98 Points by Tim Atkin

Aromas of ripe peach, grapefruit jam, flowers and complex yeast flavors complement the toasty oak flavors in the wine. The palate is clean with a nice texture and a long finish.

Vintage 2021
97 Points by Decanter

Based in Swartland, David and Nadia Sadie focus their efforts on organic, old and dry-farmed bushland. Plat’bos, from their single-vineyard range, is 100% Chenin Blanc from a vineyard planted in 1981 and farmed by the pair since late 2013. The grapes are grown on a northfacing slope and this was one of the earliest harvests of Chenin Blanc for the 2021 vintage.

Greg Sherwood MW: A fine crystalline example showing complex notes of white peach, juicy acids and a real translucent clarity. A fabulous example of excellence.
Beverley Blanning MW: Yellow peaches and flint, good weight of rounded fruit, no heaviness and a distinctly mineral edge. Richness and honeyed notes on the finish, and creamy oak.
Roger Jones: Refined, elegant, granite, slate, chalky then creamy. Liquid gold: delicate unwaxed lemon peel, caramelised lime zest, sweet white nuts, lovely purity and a hint of delicate perfume.

95 Points by Vinous – Neal Martin

The ultimate in what Ken Forrester considers the best expression of the grapes of this variety – an icon of Chenin, a challenge to the world! Rich, layered with dried apricots, vanilla and honey. It will gain complexity as it matures.

Vintage 2021
96 Points by Decanter

Grapes for this wine from Ken Forrester’s Icon Range are from a single parcel of bush vines in Stellenbosch, planted in the early 1970s. After careful selection, the wine was fermented with ambient yeasts in 400L oak barrels, then aged on the lees in barrel for just under a year.

Greg Sherwood MW: Loaded with dried peaches, apple strudel and brioche with a top note of tarte tatin. Intense, punchy, focused toffee apple, apple crumble and caramelised notes on the finish. This is a big, rich and oaky wine, but it works.
Beverley Blanning MW: Lifted and lovely nose, complex baked pineapple, acacia honey and vanilla. Silky texture and blindingly bright fruit, with spine-tingling acidity. Oak is a supporting player to the upfront, perfectly ripe fruit.
Roger Jones: Bright, fresh stone fruit, aromas of toffee apple and sultana. Layered, fresh palate with racy acidity, and gentle caramelised pineapple. It has a lovely purity followed by that clean, refreshing citrus lime cut.

96 Points by VINEMAG SA

Perfectly harmonizes with shrimp ceviche with mango and avocado, crostini with figs and goat cheese, Vietnamese lemongrass meat with mung beans and sprouts or squid with wasabi aioli.

Vintage 2021
96 Points by Decanter

Jolandie Fouché, the winemaker and founder of Wolf & Woman, started the project as a passion, and it quickly grew into a full-time career. Her Chenin Blanc is a blend of three vineyard sites, two from the granitic soils of Paardeberg and one from the red iron of Malmesbury. Grapes were whole-bunch pressed, fermented and aged in 300L and 500L old oak barrels.

Greg Sherwood MW: Top class – textured depth, lovely concentration of yellow orchard fruits. Minerality tightly intertwined and enlivened by fresh acidity, focused purity and tangerine peel length.
Beverley Blanning MW: Smoky, lightly oaky nose, notes of toasted almonds. Full flavoured with lovely mineral intensity and mild creaminess. Honey and wet stones on the finish. Extremely attractive.
Roger Jones: Glazed pineapple with ginger. Luscious tangerine marmalade, it’s textural and silky with hints of polish. Fabulous perfumed finish, uplifted by silky citrus curd.

92 Points by Vinous – Neal Martin

The 2017 Cat’s Cradle is John Seccombe’s Chenin Blanc from a vineyard shared with Chris Alheit and Memento. It has a fairly rich bouquet of honey, pale yellow plums and a light petroleum tincture. The palate is balanced with a nice waxy texture countered by fine acidity and a concise, nicely defined finish.

Vintage 2021
95 Points by Decanter

Grapes for Cat’s Cradle come from an old bush vineyard in Langkloof on the granitic soils of the Paardeberg mountains. The 2021 vintage provided much-needed rain during the winter after five years of drought. The wine is made with as little intervention as possible, whole-bunch pressed into old oak barrels where it sits for fermentation, malolactic and maturation. Minimal SO2 is used throughout the process.

Greg Sherwood MW: A savoury ‘Marmite’ expression, earthy yellow fruits, musky undertones, hints of chalk dust and a vibrant palate of sweet and sour fruits. Punchy and persistent.
Beverley Blanning MW: Mineral nose. Floats across the tongue, but its flavours are stern and mineral. Not a hint of sweetness here. Gorgeous saline finish with mineral bite.
Roger Jones: Juicy and fruit-led with darkness in the background. Sultanas and baked apples with a fresh splash of apple dust vibrancy. Gripping and fresh.

93 Points by VINEMAG SA 

Excellent with chicken or fish dishes.

Vintage 2020
95 Points by Decanter

Traditionell konzentrierte sich Carinus auf den Anbau von Trauben für einige der grössten südafrikanischen Erzeuger, aber 2011 begann die Produktion aus eigenen Ernten. Die Trauben für diese Cuvée stammen von Rebstöcken, die auf den zersetzten Granitböden der Polkadraai Hills angebaut werden. Die Früchte wurden im Ganzen gepresst und zur 10-monatigen Gärung in Betoneier gelegt.

Greg Sherwood MW: Wunderbar reiner, mineralischer, granithaltiger Ausdruck mit intensiver Pfirsich- und Zitrusfrucht, salzigen, maritimen Noten und einem langen, glasigen, kristallinen Abgang.
Beverley Blanning MW: Sanfte Röstaromen. Am Gaumen findet man honigartige Zitronen- und Bratapfelfrüchte. Sehr schmackhaft, gute Balance.
Roger Jones: Verführerisches Steinobst, sanfte Gewürze mit Zitrusfrüchten, feine Gebäcknoten. Texturiert und frisch, stahlig und kreidig, etwas nasser Stein und sanfte getrocknete Kräuter und Granit. Ein Hauch von Burgunder.