Former Boekenhoutskloof head winemaker Jean Smit is now pursuing his own South African projects, in the shape of Moya Meaker – cool climate Riesling and Pinot from Elgin – and Damascene. The latter’s site-specific range includes Semillon from Franschhoek and Chenin Blancs from Stellenbosch and Swartland, plus Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon from Stellenbosch and a trio of Syrahs from Stellenbosch, Swartland and Ceres Plateau. Each attached to a specific terroir, these are wines that seek to convey a unique sense of place, as I discovered when I tasted the new 2022 releases with Smit in the summer. Highlights were the Damascene, Syrah from Ceres Plateau, a wine that speaks of high-altitude freshness and the minerality of shale soils; and the Damascene, Semillon from Franschhoek, from old bush vines planted in 1942 and 1962. The decomposed sandstone of La Chataigne vineyard on the banks of the Franschhoek river imparts a delicious saltiness and chalky texture to the taut, vibrant palate. Both will certainly develop further with time in bottle. One to watch… Julie Sheppard - Decanter  (Oct 2024)

Damascene, located in Elgin, is punching above its weight class and swinging for the fences. (…) I haven't been this excited over a new producer from South Africa as I currently am with Damascene. With a smattering of wines from Stellenbosch, Swartland, Franschhoek and Cederberg, there's not a bad wine in the bunch. For me, the Chenin Blancs and the Syrahs stole my heart. Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate  (Dec 2023)

Damascene has almost appeared out of nowhere in the last couple of years. I met with head winemaker Jean Smit in London in June and then visited the estate for the first time during my trip. Fruit is sourced from various major wards, including Swartland, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, and their policy is to use 1,000 and 2,000-liter oval Austrian foudres for aging. Moya Meaker Wines comes from the Elgin estate itself, on Bokkeveld shale soils, where there is greater use of French barriques with higher percentages of new oak, though nothing over 50%. Readers can find more information about the background in last year’s report by searching the producer profile attached to my tasting notes. Smit is certainly a driven winemaker who knows what he’s doing, and comparing recent releases with a few older bottles to “fill in the gaps”, the quality of wines is improving year by year. Neal Martin, www.vinous.com  (Nov 2023)

One of the most exciting producers to emerge from the already very exciting South African wine scene in the last few years is Damascene. Jamie Goode, www.wineanorak.com  (Sept 2023)

Damascene is proving to be one of the most exciting new wine projects in the last while. The upcoming new releases are hugely impressive. www.winemag.co.za  (Oct 2020)