April 30, 2026
Porseleinberg 2023 - 100 Pointed Release
Porseleinberg 2023 - South African 1st Growth
We’ve been eagerly awaiting this allocation for a while…!
The top-scoring wine and the only one to receive a perfect 100 points in Tim Atkin’s latest South Africa report. Winemaker Callie Louw, who makes this wine iconic, will depart after the 2025 vintage. Could this be one of the finest wines of his two-decade tenure? Do both yourself and Callie proud by adding it to your collection.
100 Points - Tim Atkin MW
“Fermented with 90% whole clusters, with 70% of the wine using thesubmerged cap technique, it's one of the most sublime Porseleinbergs yet, pairing aromas of incense, thyme and black pepper with firm, age-worthy tannins, blackberry, red berry and liquorice flavours and a stony, mineral core. Truly world class”
Perched on the rugged slopes of the Porseleinberg mountain in the Swartland, Porseleinberg is one of South Africa’s most compelling Syrah estates. Founded by Boekenhoutskloof and guided by winemaker Callie Louw, the focus is on a single, windswept vineyard of schist soils. Farming is meticulous and low-intervention, with whole-bunch fermentation and restrained élevage. The result is Syrah of striking purity, structure and mineral precision, capturing both place and vintage with remarkable clarity.
The 2023 Porseleinberg is a powerful yet finely tuned expression of Swartland Syrah, shaped by a dry, challenging season that delivered small, concentrated berries. Fermented largely with whole clusters and aged in large-format oak, it shows incense, black pepper and wild herbs layered over dark berry fruit. The palate is structured and mineral, with firm, age-worthy tannins and a focused, energetic finish that promises excellent development in bottle.
Scoring a perfect 100 points from Tim Atkin, the 2023 Porseleinberg was the only wine to achieve this mark in his latest South Africa report, placing it firmly as the standout wine of the vintage. A remarkable endorsement that reflects both the precision of the winemaking and the unique character of this exceptional site.
The only other vintage of Porseleinberg to receive the perfect 100-Point score was the 2018, which, according to wine-searcher, is not available any more in Europe.
Porseleinberg is a must-have for any serious South African wine collector. Don’t miss this iconic vintage.
“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
Porseleinberg 2023
€57.50* In Bond per bottle
100 Points | Tim Atkin MW
The 2023 growing season was "dry and difficult", according to Callie Louw, at least in this wild and starkly beautiful corner of the Swartland, but you wouldn’t know it from the quality of this superlative Syrah. Picked late, right up to March 8th, it has the concentration and intensity of a small crop. Fermented with 90% whole clusters, with 70% of the wine using thesubmerged cap technique, it's one of the most sublime Porseleinbergs yet, pairing aromas of incense, thyme and black pepper with firm, age-worthy tannins, blackberry, red berry and liquorice flavours and a stony, mineral core. Truly world class. 2027-35
95 Points | Vinous, Neal Martin
The 2023 Porseleinberg was made by Callie Louw, although it was announced that he will depart after the 2025 vintage for a new venture. See my producer profile for details. This vintage utilised 100% whole bunch and is raised for 12 months in 90% Stockinger 2,500-litre foudre and 10% concrete egg. It has an outstanding nose with fragrant raspberry, wild strawberry, rooibos and light bay leaf scents that blossom in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiselled tannins, a dash of cracked black pepper intermixed with Five Spice and used tea leaves. Quite feisty yet focused on the finish, this is a wonderful Porseleinberg that will benefit from several years in bottle, as usual.
*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.