Kristen Grimes

9.3

Rosé of Petit Verdit, 2025
Very fruity aromas and flavors, tart cherry and plum, but definitely some spicy/herby/floral notes. Meet the Maker tasting. — 2 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Enjoyed at our friend’s on the Big Island for NYE dinner. Dark and opaque. Rich in the mouth. Notes of black fruit, slate stone, some menthol and some five spice. In a good window. — 4 years ago

Ericsson

9.5

#1000 at home, finally!

This is big, broad and bold. Hundred percent cab aged in seventy-five percent new French Oak. Limited production to just over two hundred cases.

Visibly the wine is a deep ruby color with a tight rim.

The nose is intense with dark fruit, cassis, coffee, dark chocolate, but also earthy humid forest aromas.

The mouthfeel is luxurious and enveloping with the perfectly ripe dark fruit, just a touch of dried spices, vanilla, oak, and a long savory earthy finish. The wine is dry, full bodied, ultra smooth with round but persistent tannings with medium plus alcohol and medium acidity.

Absolutely love wine… Cheers all! — 4 years ago

James K

9.2

The color is very pretty. The nose is big and complex, with lots of herbs and forest floor notes. Invites you to keep smelling it. The palate is spicy—pepper and spices. Medium finish. Delicious. I dug this one. — 5 years ago

G Miller

8.9

Really good Bordeaux style blend out of Stellenbosch! Big Bang for the bucks! — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

We met & visited a number of Bordeaux producers while 2005 was still in the tank or just into barrel.

In talking with Winemaker-Owners about the 2005 vintage, you could see the twinkle in their eye as they were asked questions. They knew they had Bordeaux magic for the first time in five years.

We tasted this at what was deemed an “Affordable Bordeaux Tasting.” This was on the higher end of that tasting at $35. It is delivering a little better than its young expectation and the jewel to date from that tasting.

With and without protein, the 05 Chateau de Candale moved between 92-93.

The nose reveals; warm alcohol, immersed fruits of; black raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, dark cherries, poached/slightly baked, dark cherries, dark spices, purple fruit, cola mix, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dark, rich, candied, forest floor, fresh & dry tobacco, graphite, slight, moist clay, stones, dry, crushed rock chunks, whiff of bay leaf & sage, dry stems, pepper quality with candied, dark, dark red, purple, blue with violets & lavender.

This is a very good first look at this 2005. God willing, I have another look in on bottle two of three in another five years. This 05 has another 15 plus years of good drinking ahead with proper storage.

The body is full, tarry with big, sticky, chewy tannins. Baked/poached, floral fruits of; black raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, dark cherries, black plum, pomegranate, dark spices with a heavy, heated presence, purple fruit, cola mix, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, dark, rich, candied, forest floor, fresh & dry tobacco, loads of graphite, slight, moist clay, stones, dry, crushed rock chunks, dry top soils, whiff of bay leaf & sage, dry stems, muted eucalyptus, pepper quality with candied, dark, dark red, purple, blue with violets & lavender. The acidity is round & full just holding, for me, the slightly higher ABV in check. The long, heavy, dark, well knitted, more earth/spice dominated finish is showing the quality of the vintage. Yet, it still needs more time to be its best.

Photos of; Chateau de Candale, harvested Merlot fruit, recent buyers of Chateau de Candale - Thibaut Decoster and Magali Decoster and their barrel room. — 6 years ago

DAL 9000

9.3

Big penetrating blackberry/plum bouquet. Peppery plums with a hint of blackberry as it builds. Dry earthy finish! At Bandana’s African wine tasting. I had this wine with Boerwors sausage and tomato+ onion chakalaka! — 3 years ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.3

I could literally write everything i know about South African wines on a postage stamp but this tastes great. Its a big boy and no shrinking violet with juicy dark fruit and depth. Somehow reminds me of an italian merlot (which i love!). Great quality to price ratio if you like your wines big and bold — 4 years ago

Will Stanley

9.5

The 2015 Glenelly Lady May is a very different wine to the 2013 I tried last year, this time a much more dense, structured iteration that has a lot more in common with young Bordeaux. Less flamboyant and perhaps even a little closed at the moment (indeed, it was only released this year by the estate), it requires generous decanting and even then takes some coaxing from the glass. When it emerges, it offers very classical left-bank aromas of dark cherry, blackcurrant, cedar, and graphite, with additional notes of cinnamon, Vimto and menthol. It spent two years ageing in new oak barrels. The palate is much more forthcoming, concentrated with a Port-like density and bright, saturated fruit. Totally harmonious are the tannins and acidity, and the finish really is rather long.

Once again, this is an utterly superb Stellenbosch Bordeaux blend - and with the 2015, with great ageing potential. It’s probably the closest imitation I’ve come across to date. I wouldn’t touch bottles for another five years.

