Cape Winemakers Guild

The Platters’ Acclaimed Trailblazer

Gordon Newton Johnson

“It’s been a great journey for us as a family coming into the valley, starting to discover it. We always say that we are learning more and more from the vineyards that we farm. That’s basically the approach we take with our winemaking as well: it’s just to never stop learning.”

Gordon grew up in Stellenbosch (an old boy of Paul Roos Gymnasium) around some of the Cape’s leading edge winemakers as family friends (Dave, his father, is one of the founding Cape Wine Masters) and was immersed in the culture but only followed it closely after university. Having finished an economics degree his more artistic leanings led him to explore wine as a creative medium. Once hooked, he was largely self-taught with sojourns to France, California and New Zealand, before taking over the reins of winemaking at Newton Johnson in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in 1999.

Season after season, farming their own vineyards gave Gordon a holistic understanding of the vineyard site and the means to allow his wines to follow a natural path. Hence he makes his wines with a soft hand, rejecting commercial additives, and in a manner that befits each and every vineyard. Newton Johnson’s success with Gordon as winemaker has seen the longest, unbroken run of five stars for a wine (eight years running) in the Platter’s Wine Guide, and Red Wine of the Year in the 2013 edition. Internationally, they have scored 95 points for their Pinots by writers such as Jamie Goode and Tim Atkin in the UK, and 90+ points in Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate in the USA.

  • +27 28 312 3862
  • gordon@newtonjohnson.com
  • www.newtonjohnson.com
  • Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Appellation

Auctioned Wines

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Sandford Chardonnay 2022

Auction Year: 2024

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Sandford Chardonnay 2022

100% Chardonnay
Wine of Origin Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

This Chardonnay from Newton Johnson originates from the estate’s best single vineyard site, demonstrating the clarity and energy characteristic of the Granite soils within a cool, maritime climate. Emphasizing authenticity, the winemaking process follows a natural approach, with no added SO2 until bottling, and no use of yeast, enzymes, or bentonite. Only the highest quality juice fraction, obtained from whole bunch pressing, is utilized. The vineyard, now approaching 15 years of age, contributes to the wine’s depth and complexity. The 2022 vintage, marked by generous ripening conditions, further enhances the wine’s character and potential.

Tasting Notes: Elaborate citrus fruit layers of yuzu and lime, juxtaposed with white flowers, baking spice, crushed stones and gunflint. The plush and compact texture is prolonged with vitality in the tapered finish.

Ready for drinking in 3 to 8 years.

Winemaker: Gordon Newton Johnson

Price raised per case

  • 6 x 750ml or equivalent
  • Highest: R 14 000
  • Lowest: R 8 750
  • Average: R 10 460

Packaging

  • Bottle Size 750ml
  • Case Size: 6 x 750ml
  • Cases Produced: 125
  • Cases Auctioned: 50

Analysis

  • Alc: 13.6 vol%
  • RS: 2.0 g/l
  • TA: 6.6 g/l
  • pH: 3.37

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Sandford Chardonnay 2021

Auction Year: 2023

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Sandford Chardonnay 2021

100% Chardonnay
Wine of Origin Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

  • The best single vineyard site of Chardonnay on Newton Johnson, illustrating the clarity and energy obtained in our granite soils in a veritable cool and maritime climate.
  • Striving for authenticity with a natural winemaking approach (no added yeast, enzymes, bentonite or SO2 until bottling).
  • Only the best quality (first) juice fraction is used from the whole bunch press.
  • The vineyard is approaching a mature age of 15 years.
  • Made for ageing through juice oxidation.

Tasting Notes: Elaborate citrus fruit layers of yuzu and lime, juxtaposed with white flowers, baking spice, crushed stones and gunflint. The plush and compact texture is prolonged with vitality in the tapered finish.

Ready for drinking in 3 to 8 years.

Winemaker: Gordon Newton Johnson

Price raised per case

  • 6 x 750ml or equivalent
  • Highest: R 13 500
  • Lowest: R 9 500
  • Average: R 10 650

Packaging

  • Bottle Size 750ml
  • Case Size: 6 x 750ml
  • Cases Produced: 108
  • Cases Auctioned: 60

Analysis

  • Alc: 14.2 vol%
  • RS: 2.6 g/l
  • TA: 7.1 g/l
  • pH: 3.34

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Sandford Chardonnay 2020

Auction Year: 2022

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Sandford Chardonnay 2020

100% Chardonnay

The best quality juice fraction is whole bunch pressed directly to barrel without prior settling. The fermentation is spontaneous and no sulphur is used in the winemaking, allowing diverse micro-organisms from the grape itself to flourish unrestrained in the fermentation. Matured for 11 months in barrel (35% new) produced in Burgundy and custom made for this vineyard, with a further 5 months’ élevage in old oak. No fining. Coarse filtration and sulphur adjustment was applied before bottling.

