2023 Damascene | New Vintage Release

This cool and caressing semillon has notes of lemon and lime peel, sliced pears, honeysuckle and beeswax. It’s medium-bodied with lively acidity on the palate and plenty of texture too. Subtly leesy.This cool and caressing semillon has notes of lemon and lime peel, sliced pears, honeysuckle and beeswax. It’s medium-bodied with lively acidity on the palate and plenty of texture too. Subtly leesy. Drink or hold. Rating: 93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Nov 2024)

With fruit from old bush vines, the Damascene 2023 Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc is luminous and bright with lifted aromas of quince, peach and summer-ripe apricot. A little motto on the back labelWith fruit from old bush vines, the Damascene 2023 Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc is luminous and bright with lifted aromas of quince, peach and summer-ripe apricot. A little motto on the back label reads, "less cult, more cultivation." That adequately sums up the philosophy of this detail-minded estate. The wine is incredibly linear and precise. The vineyards have granite, graywacke sandstone and shale soils and were planted in phases in 1972, 1980 and 1981. This release of 2,985 bottles matures in 1,000-liter oval Austrian oak vats for 11 months. This is a beauty. Rating: 95 Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate (www.robertparker.com) (Jun 2025)

Made from Chenin Blanc grown on the Paardeberg by Adi Badenhorst and from two vineyards next to Eben Sadie, planted 1971 and 1979. Vinified with whole clusters separately, followed by oxidative mustMade from Chenin Blanc grown on the Paardeberg by Adi Badenhorst and from two vineyards next to Eben Sadie, planted 1971 and 1979. Vinified with whole clusters separately, followed by oxidative must handling. Fermented warm at 20-22c in 1000 litre foudre with malo prevented by chilling. Aged on its gross lees with no racking and without stirring at 6c for 10 to 11 months before going into concrete prior to bottling. It shows lifted aromatics of wet hay, orange peel, peach and apricot, notes of melon and bruised yellow orchard fruits with hints of tropicality under a veil of granitic minerality. The palate shows punchy concentration and a fleshy intensity, a fine savoury depth together with a glycerol mouthfeel and a classic, flinty wet stone minerality on the finish. Rating: 96 Greg Sherwood MW (Nov 2024)

From a plot sourced from the Mooiplaas Farm. Shows complex aromatics of mint leaf, sweet leaf spice and a delicate herbaceousness, with an underlying tilled earth note, earthy red currant fruit,From a plot sourced from the Mooiplaas Farm. Shows complex aromatics of mint leaf, sweet leaf spice and a delicate herbaceousness, with an underlying tilled earth note, earthy red currant fruit, dusty minerality and subtle minty chocolate peppermint crisp nuances. The palate is cool and sleek, intense yet beautifully seductive and elegant, with velvety creamy tannins and a tangy, delicately fresh acidity. An atypical Cabernet Franc but utterly delicious! Rating: 94 Greg Sherwood MW (Nov 2024)

Showing medium-dark concentration and elegantly streamlined flavors, the Damascene 2023 Stellenbosch Syrah has generous layering and a medium-plus texture. The wine is not oversized, yet the generousShowing medium-dark concentration and elegantly streamlined flavors, the Damascene 2023 Stellenbosch Syrah has generous layering and a medium-plus texture. The wine is not oversized, yet the generous nature of the fruit adds extra pleasure and a sense of pretty opulence. This is a rising star to watch. Some 75% whole-cluster fruit is courageously used in fermentation, and the wine ages in Austrian oak for 11 months. This 5,536-bottle release comes from granite soil vineyards in Karibib and Polkadraai Hills. Rating: 94 Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate (www.robertparker.com) (Jun 2025)

The 2023 Syrah Swartland comes from 25% granite soils and 75% on schist/shale soils, with submerged cap used for the latter and normal pump-overs on the former. This is more backward and almost surlyThe 2023 Syrah Swartland comes from 25% granite soils and 75% on schist/shale soils, with submerged cap used for the latter and normal pump-overs on the former. This is more backward and almost surly on the nose compared to the more expressive Stellenbosch Syrah, displaying darker fruit and a little tar and graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with powdery, bordering on gritty tannins. Quite linear and structured in style with a Cornas-inspired finish, it leaves a dash of black pepper and black olive tapenade to linger on the aftertaste. Very classy. Drinking range: 2026 - 2040 Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Sept 2024)

A very fresh and elegant syrah that has fragrant thyme, sour-cherry, wild-raspberry and balsamic aromas. It’s medium-bodied, silky and bright. Delightful. Drink now or hold.A very fresh and elegant syrah that has fragrant thyme, sour-cherry, wild-raspberry and balsamic aromas. It’s medium-bodied, silky and bright. Delightful. Drink now or hold. Rating: 93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Nov 2024)