Dr Goodvine maiden releases

Who might be the instigators of the irreverently named Dr Goodvine range of wines? Visit the website and the identity of who’s behind the brand is not clear at all. A inquiring post on X, however, lured the brand owners out into the open.

Dan Badenhorst, a GP by profession, entrepreneur Russell Boltman and winemaker-turned-brewer JC Steyn started Devil’s Peak Beer Company in 2011. Long-time wine enthusiasts, they’ve now decided to start their own wine brand bringing to bear their unorthodox approach to packaging and marketing that worked for them with beer. Tasting notes and ratings for the maiden releases as follows:

Matters of the Head White 2023
Price: R260
Made by Koen Roose of Spioenkop. 64% Chenin Blanc, 29% Sauvignon Blanc, 7% Riesling. Exotic aromatics of lime, grapefruit, peach, honeydew melon, and a hint of reduction. The palate has pleasing weight and texture to go with lively acidity – a residual sugar of 5.4g/l is palpable, but this should facilitate the wine’s ageability. Alc: 13%.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

Matters of the Heart Syrah 2023
Price: R286
Made by Gavin Slabbert of Raats Family Wines. 60% Ceres Plateau, 40% Polkadraai Hills. Red and black berries, fynbos, pepper and a touch of earth on the nose. Seemingly light bodied but not shorty of structure. Lively acidity and fine tannins, the finish nicely dry. Alc: 13.5%.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Love Potion Pinot Noir 2023
Price: R315
Made by Roose. The nose shows orange, strawberry, musk, spice and a little reduction. The palate shows good fruit weight and well-integrated acidity, smooth textured in the best sense but equally not short of vibrancy, the finish gently savoury. An agreeable take on this often-disappointing variety. Alc: 13.5%.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

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