James Suckling (97)

Superbly cool, restrained and refined, this austere, beautiful dry riesling is a slow-burn masterpiece that's only just beginning to reveal its complex white-peach, white-tea, wild-herb and dark-berry character. Super-long and mineral finish. Drink or hold.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Complete, warm, complex nose and then amazing grip on the finish. Such vice-like grip! Yet with wonderful freshness and life. This has so much to offer. It's like essence of Riesling. The finish is crawling with (good) micro-organisms somehow. A rich panoply of wild-flower flavours without being at all heavy.

Hailing from the esteemed Austrian winery, Prieler Ried Marienthal Blaufrankisch 2017 is a riveting representation of its varietal, Blaufränkisch, and an epitome of the terroir of Burgenland. Grown on the southern slopes of the Leitha Mountains and fuelled by richly mineral limestone soils, this full-bodied red wine is cultivated under meticulous attention. After handpicking, the grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation in open vats before maturing for 18 months in large wooden casks. Prieler's commitment to a minimal intervention approach reflects radiantly in this vintage.

The Prieler Ried Marienthal Blaufrankisch 2017 is an enchanting potion of spiced cherries tinged with elegance and depth. Underlying traces of liquorice, exotic spices, and graphite, some of Blaufränkisch's signature aromas, blend in harmony to offer a warm, lingering finish. This timeless wine is a true embodiment of the fine elegance that characterises Prieler's unparalleled craftsmanship. It is a must-explore for any devotees of authentic Austrian reds.

Tim Atkin MW (92)

Now into its third vintage - and showing its highest alcohol yet at a towering 11% alcohol - this very rare Cinsault Blanc is sourced from a 0.2-hectare parcel on granite in Wellington. Naturally fermented in clay amphorae, it's salty and very fresh, with lemongrass and citrus peel flavours. 2021-25

Vinous (93)

The 2018 Cinsault is whole-bunch-pressed, naturally fermented and aged in used oak and concrete. It has a lovely bouquet of morello cherry, blueberry and light crushed violet aromas, demonstrating more fruit intensity than some other more anemic Cinsaults that one finds in the Cape. The well-balanced palate delivers supple tannins, well-judged acidity and an understated, delineated, lightly spiced finish that is just pure class. This is a superb Cinsault that should give 12 to 15 years of drinking pleasure.

Tim Atkin MW (94)

"Massive acidities" is how Donovan Rall describes the 2019 white wines, and he's not exaggerating. This concrete egg-fermented Grenache Blanc comes from a single vineyard at 620 metres in Piekenierskloof and is a case in point. Peachy, pithy and linear with bready undertones and a tangy, textural finish. 2021-25

Tim Atkin MW (95)

Donovan Rall only used the first pick for this stunning Piekenierskloof Grenache Blanc in 2020, fermenting and ageing it in a combination of concrete eggs and amphoras. It's a salty, complex, dialled back white with notes of gunflint, wild herbs and greengage and high-altitude minerality and precision.

Tim Atkin MW (97)

'White Wine Discovery of the Year' - Donovan Rall has made a habit of winning one or more or my discovery of the year categories and he's done it again with this Chenin Blanc from a Paardeberg vineyard planted in the 1960s. Picked in four stages, it’s a stunning expression of the site, with saline grip, lots of extract and concentration, hay, pear and lime flavours and wonderful energy.

Vinous (94)

The 2017 White is a blend of 60% Chenin Blanc, 30% Verdelho and 10% Viognier. It is the first vintage where the Chardonnay has been left out due to the concentration. It has an intense bouquet of oyster shell, lemon thyme and crushed stone, very focused in style. The palate is very well balanced, with a lightly spiced entry, linear and racy, and a gorgeous orange pith, nectarine and white peach finish that lingers in the mouth. Outstanding.

Tim Atkin MW (95)

As he did in 2017, Donovan Rall made his signature white wine without any Chardonnay, going for a 60/35/5 blend of Chenin Blanc, Verdelho and Viognier from the Swartland and Stellenbosch. Firmly established as one of the best blends in the Cape, it's still youthful and primary, but has stony reduction, ne lees and a medley of pear, citrus and stone fruit. 2021-26

Tim Atkin MW (96)

The Swartland and Stellenbosch are the twin sources of this consistently outstanding white blend from Donovan Rall, made from a cuvée of Chenin Blanc with 32% Verdelho and a splash of Viognier. Nuanced, understated and focused, with wax, lanolin and aniseed top notes and a palate of citrus, pear and peach skin. Taut and refreshing.

Tim Atkin MW (95)

Donovan Rall is a consummate blender of grapes, crafting seamless assemblages like this one of Chenin Blanc with 34% Verdelho and 1% Viognier. Dominated by fruit from the granite soils of the Paardeberg, it has aromas of oatmeal, wet stone and white flowers, peach, pear and lemongrass fruit and the tangy acidity of the vintage.

