Willem Booij

9.2

Splendid Wine! — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I did not get to write notes on the last three wines, just scores. We had to get to Russell Hamilton.

However, I wish I had been able to write them as these were the wines I was looking forward to spending some time on.

Peter & Andrew Allan of Crystallum are the third generation of winemakers and sons of the man who pioneered Pinot Noir winemaking in the Hemel-en-Aarde which; is what drew me to the region that is about another hour plus SE of Stellenbosch and a very good area to produce Pinot Noir.

Photos of; Gabrielskloof Cellar Door entrance, Estate vine, tasting lounge and their courtyard. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The 2017 Thorne & Daughter Wanderer’s Heart is; 59% Grenache, 19% Grenache Noir, 33% Cinsault and 8% Mourvèdre.

The nose reveals; beautiful red & blue floral fruits. Blueberries, dark cherries, blueberries, plum & poached strawberries. Touch of black licorice, cola, vanilla, dark rich soils, crushed dry rocks, steeped fruit tea with bright, dark, red and blue flowers.

The body is medium. Its mouthfeel reminds me of the light styles that can come out of Burgundy. The wine is delicious. Blueberries, dark cherries, blueberries, plum & poached strawberries. Touch of black licorice, cola, vanilla, dark rich soils, crushed dry rocks, powdery chalkiness, grainy volcanic minerals, rich dark soils, steeped fruit tea with bright, dark, red and blue flowers. The acidity is amazing. The finish is well balanced, ripe floral, juicy with some dry tannins and minerals on the long set.

Photos of; Gabrielskloof Cellar Door courtyard, Estate vines, decomposed Granitic soils the vines grow in and the entrance to Gabrielskloof. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

John of Thorne and Daughters poured the wine order and felt Peter’s Crystallum Agnes Chardonnay work well as our 5th wine.

The nose is very delicate & soft. Green apple, lemon, lime, white peach, pineapple, beeswax, soft delicate minerals & chalkiness with yellow lilies and florals.

The body is full, round and a touch waxy. The fruits are understated. Green apple, lemon, lime, white peach, pineapple, beeswax, soft delicate minerals & chalkiness, white spice with yellow yellow florals & lilies. Amazing acidity. The finish is rich, ripe, round, well balanced and delicious.

Photos of; Gabrielskloof courtyard with pond, tasting lounge, our tasting area and Estate vines. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose reveals; lemon that’s a touch sour in style, peach, lime, overripe pineapple, a little green apple, waxy notes, honeysuckle, fruit blossoms, hints of smoke, delicate minerality and soft chalkiness, yellow & spring flowers with mixed greens.

The body full and round. Peach, white peach, apricot, lime, lemon, some white spice, coating medium minerality & powdery chalkiness, herbaceous notes, yellow, spring flowers with mixed greens. Nice round acidity and well polished finish.

Photos of; Gabrielskloof Cellar Door where John makes Thorne & Daughters. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I did not get to write notes on the last three wines, just scores. We had to get to Russell Hamilton.

However, I wish I had been able to write them as these were the wines I was looking forward to spending some time on.

Peter & Andrew Allan of Crystallum are the third generation of winemakers and sons of the man who pioneered Pinot Noir winemaking in the Hemel-en-Aarde which; is what drew me to the region that is about another hour plus SE of Stellenbosch and a very good area to produce Pinot Noir.

Photos of; Gabrielskloof Cellar Door entrance, Estate vine, tasting lounge and their courtyard. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The nose reveals beautiful dark, ruby, cassis. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum skin, hints of raspberries a cinnamon/spice blend, clove, dark rich soils, black licorice, sweet tarriness, a little tobacco, leathery notes, whiff of graphite, stones with fresh, dark, red, blue, purple flowers and violets.

The body is medium. The tannins round and powdery. The wine is gorgeously elegant & sexy. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum skin, hints of raspberries, cinnamon, spice blend, clove, dark rich soils, black licorice, sweet tarriness, a little tobacco, leathery notes, whiff of graphite, stones and fresh, dark, red, blue, purple flowers and violets. The acidity is ridiculous. The well polished, balanced finish is simply sexy & gorgeous.

Photos of; Gabrielskloof Cellar Door entrance, Estate vine, tasting lounge and their courtyard. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Time to mix in a wine from our Cellar Door host, Gabrielskloof.

