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. 💛

18/03/2026

Elemental Bob Wild Child Chenin Blanc 2022

No real notes on this: yellow apples, bruised apple flesh, orange zest, quince, hay, bread dough, some creamy toasted nuttiness, and saline minerality - Chenin acid and some delicious texture too. Same same, but different because it’s from Hemel-en-Aarde, has stem inclusion and is fermented in French barrels.

You know my feelings about Craig’s wines. They make me think...and reminisce about the past. Even more so with Craig’s illustration of a play park on this label. Since moving back home, I live 100 jump-steps (measured as a 5 year old) from MY park. It’s an almost daily source of delight hearing children’s screeches and laughter ...and there’s an instinctive pull to jump-step to join them. But it’s also a symbol of how things have changed as a municipal sign tells me that I’m now too old to PLAY in the park (lots of space around the vlei/lake to fish and birdwatcher...but no swings or roundabouts for me unless I have kids). Same same, but different.

Next week’s birthday is more same same (the date, cake, fielding messages, too many questions about life), but so different with each passing year (like, how does every one of my character quirks align with ADHD).

And then there’s IG. Sigh. The familiarity of the square (coz I refuse to change 😈) and engaging with all of you incredible wineloving people ❤️. While resorting to double tapping my own posts and leaving myself a comment to appeal to the algo . Same same...so fu***ng annoyingly different.

The state of the world...how am I still witnessing almost the same war as when I was a kid?

There may not be extensive, lyrical tasting notes to this wine. But it’s because it’s the feeling that Elemental Bob wines give me; they give me space to think old and new thoughts...while sipping deliciousness. Same same, but deliciously different.

11/03/2026

Radford Dale Organic Estate 2024

It was a treat to be invited to the launch of the 2024 Radford Dale Organic Estate wines hosted by Petroné Thomas, the winemaker, and Alex Dale (and Tom, of course). A lovely flight of Semillon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc all from their organically certified, high altitude vineyards in Elgin. We often talk about whether aspect is even a factor in SA...I learned that it plays a big role in this region...as does viti in this tricky high rainfall area.

The Cab Franc was my fave...but when I spotted the 2023 Chard instore, it was the obvious choice to bring along to a friendly blind tasting. And one of my darling friends absolutely nailed the grape and region based on its minerality...the reason I have come to adore Elgin Chards.

No notes on this ‘23 as I didn’t blind my own wine 😈. But I can tell you all about the 2024s which, overall, struck me as balanced and already very easy to sip:

Touchstone Chardonnay 2024 - an appealing nose of lemon oil, greengage plums, hay, toast, just ripe oranges and apple apple apple (Yup, wrote it in triplicate). Vibrant fresh acidity, some pithy texture, friendly linearity, mineral, mouthwatering salinity, with green mango & pineapple on the lengthy finish.

Higher Purpose Cabernet Franc 2024 - magenta purple hues with forthcoming notes of steamed green bell peppers, wattle, perfumed lilacs, and earthy berries. Decent acidity, finely milled lighter but structure tannins, a long finish. And a rather delightful spicy jalapeño fresh salsa vibe.

04/02/2026

Lothian of Elgin Grüner Veltliner 2025

Pale lemon with a pretty nose of ripe pears, baked apples, lime, oystershell minerality, salinity, faint dried hay...and a distant hint of white pepper (like when your nose is unsure whether it needs to sneeze yet 🤣).

Dry, refreshing acidity, a brush of lemon pith texture but there’s also a roundness to the mouthfeel (lees contact). Bright sunshine flits alongside herbal greenery, green pears, baked green apples, and winter melon. The lengthy finish reveals delicious burnt sugar/dark toffee that so often delights me. It’s beautifully balanced...with the lemon zest and toffee bitterness lending sophistication to the delicacy of the wine.

I only recently discovered this wine, so was super chuffed when Lothian kindly offered to send a bottle to lend SA context to our Austrian wine tasting yesterday. Thank you !

