CONNOISSEUR’S CHOICE—A

Connoisseur’s ChoiCe

A selection of top wines to try

1. Taaibosch Crescendo 2018

(Price R300) Notes of white pepper, cloves and red berries give this wine delightful aromatics to pleasure the senses. The tension in the wine lends itself to an elegant finish, bringing together the various elements in a genteel fashion culminating in a well-polished wine. Cellar for 15+ years. PAIRING: Wagyu beef fillet.

2. Alto Rouge 2018

(Price R109) Lead pencil shavings, crushed red fruit and a hint of chocolate dominates the nose. Elegant red fruit flavours on the palate, backed-up by soft, elegant tannins. A stylish princely wine with good tannic structure that adds complexity. Cellar for 5+ years. PAIRING: Simply flavoured red meat, game and duck dishes.

4. Boland Classic Merlot 2020

(Price R80) This elegant Merlot shows layers of fruitcake and cherry on the nose, which follow through on the palate. Hints of wood-spice and savoury notes linger with a smooth finish. An elegant wine with typical cultivar character. Enjoy now. PAIRING: Red meats such as fillet or seared steak, it is also delightful on its own.

5. Kranskop Chenin Blanc 2021

(Price R89) This wine has the typical Chenin Blanc characters and flavours of fruit, honey, quince and grass. Enjoy now. PAIRING: Chicken pie with a cream mushroom sauce and roasted vegetables.

3. Marklew Shiraz 2018

(Price R199) Polished cassis, loads of spice with silky tannins and smokey finish. Can be enjoyed now but will improve with bottle age and can still be enjoyed 10 years from vintage. Drink now or cellar up to 10 years. PAIRING: Venison, ostrich, beef and stews.

6. Kranskop Rosé (Price R95) This petite sirah/viognier rosé is a very enjoyable wine with hints of strawberries and raspberries bursting forth on the nose. It has a sweet lingering aftertaste. Enjoy now. PAIRING: Curry and Mediterranean dishes.

7. Steenberg Rattlesnake Sauvignon

Blanc 2019 (Price R159) White blossom, elderflower, fresh asparagus and cape gooseberry marry on both the nose and palate. Acidity and spice form the backbone, dominating on the palate, while a creamy texture rounds out the overall mouthfeel. The palate shows capsicum, nasturtium and lime. Enjoy now. PAIRING: Shellfish, a Thai curry accented by ginger and lemon grass, a savoury tart tatin or grilled calamari. 8. Saronsberg Shiraz 2019 (Price R299) The wine has a deep, dark purple colour with succulent ripe fruit flavours supported by expressive yet delicate floral notes and scents of violets and spice. The mouthfeel has depth and clarity of fruit with integrated oak flavours. Finely crafted tannins and a beautiful layered fruit infused finish. Drink now or cellar up to 5 years. PAIRING: Grilled or roast beef especially served rare and with a pepper sauce.

9. Meerlust Rubicon 2017

(Price R455) A classic vintage of this iconic Cape wine. Quintessential Rubicon nose with violets, ripe plum, cedarwood, fennel and intense spiciness. A typical liquorice note also evident on the nose. The palate is full bodied, structured but packed with fresh dark fruit and rounded, linear tannins. Cellar for 15 - 30 10 years. PAIRING: Steak, game, meat stew, roasted and grilled vegetables and cheeses.

10. Meerlust Red 2019 (Price R229) Not every vintage is worthy of our flagship red blend Rubicon. Thus is born, in rare years, our collector’s Meerlust Red 2019. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot aged in French oak for 17 months. Intense fresh red fruit combines with floral, spicy notes in a medium-bodied wine with a soft, silky texture. Drink now or cellar up to 8 years. PAIRING: Venison, game, pot roast and noble cheese.

13. Oude Compagnies Post Mourvédre

2019 (Price R199) This wine is a true expression of the Mourvedre grape growing in the rocky clay soils high up against the mountain slopes of the Tulbagh valley. Aromas of blue fruits and violets with a wild Fynbos undertone. Cellar for 4 - 8 years. PAIRING: Venison and lamb dishes. 11. Kanonkop Pinotage 2019 (Price R469) Vibrant aromas of blueberries, ripe plums, black cherries, cinnamon and vanilla on the nose. The palate has flavours of berry compote, wild bramble, plum tart and spicy Christmas cake. Ripe tannins are intertwined between the layers of fruit. The subtle spicy tones and plush black cherry flavours on the lingering finish completes a very elegant wine. Cellar for 10 - 15 years. PAIRING: Venison meat, seared game fish and duck.

14. Cavalli Colt Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

(Price R195) The nose shows an abundance of dark berries and plums with prominent mint, eucalyptus, cigar box, roasted coffee and liquorice. A velvet palate complemented by elegant tannins helps to showcase the brighter red fruits. Cellar for 5 - 7 years. PAIRING: Dark meat or game.

12. Compagniesdrift Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot 2018 (Price R105) This wine has a dark ruby red colour with a vibrant hue showing the youth of this wine. On the nose dark fruit aromas of blackcurrent and plums with notes of spice are detected. The Merlot adds to the sweet fruit flavours detected on the palate while the Cabernet Sauvignon adds to the dark fruit core that makes this wine a pleasant food companion. Cellar for 4 - 8 years. PAIRING: Roast meat and game.

