capeofgoodwine, Lothian Vineyards, Rockview Dam Rd, Elgin (2026)

27/05/2026

Rudolf Fürst Klingenberger Spätburgunder 2014

This post isn’t so much about this lovely aged Spätburgunder. It’s about an interview with the man who gifted it to me. has just hit 20k followers 🤗, and I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving of following.

As an ode to our mutual WSET Diploma adventures, here’s a throwback to Diploma days: Medium garnet with an enticing medium (+) intensity nose of leather, damp earth, wet leaves, mulch, liquorice, oyster sauce, dried fruits like prunes and raisins, black plums, kirsch and gentle baking spices.

Dry, medium+ acidity, medium bodied, medium alcohol, smooth medium tannins, and a medium + finish. Medium (+) intensity tart fresh red fruits like cherries and red plums, tertiary dried cedar, mulch and leather, and finishing with dried fruits that leave a lovely lasting impression.

There is balance between the fresh acidity, alcohol, integrated smooth tannins and concentration of aromas and flavours; a complex potpourri of primary fruits, secondary new oak spices, and tertiary dried wood, earth and leather linger pleasantly to produce a very good quality wine. Drink now, will not improve with further ageing but will hold for 3-5 more years.

More interesting non WSET notes: empty glass sniff YUM, paired well with a black cherry flavoured sucker/popsicle, what a treat to taste an older German Pinot...yum!

I started double tapping Nick’s posts in May 2019...shortly after he reached 5k. And even back then I noticed his hashtag. After years of wine inspo, swopping bottles through travelling friends (my first Hunter Valley Sem 🙏🏾❤️) and our recent AlternativeApril fun, Nick graciously agreed to an interview. If you’re (also) curious about why he chose his username and why that doesn’t contradict , the link to the interview is in the bio.

20/05/2026

Perdeberg The Dryland Collection Tenacious Syrah 2024 [gifted]

This arrived yesterday...and I couldn’t resist opening the bottle almost immediately. Partly because I’ve been craving a bigger red (shhh, don’t tell anyone). But mostly because I’d recently tasted their 94 pointer Grenache at the Prescient/WineMag Autumn Series event. And also coz I think they’re cool.

Think inviting deep wine red velvet couch: dark, broody, and viscous with late night suggestive glances. A subtle cologne of ripe juicy black mulberries, raspberries, red plums, dried cedar, freshly tanned leather, herbal olive leaves (guava leaves after tasting the wine). And now hold onto to your britches folks...I smell pepper! Rotundone is back, baby!

The first kiss is where it comes alive. Dry, luxuriously fuller bodied, great acidity, tannins like caressing thick velour, and a long satisfying finish. Mulberries, sweet plump damson plums, guavas, persimmons, and a little powdery bitterness that’s made me think of earthy pomegranates. Some might call it think earthy blueberries...but I think it’s more interesting than bluebs. I believe the oneliner is: a seductive ‘acquaintance inviting you to ‘catch up’ on a far too comfortable couch.

It’s always a treat to be gifted these Perdeberg wines as they’ve become a staple on my shelf ever since being (re)introduced to their full range of wines. Many thanks to the team...I’ll share a couch with you any day!

06/05/2026

Magna Carta Red

Webster’s dictionary defines blind-tasting as the masochistic act of humbling one’s narcissistic wine snob tendencies. I kid...I’ve never opened a Merriam-Webster dictionary in my life 🤣. But when the winemaker is harvesting and the label says ‘red’ and you can’t bring yourself to bug them yet again:

Hazy pale ruby with a garnet rim. Pronounced aromas already show noticeably tertiary notes of dried cedar and pencil shavings, dried mushrooms and leather...but they’re integrated with fresh red plums and cherries, tomato stew, beefstock, star anise, and the pleasant floral perfume of VA (I said pleasant!).

Dry, bright chewy acidity, medium bodied, fine barely-there tannins, and a good finish. It’s vibrant and, if I didn’t know it was local, I’d head to natural Italy because of the tart red fruits, tomato and balsamic profile.

Eish...so I don’t know what these grapes are. Mphumi didn’t tell me. My guess is Pinot Noir for colour development and tannins, could be cool Pinotage, maybe young Shiraz and Mourvèdre for meatiness. But Cab Franc also fits the profile because there’s a touch of green at the very end.

And that’s the thing. Does labelling the grapes in a blend even matter to the vast majority if you’re enjoying the wine? In conclusion: Webster’s Dictionary defines the wine student as one who desperately tries to justify failing blind tasting exams. 🤣

01/04/2026

Dom Bliskowice Johanniter Ultra 2020

When you break an empty bottle you had every intention of saving forever...because the perfectly painterly calligraphic J in the perfect shade of yellow is one my favourite wine label designs (possibly hand painted 😳❤️🙌🏾 coz it looks slightly different in pics I’ve found online?)!

Polish, small batch, low intervention orange wine made from the Johanniter grape: normal in Poland, novel to me = counts as alternative to me.

The brown bottle imbues beautiful hazy early sunset hues subsumed (yeah, I’m done) with acacia and honeysuckle blossoms, ripe oranges, apricots, peach tea, crushed limestone, honeyed mead and beeswax, hay and dried herbs. Fleshed out by yellow apples, quince, and zesty grapefruit. Lovely acidity, surprisingly structured with black tea tannins, a richness to the mouthfeel, and a generous finish.

Look, there was much excitement in the form of kisses, hugs, hugs, kisses, introductions to besties, exploding bubbly corks, fooood, introduction to kids, hugs, kisses, and just staring adoringly at G & K...I barely remember what they told me about the winemaker. Uncertified organic/biodynamic + minimal intervention + on Michelin restaurant wine lists + cool AF is what I’ve since discovered. Also...not sure if I can recycle this broken bottle because I think it’s bloody perfect!

Ps. I recently watched Konstantin Baum declare that he’s not a fan of the V***e yellow: I disagree 😈 because, much like this wine, I think it’s the perfect shade of pumpkin yellow. So I put it to him that it’s not the yellow, but the meh common dark green bottle colour that is actually the problem...and put forward this classy brown Hock bottle. Unless he also hates yellow daffodils, sunrises, bowls filled with lemons, and the Angostura Bitters’ cap ...happy to proven wrong. 💛

Address

Lothian Vineyards, Rockview Dam Rd
Elgin
7160

Website

http://www.capeofgoodwine.com/

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