Provenance

Wine Cellar Private Client

Critics Ratings

2016:
'If ever a South African wine tasted of specific place it is Porseleinberg, the Cape's answer to Cornas in terms of its dense, compact structure, but with a personality that is all its own: wild, savoury and unruly with tannins that can be demanding in their youth. Fermented with 100% whole bunches and aged in a combination of concrete eggs and foudres, it's ripe, but not overly so, with notes of garrigue and tangerine and a stony, compact finish. 2022-35' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2018, 96/100

'No spring, just straight from a very dry winter into a dry summer with very dry conditions with rivers drying up in January. 1-2 t/ha yields. Nose shows a youthful sweetness of red berries, red plum sweet garrigue and dried violet flowers. The palate delivers massive weight and concentration of sweet black cherry and cassis fruit with layers of liquorice, tar, blackberry compote and subtle salty toffee and vanilla spice on the finish. An exotic, opulent but pretty vintage drinking very well now.' - Greg Sherwood MW, 96/100 (2023)

2017:
'Has any brand in South Africa achieved quite so much as Porseleinberg in less than a decade? This is the best vintage yet from this steep, brutal, extreme schist-rich site and that's saying a good deal. Big, bold and intense, with incredible, almost feral intensity, incense, tar and black pepper aromas and layers of inky dark fruit. A stunning wine from a stunning site, made by a gem of a winemaker. 2022-35' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2019, 98/100

'Shows again a big ripeness but with perhaps more restraint than the 2016. But of course another very dry season that was cooler with some later rains allowing 3 t/ha cropping. A very savoury Rhoney nose with aromatics of sweet herbs, garrigue, wood spice with weightless elegance, subtle restraint and incredible finesse. Texturally pinpoint but a bit of a sleeper still.' - Greg Sherwood MW, 96/100 (2023)

'This Swartland property is owned by Boekenhoutskloof but run independently by gifted winemaker Callie Louw. Alive and dynamic, this soars out of the glass, a touch of firework smoke to the vibrant berry fruits. Incredible energy and elegance on the palate, great freshness and focus, tiny tensile tannins and zesty acidity. Very long, this crackles on and on. The handsome labels are produced at the estate on a vintage Heidelberg press - but don't assume there is any style over substance here: the 2017 Porseleinberg is a truly great Syrah.' - Matt Walls, Decanter.com, 98/100 (Sep 2022)

'The 2017 Porseleinberg has a compelling bouquet of blackberry, fynbos, Provancal herbs and veins of blue fruit, all showing stunning delineation and composure. The palate is medium bodied with fine-grained tannins and pure blackberry ans raspberry fruit laced with thyme, sage and white pepper. This is utterly refined and intense yet sophisticated. A quite stunning wine.' - Neal Martin, Vinous, 97/100 (Oct 2019)

2018:
'In the right hands, great sites produce great wines. Since its inception in 2010, Porseleinberg has been one of the Cape's most exciting reds, but nothing quite prepared me for the transcendent brilliance of this wine. Influenced by some time spent at Domaine Jamet in Côte Rôtie - particularly their use of a submerged cap during fermentation - Callie Louw has made a stunning Syrah, proving his skills as both a farmer and a winemaker. In 2018, the style has shifted, away from power and grip to something more scented and refined. Focused, nuanced and very delicately oaked, with raspberry and wild strawberry fruit, clove and white pepper spice and textured tannins. Simply world class. 2023-35' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2019, 98/100

'Submerged cap used a la Jamet for the first time in 2018. Another dry year, the wine is packed with tannins but they are less obvious allowing fruit power and concentration to shine. "Eminently age worthy" according to Callie. The nose shows plenty of sweet herbs, sappy spice, sandalwood, garrigue and savoury Rhoney notes of black berries, cured smoked meats and olive tapenade. The palate shows massive concentration with elegance, finesse and a profound, mouthwatering tangy acidity with pithy red plum and mulberry notes on the finish. Suave tannins, creamy elegant length and a real Northern Rhone presence. This is of course the fabled Tim Atkin MW 100 pointer… but a delicious wine nonetheless!' - Greg Sherwood MW, 97+/100 (2023)

