Dombeya
Owned by American entrepreneur Preston Haskell (who lives in Moscow) this 23 hectare property in Stellenbosch is run by Rianie Strydom, one of South Africa's most dynamic and successful winemakers. Rianie has had a lifelong passion of making wine, and after ten years at Morgenhof, where she received plentiful awards, was given the opportunity in 2002 to run the Dombeya/Haskell estate. As a result of her experience in Burgundy, Bordeaux and Italy her wine making style is understandably more classic than new world in style. The idea of the Dombeya 'foundation range' is to produce wines of excellent value which demonstrate her ability to produce stylish and distinctive wines that are not expensive. Both the Dombeya Syrah and the Samara (Bordeaux blend) have already been double gold winners, and her first vintage of the Haskell Pillars Shiraz, in the premium range, has just been awarded both the best Red Wine of Show and Shiraz categories of the Tri Nations Wine Challenge in Sydney. Quite an achievement and exciting time ahead.
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Stellenbosch South Africa
An exceptional vintage for Dombeya Sauvignon, and fantastic value too. Bright, ripe fruit and juicy acidity.
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Stellenbosch South Africa
Ripe Merlot with fresh juice and good grip, this is actually quite a serious wine for Merlot at this level of price and deserves a really good grilled steak.
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Stellenbosch South Africa
Single block Chardonnay, aged ten months in a combination of 30% new, and second year French oak. Aromas of lime rind, peach, a little dollop of vanilla cream and good spicy oak. Slightly flinty and faintly grassy. On the palate juicy explosive flavours of citrus, peach, pear and spice with strong crunchy acidity and dry flinty texture. Finishes with spice and zesty citrus flavours.
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Stellenbosch South Africa
Well structured with positive fruit and good ripe tannins. Great with a steak.
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South Africa
This Bordeaux blend is a typically well structured wine, but really well balanced too. Deep and dark in colour, packed with blackcurrant fruit with a hint of chocolate and smoke. Great value.
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Stellenbosch South Africa
Aged fifteen months in oak, this is a richly textured Shiraz with spicy, sweet black fruit and chocolate flavours, concentrated and spicy on the long finish. A good step up from the lovely 2006 vintage and a star buy for both traditionalists and modernists alike.