Gabriëlskloof The Landscape Series new releases

The Landscape Series from Gabriëlskloof in Bot River showcases the property’s top vineyard sites along with some of South Africa’s best old vines. It’s an ambitious undertaking and I would argue that the wines have yet to find a consistent aesthetic but happily the latest releases are smart. Tasting notes and ratings as follows:

Gabriëlskloof The Landscape Series Magdalena 2021
Price: R350
Now entirely from Semillon, sourced from old vine sites in Franschhoek and Swartland. The nose shows top notes of hay and dried herbs before lime and white peach plus some lanonlin. The palate is lean and yet intensely flavoured – pure fruit and fresh acidity precede a saline finish. Precisely made.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Gabriëlskloof The Landscape Series Elodie 2021
Price: R320
Grapes from four dryland untrellised Chenin Blanc vineyards, one in Durbanville and the other three in the Swartland. Expressive and compelling aromatics of quince, peach, citrus and herbs. The palate, meahwhile, is pure and direct – excellent fruit density and cracking acidity before a long, dry finish.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Gabriëlskloof The Landscape Series Syrah on Sandstone 2020
Price: R450
Own fruit. The nose a note of cured meat precedes red and black berries, rose, musk and white pepper on the nose while the palate is medium bodied and well balanced with fresh acidity and fine tannins, the finish gently savoury. Not as overtly ripe as the 2019 and the better for it.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Gabriëlskloof The Landscape Series Syrah on Shale 2020
Price: R450
Own fruit. Black fruit, lily olive, cracked black pepper and some flinty reduction on the nose while the palate has great fruit density, bright acidity and grippy tannins. This possesses power but also balance – striking fruit purity, the finish wonderfully long and dry. Again, much better judged than 2019.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

Gabriëlskloof The Landscape Series Cabernet Franc 2020
Price: R450
Own fruit – includes 5% Malbec. Seductive aromatics of red, black and blue berries, some leafiness, violets and some oak spice. The palate has good fruit density, fresh acidity and fine tannins. A wonderfully coherent wine with nice weight palate weight but equally freshness and drive.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

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