The nose is, lemon curd, lime, white peach, pineapple, some grassy notes, light herbaceous, fruit blossoms, vanilla, honey notes, very soft and understated, beautiful minerals with spring flowers, yellow lilies in mixed greens.

The body is full, round and thick. lemon curd, lime, white peach, pineapple, some grassy notes, light herbaceous, fruit blossoms, vanilla, honey notes, white spice, very soft and understated, beautiful minerals with spring flowers, yellow lilies in mixed greens. High acidity. The rich, lush, elegant finish is delicious and persistent for minutes.

Photos of; Gabrielskloof courtyard, tasting lounge and our tasting area and front entrance sign. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The 2017 Thorne & Daughter Rocking Horse Cape White Blend is; 22% Roussanne, 22% Chenin, Semillon 17% & Chardonnay 17%.

The nose reveals; orange rind, lemon, lime, peach, apricot, marmalade notes, vanilla, light white spice, yellow flowers and lilies.

The body is round, full, thick with a layer of beeswax. Orange rind, lemon, lime, peach, apricot, marmalade notes, vanilla, light white spice, beautiful soft minerality, yellow flowers and lilies. The acidly is high but, beautiful. The finish is well balanced, rich, lush and ripe with just some light white spice on the long set.

Photos of; different side of the Gabrielskloof Cellar Door vines, tasting lounge, the drive through their vines as you enter their Cellar Door.
— 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I did not get to write notes on the last three wines, just scores. We had to get to Russell Hamilton.

However, I wish I had been able to write them as these were the wines I was looking forward to spending some time on.

Peter & Andrew Allan of Crystallum are the third generation of winemakers and sons of the man who pioneered Pinot Noir winemaking in the Hemel-en-Aarde which; is what drew me to the region that is about another hour plus SE of Stellenbosch and a very good area to produce Pinot Noir.

Photos of; Gabrielskloof Cellar Door entrance, Estate vine, tasting lounge and their courtyard. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The nose reveals, jammy red & blue fruits. Blackberries, boysenberries, black plum, black raspberries & dark cherries. Black pepper, black licorice, dark rich earth, vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, mocha, dark, rich earth, light spice, brilliant, lavender, violets, dark and red fresh florals.

The body is full with meaty, dry, powdery, sticky tannins. The mouthfeel is gorgeous. Blackberrie, boysenberries, black plum, black raspberries & dark cherries. Black pepper, black licorice, dark rich earth, vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, mocha, dark, rich earth, light spice, brilliant, lavender, violets, dark and red fresh florals. Amazing acid. The finish is balanced, ripe, sexy and gorgeous.

Photos of; Gabrielskloof Cellar Door courtyard, Estate vines, decomposed Granitic soils the vines grow in and the entrance to Gabrielskloof. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The2018 Gabrielskloof Elodie - The Landscape Series is 100% Chenin.

The nose reveals; very ripe; white peach, lemon curd, pineapple, lime, vanilla, light honeysuckle, green apple skin, tropical melons with yellow flowers, yellow lilies and spring flowers.

The body full, lush & round. The minerality almost gives it a tannin presence. It’s a heavy powdery palate costing. Very ripe; white peach, lemon curd, pineapple & lime. Vanilla notes, light honeysuckle, green apple skin, tropical melons, mid volcanic minerals and powdery chalkiness, just a touch of white spice. with yellow flowers, yellow lilies and spring flowers. The acidity is round and beautiful. The rich, ripe, lush, elegant finish is delicious.

Photos of; Gabrielskloof courtyard, tasting lounge and our tasting area and front entrance sign. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose reveals, lemon curd, lime, green apple, overripe pineapple, a salted caramel, beautiful soft minerals, chalk power and yellow flowers, lilies, spring flowers with greens.

The body is full and round. Honeysuckle, fruit blossoms, lemon curd, lime, green apple, overripe pineapple, a salted caramel, beautiful soft minerals, chalk power and yellow flowers, lilies, spring flowers with greens. The acidity is round. The lush finish thick, rich and well polished.

Photos of; the view from Gabrielskloof, a different shot with more decomposed granite soil, John Seccombe of Thorne and Daughters hosting our tasting with his Japanese importer and Gabrielskloof Estate vines. — 7 years ago