(2019) From two vineyards, the wine on which they made their reputation before the Rubicon cuvée came along. Cedar and sandalwood fragrance, a touch of herbal, olive and leafy herb note, but the clean, firm blackcurrant fruit is lovely. Savoury and juicy, there’s a bit of tart plum skins and liquorice. Dark and dramatic, but the fruit does become quite plush before the acid and taut, polished but grippy tannins push through. Drinking really nicely, and has good light and shade.

(2019)

(2019) This is Cabernet Franc from Stellenbosch. It shows a touch of higher, aromatic floral notes and meatiness, a little olive and a touch of funkiness. Fine, savoury palate, lots of dry tannic character.

(2019) Introduced to the range in 2010, and named because of the touch of white Viognier grapes co-fermented with black Syrah grapes, this was aged in French oak for 22 months, around half of the barrels new. The aromas are chocolaty and dark, slicked with vanilla but with light and shade too, a little raspberry, red fruited lift and pepper in the mix. Substantial on the palate again, the intensity is notched up, and it's a wine with good length. Not in the UK at time of writing.

(2019) This spends 18 months in older barrels. Good quality, pepper and spice, and a gamy edge to the black fruit. Definitely cool climate in style, lovely roses, touches of black forest fruit and though substantial and full, there's a pleasing edge of freshness running through this.

(2015) The alcohol is 11.6% in this Syrah, which was 100% whole bunch fermented with very gentle extraction before spending 10 months in older barrels. Attractive bloody and spicy, gamy nose. Such lovely fruit, the cherry and raspberry lift of the fruit and the fabulous spicy, sappy length of the finish.

(2014) >From a Stellenbosch original and Pinotage specialist, this 14.5% abv wine has a buoyancy and bounce to the fruit, plenty of ripe red fruits, bolstered by a creamy, but not too toasty or coffeeish oak, letting the fruit sing out. The palate has a rounded, silky textured weight and appeal, with really very good juiciness and fruit-skin tang of cherry and plum skins, and a racy, fresh appeal even though some more of that creamy, lightly toasty oak comes through. Stays bright and focused. A very orthodox and convincing fine wine Pinotage.

(2011) 14.5% abv, Cork. Smoky, ashy, with lots of finesseful cedar and tobacco lift. The palate has lots of lightness, lift and freshness, with dry cherry and black fruit, a real black cherry and plum-skin tang, with great length and balance. A really convincing and beautifully balanced Bordeaux lookalike.

(2010) Aged in French barriques, there is a lovely schisty, lean and keen edge to the nose with some fragrant, lifted kirsch and pencil shaving notes and cool, savoury black fruit. The palate has a great inner core of sweetness. Lovely supple structure here, making it creamy and opulent, but tightly drawn and focused into a long finish.