Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch is a world-renowned wine region located in the Cape Winelands, known for its exceptional wines, stunning natural beauty, and diverse terroir. The region is home to a range of acclaimed wineries, including Kanonkop Wine Estate, Rust en Vrede Wine Estate, and Thelema Mountain Vineyards, each known for their exceptional wines and commitment to sustainable and ethical practices. Stellenbosch boasts a Mediterranean climate, cooled by maritime breezes from the nearby Atlantic Ocean, with warm summers and mild winters. Its diverse terroir, including a range of soil types and microclimates, creates ideal growing conditions for a variety of grape varietals.
Experience the world-class wines of Stellenbosch and discover why this historic wine region continues to be a favorite among wine lovers. From bold and full-bodied reds to crisp and elegant whites, Stellenbosch offers an exceptional range of wines to suit every taste and preference. Plan a visit to this beautiful wine region and explore the vineyards, taste the wines, and immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of South African winemaking. With its stunning natural beauty, exceptional wines, and warm hospitality, Stellenbosch is a destination not to be missed.
Stellenbosch
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The Van Biljon Stellenbosch Cinq 2015 epitomises the exceptional craftsmanship synonymous with the Van Biljon estate in the heart of Stellenbosch. Carefully handpicked from premier vineyards, this Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend undergoes meticulous vinification, employing wild yeast fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve its intricate flavours. Subsequent maturation ensues in French oak barrels for 24 months, imparting elegant tannins and nuanced vanilla undertones. The 2015 vintage showcases a profound bouquet of blackcurrant, plum, and subtle tobacco notes, complemented by a harmonious structure and a lingering finish. Each bottle reflects the unique terroir of Stellenbosch, characterised by granite-based soils and a Mediterranean climate, ensuring a wine of remarkable depth and balance. Ideal for both immediate enjoyment and extended cellaring, the Van Biljon Stellenbosch Cinq 2015 stands as a testament to Van Biljon’s dedication to excellence and their masterful expression of South African viticulture.
Inc. TAX€323.69 -
(6x75cl) 2014Inc. TAX€309.34 -
Greg Sherwood MW (95+)
This really is a sensational expression from Andre and the team at Vergelegen. A blend of 20% Sauvignon and 80% Semillon, this wine screams premium white Bordeaux from the minute you smell the alluring aromatics. All the classical white Bordeaux hallmark notes are there including a crunchy white citrus, grapefruit zest, pineapple pastille fruits, lime peel, dried coconut and reductive hints of black currant and vinyl. The palate is broad and powerful with a leading edge of sweet and sour grapefruit acidity, tangerine juice, green mango flesh and white citrus fruit intensity. Slightly pithy with hints of dried grass, this wine is a never ending profusion of fruit concentration, minerality and dried herb complexity all knitted together in a very tight, intense, classical package. This wine would go down an absolute treat blind with the Bordelaise producers in the Graves or Pessac-Leognan. With pyrazines well and truly conquered in this wine, this expression is lined up for a long and successful ageing period. Drink from release and for another 12 to 15+ years.Inc. TAX€500.63 -
(6x75cl) 2017Tim Atkin MW (95)
Reviewed alongside the 2018 release as they are both on the market, this is Semillon dominated with 40% Sauvignon Blanc. Barrel-aged in one-third new oak, it has flinty, struck match aromas, stylish wood spice, notes of lanolin and grapefruit and a pithy, refreshing finish.Inc. TAX€272.66 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
Every bit as good as the 2017, even though the vintage is less celebrated, this is an equal marriage of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc with an even lower pH. Grapefruit and elderflower flavours combine appealingly with the stylish vanilla oak, embellished by a herbal undertone.Inc. TAX€206.63 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
Proof the remarkable ageing potential of Vergelegen's flagship white wine - and it's only just settling into its stride - this is a gloriously complex blend of Sauvignon Blanc and 36% Semillon, with appealing freshness and zip, good focus, a salty undertone and flavours of grapefruit, gooseberry and fresh toast.Inc. TAX€178.08 -
Jancis Robinson (18)
Tasted blind. Blackcurrant pastilles on the really interesting, sophisticated nose. Some savoury inkiness and lots of pleasure. Firm and confident and set for the long term. Lots there with tannin evident only on the end for future development. Long. This is the first wine that reminds me of ambitious bordeaux … luscious – a sort of right-bank style.Inc. TAX€146.39 -
