The 2025 CWG Auction wines rated: 93 – 94

Graham Beck CWG Extra Brut Chardonnay – Pinot Noir – Cap Classique 2019 (Pieter Ferreira)

W.O. Western Cape. 85% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir. Enticing aromatics with a subtle yeasty note preceding citrus, peach, red apple, strawberry and a touch of earthiness. The palate shows richness yet balance, with good concentration, a fine creamy mousse, well-integrated acidity and a gently savoury finish. Alc: 12.01%.

Lismore Estate Vineyards Valkyrie Chardonnay 2024 (Samantha O’Keefe)

W.O. Greyton. Citrus, mango, melon, honey and some waxy character on the nose. The palate is rich, round and viscous with well-integrated acidity and a gently savoury finish. Full of flavour. Alc: 13.5%. Natural cork.

Paul Clüver Family Wines The Wagon Trail Chardonnay 2024 (Andries Burger)

W.O. Elgin. From a vineyard planted in 1987. Lemon, mandarin, grapefruit and some leesy character on the nose. The palate is voluptuous – thick textured with tangy acidity and a savoury finish. Powerful and intensely flavoured. Alc: 12.75%.

Raats Family Wines Fountain Terroir Specific Chenin Blanc 2024 (Bruwer Raats)

W.O. Polkadraai Hills. Pear, peach, mandarin, straw and a hint of reduction on the nose. The palate is super-elegant and unshowy – quite lean but not angular. Pure fruit, pleasing texture, soft but sufficient acidity, the finish pithy. Alc: 13%.

Storm Wines Bokkeveld Shale Chardonnay 2023 (Hannes Storm)

W.O. Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Exotic aromatics of lemon, orange, peach and pineapple, with a touch of yeasty complexity. The palate is rich and concentrated, combining sweet fruit, bright acidity and a savoury, lightly grippy finish. Thick-textured with flavour stacking beautifully. Dead sexy. Alc: 13%.

Ataraxia ‘Sympathy for the Pinot’ Pinot Noir 2024 (Kevin Grant)

W.O. Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. 20% whole-bunch fermentation. Violets, leafy notes, black cherry, a touch of earth and subtle reduction on the nose. The palate is full and even luscious, with dense fruit, vibrant acidity, and fine, lightly grippy tannins – great balance and texture. Alc: 13.16%.

Delaire Graff Estate Banghoek Cabernet Sauvignon – Cabernet Franc 2022 (Morne Vrey)

W.O. Banghoek – Stellenbosch. 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc. Violets, herbs, cassis and pencil shavings on the nose while the palate is plush yet composed – good clarity of fruit, fresh acidity and fine tannins. A seamless, precise wine. Alc: 14.8%.

Miles Mossop Wines Maximilian 2019 (Miles Mossop)

92% Cabernet Sauvignon from Helderberg, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot. Blackberries, violets, a leafy note, with hints of earth and pencil shavings on the nose. The palate offers excellent fruit concentration, fresh acidity and fine, tightly knit tannins, finishing ultra-dry. Well defined and austere in the best sense, this wine promises much. Alc: 13.65%. Natural cork.

Bartho Eksteen Wine Estate Fluister Landgoed Pinot Noir 2023 (Bartho Eksteen)

W.O. Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Rose, musk, cranberry, cherry, red apple, orange and spice on the nose. The palate is precise, energetic, and beautifully balanced, showing a subtle, winning tension – light-bodied, with fresh acidity and fine tannins. Alc: 12.98%.

Beaumont Family Wines Arturo’s Pinotage 2023 (Sebastian Beaumont)

From a 1974 planting on Beaumont’s Bot River property. The nose shows red cherry, musk, mint, fynbos and a subtle cured-meat note. The palate is light-bodied with fresh, almost tart acidity, finishing bone-dry. Tightly wound and understated. Alc: 12.08%.

Ernie Els CWG 2022 (Louis Strydom)

W.O. Stellenbosch. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Shiraz, 10% Cinsault. Floral fragrance, fynbos, red and black berries plus a hint of spice on the nose. The palate is juicy and fresh with powdery tannins.  Good fruit expression and plenty of “bounce.” Nicely judged – not too light nor too opulent. Alc: 14.38%.

Lismore The Sheltering Sky Syrah 2023 (Samantha O’Keefe)

W.O. Elgin. 100% whole-bunch fermentation. Red berries, floral perfume, olive brine, white pepper and vanilla on the nose while the palate is pure and fresh with powdery tannins. Alive and gently savoury, a wine of finesse. Alc: 12.5%.

Luddite Square Dog Grenache 2024 (Niels Verburg)

W.O. Bot River. Red and black berries with a fleeting hint of meatiness that soon gives way to lavender, fynbos, pepper and spice. The palate is vibrant and sappy, medium-bodied with bright acidity and firm, grippy tannins. Harmonious and characterful – a well-judged, balanced wine. Alc: 13.24%. Natural cork.

Miles Mossop Wines Maximilian 2018 (Miles Mossop)

100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Bottelary. Red and black berries, oystershell, undergrowth, earth and pencil shavings on the nose. The palate is medium bodied and open – flavourful and fresh, tannins already quite mellow, the finish gently savoury. Drinking beautifully now. Alc: 13.65%. Natural cork.

Raats Family Wines Stella Nova Cabernet Franc 2021 (Bruwer Raats)

W.O. Polkadraai Hills. The nose shows strawberry, raspberry and faint whiffs of violets, herbs, earth and pencil shavings. The palate shows pure fruit, vibrant acidity and fine tannins, the finish nicely dry.  Elegant and understated, favouring finesse over intensity. Alc: 14%. Natural cork.

Rock of Eye CWG Auction Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (Coenie Snyman)

From Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg grapes. Cassis, tea leaf, herbs, and pencil shavings on the nose. Succulent, rich and round – clean fruit, bright acidity and silky tannins. No clumsiness and already quite open and approachable. Alc: 14.69%.

Solo Wines Auction Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 (Carl Schultz)

From Bottelary, Stellenbosch. Very primary on the nose with notes of red and black berries, flowers, herbs, the merest hint of vanilla and oak spice plus some flinty reduction. Medium bodied, clean and correct – good freshness and fine tannins, the finish not too severe. Alc: 14.15%.

Strydom Family Wines The Game Changer Cabernet Franc – Merlot 2021 (Rianie Strydom)

W.O. Stellenbosch. 83% Cabernet Franc, 17% Merlot. Pretty aromatics of cherries, plums, violets and some leafiness. Medium bodied, clean and vital. Well balanced with ample freshness and fine, chalky tannins. Entirely charming. Alc: 14.44%