Boekenhoutskloof 2023 En Primeur

With wines sourced from the Boekenhoutskloof vineyards in Swartland, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, this Cape Cellar captures the very best the estate has to offer. Whilst deliciously accessible now, each of the quartet will cellar for several years and imagine the delight in discovering a dusty bottle of mature Semillon or Franschhoek Cabernet. 24 of each for £684, average bottle price en primeur £28.50.

Sourced from vineyards on the slopes of the Helderberg mountains and Vlottenberg, this comprises of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. 2023 was a challenging vintage, a rain hit growing season forced Gottfried Mocke and team to pick early to avoid rot and to employ rigorous selection in the vineyard and cellar. Spending 22 months in 60% new French oak, it opens with classic blackberry, spice and sweet tobacco aromas. Wafts of violet and mint follow before the palate delivers firm, full bodied notes of blackberry, bramble fruit and graphite. Finely balanced with fresh acidity the finish is long, bringing with it more black fruit, savoury and bitter chocolate notes. Very satisfying. Drink 2028-2040.

If you have to pick one white wine to cellar, it should be this one! This Cape beauty is sourced from very old Franschhoek vines (planted in 1902, 1936 and 1942) and made of 97% Semillon and 3% Muscat d'Alexandrie. A little shy to start with but as it unfurls you get aromas of white blossom, honey, citrus and yellow plum. On the palate notes of pineapple, lemon zest, baked pair and hints of oak (70 % new oak) are underpinned by fresh, buoyant acidity. A great advert for Semillon, this is generous in body and gorgeously textured, delivering a long, appealing finish of dried herbs, chamomile and lip-smacking salinity. 2027- 2040.

Owner Marc Kent was clear '2023 is a great vintage for Swartland Syrah'. On this evidence I couldn't disagree. Sourced from two of the Swartland farms, 90 % from Porseleinberg and 10% from the Goldmine property, the Boekenhoutskloof Syrah has both concentration and structure. Fermented with 60% whole bunches and aged in a combination of aged Austrian oak foudres and 600 litres demi-muids for up to 18 months. From the off, alluring aromas of blackcurrant damson, flora, plum and violets fill your glass. Further creamy notes of bright blue fruit, black cherry follow on the palate. Medium bodied and deliciously layered, the tannins and acidity are well integrated. Notable touches of pepper, sweet tabaco and liquorice come through on the lingering finish. A sumptuous wine.2028-2040

The fruit for the Franschhoek Cabernet comes from a combination of negociant and own farm vineyards in the Bo-hoek district. Made up of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc, 80% spends 22 months in new French barriques. Immediately inviting on the nose, you get classic black fruit, graphite, flora and evidence of the oak ageing. Still youthful but promising so much, it exudes class, delivering sumptuous flavours of mulberry, dried herbs, black cherry and leather. So well balanced, there is a long, lingering finish of oak and spice. A real tour de force! 2028-2040