Some excellent results from down under at Trentham Estate:
2024 Perth Royal Wine Awards
GOLD – 2021 Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver – 2022 Estate Grown Merlot
2024 Sydney Royal Wine Show
GOLD – 2022 Estate Grown Merlot (95 points)
2024 National Wine Show of Australia
Silver – 2022 Estate Grown Merlot (90 points)
Silver – 2021 Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon (90 points)
In the Sunday Times, Will Lyons had this to say of the 2021 Kalfu Molu Chardonnay
“There’s tropical fruit and lime zest in this topical white, with oak and nutty intensity
Neal Martin’s article on the Vinous website; South Africa: Where are we now is well worth a read
and below are a few of his high scoring wines from the Seckford portfolio that are currently available:
2021 Kaapzicht Cabernet Sauvignon Steytler Vision 92 points
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Steytler Vision has a mixture of red and black fruit on the nose, with melted tar and a touch of wild mint coming through with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly viscous texture, counterbalanced by a keen line of acidity. Lightly peppered, harmonious and quite fresh on the finish, this shows impressive delineation. It will mature beautifully in bottle. Drinking Window: 2027 – 2045
2021 Kanonkop Pinotage Black Label 92 points
The 2021 Pinotage Black Label has a concentrated bouquet, if perhaps not quite as much as the previous vintage, with a light reduction at play. Scents of potpourri and camphor interlace the black plummy fruit. The palate is ripe and lush on the entry, and the 100% new oak is, as usual, very well integrated. Allspice, a touch of black pepper and clove develop toward the long finish. Of course, it will require several years in bottle, but it remains one of the Cape’s finest Pinotages. Drinking Window: 2029 – 2044
2021 Kanonkop Pinotage Estate 91 points
The 2021 Pinotage Estate has a very slight reduction on the nose that accents mentholated black cherries—well defined and exuberant. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple opening and lovely structure. White pepper and a touch of clove meet with just the right amount of fruit sweetness on the finish, closing with a suggestion of graphite. Drinking Window: 2024 – 2036
2014 Kanonkop Pinotage Estate 90 points
I tasted the 2014 Pinotage Estate because Kanonkop has an active program of releasing ten-year-old vintage to restaurants. It actually has quite a youthful bouquet: a mixture of red and black fruit, camphor, a touch of crushed violets and then a smudge of marmalade. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, quite fleshy and erring toward a medicinal style of Pinotage. A touch of white pepper builds on the finish. This is drinking beautifully now. Drinking Window: 2024 – 2034
2023 Rustenberg Chardonnay Five Soldiers 92 points
The 2023 Chardonnay Five Soldiers comes from two clones within a single vineyard at roughly 400 meters above sea level on a wind-exposed site. It was whole-bunch-pressed, barrel-fermented and aged for 15 months in 65-70% new French oak (the staves here are bent by water rather than over fire, thus imparting less wood tannin.) It has a cool, quite aloof bouquet at first, demanding coaxing. Citrus peel, orchard fruit and light orange blossom scents emerge with time. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity and fine concentration, not amazingly complex per se, yet it has a delightful finish of Clementine and peach. You could drink this now, but it will keep for a decade. Drinking Window: 2024 – 2034
2022 DeMorgenzon Chenin Blanc Reserve 93 points
The 2022 Chenin Blanc Reserve comes mainly from the estate’s heritage blocks, now partly aged in amphora. It has just a touch of reduction at the moment and is a little waxy in style. The palate boasts a slightly honeyed texture and fine depth, revealing touches of honeycomb and spice on the complex finish that lingers in the mouth. This is an excellent Chenin Blanc. Drinking Window: 2025 – 2038
2020 DeMorgenzon Chardonnay Reserve 91 points
The 2020 Chardonnay Reserve comes from a year when the vineyard team could spray the vineyard less frequently than usual. Matured in 30% new French oak with 30% malo, this has a lively bouquet with touches of dried honey, white flowers and subtle flinty scents. The palate is well balanced with a slightly tangy entry. It reveals notes of Clementine and grapefruit that dovetail into a slightly leesy, ginger-tinged finish that just needs to forage a tad more mineralité. Otherwise, this is a solid, texturally satisfying Chardonnay Drinking Window: 2025 – 2032
Neil Martin August 2024