(12x75cl) 2006Wine Advocate (93)
Showing much better is the 2006 “V” that demonstrates a little more opulence and fruit intensity on the nose with ripe blackberry, raspberry, sloe and cedar with good definition. The palate has firm chalky tannins and a good sense of tension, a citrus-like acidity towards the long poised finish. This has great potential, but again it deserves time in the cellar. Drink 2014-2022.Inc. TAX€2,368.09 -
Wine Advocate (93)
Showing much better is the 2006 “V” that demonstrates a little more opulence and fruit intensity on the nose with ripe blackberry, raspberry, sloe and cedar with good definition. The palate has firm chalky tannins and a good sense of tension, a citrus-like acidity towards the long poised finish. This has great potential, but again it deserves time in the cellar. Drink 2014-2022.Inc. TAX€816.23 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
Made as a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon since 2008, this is the top red at Vergelegen and demonstrates André van Rensburg’s mastery of the variety. It’s a focused, classically proportioned red, combining freshness with concentration, suppleness with structure. Aromatic and refined, it has plenty more to give.Inc. TAX€802.79 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
First made in 2001, with a break in 2002 and 2010, V is the top wine at Vergelegen and is suitably ambitious stuff, aged entirely in new oak. Polished, elegant and refined, with smooth tannins, notes of graphite and iron and a long, complex finish that promises more in bottle.Inc. TAX€669.83 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
Give or take 2% Cabernet Franc, this is a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 100% new wood. It’s a brilliantly focused wine that carries its 14.5% alcohol lightly, with notes of tobacco and aromatic spices, filigree tannins and layers of mint, green herbs and dark fruit.Inc. TAX€647.99 -
Tim Atkin MW (96)
V is spectacularly good in 2015, a one-site expression of Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon in a great vintage. Big, bold, grippy, concentrated and built to develop in bottle, it’s like a Cape Château Montrose, with savoury, tobacco leaf complexity, layers of tannins and dark berry fruit, fine 75% new wood and deftly judged acidity.Inc. TAX€579.34 -
Wine Mag (96)
Whereas it’s the 2020 vintage of MR de Compostella and the 2019 of Kanonkop Paul Sauer that are currently on the market, Helderberg property Vergelegen is only now about to release the 2017 of its top-end red that is V. Happily, it’s extraordinarily good. Consisting of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot, the nose shows red and black berries, tea leaf, violets and a hint of reduction while the palate is marked by reined-in power – lovely fruit purity, fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. It’s focused and tight with a finish that’s long and dry and should mature with benefit.Inc. TAX€407.99 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
Often among my favourite Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignons, this textbook Helderberg red was blended with 3% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc in 2017. Scented, refined and effortlessly dense and complex, with aromatic 30% new wood, mocha, cedarwood and cassis flavours and a long, balanced, herbal finish. 2022-29Inc. TAX€356.88 -
Tim Atkin MW (96)
You can almost count the good producers of Sangiovese outside Italy on the fingers of one hand, so well done Waterford for the impressive first release of this blend with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Herbal and spicy, it has aromas of pine and rosemary, succulent red berry fruit, classic Italian acidity and savoury tannins and stylish second and third use wood. 2021-27Inc. TAX€510.94
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The Van Biljon Stellenbosch Cinq 2015 epitomises the exceptional craftsmanship synonymous with the Van Biljon estate in the heart of Stellenbosch. Carefully handpicked from premier vineyards, this Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend undergoes meticulous vinification, employing wild yeast fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve its intricate flavours. Subsequent maturation ensues in French oak barrels for 24 months, imparting elegant tannins and nuanced vanilla undertones. The 2015 vintage showcases a profound bouquet of blackcurrant, plum, and subtle tobacco notes, complemented by a harmonious structure and a lingering finish. Each bottle reflects the unique terroir of Stellenbosch, characterised by granite-based soils and a Mediterranean climate, ensuring a wine of remarkable depth and balance. Ideal for both immediate enjoyment and extended cellaring, the Van Biljon Stellenbosch Cinq 2015 stands as a testament to Van Biljon’s dedication to excellence and their masterful expression of South African viticulture.
