Williams and Reid THE FOUNDRY Syrah Stellenbosch RSA

Williams and Reid THE FOUNDRY Viognier Stellenbosch RSA from South Africa, Stellenbosch by The Foundry (6 x 75 cl)

Known initially as Rustenberg and later Alphen, this vineyard at one time belonged to the Baimsfather-Cloete family who produced the famous Constantia wines. In 1981 the estate was acquired by Hans-Joachim Schreiber who renamed it Stellenzicht or in its literal translation 'View of Stellen' . Matured in oak this Syrah displays intense ruby rich hues with a distinct, youthful purple tinge and opaque centre. A rich complexity of mocha and dark chocolate aromas combines with the spicy sweetness of ripe plims and toasted oak; while cinnamon and cloves round off the sweetish fruit aromas. Full-bodied yet succulent with firm, soft tannins resulting in a perfectly balanced acidity this is a wine to enjoy through to the enjoyable finish. Situated midway between the Helderberg Mountain and False Bay, lies an exceptional tract of land that benefits from a terroir eminently suited to the cultivation of the highest quality wine grapes. This jewel in the crown of the magnificent Stellenbosh wine-growing area is known as the Golden Triangle. At its core lies Stellenzicht where this wonderful wine gets its grapes. The single vineyard, planted in 1989, is situated on the slopes facing west and north-west in soils originating from decomposed granite, at an altitude of 120 m above sea-level. This vineyard block is affectionately known as 'Plum Pudding Hill' as it consistently produces fruit of high quality and ripeness. The grapes were harvested by hand and after destalking and crushing, the mash was fermented in two separate batches in stainless steel tanks at 28°C, with differing selected pure yeast cultures . The juice was removed from the skins after five days. Once malolactic fermentation was completed the wine was left to mature in a combination of French , American and Hungarian oak for a period of 19 months before bottling.

Known initially as Rustenberg and later Alphen, this vineyard at one time belonged to the Baimsfather-Cloete family who produced the famous Constantia wines. In 1981 the estate was acquired by Hans-Joachim Schreiber who renamed it Stellenzicht or in its literal translation 'View of Stellen' . Winemaker Guy Webber has combined his expertise with Shiraz and his love of Pinotage to produce Rhapsody. A blend of 53% Pinotage and 47% Shiraz, it melds the outstanding characteristics of both these varietals to create a new wine that is greater than the sum of its parts. This wine is an intense, rich ruby colour with a distinct, youthful purple tinge. A rich complexity of aromas including mocha and dark chocolate combine with the spicy sweetness of ripe plums and roasted almonds. A full-bodied wine with succulent, ripe fruit flavours the polished structure with Fruit and wood seamlessly integrate while softer tannins make for early enjoyment. Grapes were sourced from vineyards in the Stellenbosch area and grown on slopes facing west and north-west on soils originating from decomposed granite and Table Mountain sandstone. Ranging in age from 6 to 14 years and at altitudes of 150 m to 300 m the grapes are pruned and trained in order to balance the growth and yields for absolute quality. Receiving no supplementary irrigation, the yields from both vineyards were lower than usual due to very selective picking and averaged out at below six tons per hectare. The grapes were harvested by hand and after destalking and crushing, the mash was fermented in stainless steel tanks at 29° C with selected pure yeast cultures . The juice was separated from the skins after five days. Once malolactic fermentation was complete the wine was matured in a combination of French , American and Hungarian oak. Mostly new oak was used with a combination of second and third-fill . (6 x 75 cl)

Eikendal Stellenbosch Merlot RSA from South Africa, Stellenbosch by Eikendal Vineyards Stellenbosch (6 x 75 cl)

Eikendal Semillon Stellenbosch RSA from South Africa, Stellenbosch by Eikendal Vineyards Stellenbosch (6 x 75 cl)

Neethlingshof Estate Pinotage Stellenbosch RSA from South Africa, Stellenbosch by Neethlingshof Estate Stellenbosch Soft & Supple Reds (12 x 75 cl)

This wine has a clear and bright yellow-straw colour. The nose is intense and typical of the grape variety. Youthful and fruity, it is clean, perfumed, with rose petal and litchee aromas developing well after a few minutes in the glass. Medium-bodied, it is smooth with a hint of sweetness on the palate. A long, lingering, fruity and typical Gewürztraminer aftertaste rounds off this superb wine. Enjoy it with spicy food, such as curries and Chinese food, wherever spicy and sweet components mingle. Can also be enjoyed with light and fruity desserts or on its own. Serve well chilled at 10 (12 x 75 cl)

The classic French merlot is grown on the highest points on the farm It is deep ruby red, clear and brilliant. On the nose, an intense red berry character dominates, with oak aromas well evident in the background. The palate follows the nose, and is medium-bodied, with good berry-fruit flavours and a lengthy aftertaste. A wine with remarkable softness yet with excellent maturation potential. Enjoy this elegant, flavoursome wine on its own, or as the perfect accompaniment to rich stews and roasts. Serve at room temperature . (12 x 75 cl)

The history of Neethlingshof Estate spans a period of more than 300 years. In 1692 Willem Barend Lubbe, a German settler, began farming the site he had been granted by Simon van der Stel on the Bottelary Hills overlooking False Bay. He named the farm De Wolwedans, which means 'The Dance of Wolves', because he mistook for wolves the packs of jackals which roamed the countryside in those early days of European settlement. After Lubbe, the farm belonged to the Marais family, who built the wine cellar and the manor house in 1802 and 1814 respectively. Their son-in-law, Marthinus Neethling, earned himself the nickname, 'Lord Neethling', because he 'played the lord' by assuming airs of importance and authority. It was in Neethling's time that the farm was renamed Neethlingshof. Already at that time, the estate was enjoying the reputation of being one of the top wine farms in the area. The Neethlings' daughter married Jacobus Louw and the farm remained in the Louw family for the next 100 years. In 1963 well-known politician Jannie Momberg bought the estate while Gys van der Westhuizen, who had farmed for the Louw family since 1950, continued to run the farm for the Mombergs. In 1973 Schalk van der Westhuizen took over from his father as manager and winemaker and today the young and passionate De Wet Viljoen is at the helm in the cellar. Neethlingshof lies in the very heart of the Cape's winelands in the Stellenboschkloof, flanked by the Bottelary Hills and Papegaaiberg Mountain just outside the town of Stellenbosch. There are many natural advantages contributing to the production of the fine, characterful wines at Neethlingshof. These include a variety of high potential soils derived from decomposed granite, gentle slopes and valleys offering a choice of aspects. As well as the cooling effect of the nearby Atlantic Ocean on the vineyards during the ripening season, it also has the advantage of high altitude which varies between 85 and 250metres. This set of circumstances has allowed 165ha of the 273 ha to be planted with a variety of vines. The Pinotage grapes selected for this wine came from a range of trellised, south-east facing vineyards. The composition of the vineyard is made up of gravel soils with a clay content of about 10%. Set in dryland vineyards the vines ranged in age from 7 to 25 years. Great care has been taken from the harvest by hand to fermentation on the skins for five days and ageing in 225-litre French oak barrels for 24 months. This has produced an inky plum coloured wine with a medium body, velvety texture showing earthy, vegetal aromas and strong, plummy varietal flavours. (12 x 75 cl)