ANTOINE SANZAY LES POYEUX 2020
R1050,00WHY IS IT SPECIAL?
This vintage stands out as a marker of Sanzay’s ascent into top‑tier Loire craftsmanship: with vines averaging around 50 years old, minimal intervention, and an exceptionally well‑balanced 2020 season, Les Poyeux captures both power and finesse. Considered by many collectors to be one of the finest expressions of Cabernet Franc from Saumur‑Champigny, it offers excellent cellar potential and terroir authenticity.AWARDS:
- Bettane Et Desseauve: 17/20
TASTING NOTES:
Nose: The bouquet opens with vibrant aromas of black cherry, raspberry and wild blueberry, layered with violet florals and a subtle underpinning of graphite and smoked tobacco. A hint of fresh herbs and dried pepper emerges as it breathes, lending both energy and intrigue.
Palate: On the palate, the wine is medium‑to‑full‑bodied with fine, chalky tannins and lively acidity that gives the fruit clarity and drive. Flavours of ripe cassis, dark plum, cocoa nib and mineral slate weave together with a cooling herbal edge — menthol and black peppercorn — adding tension and terroir‑identity.
Finish: The finish is long, precise and memorable, leaving lasting impressions of graphite, dark cherry skin and a whisper of bay leaf spice, with structural grip balanced by elegance and freshness.
HERMANUSPIETERSFONTEIN (HPF) SWARTSKAAP CABERNET FRANC
R395,00WHY IS IT SPECIAL?
Swartskaap is South Africa’s first single-varietal Cabernet Franc, and it has earned cult status for its precision, balance, and cellaring potential. The vineyard’s Atlantic influence tempers the natural intensity of the grape, yielding a wine of European restraint with New World clarity. Each vintage reflects the estate’s commitment to low yields, minimal intervention, and sustainable farming. For collectors, Swartskaap represents a pioneering milestone in South African viticulture — elegant, distinctive, and consistently rated among the country’s best Cabernet Francs.AWARDS/REVIEWS:
- Tim Atkin: 89/100
- The Texsom International Wine Awards: Bronze (2022)
- Consistently rated 93–95 points by South African wine critics
- A Top 10 Cabernet Franc in South Africa by Winemag SA
TASTING NOTES:
Nose: The bouquet is refined and expressive, with notes of fresh black cherry, graphite, and dried herbs unfolding into hints of violet, pencil shavings, and cedar spice. Subtle undertones of olive tapenade and cigar box add intrigue and complexity.
Palate: Medium- to full-bodied, the palate is both vibrant and structured, offering layers of blackcurrant, plum, and cassis balanced by tobacco, peppercorn, and earthy minerality. Fine-grained tannins and a graceful acidity carry the flavours with poise and length.
Finish: The finish is long and savoury, with lingering notes of dark fruit, mocha, and a whisper of bay leaf, leaving a clean, elegant impression that speaks to both craftsmanship and terroir.
SASSICAIA TENUTA SAN GUIDO 1985
R61000,00WHY IS THIS SPECIAL?
- The 1985 Sassicaia is often considered the "perfect vintage" and is one of the most celebrated Italian wines ever made.
- It was the first Italian wine to receive 100 points from Robert Parker, bringing global fame to Sassicaia and Super Tuscans.
- Tenuta San Guido pioneered Bordeaux-style wines in Tuscany, breaking the rules of traditional Italian winemaking.
- The 1985 vintage is still sought after by collectors, with bottles fetching extremely high prices at auctions.
REVIEWS/AWARDS
- Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: 96/100
- Wine Spectator: 95/100
- James Suckling: 95/100
TASTING NOTES:
Nose: Intense and complex, with notes of blackcurrant, dried cherries, cedar, leather, tobacco, graphite, and earthy truffle
Palate: Silky yet powerful, with well-integrated tannins, bright acidity, and layers of dark fruit, spice, and minerality
Finish: The finish is exceptionally long and elegant
Ageing Potential: One of the greatest ageing Sassicaia vintages—still remarkable today at nearly 40 years old