Christian Eedes (97)

72% Chenin Blanc, 24% Verdelho and 4% Viognier – includes a portion of Chenin from the vineyard from which Noa below is sourced. Expressive aromatics of citrus, peach, floral perfume, herbs and a subtle reductive note while the palate has a dense core of fruit, invigorating acidity and dry finish. Poised and rather thrilling drinking.

Indulge in the sublime elegance of Ramos Pinto, Vinces Very Old Tawny Port NV. Produced in Portugal's renowned Douro Valley region, this exquisite port is known for its nuanced complexities. A masterful blend creates a robust spectrum of flavours that evolves on your palate. Notes of dried fruits, toasted almonds, and spice intermingle to reveal an undercurrent of creamy caramel.

Founded in 1880 by Adriano Ramos Pinto, this winery's products reflect an irreplicable terroir. The Vinces Very Old Tawny Port NV is an embodiment of timeless sophistication; matured for an undisclosed period in oak casks, the wine acquires its characteristic tawny hue and unrivalled depth of taste. The discerning drinker will appreciate its exceptional balance and luxurious finish.

Offering elegance and complexity in a glass, the Ramos Pinto, Vinces Very Old Tawny Port NV is truly an exploration of traditional viniculture refined to a fine art.

Vinous (94)

Smoky basalt notes and suggestions of quarry dust accompany site-typical evocations of sage and mint on an intensely pungent, penetrating nose. Generous, bright juiciness of lemon and lime, along with sheer extract sweetness, keep this almost painfully concentrated, grippingly stony expression of Pechstein from turning austere or overly severe. And extract also seems to be the source of textural richness beneath what initially seems a very firm feel. Mouthwatering salinity adds to the appeal of a finish vibrantly interactive in its expression of citrus, herb and mineral matter.

Vinous (92-93)

Penetratingly pungent and high-toned aromas of peppermint, boxwood and lemon zest cover over any aromatic influence there might be from a relatively new Austrian cask. The feel here is polished and strikingly waxy. Alkaline and saline notes serve for enhanced invigoration and saliva-inducement on a resonant and rich yet refreshingly bright finish. Last tasted from cask shortly before an August 2017 bottling, this wine will have a lot more to say given a bit of time.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2014 Goldtröpfchen Auslese displays a very clear and intense bouquet of fully ripe Riesling berries, and indicates a great elegance and finesse. This is a beautifully fine and delicate, highly elegant Auslese with fine Riesling flavors intermixed with stimulating salty mineral flavors. The wine has a nice grip and complexity, as well as a great finesse and lightness.

Tim Atkin MW (94)

"We've gone more focused" says Nuschka de Vos of this complex, amphora, foudre and old wood-aged Chenin, inspired by the wines of Vouvray. Beeswax, lanolin and fennel aromas lead into a palate with good texture and structure and a pithy, mouth-watering finish.

Tim Atkin MW (96)

This brilliant, barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc comes from the top part of the Willow Spring parcel and is the latest in a line of brilliant releases under this label. Saline, pithy and flinty with hints of nettle and elderflower, fine oak and a finish that goes on for ever. Drink 2019-2027.

Tim Atkin MW (96)

A welcome relief from the blandness of many commercial Sauvignon Blancs, this is an ambitious, dynamically farmed white from the brilliant team at Reyneke. Sappy, reductive and nettley, with a flinty note that's reminiscent of a great Pouilly-Fumé and a long, saline finish. 2020-24

Tim Atkin MW (95)

A wine that takes its inspiration from Pouilly-Fumé, according to Rudiger Gretschel, this varietal Sauvignon Blanc is remarkably chiselled and pithy, with gooseberry and elderflower flavours, subtle wood, granitic minerality and leesy texture and complexity.

Tim Atkin MW (95)

A pair of warmer, south-facing, biodynamically farmed parcels are the source of this brilliant Sauvignon Blanc. Fermented in deftly handled 85% new wood, it's something of a thiol-driven style, showing quince and passion fruit flavours and top notes of wild flowers. Complex, nuanced, layered stuff. 2023-29

Vinous (93)

Pale golden yellow. Candied pineapple, roasted pine nuts and a hint of vanilla mingle with brown spice botrytis on the nose. The sweet tropical fruit flavors flow creamily over the palate. A luscious nectar in an extremely classical style, finishing sensual and long.

James Suckling (97)

Deep, dense and subtle, this is an imposing wine, yet remains so vital and animating. Shimmering with a thousand facets, but also with a forthright, nectarine note that makes it instantly appealing. Brilliant finish that reminds us what it's like to be up in high mountains – the light, the air. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (95)

A whiff of smoky mystery sucks you into this concentrated and very elegant dry wine that has strident minerality through the very long, driving finish. Great aging potential. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (97)

A very special style of Auslese, because there’s zero-percent botrytis here. Pristine and crystalline, with driving acidity that might be too much for some, but we find it very exciting. Essence of white peach with enormous passion-fruit and lemon-zest freshness that whips the sweetness into the background. Decades of aging potential. Drink or hold.