Yo El Rey current releases

When he was very young, Pablo Picasso wrote “Yo, el rey” on an early self-portrait, literally translating as “I, the king”. It’s the name Angelo van Dyk gives to his range of low-intervention wines, first released with the 2018 vintage.

To date, Van Dyk has sourced grapes from across the winelands but has been particularly drawn to Good Luck, a farm outside Stanford, where Tabby Robertshaw and Alex Chouler pursue a holistic, sustainability-led approach. Alongside cattle, pigs, goats, rabbits, organic vegetables and honey, they tend two small blocks of Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz. Van Dyk had intended to work exclusively with this fruit going forward, but the farm was badly affected by fire in January this year.

Van Dyk recently showed the following wines:

Just Kidding Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Price: R290
From Tulbagh. Matured in old oak. Elderflower, blackcurrant, peach and granadilla on the nose while the palate is super-concentrated with big acidity and a dry finish. Alc: 12.5%.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

What Could Go Wrong? V2 Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Price: R330
From Tulbagh, same grapes as above. Skin fermented for a week before maturation in old oak. Potpourri, citrus, pineapple and some more mature notes. Dense fruit and fresh acidity, the finish particularly savoury. Alc: 12.5%.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

One Bad Man Grenache 2022
Price: R260
From Bot River. Portion of stems added back, light extraction, matured for 10 months in old oak. Strawberry, floral notes and fynbos on the nose. The palate is light and fresh with powdery tannins. Most appealing in its restraint. Alc: 13.5%.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

Good Luck Blanc 2024
Not yet released.
From Stanford. Fermented on skins for a week. Potpourri, fynbos and tropical fruit on the nose. The palate is engaging but distinctly funky being slightly angular and possessing notable phenolic grip.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Good Luck Blanc 2025
Not yet released.
From Stanford. Skin fermentation kept to 25%. Lime, lemon, floral perfume and fynbos on the nose while the palate shows great poise and accuracy – pure fruit and zesty acidity before a finish that’s long and pithy.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

Good Luck Rosé 2023
From Stanford Shiraz. Fermented and matured in old oak. Strawberry, orange and a slight meaty edge. Broad with tangy acidity and a gently savoury finish.

CE’s rating: 88/100.

What Could Go Wrong? V3 Chenin Blanc 2024
Not yet released.
From Durbanville. Two weeks of skin maceration. Wild and exotic aromatics of peach, apricot, herbs and spice while the palate shows dense fruit, bright acidity and a grippy finish. Intensely flavoured, this is not for the faint of heart.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Good Luck Rouge 2024
Not yet released.
From Stanford. 100% whole-bunch fermentation. Red berry, buchu, olive brine and white pepper on the nose. The palate is light bodied and fresh with fine tannins. Flavourful enough but it comes across a bit lean to be considered truly outstanding. Alc: 12.5%.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

8:49 Mourvèdre 2024
Not yet released.
From Kasteelberg, Swartland. Black berries, a wild meaty note, wilted rose and fynbos on the nose. The palate is well structured – good fruit weight, bright acidity and fine tannins, the finish long and dry. Alc: 14%.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

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