish. Complexity should develop with time. Drink this wine in 4 to 10 years.
Winemaker: David Trafford
100% Touriga Nacional This 5 year old bush vine vineyard on gently sloping slate, about 70 metres above the banks of the Breede River, produced a mere 2 tons / hectare. Picked in the early morning and transported to Stellenbosch in a cool truck. Spontaneous natural yeast fermentation followed sorting, crushing and de-stemming. Time on skins was 9 days, with skins punched down 2 to 3 times a day. Single pressing in traditional basket press and malolactic fermentation in barrels. We used 2 new 225 litre barrels for the first year and a single 400 litre old barrel in the second year of maturation. Time in barrel was 22 months. The wine was bottled by hand, unfined and unfiltered. Tasting note: Attractive medium deep red colour and an attractive dry finish. A truly unique wine from the exciting new ward, Malgas. Slate, wild fruits, herbs and a spicy leafiness on the nose. Barrel maturation character evident, but not specific oak flavours. Soft, though quietly substantial palate with a nice texture, excellent complexity and an attractive dry finish. This wine needs 3 to 4 years to evolve and should last a lot longer.
Winemaker: David Trafford
Winemaking Notes The grapes are from our carefully manicured Mont Fleur vineyard 400m above sea level, between the Helderberg and Stellenbosch mountains. Planted in 1994 with narrow 2m rows and a high planting density of 5000 vines/ha. Open-top fermentation took place in a small tank, two days pre-fermentation soak, fermentation with indigenous yeast and four days post-fermentation maceration. Total 14 days on skins. Drained into new French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and 20 months maturation before bottling unfiltered. No fining. Tasting Notes Still quite closed and very youthful, but showing density and hidden complexity. Fine, firm tannins with integrated fruit lingering on the palate with a long finish.
Winemaker: David Trafford
Winemaking Notes The grapes are from our carefully manicured Mont Fleur vineyard 400m above sea level, between the Helderberg and Stellenbosch mountains. Planted in 1994 with narrow 2m rows and a high planting density of 5000 vines/ha. Open-top fermentation took place in a small tank, two days pre-fermentation soak, fermentation with indigenous yeast and four days post-fermentation maceration. Total 14 days on skins. Drained into new French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and 20 months maturation before bottling unfiltered. No fining. Tasting Notes Still quite closed and very youthful, but showing density and hidden complexity. Fine, firm tannins with integrated fruit lingering on the palate with a long finish.
Winemaker: David Trafford
34% Cabernet Franc, 33% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon One third each: Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon. This Auction wine is a selection of a single best barrel of each variety from our small 3 hectare Mont Fleur vineyard, 380 metres up between the Stellenbosch and Helderberg Mountains. The soil is a deep red Hutton with an ideal combination of good drainage and good moisture retention. The vines are planted to a relatively high density of 5000 vines / ha ensuring that each vine does not produce much more than 1kg. Matured for 23 months in new French oak and bottled without fining or filtration. Tasting note: The perfectly ripe fruit shows in the deep colour and intense, complex nose. A rich, powerful wine with a long fine tannin finish.
Winemaker: David Trafford
A selection of two of our best barrels. 1 new 400 Litre French oak from VVB Cooper in the Loire and the other older 225 Litre barrel – natural fermentation after 4 hours skin contact and traditional basket pressing. No malolactic fermentation, 10 months in barrels. Bottled unfiltered after light bentonite fining. 70 cases were sold at the 2005 Auction. Tasting Notes Attractive yellow colour. Toasty oak and smoky, mineral character with underlying dried peach nose. Big, full palate with white peach flavours and leesy richness.
Winemaker: David Trafford
The grapes are from our carefully manicured Mont Fleur vineyard 400m above sea level, between the Helderberg and Stellenbosch mountains. Planted in 1994 with narrow 2 m rows and a high planting density of 5000 vines per hectare. Open top fermentation in a small tank, 2 days pre-fermentation soak, fermentation with indigenous yeasts and four days post fermentation maceration. Total 14 days on skins. Maximum temperature 29 degrees C for the Cabernet Franc and 31 degrees C for the Merlot. Drained into new French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and 20 months maturation before bottling unfiltered. No fining. Tasting Note: Complex cranberry, smoke, dust and a touch of earth on nose. Fine, firm, grippy tannins with integrated fruit lingering on the palate at the end of a long, dry finish.
Winemaker: David Trafford
A selection of two of our best barrels from the two vineyards – neighbouring Keermont and Post House closer to False Bay. One new 400 litre new French oak from VVB cooper in the Loire and the other an older 225 litre barrel. Natural fermentation after 4 hours skin contact and traditional basket pressing. No malolactic fermentation, 10 months in barrels. Bottled unfiltered after light bentonite fining. Tasting Note: Pale yellow colour. Toasty oak and a smoky, mineral character with underlying dried peach nose. Big, full palate with white peach flavours and leesy richness.
Winemaker: David Trafford
Grapes from our carefully manicured Mont Fleur vineyard 400m above sea level, between the Helderberg and Stellenbosch Mountains. Open top fermentation in a small tank, 3 days pre fermentation soak, fermentation with indigenous yeasts and four days post fermentation maceration. Total 16 days on skins. Maximum temperature 29 degrees C. Drained to new French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and 20 months maturation before bottling unfiltered. No fining. Tasting Note: Complex, spicy fruit and oak entwined with cranberry nuances. Purity of fruit and spicy, dusty oak on the palate persists on the long dry finish.
Winemaker: David Trafford
33% Cabernet Franc, 33% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Franc One third each: cabernet franc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon. This auction wine is a selection of the single best barrel of each variety from our small 3ha Mont Fleur vineyard, 380m up between the Stellenbosch and Helderberg mountains. The soil is a deep red Hutton with an ideal combination of good drainage and good moisture retention. The vines are planted to a relatively high density of 5000 vines / ha ensuring that each vine does not produce much more than 1kg. Matured for 18 months in new French oak. Tasting note: The perfectly ripe fruit shows in the deep colour and intense, complex nose. Rich, powerful wine with a long granular tannin finish.
Winemaker: David Trafford
The perfectly ripe fruit shows in the deep colour and intense, complex nose. Rich, opulent with a long, soft tannin finish.
Winemaker: David Trafford
In order to take part in these Auctions, you will need to follow three simple steps before bidding.
