2023 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.5%
Grape Varieties Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir100%
Drinking Window 2023-2033
Region Western Cape
Soil Shale origin with a significant portion of granite in the topsoil and clay throughout
Elevation 700.0 meters
Grape Clone 115, 667, 777
Vine Age Vineyard planted in 2008
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Oak Aging 10 months
Oak Details 26% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak26%
Oak Types French
Barrel Size 228L barrels
Production Details 12 barrels produced by Jessica Saurwein. Kaaimansgat Vineyard in Elandskloof Valley, Villiersdorp delivered a superb vintage with good conditions for set and ripening. Grapes were hand-picked, hand-sorted, cold-soaked, spontaneously fermented, and underwent post-fermentation maceration until the tannins were optimal, followed by 10 months in French oak barrels. Jessica Saurwein describes a minimal-intervention approach.
Tasting Notes
red berry fruit, dark berry fruit, rose hip, lifted cocoa, orange rind, umami, roasted chestnuts, silky medium-grained tannins, balanced acidity
Critics Ratings Tim Atkin MW: 93/100
Tim Atkin MW93/100
Neal Martin, Vinous.com90/100
2022 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.0%
Grape Varieties Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir100%
Drinking Window 2023-2033
Region Western Cape
Soil Shale origin with a significant portion of granite in the topsoil and clay throughout
Elevation 700.0 meters
Grape Clone 115, 667, 777
Vine Age Vineyard planted in 2008
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Oak Aging 10 months
Oak Details 26% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak26%
Oak Types French
Barrel Size 228L barrels
Production Details 12 barrels produced by Jessica Saurwein. Kaaimansgat Vineyard in Elandskloof Valley, Villiersdorp produced a superb vintage with good conditions for set and ripening. The wine is described as intense and graceful yet rather powerful. Grapes were hand-picked, hand-sorted, cold-soaked, spontaneously fermented, and underwent post-fermentation maceration until the tannins were optimal, followed by 10 months in French oak barrels. Jessica Saurwein describes a minimal-intervention approach.
Tasting Notes
mixed red berry fruit, dark berry fruit, rose hip, lifted cocoa, orange rind, red cherry fruit, black cherry fruit, umami, roasted chestnuts, silky medium-grained tannins, balanced acidity
Critics Ratings Neal Martin, Vinous.com: 93/100
Neal Martin, Vinous.com93/100
Tim Atkin MW95/100
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za91/100
Falstaff International94/100
2021 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.1%
Grape Varieties Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir100%
Drinking Window 2022-2030
Region Western Cape
Soil Shale origin with a significant portion of granite in the topsoil and clay throughout
Elevation 700.0 meters
Grape Clone 115, 667, 777
Vine Age Vineyard planted in 2008
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Oak Aging 10 months
Oak Types French
Barrel Size 228L barrels
Production Details 10 barrels produced by Jessica Saurwein. Kaaimansgat Vineyard in Elandskloof Valley, Villiersdorp delivered an excellent vintage with ideal conditions for set and ripening. Grapes were hand-picked, hand-sorted, cold-soaked, spontaneously fermented, and underwent post-fermentation maceration until the tannins were optimal, followed by 10 months in French oak barrels made up of new and older barrels.
Tasting Notes
mixed red berry fruit, dark berry fruit, rose hip, lifted cocoa, orange rind, red cherry fruit, black cherry fruit, umami, roasted chestnuts, silky medium-grained tannins, balanced acidity
Food Pairing baked goats cheese crotin, French cuisine, North Indian mild curries, Asian-style dishes, fish, red meat stews, poultry, duck
Critics Ratings Neal Martin, Vinous.com: 92/100
Neal Martin, Vinous.com92/100
Tim Atkin MW95/100
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za94/100
Julia Harding, JancisRobinson.com16.5/20
2020 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.1%
Grape Varieties Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir100%
Drinking Window 2021-2031
Region Western Cape
Soil Shale origin with a significant portion of granite in the topsoil and clay throughout
Elevation 700.0 meters
Grape Clone 115, 667, 777
Vine Age Vineyard planted in 2008
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Oak Aging 10 months
Oak Types French
Barrel Size 228L barrels
Production Details Seven barrels produced by Jessica Saurwein. Kaaimansgat Vineyard in Elandskloof Valley, Villiersdorp enjoyed great ripening conditions in 2020, with winds during set leading to extremely tiny berries and a high grape-to-juice ratio. Grapes were hand-picked, hand-sorted, cold-soaked, spontaneously fermented, and underwent post-fermentation maceration until the tannins were optimal, followed by a minimum of 10 months in French oak barrels made up of new and older barrels.
