December 16, 2024
99 Point Release: Porseleinberg 2021 - South African 1st Growth
“Let’s keep it simple: it’s one of the Cape’s best Syrah wines, and you need to have it in your cellar, preferably allowing several years of maturation in bottle” - Neal Martin, Vinous
We are thrilled to offer a rare opportunity to secure a case of Porseleinberg, one of the New World’s most exciting Syrahs. Hailing from South Africa’s Swartland region, it is often compared to Jamet Côte-Rôtie when tasted blind. Neal Martin and Tim Atkin have both drawn comparisons between previous vintages of Porseleinberg and Jamet's renowned Côte-Rôtie. Since its inception in 2010, Porseleinberg has gained a cult following and is regarded as a First Growth of South Africa by renowned critic Tim Atkin MW.
Porseleinberg, aptly named after the porcelain-like mountain range was founded by Mark Kent of Boekenhoutskloof, who recognized the potential of its schist soils while sourcing fruit for his other projects. Rumour has it that the grapes were once used in the early vintages of Eben Sadie’s legendary Columella.
The Porseleinberg Syrah 2021 is a stunning example of Swartland winemaking, reflecting the rugged character of its schist-rich terroir. This wine showcases remarkable precision and balance, with layers of red berries, black pepper, and herbal notes. Crafted with 100% whole-bunch fermentation and aged in large foudres, it combines depth, structure, and purity, promising outstanding ageing potential.
Awarded an impressive 99 points, outscoring Eben Sadie’s Columella 2021 in Tim Atkin's South Africa 2023 Report, this release continues its legacy of excellence. Tim Atkin hails it as “One of the world's great reds from a very special site,” while Neal Martin concludes, “Outstanding… but what else do we expect?”
Porseleinberg is a must-have for collectors. Secure your case now—or open a bottle and experience the magic firsthand!
Porseleinberg 2021
99 Points | Tim Atkin MW
Given its consistently outstanding quality, it’s easy to forget that the average age of Porseleinberg's 14 hectares of vineyards is only seven years' old. Showing what Callie Louw calls a "little more crunch" in 2021, this is a Syrah with time on its side. Wild herb aromas of sage, oregano and rosemary introduce you to a palate that's dense yet refined, with lots of whole bunch spice and structure, negligible oak influence, detailed, layered tannins, some underlying grip and layers of dark berry fruit. One of the world's great reds from a very special site. 2025-32
97 Points | Vinous, Neal Martin
The 2021 Porseleinberg is whole bunch fermented and aged for 12 months in foudres. I gave my glass plenty of aeration. Chatting with winemaker Callie Louw, this wine can be closed, this being the first time I had tasted it at the remote Swartland estate. It has a compelling bouquet with fabulous delineation, a mélange of, say, one-third red and two-thirds black fruit, hints of iron filings and reflecting its soils, slate-like scents. Obstinately backward, after 10 minutes, it positively blossoms in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, with filigree tannins framing the mineral-rich black fruit. Plenty of extract is interwoven, but perhaps unlike the vintages of old, Louw's winemaking sense means that it's not immediately tangible. A discrete build in the mouth reveals hidden layers as it sashays towards its crunchy finish and then delivers a dash of cracked black pepper on the aftertaste. Outstanding…but what else do we expect?