Catherine Marshall new releases

Catherine Marshall, one of South Africa’s pioneering independent winemakers, graduated from Elsenberg in 1991 and went on to establish her own label under the name Barefoot Wine Company in 1997 before transitioning to Catherine Marshall Wines. The venture is very much a family affair, with her son, Johnathan Oxenham, actively involved in the operation.

Amatra Jono’s Wave Chenin Blanc 2024
Price: R175
70% Stellenbosch, 30% Voor Paardeberg. Spontaneously fermented and matured for eight months in a combination of old oak barrels and amphorae. Flinty reduction, peach, soft citrus and slight waxy note on the nose while the palate has good fruit weight and well-integrated acidity before a gently savoury finish. Alc: 13%.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Catherine Marshall Range

Riesling 2025
Price: R196
From Elgin. Subtle aromatics of pear, peach, apple and lime while the palate shows concentrated, sweet fruit matched by zingy acidity – hugely appealing. Immediately appealing but should only gain in complexity with time in bottle. Alc: 11.47%.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

Sandstone Soils Pinot Noir 2024
Price: R300
From Elgin. Matured for some 12 months in older oak. Cherry, raspberry, strawberry, a hint of musk and spice on the nose. The palate has both clarity and energy. Not exactly hearty but not lean either – good fruit weight, tangy acidity and powdery tannins. Alc: 13.5%.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Clay Soils Pinot Noir 2024
Price: R315
67% Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, 33% Elgin. Matured for 11 months in barrel, partially new. Plum, black cherry, beetroot, violets, earth, vanilla and oak spice on the nose while the palate is substantial with dense fruit, bright acidity and lightly grippy tannins. Very tasty indeed. Alc: 14%.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Fine Art Collection

Chenin Blanc Fermented in Clay 2024
Price: R392
Grapes from Stellenbosch and Voor Paardeberg. 80% matured in amphorae and 20% in old oak. Unshowy aromatics of citrus, peach, wet wool and earth while the palate is rich and textured – dense fruit and well-integrated acidity before a deeply savoury finish. Alc: 12.5%.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Finite Elements Pinot Noir 2024
Price: R1, 050
93% Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, 7% Elgin. Matured for 11 months in barrel, partially new. Attractive aromatics of red currant, rose, musk, a hint of beetroot, and white pepper. The palate is tightly coiled, showing sappy fruit, bright acidity, and fine, powdery tannins. Focused and elegant, with ample vitality and a long, dry finish. Alc: 13.5%.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

Lithica Grenache 2023
Price: R400
55% Voor Paardeberg, 45% Stellenbosch. Partial whole-bunch fermentation. Aromatics of strawberry, earth, and spice. The palate shows plenty of juicy fruit without undue sweetness – succulent and fresh with powdery tannins. Carries its 14.5% alcohol well, though it could show a little more detail.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

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