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)

This is a gorgeous wine, luminous and proud. The Damascene 2023 Swartland Chenin Blanc (with 2,970 bottles created) opens to a linear presentation based on sweet citrus, bergamot and honeydew melon.This is a gorgeous wine, luminous and proud. The Damascene 2023 Swartland Chenin Blanc (with 2,970 bottles created) opens to a linear presentation based on sweet citrus, bergamot and honeydew melon. The focus of the wine is intense, and it remains elegant throughout with a medium build and salty or mineral nuances to close. At the end of a day of wine tasting in my office, I choose my favorite bottle to bring back home for dinner. This was that bottle. Fruit comes from granite soil vineyards planted in 1979 and 1983. Whole-cluster fruit is delicately pressed. It ages in Austrian oval oak for 11 months. Rating: 96 Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate (www.robertparker.com) (Jun 2025)

Chopped herbs, cranberries, wild raspberries, coffee beans and sweet paprika on the nose of this fragrant and pretty red. It’s medium-bodied on the palate with very fine, powdery tannins. Layered andChopped herbs, cranberries, wild raspberries, coffee beans and sweet paprika on the nose of this fragrant and pretty red. It’s medium-bodied on the palate with very fine, powdery tannins. Layered and delicious. Drink or hold. Rating: 93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Nov 2024)

Complex notes of cherries, iron, cloves, aniseed and grilled meat follow through to a medium-bodied, chewy and substantial palate. Lots of grip and focus plus excellent freshness. Best from 2026.Complex notes of cherries, iron, cloves, aniseed and grilled meat follow through to a medium-bodied, chewy and substantial palate. Lots of grip and focus plus excellent freshness. Best from 2026. Drinking range: 2026 - Rating: 94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Nov 2024)

From a site with 75% shale and schist and 25% granite soils, the Damascene 2023 Swartland Syrah is a tense and vibrant expression underpinned by a floral lining that reminds me of rose potpourri. ItFrom a site with 75% shale and schist and 25% granite soils, the Damascene 2023 Swartland Syrah is a tense and vibrant expression underpinned by a floral lining that reminds me of rose potpourri. It shows spice, black fruit and black olive over a mid-weight texture. Nothing about the wine is too heavy. In fact, this expression embraces an elegantly caressing approach. Fermentation sees 75% whole cluster with partial submerged cap in concrete tanks. The wine matures in 2,000-liter Austrian oak vats for 11 months. Production is 3,913 bottles. Rating: 95 Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate (www.robertparker.com) (Jun 2025)

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)