Tasting Notes: Elaborate layers of green and ripe lime fruit juxtaposed with white flowers, baking spice, crushed stones and gunflint. The plush and compact texture is prolonged with vitality in the finish.

Ready for drinking now and for the next 10 years.

Winemaker: Gordon Newton Johnson

Price raised per case

  • 6 x 750ml or equivalent
  • Highest: R8 500
  • Lowest: R5 833
  • Average: R6 640

Packaging

  • Bottle Size 750ml
  • Case Size: 6 x 750ml
  • Cases Produced: 108
  • Cases Auctioned: 50

Analysis

  • Alc: 13.03 vol%
  • RS: 2.7 g/l
  • TA: 7.0 g/l
  • pH: 3.3

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Windansea Pinot Noir 2020

Auction Year: 2022

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Windansea Pinot Noir 2020

100% Pinot Noir

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 wine, 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.

Ready for drinking in 2 to 15 years’ time.

Winemaker: Gordon Newton Johnson

Price raised per case

  • 6 x 750ml or equivalent
  • Highest: R12 500
  • Lowest: R7 000
  • Average: R8 030

Packaging

  • Bottle Size 750ml
  • Case Size: 6 x 750ml
  • Cases Produced: 108
  • Cases Auctioned: 50

Analysis

  • Alc: 13.03 vol%
  • RS: 2.7 g/l
  • TA: 7.0 g/l
  • pH: 3.3

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Sandford Chardonnay 2019

Auction Year: 2021

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Sandford Chardonnay 2019

100% Chardonnay

The best quality juice fraction is whole-bunch pressed directly to barrel without prior settling. The fermentation is spontaneous and no sulphur is used in the winemaking, allowing diverse micro-organisms from the grape itself to flourish unrestrained in the fermentation. Matured for 11 months in barrel (40% new) produced in Burgundy and custom made for this vineyard, with a further 5 months élevage in old oak. No fining, coarse filtration or sulphur adjustment was applied before bottling.

Tasting Notes: Elaborate layers of green and ripe lime fruit juxtaposed with white flowers, baking spice, crushed stones and gunflint. The plush and compact texture is prolonged with vitality in the finish.

Ready for drinking now and for the next 10 years.

This wine is packed in a wooden box.

Winemaker: Gordon Newton Johnson

Price raised per case

  • 6 x 750ml or equivalent
  • Highest: R 7 000.00
  • Lowest: R 5 000.00
  • Average: R 5 580.00

Packaging

  • Bottle Size 750ml
  • Case Size: 6 x 750ml
  • Cases Produced: 106
  • Cases Auctioned 50

Analysis

  • Alc: 13.80 vol%
  • RS: 2.47 g/l
  • TA: 6.53 g/l
  • pH: 3.35

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Windansea Pinot Noir 2017

Auction Year: 2020

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

Price raised per case

  • 6 x 750ml or equivalent
  • Highest: R 8 000.00
  • Lowest: R 7 500.00
  • Average: R 7 905.00

Packaging

  • Bottle Size 750ml
  • Case Size: 6 x 750ml
  • Cases Produced: 100
  • Cases Auctioned 21

Analysis

  • Alc: 13.50 vol%
  • RS: 2.00 g/l
  • TA: 5.60 g/l
  • pH: 3.57

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Sandford Chardonnay 2018

Auction Year: 2019

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Sandford Chardonnay 2018

Sandford offers a sense of energy and vitality when intertwined with the richness of Chardonnay. Coarse, loose grains of granite and quartz reach down to red, iron-rich clay in the soil that underlines the wine’s structure and grip. Made without sulphur in the winemaking, the whole bunches were pressed directly to barrel for fermentation to nish the following spring. Matured for 11 months, the wine is racked through coarse filtration to older barrels for 6 months élevage before bottling.

Tasting Notes: Beaming yellow fruit and mineral crushed stones drive the vigour in the nose, fleshed out with richer stone fruit and roasted chestnuts. Luxuriant front palate merges in to a linear and grippy finish.

Winemaker: Gordon Newton Johnson

Price raised per case

  • 6 x 750ml or equivalent
  • Highest: R 4 800.00
  • Lowest: R 4 200.00
  • Average: R 4 518.00

Packaging

  • Bottle Size 750ml
  • Case Size: 6 x 750ml
  • Cases Produced: 50
  • Cases Auctioned 34

Analysis

  • Alc: 13.24 vol%
  • RS: 2.57 g/l
  • TA: 6.52 g/l
  • pH: 3.23

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards The Awakening Mourvèdre

Auction Year: 2019

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards The Awakening Mourvèdre

Writhing out of the deep granite formation of ochre-coloured saprolite rocks, each one of these densely planted Mourvèdre bush vines is a sculpted testament to the intensely avoured grapes they produce. Made without sulphur in the winemaking, submerged whole bunches and berries were fermented in closed oak vats with no applied extraction. Matured for 12 months in puncheon barrels, the wine was racked and blended back for a further 3 months élevage. No fining or filtration before bottling.