In Bond€246.00 -
(6x75cl) 2014In Bond€234.00
-
Greg Sherwood MW (95+)
This really is a sensational expression from Andre and the team at Vergelegen. A blend of 20% Sauvignon and 80% Semillon, this wine screams premium white Bordeaux from the minute you smell the alluring aromatics. All the classical white Bordeaux hallmark notes are there including a crunchy white citrus, grapefruit zest, pineapple pastille fruits, lime peel, dried coconut and reductive hints of black currant and vinyl. The palate is broad and powerful with a leading edge of sweet and sour grapefruit acidity, tangerine juice, green mango flesh and white citrus fruit intensity. Slightly pithy with hints of dried grass, this wine is a never ending profusion of fruit concentration, minerality and dried herb complexity all knitted together in a very tight, intense, classical package. This wine would go down an absolute treat blind with the Bordelaise producers in the Graves or Pessac-Leognan. With pyrazines well and truly conquered in this wine, this expression is lined up for a long and successful ageing period. Drink from release and for another 12 to 15+ years.In Bond€395.00 -
(6x75cl) 2017
Tim Atkin MW (95)
Reviewed alongside the 2018 release as they are both on the market, this is Semillon dominated with 40% Sauvignon Blanc. Barrel-aged in one-third new oak, it has flinty, struck match aromas, stylish wood spice, notes of lanolin and grapefruit and a pithy, refreshing finish.In Bond€208.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
Every bit as good as the 2017, even though the vintage is less celebrated, this is an equal marriage of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc with an even lower pH. Grapefruit and elderflower flavours combine appealingly with the stylish vanilla oak, embellished by a herbal undertone.In Bond€150.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
Proof the remarkable ageing potential of Vergelegen's flagship white wine - and it's only just settling into its stride - this is a gloriously complex blend of Sauvignon Blanc and 36% Semillon, with appealing freshness and zip, good focus, a salty undertone and flavours of grapefruit, gooseberry and fresh toast.In Bond€127.00 -
Jancis Robinson (18)
Tasted blind. Blackcurrant pastilles on the really interesting, sophisticated nose. Some savoury inkiness and lots of pleasure. Firm and confident and set for the long term. Lots there with tannin evident only on the end for future development. Long. This is the first wine that reminds me of ambitious bordeaux … luscious – a sort of right-bank style.In Bond€99.00 -
(12x75cl) 2006
Wine Advocate (93)
Showing much better is the 2006 “V” that demonstrates a little more opulence and fruit intensity on the nose with ripe blackberry, raspberry, sloe and cedar with good definition. The palate has firm chalky tannins and a good sense of tension, a citrus-like acidity towards the long poised finish. This has great potential, but again it deserves time in the cellar. Drink 2014-2022.In Bond€1,935.00 -
Wine Advocate (93)
Showing much better is the 2006 “V” that demonstrates a little more opulence and fruit intensity on the nose with ripe blackberry, raspberry, sloe and cedar with good definition. The palate has firm chalky tannins and a good sense of tension, a citrus-like acidity towards the long poised finish. This has great potential, but again it deserves time in the cellar. Drink 2014-2022.In Bond€658.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
Made as a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon since 2008, this is the top red at Vergelegen and demonstrates André van Rensburg’s mastery of the variety. It’s a focused, classically proportioned red, combining freshness with concentration, suppleness with structure. Aromatic and refined, it has plenty more to give.In Bond€646.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
First made in 2001, with a break in 2002 and 2010, V is the top wine at Vergelegen and is suitably ambitious stuff, aged entirely in new oak. Polished, elegant and refined, with smooth tannins, notes of graphite and iron and a long, complex finish that promises more in bottle.In Bond€536.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
Give or take 2% Cabernet Franc, this is a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 100% new wood. It’s a brilliantly focused wine that carries its 14.5% alcohol lightly, with notes of tobacco and aromatic spices, filigree tannins and layers of mint, green herbs and dark fruit.In Bond€517.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (96)
V is spectacularly good in 2015, a one-site expression of Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon in a great vintage. Big, bold, grippy, concentrated and built to develop in bottle, it’s like a Cape Château Montrose, with savoury, tobacco leaf complexity, layers of tannins and dark berry fruit, fine 75% new wood and deftly judged acidity.In Bond€459.00 -
Wine Mag (96)
Whereas it’s the 2020 vintage of MR de Compostella and the 2019 of Kanonkop Paul Sauer that are currently on the market, Helderberg property Vergelegen is only now about to release the 2017 of its top-end red that is V. Happily, it’s extraordinarily good. Consisting of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot, the nose shows red and black berries, tea leaf, violets and a hint of reduction while the palate is marked by reined-in power – lovely fruit purity, fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. It’s focused and tight with a finish that’s long and dry and should mature with benefit.In Bond€317.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
Often among my favourite Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignons, this textbook Helderberg red was blended with 3% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc in 2017. Scented, refined and effortlessly dense and complex, with aromatic 30% new wood, mocha, cedarwood and cassis flavours and a long, balanced, herbal finish. 2022-29In Bond€276.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (96)
You can almost count the good producers of Sangiovese outside Italy on the fingers of one hand, so well done Waterford for the impressive first release of this blend with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Herbal and spicy, it has aromas of pine and rosemary, succulent red berry fruit, classic Italian acidity and savoury tannins and stylish second and third use wood. 2021-27In Bond€402.00