15. Cavalli Black Beauty 2018

(Price R100) Floral, perfumed nose before red and black berries, white pepper, vanilla and spice. Palate is flavourful with good fruit density and well-structured tannins. Cellar for 5 - 8 years. PAIRING: Steak with chunky chips and a horseradish cream, venison or a pulled pork burger.

16. Anthonij Rupert Optima 2017

(Price R209) Dark fruits and spice on the nose. Cassis, blueberry, violet, touches of cedar, cocoa and tobacco leaf on the palate. The palate is soft and spicy with a velvety texture and powdery fine tannins. It is simultaneously rich, rounded and refined, softly appealing and structured from sympathetic oaking which is harmoniously integrated. Cellar for 10 -15 years. PAIRING: Fillet with mustard and brandy sauce.

17. Alvi’s Drift Brut Nature MCC NV

(Price R299) Pale gold in colour with lime and wet stone aromas, earthy and dank rather than crisp and fresh. Delicate mid-palate mousse fresh and zesty slightly chewy textures on the finish giving the wine a food-friendly persistence. Drink now. PAIRING: Chinese and Thai dishes, lightly dressed seafood salads, fruit salads with red fruits and berries.

18. Swartland Hanepoot NV

(Price R77) With flavours reminiscent of the Wilson toffee brand and predominant Muscat, the palate is as sweet and complementary as the bouquet with grapy flavours, raisins, honey. Drink now. PAIRING: Slice of olive chocolate salami.

19. Namysto Rosé 2020 (Price R119) Aromatic, perfume with hints of musk. Attractive red berries and boiled sweets. Fresh, vibrant and well balanced. Beautiful fleshiness and texture on the palate with the persistent fruit on the finish that lingers well. Drink now. PAIRING: Perfect on its own, but also an ideal partner to most seafood dishes or the perfect partner to crayfish with homemade mayonnaise.

20. Niel Joubert Reserve Tempranillo

2020 (Price R170) This deep burgundy coloured wine shows subtle herbal aromas supported by rich caramel notes and concentrated dark fruit. Fleshy and well-rounded, it shows intense dark fruit, mocha and caramel flavours on the palate. Subtle sweetness, balanced acidity and structured tannins make for a wine with finesse. Cellar for 4 - 6 years. PAIRING: Grilled meats and vegetables, as well as smoked foods and Mexican dishes.

21. Vergelegen GVB Estate Blend 2015

(Price R579) Plum, chocolate, graphite and cassis and cedarwood on the nose, on the palate the fruit, tannin and acidity marry perfectly to offer balance and complexity, supported by flavours of black cherry, blackcurrants and refreshing minerals.

Enjoy now or cellar for 10 - 20 years.

PAIRING: Karoo lamb rack or beef fillet done on vine wood.

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22. Namysto Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon

2017 (Price R169) Red berry aromas—cherry, mulberry and cassis—with a dash of peppercorn. On the palate expect that spiciness in subtle hints of tobacco and leather and a velvety finish. Drink now or cellar for 10+ years. PAIRING: Red meat dishes and an array of cheeses. 23. Meerlust Merlot 2017 (Price R344) Intense dark brambly fruit on the nose, mulberry, liquorice and damson plum with hints of dark chocolate and spice. The full bodied palate offers generous, ripe, pure Merlot fruit with refreshing acidity, structured yet silky tannins and pronounced length. There is a core of juiciness, opulence and richness typical of the variety. Cellar for up to 12 years. PAIRING: Red meats, game and strong cheeses.

24. Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

(Price R369) On the nose the wine shows pronounced plum and classic cedarwood-cigar box notes with lifted dark fruit aromas. There is the characteristic hallmark aromas of fennel and liquorice associated with Meerlust Cabernet. On the palate the wine is full bodied but with richness of fruit and supple tannic structure. Drink now or cellar up to 15 years. PAIRING: Roast meat and game.

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CLEANING UP at several local and international AWARDS

At the MICHELANGELO INTERNATIONAL WINE AWARDS, Flagstone celebrated with Treaty Tree Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 2018 awarded the Trophy for Best White Blend; Double Golds for Music Room Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Free Run Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2020 and Free Run Sauvignon Blanc 2020; Golds for Word of Mouth Viognier 2020, Velvet Red Blend 2017, Dark Horse Shiraz 2017, Truth Tree Pinotage 2020 and Dragon Tree Cape Blend 2019.

Flagstone was the best performing winery at the 2021 NATIONAL WINE CHALLENGE competition with the most category wins and the most wines in the Top 100 with 3 Grand Cru Awards, 5 Double Platinum Awards and 3 Double Gold Awards.

Free Run Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is once again a Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc at the SAUVIGNON BLANC SA awards and one of four wines to repeat this feat. At the PEROLD ABSA CAPE BLEND awards, the Dragon Tree Cape Blend 2018 was in the Top 5 for second time. At the ABSA TOP 10 PINOTAGE awards, the 7th vintage of Writer’s Block Pinotage received a Top 10 Award with its 2018 release. At the SHIRAZ CHALLENGE, Dark Horse Shiraz 2017 achieved a Top 12 Shiraz in South Africa. At the SA NATIONAL YOUNG WINE SHOW, Fiona 2021 was selected as both the best regional Pinot Noir from Darling and the National best Pinot Noir.

Flagstone was the top multiple winning winery at the ULTRA VALUE WINE CHALLENGE 2021 with 17 wins including 3 Double Golds and 6 Golds, and 3rd overall in the Vineyard Consistency Award.

One of South Africa’s most awarded wines, perfected through creative perseverance.