5/6/2024 - quickben wrote:

Most enjoyable but definitely heading for the cliff of enjoyment so anyone keeping back a memory of Martin Meinert’s skill as a winemaker beware. Great memories of his mastery of the grapes of Bordeaux

4/18/2024 - quickben wrote:

Initially some spritz on opening but blew off quickly. Lots of crunchy red fruit - still fairly primary but extremely drinkable.

2/10/2024 - quickben Likes this wine:

So good now the tannins have softened but still has had that dark bramble fruit to make this pure joy.

12/8/2023 - quickben Likes this wine:

Beautifully balanced and poised. Would not pick it as Stellenbosch if served blind.

12/3/2023 - quickben Likes this wine:

Did not need to decant. Drinking beautifully from the get go. Absolutely in a great place

9/23/2023 - quickben Likes this wine:

Just wow. This has evolved into the most beautiful expression of chenin with the semillon adding honey notes but still retaining fruit and acidity. Oh that all white wines could age so gracefully. Still lots of life though sadly my final bottle.

5/21/2023 - quickben Likes this wine:

Still very fresh. Good acidity. No noticeable terpenes. Lime notes. Quite delicious

5/10/2023 - quickben wrote:

This bottle quite oxidised - going to locate rest of case and finish off. Hoping this is more advanced but if you have any left, might be worth checking.

4/26/2023 - quickben Likes this wine:

The best Pinot Noir from the Hemel en Aarde? A bold statement but not one I would wish to dispute. Really well balanced and all elements singing joyously. Great fun!

4/6/2023 - quickben wrote:

Final bottle opened. Colour showing some bricking and starting to feel it will start its graceful decline - if you still have some enjoy them.

3/19/2023 - quickben Likes this wine:

Showing no signs of fading - really gorgeous secondary notes to the fore. Feels like it has 3-5 years

2/25/2023 - quickben Likes this wine:

Huge complexity but even more it is just pleasurable to drink

2/4/2023 - quickben wrote:

Disturbingly advanced and quite oxidative. Not unpleasant or flawed but alarm bells all overcsgain

2/4/2023 - quickben wrote:

Very savoury and approachable. Not discernible new world style. Very drinkable

10/22/2022 - quickben Likes this wine:

One of my wines of the year - this demanded the zaltos be brought out. Stunning from the off - after 2 hours it was singing. Beautifully balanced with a marvellously long finish delivering notes of autumn brambles. Beautiful!

8/22/2022 - quickben wrote:

Drinking really well - would be a high scorer in any blind tasting regardless of where the Chardonnay is from

4/16/2022 - quickben Likes this wine:

For a village wine this is hitting it out of the park. Developing some lovely tertiary notes that were superb with a marinated portobello mushroom straight off the braai. Probably not going to improve from here but definitely in a very happy place.

11/12/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Sometimes a wine just creeps up on you out of left field then whacks you over the head with a sandbag. This Grenache was one of those. Genuine candidate for WOTY. Piqued interest on first nose and taste but after 2 hours it just wowed on all fronts. Beautiful perfume and depth of flavour - everything you could ask for and more. I now need to lie down and contemplate.

9/11/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Developing the characteristic honey notes with age that the Daumas Gassac Blanc typically show this is a stunning bottle.

6/16/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Hitting it’s peak - served at cellar temperature on a hot day this is magical. Crunchy red fruit and a wistful perfume that just seems to linger. One for the moment.

5/29/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Good Barbera one of life's great pleasures and I have never been disappointed with Renato Corino's Vigna Pozzo - this one has depth of flavour, great fruit and such a beautiful finish it could be a piece by Einaudi

5/23/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Decanted for 2 hours. This is still relatively primary but definitely approachable and carries strength with balance. Promising well for future bottles

5/22/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Stunning Chenin - vibrant and taut with complexity on the palate that is very pleasing

5/23/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Continues to deliver in terms of balance and flavour - shows no signs of tiredness

5/21/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Clean lines with a definite Northern Rhone feel, this has come round beautifully and will go for 10+ years

4/29/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Muted on opening but after 2 hours was truly singing. Beautiful perfume and exquisite palate. Reminding me of the Terrase du Larzac garrigue - wonderful

4/26/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Extremely attractive straight after opening and continued to evolve over next few hours. Possibly the most approachable I have known Columella and on this basis the remainder of the case will be great over next few years.