Tasting Notes: The petrichor smell of rain on hot stones leads to a dense cassis and graphite core, laced with allspice and dried buchu. Chiselled linear tannins are threaded with savoury liquorice in to the finish.

Winemaker: Gordon Newton Johnson

Price raised per case

  • 6 x 750ml or equivalent
  • Highest: R 5 000.00
  • Lowest: R 3 200.00
  • Average: R 3 918.00

Packaging

  • Bottle Size 750ml
  • Case Size: 6 x 750ml
  • Cases Produced: 49
  • Cases Auctioned 34

Analysis

  • Alc: 13.79vol%
  • RS: 1.67 g/l
  • TA: 5.74 g/l
  • pH: 3.39

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Windansea Pinot Noir 2016

Auction Year: 2018

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Windansea Pinot Noir 2016

This is a bare-bones glimpse at Windansea, the power dimension to Pinot Noir on our farm. Grown 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 6 months élevage in large oak. Unfiltered, it will age over many years in bottle.

Winemaker: Gordon Newton Johnson

Price raised per case

  • 6 x 750ml or equivalent
  • Highest: R 6 000.00
  • Lowest: R 4 400.00
  • Average: R 4 900.00

Packaging

  • Bottle Size 750ml
  • Case Size: 6 x 750ml
  • Cases Produced: 102
  • Cases Auctioned 24

Analysis

  • Alc: 13.07 vol%
  • RS: 2.20 g/l
  • TA: 5.90 g/l
  • pH: 3.54

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Windansea Pinot Noir 2016

Auction Year: 2018

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Windansea Pinot Noir 2016

This is a bare-bones glimpse at Windansea, the power dimension to Pinot Noir on our farm. Grown 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 6 months élevage in large oak. Unfiltered, it will age over many years in bottle.

Winemaker: Gordon Newton Johnson

Price raised per case

  • 6 x 750ml or equivalent
  • Highest: R 6 000.00
  • Lowest: R 4 400.00
  • Average: R 4 900.00

Packaging

  • Bottle Size 750ml
  • Case Size: 6 x 750ml
  • Cases Produced: 102
  • Cases Auctioned 24

Analysis

  • Alc: 13.07 vol%
  • RS: 2.20 g/l
  • TA: 5.90 g/l
  • pH: 3.54

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Windansea Pinot Noir 2017

Auction Year: 2018

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Windansea Pinot Noir 2017

This is a bare-bones glimpse at Windansea, the power dimension to Pinot Noir on our farm. Grown 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.

Winemaker: Gordon Newton Johnson

Price raised per case

  • 6 x 750ml or equivalent
  • Highest: R 7 800.00
  • Lowest: R 6 800.00
  • Average: R 7 310.00

Packaging

  • Bottle Size 750ml
  • Case Size: 6 x 750ml
  • Cases Produced: 100
  • Cases Auctioned 40

Analysis

  • Alc: 13.22 vol%
  • RS: 2.00 g/l
  • TA: 5.60 g/l
  • pH: 3.57

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Seadragon Pinot Noir 2015

Auction Year: 2017

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Seadragon Pinot Noir 2015

Seadragon is a parcel sourced out of a one hectare vineyard that is the heartbeat of the Newton Johnson farm. The bunches were selectively picked by the family, along a narrow contour of broken up claystone in the granitic soil. Made without sulphur in the winemaking, it allows diverse and dynamic micro-organisms from the grape itself to flourish unrestrained in the fermentation. 11 months maturation, with a further six months élevage in larger oak. Unfiltered, it will improve over many years in bottle.

Winemaker: Gordon Newton Johnson

Price raised per case

  • 6 x 750ml or equivalent
  • Highest: R 6 800.00
  • Lowest: R 6 200.00
  • Average: R 6 450.00

Packaging

  • Bottle Size 750ml
  • Case Size: 6 x 750ml
  • Cases Produced: 108
  • Cases Auctioned 24

Analysis

  • Alc: 13.78 vol%
  • RS: 2.20 g/l
  • TA: 5.90 g/l
  • pH: 3.54

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Windandsea Pinot Noir 2016

Auction Year: 2017

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Windandsea Pinot Noir 2016

This is a bare-bones glimpse at 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, it allows diverse and dynamic micro-organisms from the grape itself to flourish unrestrained in the fermentation. 11 months maturation, with a further six months élevage in larger oak. Unfiltered, it will improve over many years in bottle.

Winemaker: Gordon Newton Johnson

Price raised per case

  • 6 x 750ml or equivalent
  • Highest: R 7 400.00
  • Lowest: R 6 600.00
  • Average: R 7 010.00

Packaging

  • Bottle Size 750ml
  • Case Size: 6 x 750ml
  • Cases Produced: 102
  • Cases Auctioned 40

Analysis

  • Alc: 13.07 vol%
  • RS: 2.20 g/l
  • TA: 5.90 g/l
  • pH: 3.54

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