Tasting Notes
red cherry, forest bramble, rose hip, earthy aromatics, cocoa, orange rind, red cherry fruit, black cherry fruit, umami, roasted chestnuts, velvety medium-grained tannins, balanced acidity
Food Pairing baked goats cheese crotin, French cuisine, North Indian mild curries, Asian-style dishes, fish, red meat stews, poultry, duck
Critics Ratings Neal Martin: 90/100
Neal Martin90/100
Falstaff International95/100
Christian Eedes91/100
Tim Atkin MW93/100
Greg Sherwood MW93/100
2019 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.5%
Grape Varieties Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir100%
Drinking Window 2020-2030
Region Western Cape
Soil Shale origin with a significant portion of granite in the topsoil and clay throughout
Elevation 700.0 meters
Grape Clone 115, 667, 777
Vine Age Vineyard planted in 2008
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Oak Aging 10 months
Oak Types French
Barrel Size 228L barrels
Production Details Five barrels produced by Jessica Saurwein. Kaaimansgat Vineyard in Elandskloof Valley, Villiersdorp saw another dry Cape vintage in 2019, resulting in tiny grapes, a high grape-to-juice ratio, intensity of fruit and tannin, and integrated acidity. Grapes were hand-picked, hand-sorted, cold-soaked, spontaneously fermented, and underwent post-fermentation maceration until the tannins were optimal, followed by a minimum of 10 months in French oak barrels made up of new and older barrels.
Tasting Notes
red cherry, black cherry, rose hip, earthy savoury aromatics, cocoa, orange rind, hibiscus, umami, roasted chestnuts, velvety tannins, balanced acidity
Food Pairing baked goats cheese crotin, French cuisine, North Indian mild curries, Asian-style dishes, fish, red meat stews, poultry, duck
Critics Ratings Tim Atkin: 94/100
Tim Atkin94/100
2018 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.5%
Grape Varieties Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir100%
Region Western Cape
Soil Shale origin with a significant portion of granite in the topsoil and clay throughout
Elevation 700.0 meters
Grape Clone 115, 777
Vine Age Vineyard planted in 2008
Production Details Seven barrels produced by Jessica Saurwein. Kaaimansgat Vineyard in Elandskloof Valley, Villiersdorp saw a dry Cape vintage in 2018, leading to tiny grapes with a high grape-to-juice ratio; concentration and intensity are key themes, along with length, fruit intensity, tannin, and integrated acidity.
Tasting Notes
orange rind, toasted cocoa bean, rose hip, cherry, savoury, black cherry fruit, hibiscus, garrigue, umami, roasted chestnuts, velvety firm tannins, balanced acidity
Food Pairing baked goats cheese crotin, French cuisine, white meat, fish, red meat stews, North Indian mild curries, poultry, duck
Critics Ratings Tim Atkin: 94/100
Tim Atkin94/100
Jancis Robinson16.5/20
2017 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.5%
Grape Varieties Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir100%
Region Western Cape
Soil Granite with a significant portion of clay
Elevation 700.0 meters
Production Details Seven barrels produced by Jessica Saurwein. 2017 was a dry Cape vintage with great grape quality and more aromatics than 2016, showing depth of flavour, intensity, and structure.
Tasting Notes
orange rind, rose hip, cherry, plum, savoury, red cherry fruit, hibiscus, nutmeg spice, moist mushrooms, garrigue, velvety firm tannins
Food Pairing baked goats cheese crotin, French cuisine, white meat, fish, red meat stews, North Indian mild curries, poultry, duck
Critics Ratings Christian Eedes: 91/100
Christian Eedes91/100
Tim Atkin92/100
Wine Enthusiast91/100
2016 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.5%
Grape Varieties Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir100%
Region Western Cape
Soil Granite with a good portion of clay
Elevation 700.0 meters
Grape Clone 115
Vine Age Vineyard planted in 2008
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Oak Aging 11 months
Oak Details 20% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak20%
Oak Types French
Production Details Five barrels produced by Jessica Saurwein. Fruit came from Kaaimansgat Vineyard in Elandskloof Valley, Villiersdorp. The 2016 vintage offered generous, high-quality fruit with more tannin than 2015. Winemaking included cold soak, spontaneous fermentation, and 11 months of barrel aging in French oak, of which 20% was new.
Tasting Notes
orange rind, strawberry, red berries, lavender, savoury, red cherry fruit, nutmeg spice, fresh moist forest floor, garrigue, velvet gloves, fine firm tannins
Food Pairing baked goats cheese crotin, white meat, fish, red meat stews, North Indian curries, duck a l’orange
Critics Ratings Christian Eedes: 90/100
Christian Eedes90/100
Greg Sherwood92/100
Tim Atkin90/100
Neal Martin90/100
Oz Clarke93/100
Sarah Jane92/100
2015 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.5%
Grape Varieties Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir100%
Region Western Cape
Soil Granite with a good portion of clay
Elevation 700.0 meters
Production Details Three barrels produced by Jessica Saurwein. Fruit came from Kaaimansgat Vineyard in Elandskloof Valley, Villiersdorp. Jessica Saurwein calls 2015 the dream-come-true vintage in South Africa, highlighting elegance, flavour, and mouth-feel.
Tasting Notes
hazelnuts, grapefruit, speculaas, orange rind, strawberry, blueberry, lavender, red cherry fruit, nutmeg spice, fresh moist forest floor, garrigue, dark chocolate-dipped orange peel, silky fine firm tannins
Food Pairing baked goats cheese crotin, white meat, fish, red meat stews, North Indian curries, duck a l’orange
Critics Ratings Neal Martin: 92/100
Neal Martin92/100
Shop prices
| Reference | Vintage / size | Price / bottle | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wine-SearcherLWIN 1611825 | — | — | wine-searcher.com ↗ |
Producer Information
Website
Address
Waterval Farm, Stanford, Western Cape, South Africa
Phone
+27 76 228 3116
Email
Owner
Jessica Saurwein
Cellarmaster
Jessica Saurwein