Wine Region: Overberg

(2026) Made in older French oak barrels, but those have given a delightful touch of incense-like clove and spice to this. With a firmer structure and the juiciness of youth compared to the 2010 also tasted, it has lovely fruit, a peppery and lightly gamy note, and is a fine Syrah with plushness but precision too. No UK retail stockists listed at time of review.

(2026) What a treat when Vaughan Pearson appeared with this 16-year-old wine in magnum, reminding me that I was the first journalist to review their wines, with this wine, in 2012. Then I scored it 90 points and the maturity of this magnum has evolved wonderfully well. Ripe and more sweet confiture character than the 2020, but in a really pure style. Red berries and quite plush and supple in the mouth, a stripe of red liquorice gives bite, lovely saline edge to the acidity with the fruit persisting beautifully. Hard to believe this was made from very young vines. No UK retail stockists at time of review.

(2026) From a drier and hotter vintage that produced smaller berries than usual, this has plenty of soft cherries and red berries aromatically, with a light sheen of oak and spices, some clove and pepper. Lovely gentle tannin in this eight-year-old wine, acid now softening but still nicely balancing a silky and mature Pinot. No UK retail stockist listed at time of review.

(2026) Matured in 3^rd and 4^th fill, French-oak barrels, while the barrel component is immediately obvious in this Chardonnay with a little toasty edge, it is not in a overtly 'oaky' style. This is more about a creamy and lightly custardy sheen over ripe fruit. Lovely sweetness of fruit at the core of this, but good acid drive.

(2026) Creamy apple and light tropical fruit notes. Delightfully fresh and fruit driven, very good acids, and freshness and juiciness. An almost Sauvignon-like bite and juicy clarity to this. Delicious cooler-climate style.

(2023) Big smoky bonfire character on the nose, becomes quite European with a sizzle of bacon-fat, a bit of iodine, and firm red fruit. The palate freshens, giving some vegetal, rhubarb character as well as plum, the tannin and acid of the finish give a bitter cherry bite and savouriness.

(2023) The 2017 opens with a smooth, minty creaminess. It then moves into mushroom and truffle, but the palate maintains a racy edge with chestnut character as well as good fruit, length and balance.

(2023) Seven Springs age their Pinot for around nine months in older, French oak barrels. This vintage displays a lovely creaminess and harmony, with a background of nutty and smoky oak. Earthy, mushroom and truffle lead into sweet and solid fruit. Spicy and rich, but lovely harmony and length here. Note that price and stockist given is for the 2017 vintage at time of review.

(2023) Quite a deep pink colour here, and a fruity rather than mineral style. Nice berry fruits, the palate showing a redcurrant firmess with touches of rhubarb. Dry and racy finish. Price quoted is for the 2022 vintage at time of review.

(2023) Matured in 3rd and 4th fill, French-oak barrels, there's a nicely nutty overlay to the citrus character. Lovely purity to the fruit on the palate, again there is that ripeness and sweetness with a rich mouth-filling texture. Really nice weight, and yet clarity into the finish.