First Sighting is an exciting first purchase for us – a wine from the most southerly vineyard in all South Africa. It comes from the Strandveld winery, founded in 2001 by a group of wine loving friends. They had read about the travels of ancient mariners (the Portuguese Bartolomeu Dias in particular) and, inspired by the coastal descriptions, sought out a site near the ocean to plant vineyards and make their own wine. That location was Elim, close to Cape Agulhas, where unique soils and a cool climate really intensify the flavour of the grapes by ripening them oh so slowly. Made by Conrad Vlok, this white has an impressive medal winning history. It’s delightful served solo or with grilled sole or spicy Thai cuisine.
Red Wines of the Year Mixed Wine Case
Case of 12 bottles (equivalent to £8.33 per bottle) The Red Wines of the Year case contains four bottles each of customers’ favourite reds, including velvety-smooth vintage Azabache Rioja, stunning ‘Finca Sophenia’ Cabernet Sauvignon and the deliciously smooth Backsberg Pinotage all for just £99.95 – saving over £31 on normal selling prices., 4 x Azabache Crianza Organic – Spain Red Wine, 4 x Backsberg Pinotage – South Africa Red Wine, 4 x Finca Sophenia Cabernet Sauvignon – Argentina Red Wine
Babylon’s Peak Shiraz Carignan 2009
Not only did Babylon’s Peak win double Gold at Veritas, the Cape’s top wine competition, it was the only wine under #10 to do so. For our Buyer Becca, it was the wine of the vintage. Babylon’s Peak is a private cellar on the slopes of the Paardeberg Mountain, between Malmesbury and Paarl, belonging to the Basson family for four generations. In 2003 Stephan Basson renovated the old cellar and picked up where his grandfather had left off. Babylon’s Peak is a granite outcrop towering over the farm. Some of the highest vineyards in the Swartland region are here: 700m above sea level. Long hours of sunshine give richly satisfying black fruit flavours while the altitude ensures an elegance in the wine. Great with rich stews or roast red meats.
Fairview The Back Road Durif 2009
Durif may not be anywhere near as well known as, say, Shiraz, but in many ways it’s the epitome of an easy drinking New World red, producing deeply coloured wines with soft tannins and impressive richness of fruit. It was first grown by the French in the 1880s, but its reputation was established in Australia much more recently and now, thanks to Charles Back, South Africa too has entered the arena. Charles’ grandfather, a butcher from Lithuania, founded the estate in 1916, and today it is one of the Cape’s finest. Generous ageing in French and American casks has added seductive layers of spicy oak to the wine’s rich blackberry flavour. Smooth and full bodied, Durif makes an elegant partner to lamb shanks or game such as rabbit or venison.
Babylon’s Peak Shiraz Carignan 2009
Not only did Babylon’s Peak win double Gold at Veritas, the Cape’s top wine competition, it was the only wine under #10 to do so. For our Buyer Becca, it was the wine of the vintage. Babylon’s Peak is a private cellar on the slopes of the Paardeberg Mountain, between Malmesbury and Paarl, belonging to the Basson family for four generations. In 2003 Stephan Basson renovated the old cellar and picked up where his grandfather had left off. Babylon’s Peak is a granite outcrop towering over the farm. Some of the highest vineyards in the Swartland region are here: 700m above sea level. Long hours of sunshine give richly satisfying black fruit flavours while the altitude ensures an elegance in the wine. Great with rich stews or roast red meats.
