Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% each of Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc and matured for 20 months in French oak, the 2006 Ernie Els Signature almost scores a hole in one. It has a very sensual, harmonious bouquet with dark red fruits, mocha, cedar and a touch of tobacco, whilst the palate is beautifully balanced with silky smooth tannins. The 14.7% alcohol is barely noticeable on the finish with touches of orange rind enlivening the long finish. Allow this at least a couple of hours decanting to show its true potential. Superb. Drink now-2017.
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Wine & Spirits
Louis Strydom selects fruit for this blend (predominantly cabernet and merlot) from the northern slopes of the Helderberg Mountain. The elevation and sea breeze off the Atlantic make for concentrated fruit, tight and tense, that remains light and elegant on the palate. One taster said it shared the fruit quality of a ripe Cote de Nuits and the floral and meaty character of a Cote Rotie -a bit of a reach considering the blend lacks any pinot or syrah, but entirely spot-on texturally. The dark, earthy, mineral tannins indicate a long life ahead. Cellar for five years, or decant several hours before serving with roast squab.
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Wine Enthusiast
With only 336 cases imported, this Limited Edition red should be snagged up when seen. Herbal and fruity all at once with strong pepper and oregano aromas spicing up the black berry and cassis core. A touch of sweet cured meat, licorice, leather and roasted espresso appear on the finish, with assertive tannins filling the creamy mouth and lingering through the close. Drink now-2014.
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Wine Spectator
Very solid, with a tightly focused beam of winery black currant, plum and briar notes, laced with mouthwatering spice, black tea and roasted apple wood hints that help extend the finish. Racy acidity is well-buried. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2014. 336 cases imported.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
South Africa’s most famous wine-producing district, Stellenbosch, surrounds the historic town with the same name; fine winemaking here dates back to the late 1600s. Its valleys of granite, sandstone and alluvial loam soils between the towering blue-grey mountains of Stellenbosch, Simonsberg and Helderberg have the capacity to produce beautiful wines from many varieties. The climate is warm Mediterranean, tempered by the cool Atlantic air of nearby False Bay.
Perhaps most well-known for its Pinotage and Bordeaux blends, Stellenbosch also produces noteworthy wines from Syrah, Chenin blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. The district’s wards—Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch—all produce distinctive wines from vines with relatively low yields.