4/4/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Amazing colour 15 years after vintage - the Writer of the label could have used this for ink. Very approachable and highly enjoyable

3/26/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Opened alongside a bottle of Catena Malbec 2018 and the main points were the fine tannins and exquisite perfume of Jaa Bru. The bottle implies something less serious but what it contains is something of exquisite beauty

3/14/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

The deep gold colour suggests more evolution than is the case. The acidity keeps everything taut and there is real balance with stone fruit coming through - peach notes. Overall this seems to be punching well above its weight given the crown cap enclosure and as an early step into Chenin for Niels Verburg suggests he has a deft touch with white varietals.

3/13/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Has settled down into a lovely place. Pronounced nose with dark fruit still present. The palate showing sour cherry with resolved tannins and a good finish. Excellent.

2/28/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Showing beautifully and a great marriage confit duck legs

2/27/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Great balance floral notes and green fruit with acidity giving it spine. Lovely

2/24/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Comparing to a 18 Macon I opened yesterday this was on another level. Intensity of flavour throughout makes this a vibrant and living glass of wone

2/22/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Possibly WOTY so far. Would love to see it in a blind line-up with some good Pomerol. Quite delicious

1/17/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

I may already have enjoyed my Wine Of The Year and only January. Quite stunning it almost brought me to an emotional moment. Beautifully balanced with exquisite nose and absolutely delightful palate. Cassis and tobacco coming through. Great length. Reinforcing reputation as one of South Africa’s “grand crus”

1/13/2021 - quickben Likes this wine:

Just keeps going like Forrest Gump - stunning wine delivering way beyond its expectations that leaves me with a big smile

12/30/2020 - quickben Likes this wine:

The vineyard produces wonderful old vine semillon gris and in the hands of Chris Alheit is a quite stunning and age worthy wine. Almost feels like infanticide but it is in a good place with a vibrant orange tint which is characteristic to these vines. Long finish with lovely honeyed notes swirling through the mouth.

12/30/2020 - quickben Likes this wine:

Poetry in a glass. Acidity beautifully offset by RS with a balance that pleases. Terpenes on nose and taste is a tutti frutti exploding in the mouth

12/28/2020 - quickben Likes this wine:

Showing well - no sign of falling away

12/27/2020 - quickben Likes this wine:

Last bottle of this vintage and it has evolved over 11 years into a thing of beauty and grace. The seduction of pinot when done well is so enticing.

11/29/2020 - quickben Likes this wine:

Still in a good place. Colour vibrant. Opening with an hour’s decant but would suggest a good few years left in it

10/21/2020 - quickben Likes this wine:

Definitely worth savouring. A beautiful example of Viognier a point. Sadly just one bottle but better to have enjoyed than not tasted at all.

7/15/2020 - quickben Likes this wine:

The best yet!

7/13/2020 - quickben Likes this wine:

Yum! Really smooth and seductive. In a very good place.

7/1/2020 - quickben Likes this wine:

Last bottle and a grand lady. This was sliding towards oxidative so opened while still enjoyable. A reminder of a great case.

6/26/2020 - quickben Likes this wine:

Still going strong. Plenty on the nose and a very nice cab flavour profile.

6/21/2020 - quickben Likes this wine:

One of the best South African chenins I have had the pleasure of drinking. It is showing great flavour with stone fruits and structure and a degree of richness that give it great length.

5/26/2020 - quickben Likes this wine:

Evolved into a very balanced and accessible place. Nothing out of place or jarring, this is delivering great flavour and the tannins are silky. Long finish.

5/15/2020 - quickben Likes this wine:

Top Pinot - classy. Not new world style but definitely more Burgundian. Lovely.