Mother Rock new releases

Stompie Meyer’s Piket-Bo-Berg project is now in its seventh year. His 10ha of vines typically yield just 1.5 to 2 tons per hectare. “Great for fruit concentration,” he says, “but I think my bank manager would prefer if we were farming proteas or buchu.”

Brutal! White 2025
Price: R270
From a Swartland Chenin Blanc vineyard planted in 1978. Five days of skin maceration prior to fermentation. Matured for 10 months in old oak. Cloudy in appearance, the nose shows potpourri, peach, orange and a hint of reduction. The palate is lean and sour yet flavourful, the finish intensely savoury and lightly grippy. Geeky in the best way. Alc: 12.12%.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Liquid Skin 2025
Price: R270
From a Paardeberg Chenin Blanc vineyard planted in 1984. Five months on skins. Dull amber in colour. Enticing aromatics of fynbos, menthol, citrus and stone fruit along with faint spice and nuttiness. The palate has great presence and balance – quite broad and textured, the finish pithy. Alc: 13.05%.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Paying the School Fees White 2024
Price: R350
From own fruit. 40% Grenache Blanc, 25% Chardonnay, 14% Chenin Blanc, 11% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Roussanne, 2.5% Marsanne and 2.5% Clairette. Matured for 14 months in oak (including a new foudre) before a further eight months in concrete. The nose is somewhat shy with faint notes of peach, citrus, winter melon and herbs. The palate is surprisingly substantial given an alcohol of just 12.87% – dense fruit, creamy texture, bright acidity and a savoury finish.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Cuveé Carbonic Pinot Noir 2025
Price: R270
From own fruit. Pretty aromatics of flowers, herbs and red cherry. Light and bright with chalky tannins, the finish savoury. Good fruit definition, balanced, lively – not too facile, entirely charming. Alc: 11.8%.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

Brutal Red! 2025
Price: R270
From own Grenache vineyards, one south- and the other north-facing. Matured for 11 months in barrel, a light flor developing during the process. A shy nose with faint notes of cherry, plum and earth. The palate is broad with soft tannins; flavour intensity is modest, fruit not to the fore, the finish nevertheless dry. A somewhat curious wine. Alc: 12.83%.

CE’s rating: 90/100.

The Building Blocks Red 2024
Price: R350
50% Grenache, 25% Pinot Noir and 25% Mourvèdre. 80% whole-bunch fermentation. Matured for 14 months in old oak before a further eight months in concrete. Intriguing aromatics of red berries, potpourri, some meatiness and spice – nothing overt. Medum bodied with bright acidity and fine tannins. Unshowy, taut and uncompromisingly dry on the finish. Alc: 12.78%.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

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