14/01/2026

Cap Maritime Pinot Noir 2022

I’m still amazed that they engrave these bottles...like engraved-engraved...and I’m just going to pop this into recycling. It speaks to their commitment to the brand.

Bright cherry red in colour, with pronounced strawberries, cherry cola, red plums...but also earthier wild berries that I don’t really have names for because uhm I was taught not to eat the pretty berries on the wild...maybe bluebs are the safe option?...nutmeg, dried mushrooms, salinity, stemmy fynbos, smoke, and tar.

Dry, good acidity (med+), fine light integrated tannins, medium bodied, and a medium (+) finish. Alongside the red fruits there’s some vanilla and a definite bitter herbal stemmy rosemary stalkiness that points to whole bunch ferment.

Ag...it’s hot...I can’t remember where/when I purchased this bottle. I coulda sworn it was their entry level Pinot coz I was not feeling Hemel-en-Aarde spendy...but the engraved bottle and the entire internet disagrees with my memory. I remember first tasting the premium wine at a Pinot event...and returning for a 2nd and 3rd pour from Gottfried Mocke, the winemaker, because I was intrigued (and yup...I asked him about the engraving 🤣). Engraved...amazed! And yeah, I’m ending on that note. It sorta rhymes.

08/05/2025

Orpheus & The Raven No 42

“True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing, Orpheus,” said the Raven. Ain’t that the truth...in life and in wine.

The loveliest perfect ripe red cherries, red plums, soy sauce, dried shiitake mushrooms, sandalwood, liquorice, pepper, smoke (like an old wildfire rather than a braai), and dill.

Surprisingly medium bodied with great acidity, silky but firm Pinot-esque tannins, and a good length to the finish. Pomegranate juice, prickly pear fruit, and the crunch of guava seeds join the red berries and plums. Banana skin...it’s just what I usually get with Pinotage. There’s also an intriguing a green tomato note that initially hides behind the juicy red fruits, then lingers in the back of your throat on day 1, but disappears by day 2.

Gosh...this really is surprisingly light and fresh and delicate...not something I expected from the ornate and heavy bottle. The wine showcases the delicacy of Pinot Noir (15%) and Cinsault (34%), and celebrates the delicacy that Pinotage (51%) can be. Our friend wrote a beautiful review of the 2018...so I really shouldn’t have been surprised.

What isn’t surprising and what I know for sure is that the labels are exquisite. So I was stoked to shoot a few questions at Brenden Schwartz who, together with winemaker Etienne Louw, are The Vinoneers who own this wine brand (interview link in bio). Brenden also owns the award-winning design agency, BRAVO Design. Here’s another truth: BRAVO have always been at the top of my list of label design agency recommendations! Their work is outstanding...as evidenced in this magical label.

08/05/2025

Hasher Family Wines Ernest Pinot Noir 2023

When the weather starts to turn and the days are still (mostly) warm but you find yourself reaching for the blanket in the middle of the night...I think that’s when Pinot Noir really shines as a gentle buffer between seasons.

This is such a happy clear pale ruby colour! A moderately intense nose celebrates the summer fruits: tart cranberries, just ripe strawberries, musky pomegranate, damson plums and a spritz of orange zest. While dustings of earthy cinnamon dust and leafy green fynbos have me looking forward to cooler walks in the mountains.

Dry, with lively acidity, the lighter side of medium bodied, finely grained tannins, and a lengthy finish. Ahhh...and then the banana thoughts started to invade 🤣. But first: watery pomegranate juice, juicy raspberries and red wine gums, tomato leaves, the earthy salinity of a terracotta clay pot, and wet cherry to***co.

I’d be quite keen to see what this looks like after a few years when tertiary notes start to appear on this well made wine.

Thank you to Hasher Family Wines for this lovely gift...a last, wistful look back at a carefree while eagerly anticipating the cosiness of autumn.

capeofgoodwine

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