'The nose shows red and black berries, dried herbs, a hint of olive, some floral perfume as well as tiny hint of reduction. The palate, meanwhile, has good fruit definition, lovely bright acidity and fine tannins, the finish long and dry. If earlier renditions of this wine provided a thrilling sense of excitement, here you have to admire how stylish and sophisticated it is.' - Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 97/100 (Feb 2021)

2019:
'Has any brand in South Africa achieved quite so much as Porseleinberg in less than a decade? This is the best vintage yet from this steep, brutal, extreme schist-rich site and that's saying a good deal. Big, bold and intense, with incredible, almost feral intensity, incense, tar and black pepper aromas and layers of inky dark fruit. A stunning wine from a stunning site, made by a gem of a winemaker. 2022-35' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2019, 98/100

'Dark opaque black plum colour with a more translucent ruby rim. Slightly subdued aromatics with earthy, sappy notes of black plum, black berry and savoury raw meat nuances. Soft and supple on the palate, there is plenty of green herby spice, green peppercorns, coriander and sweet leaf with fine grained mineral tannins, ample grip but a slightly shorter finish. Leave this one in your cellar for now.' - Greg Sherwood MW, 95+/100 (2023)

'A brilliant and shining star, the 2019 Syrah bursts with savory herbs, red florals and spiced red fruit tones. Medium to full-bodied, the palate shows an umami character with impressive mineral tension, succulent acidity and balanced tannins before concluding with a long, seductive and spicy finish. The wine continues to reveal its secrets with the persistent lingering aftertaste. 24,000 bottles were made from 100% whole-cluster Syrah.' - Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate, 95+/100 (Dec 2022)

2020:
‘"We pick the vintage," says Callie Louw, whose 2020 Porseleinberg is the second lightest in alcohol he's ever made at 13.6%. Fermented with 100% whole bunches using the submerged cap technique that transformed the wine in 2018, this is another scented, seamless stunner from Callie Louw. Aged in large foudres and 5% concrete eggs, it's a spicy, sappy, hauntingly elegant Syrah from a brutal site, with kelp, rose petal and fynbos aromas, juicy bramble and red berry fruit, fine tannins and a wonderful sense of energy. 2024-32’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2022, 98/100

'Dark garnet. Not intense but lively, with sweetness and saltiness. Round and charming. Fine tannins.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20 (Sep 2023)

'An enticing red, this lures you in with aromas of dried flowers and herbs, leather and spices -- a fragrant thread that winds through the wine. Meanwhile, the plush texture wraps around firm, fine-grained tannins and carries rich flavors of baked black plum and cassis, bay leaf and eucalyptus and a subtle base note of ashy smoke. You'll discover more with each sip, so sit a while with this wine. Syrah. Drink now through 2033.' - Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator, 95/100

2021:
'Given its consistently outstanding quality, it's easy to forget that the average age of Porseleinberg's 14 hectares of vineyards is only seven years' old. Showing what Callie Louw calls a "little more crunch" in 2021, this is a Syrah with time on its side. Wild herb aromas of sage, oregano and rosemary introduce you to a palate that's dense yet refined, with lots of whole bunch spice and structure, negligible oak influence, detailed, layered tannins, some underlying grip and layers of dark berry fruit. One of the world's great reds from a very special site. 2025-32' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2023, 99/100

'Less-developed nose at the moment, still introvert but with the ingredients there.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17++/20 (Sep 2023)

'Ripe yet still firm, the 2021 Syrah is fresh and savory with a delightfully floral element that sways with spicy and dark red-fruited essences. Medium-bodied, the palate is balanced, fresh and firmly structured with gripping tannins and an elegant mineral tension. The wine ends with a ripe and spicy finish. 47,000 bottles were produced after resting 12 months in foudre before bottle aging for 16 months. Between the 2020 and the 2021, the 2021 is the one you want. Just give it another year in bottle, and enjoy through the middle of the next decade.' - Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate, 95/100 (Dec 2023)