The wines of Boekenhoutskloof, Franschoek, South Africa 

Boekenhoutskloof, P.O. Box 433, Franschhoek 7690, South Africa
Tel:  +27 21 876-3320 Fax: +27 21 876-3793

Handford Wine Tasting, 18 December 2003

It may be a rather off-puttingly long and Afrikaans sounding name, but Boekenhoutskloof are making some of the most impressive examples of the trendy Syrah grape yet to come from the Cape. The whole range is strong, from the delicious easy drinking Porcupine Ridge wines (available in Waitrose and Oddbins among others for around £6) through to the £20+ Syrah. I preferred the more recent vintages of the reds: it seems that the standard has risen here over the last few years.

Boekenhoutskloof Semillon 2002 Franschoek
Fresh, fruity, herby nose with some nutty richness. The palate is ripe and rounded with nice fruit and a herby twist on the finish. Very good+ 88/100

Boekenhoutskloof Semillon 2001 Franschoek
Very rich, slightly sweetly fruited nutty, herby nose with some oak evident. Nice balance on the palate which is rich, rounded and fruity with a lovely lemony freshness. Very impressive: a classy effort. Very good/excellent 91/100

Boekenhoutskloof Porcupine Ridge Merlot 2002 Coastal Region
A forward glugger, showing ripe, chocolatey fruit with a smoky, toasty edge. Rich and appealing. Light, forward and fruity on the palate with a chocolatey richness to the black fruits. An attractive easy-drinking red. Very good+ 86/100

Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 Franschoek
Not showing a great deal on the nose. Nicely poised chalky, minerally palate with good acidity. Quite elegant. Very good+ 87/100

Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Franschoek
Very savoury and ‘terroir’-like. Forward, open blackcurrant fruit nose shows nice balance and some minerally complexity. The palate is savoury and tannic with a lovely earthy, chalky edge to the classy fruit. Sophisticated and almost Bordeaux-like. Very good/excellent 93/100

Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Franschoek
Classy chalky, minerally edge to the blackcurrant fruit nose, already displaying some complexity. The palate is rich with good fruit and a spicy, minerally edge. Good structure. Bold and modern but nicely structured. Very good/excellent 90/100

Boekenhoutskloof Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2002
Lovely meaty, spicy dark fruit nose, which is very rich and appealing. Very ripe, rich chocolatey/spicy palate shows sweet fruit and a lovely meatiness. Very good/excellent 90/100

Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 1999 Franschoek
Distinctive nose showing roast coffee beans, toast and rich fruit. There’s a toasty, spicy edge to the richly fruited palate. Quite elegant and nicely structured. Very good+ 88/100 (The 2003 is equally good)

Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2000 Franschoek
Dense, taut, spicy/meaty nose with ripe black fruits. The dense, savoury palate displays ripe fruit, smooth tannins and some olive-like meatiness. Good structure. Very good/excellent 90/100

Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2001 Franschoek
Nice full, savoury spicy nose is quite serious with some meatiness hiding under the fruit. The palate is lovely and rich with smooth tannins and a meaty complexity. Alluring and rich. Very good/excellent 92/100

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