Porseleinberg bottles %281%29

White-on-White: Porseleinberg 2010-2020

Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, South Africa

Neal Martin, Nov 2023

Among South Africa’s clutch of world-class Syrah, Porseleinberg is regarded as the best. So what better than a vertical of every vintage to date tutored by winemaker Callie Louw?

South africa rustenberg

The A to Z of South Africa

featured, South Africa

Neal Martin, Nov 2023

Who knew that South Africa is a polymath: a dab hand at whites, reds, dry, sweet, Pinot, Cabernet (and Rugby World Cup champions)… My annual report gathers new releases from the country’s finest producers, discussing current issues covering everything from A to Z.

Fyn   amuses bouche copy %282%29

Vinous Table: FYN, Cape Town, South Africa

Vinous Table, South Africa

Neal Martin, Sep 2023

I thoroughly enjoyed FYN. I appreciated the buzz about the place. There were a couple of dishes where, with background knowledge of Japanese cuisine, I might tweak a couple of things. Still, overall, this kaiseki-Cape fusion is imaginative and, most importantly, delicious.

Syrah 1997 copy

Cellar Favorite: 1997 Boekenhoutskloof Syrah

cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, South Africa

Neal Martin, Sep 2023

Rewind to the mid-nineties, South Africa is basking in the afterglow of the dissolution of apartheid dissolution and Nelson Mandela’s election as President. After decades of selling wine domestically, South Africa’s wine industry is suddenly exposed to a competitive, global market, often under governmental control. Among a vast ocean of turbo-charged Bordeaux blends, the 1997 Syrah from Boekenhoutskloof is sui generis and becomes one of the Cape’s most iconic, mythical wines.

Kanonkop bottles

Half-Century - Not Out: Kanonkop 1973-2015

Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, South Africa

Neal Martin, Jun 2023

Stellenbosch stalwart Kanonkop celebrated a half-century of bottling their own wines with a retrospective tasting in London that traveled all the way back to that historic inaugural vintage.

Boekenhoutskloof semillon 2006

Cellar Favorite: 2004, 2006 & 2009 Boekenhoutskloof Semillon

cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, South Africa

Neal Martin, Jun 2023

The inspiration for this Cellar Favorite was a sublime bottle of 2006 Semillon from Boekenhoutskloof, Franschhoek’s leading producer.

Eike apple

Vinous Table: Eike, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Vinous Table, South Africa

Neal Martin, Nov 2022

Eike lived up to expectations – the food was just delicious and exhibited just the right amount of flair whilst keeping it “real”.

1 south africa mountain view

Growing Up ‘n Getting Wiser: South Africa in 2022

featured, South Africa

Neal Martin, Sep 2022

Returning after lockdown, I sought to take the temperature of South Africa’s ever-changing vinous landscape: walking vineyards, meeting winemakers and marvelling at wines that quicken the pulse. What are the roots of its success? Where are the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead? It’s time to find out.

Kanonkop paul sauer 2009

Cellar Favorite: 1997 & 2009 Kanonkop Paul Sauer

cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, South Africa

Neal Martin, Sep 2022

The secondary market for South Africa’s most desirable top cuvées continues to see increasing numbers of collectors chasing diminishing supply. Buoyant interest in the Cape’s blue chips is a relatively recent phenomenon that has grown organically, pulled by demand rather than forced by supply. One coveted label is Kanonkop’s Paul Sauer.

Porseleinberg

Cellar Favorite: 2010 & 2011 Porseleinberg

cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, South Africa

Neal Martin, Sep 2022

Porseleinberg leads an impressive and growing fleet of world-class Syrah/Rhône blends from South Africa.