“Sweet hickory smoke, black cherry and graphite. Manages to be typically Cape yet not acrid or unkempt. Lovely smooth, joined-up structure.”

“The 2015 Rubicon had been a source of contention prior to my visit, hailed by some respected commentators as one of the Cape’s greats and then almost pilloried in a contemporaneous blind tasting. It is a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, each fermented separately before blending. It was matured for 18 months in 66% new oak and the remainder second-fill. So what do I make of the wine? It is clear in color with quite a deep core. The bouquet is refined and focused, offering attractive mint- and graphite-infused black and red fruit and perhaps leaning a little more toward the latter compared to previous vintages. With aeration, subtle touches of pencil shavings emerge. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin and quite velvety in texture, displaying very well integrated new oak. There is a satisfying sense of harmony to this Rubicon and it is certainly well constructed.”

“Fresh black fruits, cherries and wild strawberries on the nose. Balanced and medium body with elegant ripeness and good fruits. Ripe strawberries. Good length. Really enjoyable now and can wait as well. Always a favorite of mine.”

“The 2016 Pinot Noir has a light bouquet that doesn‘t really grip the grape variety with both hands. It is clean but rather anonymous. The palate is well balanced with sappy red berry fruit, a keen line of acidity with a rather short but pleasant finish.”