Some more of the goodies tasted at Cape Wine. Some old friends and new acquaintances.

Carinus Rooidrai Chenin Blanc 2017 Swartland, South Africa
From 37 year old vines, this is fermented in 500 litre used French oak barrels. Textured and really fine, showing bright linear, elegant pear and citrus fruit with great tension and precision. Showing real finesse. 94/100

Blank Bottle 69.9999 2016 Voor Paardeberg, South Africa
Peter Walser has been making this wine, a Syrah from Paarl, for three years, and it is bottled in magnum only. Each year it is named after the percentage of whole bunch used: in year one it was 33.33, in year two, 100, and this year 69.9999. It would have been 70, but this had already been taken by a wine. Sweetly fruited and floral with lovely raspberry and cherry fruit, as well as some pepper spice. There’s a hint of mint, too. 95/100

Paul Cluver Seven Flags Chardonnay 2017 Elgin, South Africa
13.2% alcohol. This is wonderfully poised with a hint of pineapple, some ripe pear, lemons and a hint of wax. It’s mineral, fresh and citrussy with nice weight. Shows the potential of Elgin Chardonnay. 95/100

Raats Family Eden High Density Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2016 Stellenbosch, South Africa
This is from a 0.6 ha plot planted in 2009 at high density (8000 vines/ha). It’s powerful and intense with lovely citrus fruit and some pear, with lovely harmony. Pear, white peach and spice, with some generosity and real finesse. 95/100

Porselienberg Syrah 2016 Swartland, South Africa
14% alcohol. So floral and expressive, showing balanced sweet black pepper notes and lively black cherry fruit. Elegant, fine and expressive but not lacking flavour, this is benchmark, world-class Syrah. 96/100

Reyneke Natural Chenin Blanc 2017 Stellenbosch, South Africa
12.5% alcohol. Fermented in amphora. Very lively with a hint of mint and some lemony fruit. Apples and citrus. Lively and complex with nice weight. Waxy and detailed. 94/100

Restless River Ava Marie Chardonnay 2017 Hemel-en-Aarde, South Africa
13.5% alcohol. Complex and lively with pithy complexity to the vivid fruit. Bold, grippy and fine with great concentration. A really focused wine. 95/100

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