95+ — 4 years ago

Will Stanley

9.2

Heavy and broad-shouldered in bottle, with a wax seal to boot, the 2016 Zorgvliet Richelle conforms to the stereotype of an expressive, extracted wine but does so in a commendable manner. Too young now, the oak needs another five years at least to integrate but the aromas of cassis, graphite and rich chocolate show promise. The palate is incredibly rich, and though it’s quite unapproachable now I’d love to try it in five to ten years’ time. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

Happy International Pinotage Day. Here is a gorgeous Pinotage to celebrate with.

Deep purple in color with a purplish rim.

Nice nose of black currants, cooked cherries, oak, licorice, chocolates, vanilla, violets, coffee, Mediterranean spices, peppercorn, herbs, earth and dark chocolates.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black plums, black cherries, black currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco leaf, coke, dark roast coffee, earth, light vegetables and pencil lead.

Long finish with firm tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Pinotage from South Africa. Drinking very nicely now, with a great mouthfeel. Shows nice complexity and good by itself or with food.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show some tannins, so be patient.



This 8 year old is peaking now. I've had this vintage 5 years ago, and decided to let it mature for a while. What a great call, as it made such a big difference.

Rich and expressive. Tasty and interesting. Just Delicious.

I paired it with a cheese plate and crackers.

Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points. — 6 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.5

A wealth of distinct aromas - remember the perfume - Angel- popular in the early 2000’s? There is also popcorn, orange blossom, white roses, vanilla, nutmeg, yellow apple, Asian pear, and plenty more. It’s a field blend of Semillon, Semillon Gris, Palomino, Chenin, and Muscat. Big and powerful. Drink on a well rested brain. — 7 years ago

Eric Godin

9.1

Chardonnay is never my first choice but here I was pleasantly surprised. I'm a bit stuffed up but a rich pear and tropical notes came first with vanilla, coconut, and underripe pineapple. Almost a pear brulee. Lovely. A nice creamy moutfeel speaks to much malolactic fermentation accompanied by big juicy bright pineapple and vanilla. A perfect balance between fruit, acidity, and that touch of pithy bitterness. Some great promise from South Africa. — 8 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2019 vintage. Big and brooding from being disturbed during hibernation. Medium-heavy body. Pretty nose and a smoking profile. Sexy in an earthy, grounded way. Decanted and tasted after 30 mins and 2 hours post-decant. Still super-tight but all the promise of pleasure is there for the long game/cellar. Focus and push for decades. Would like to revisit in five years. 7.30.23. — 3 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (63%), Shiraz (28%) and Merlot (9%). Dark red color. Big aromas of dark fruit and black licorice. Pallet is also full of dark fruit along with dark chocolate, spices and a touch of vanilla. There is a roasted quantity to this wine. Full bodied but well integrated. Long and dry finish. Well made. Thank You Ron B! — 4 years ago

Joe Dunn

8.9

More oferjammy rapsberry. Good funk. A kiss of chocolate. Violet and jasmine. — 5 years ago

with paul

Shay A

9.2

My experience with South African red wines is limited, but I’ve enjoyed some Meerlust reds and a few other random bottles. I have to say, while this wasn’t a revelation, it is the best South African wine I’ve had to date.

This was a bottle opened blind for a few people. Oddly enough, there were similarities to this and a 2013 Almaviva…a burnt rubber/tire note on the nose alongside a vegetal/herbal pronounced note on the nose. Tangy/sour black cherries, red currant and red licorice too. Mostly red and black underripe fruit dominant. Even a bit of tar. This drinks like a chinon mixed with a lean vintage Bordeaux…the spice and vegetal flair is there next to the lightweight mid palate from a cooler Bordeaux vintage. A blend of five “noble varietals” in honor of Bordeaux, this was a unique wine that had people guessing from all over the world. After 1-2hrs of air from
bottle, it was balanced/integrated and ready to roll. I’d enjoy these sooner rather than later. — 5 years ago

Jodie Jackson

9.7

What a fantastic wine selection by my son, we wanted a little something to go along with Shrimp and Grits and Biscuits @Callie’sCharleston Biscuits. This wine has beautiful notes of berries, ash, minerals maybe even apricots. So delicious. Big thanks — 6 years ago

with Merritt

Lexy

9.5

December 21st 2019. This is a big bold wine. Smoke, bitter, oak, and strong alcohol taste. Smells of ripe berries and tobacco. Full-bodied. I absolutely loved this wine. — 7 years ago

Danny Owens

9.1

First of all the sense of smell kicks in and fills the room with aromas...big fruit flavors too, this is the petit sirah of the Cape. — 7 years ago