Critics Ratings

‘Old, ungrafted (‘makstok’), dryland chenin from Olifants river. ‘13 uncompromising & tight but its web of scent, textures & flavours already combines austerity, profundity, subtle dry power & generous deliciousness. Sweet fruit strained through stone. All these old-oak matured.’ – Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2015, 5*

‘The 2013 Magnetic North Mountain Makstok is 100% Chenin Blanc from 0.98 hectares of vine grown at 500 meters above sea level. It has a slightly more aromatic bouquet than the Cartology, but not toward fruit, rather towards lanolin, beeswax and yellow flowers. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity (pH 3.27) rending this quite tense and focused. It is very understated with fleeting glimpses of chalk dust, pithy pear, and a touch of Japanese yuzu coming toward the Fino-tinged finish. Excellent – but it is not for those seeking fruit-driven Chenin. Only 824 bottles produced.’ – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (October 2014), 91/100

‘The dry-farmed, old-vine Chenin for this comes from that extraordinary 'Skurfberg' region I visited up the west coast with Rosa Kruger, Eben Sadie and Tim James in January 2015. From the farmers up the road, I think. Pale straw. Very steely and austere with strong green-apple notes. Extremely youthful but it did open up in the glass.’ – Jancis Robinson (September 2015), 17/20

Provenance

Wine Cellar