About
Owned by cousins Hein and Adi Badenhorst restored the cellar on the farm that was last used in the 1930’s to make natural wines in the traditional manner. The vineyards are made up of very old bush-vines planted with Chenin Blanc (average 40 year old vines), Cinsault (average 45 years), and Grenache (average 58 years). The vines are un-irrigated and farmed as biologically as possible. The vineyards are planted on East, North and South facing slopes bringing tremendous variety to the fruit.
Family Red Blend (Kalmoesfontein)
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
The Shiraz and supporting varieties, usually Cinsault, Grenache, and Tinta Barocca, are all
hand harvested on the same day. The whole bunches are foot stomped to start fermentation; the destemmed grapes are started in both concrete and large wooden vats.
Maturation takes about 16 months in large and then larger casks and vats. Black cherries,
liquorice, pepper.
Scores
2018 Tim Atkin MW 93
2018 Greg Sherwood MW 95
2017 Tim Atkin MW 94
Family White (Kalmoesfontein)
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
This wine is always Chenin Blanc based, but the final blend year to year depends upon Mother Nature. Most of the supporting grape varieties are pressed together in whole bunches. Large foudre is used for fermentation and maturation, with the final blend settling in concrete tank for an additional 6 to 8 months. Perfume, tea, stone fruit.
Scores
2018 Greg Sherwood MW 94+
2017 Wine Advocate 91
2017 Tim Atkin MW 93
Secateurs Chenin Blanc
Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Secateurs – a type of scissors for use on plants. These dry farmed bushvines were planted in the 1960s and 1970s. Fermented and settled in concrete, older casks, and big foudres. Textured, flinty, orange blossom.
Scores
TBA
Secateurs Red Blend
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Dry farmed bush vines of Cinsault, Grenache, and Shiraz (some combination thereof) that are foot stomped to begin fermentation. You guessed it: concrete and old casks for both fermentation and settling. Ripe red fruit, perfumed, peppery.
Scores
TBA
Secateurs Riviera
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
NEW! Ripe, golden yellow Chenin Blanc blended with Grenache Blanc. Skin macerate/carbonic macerated wine. Concrete and old casks. No filtering, no fining. Grippy, quince, and warm spices.
Scores
TBA
Secateurs Rosé
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Sometimes Cinsault, sometimes Mourvèdre, sometimes a blend. But, always complex and unique beyond its price point. Currants, spice, rose water.
Scores
2021 Tim Atkin MW 90
Bokveld Pinot Noir
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Planted in 2007 in the cool Ceres Plateau in soils classified as Glenrosa, AKA well-drained shale. 30% whole bunch, all left for 30 days on the skins and then pressed into 500L casks. Unfined, unfiltered. Tangy red cherry, crunchy, elegant.
Scores
2018 Tim Atkin 91
Dassiekop Chenin Blanc
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
This Chenin Blanc was planted on the steep terraces of the Paardeberg mountain in the early 1970’s. With grapes of this quality, winemaking is simple year after year: fermented in 1200L foudres and matured for 15 months in the same vessels. Rack. Bottle. Wait. Produced only in exceptional years. Opulent, cream, apple tart.
Scores
2019 Vinous 92
2019 Decanter 93
2018 Tim Atkin MW 94
Geelkapel Muskadel
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
The name “geelkapel” refers to the Cape Cobra, a venomous serpent found around here and some morphs have a brilliant yellow color after which we have named this wine. Orange zest, honeysuckle, tangy.
Scores
2017 Wine Spectator 90
Golden Slopes Steen
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
This Chenin Blanc is named after the deep yellow golden rocks found in this vineyard. Planted in 1966 on granite with a touch of clay. Natural fermented takes a few months to complete in 500L casks. Yellow fruits, balanced, spicy.
Scores
2019 Tim Atkin MW 95
2019 Vinous 91
2019 Decanter 97
Kelder Steen
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Planted in 1972, this east facing slope yields slightly bigger berries than the other Chenin Blanc vineyards. These grapes are not destemmed and the juice is run off directly into 1200L casks. Stays on the gross lees until mature. Green apple, white flower, nutmeg.
Scores
2018 Tim Atkin MW 92
2018 Wine Spectator 92
Klip Kop 'Haut Granitika' Chenin Blanc
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
A tiny vineyard planted in 1966 on a rough and exposed granite outcrop. The juice is run off into 500L casks and stays on gross lees until ready to be bottled, without fining or filtration. Flinty, mineral, textured.
Scores
2019 Wine Spectator 90
2018 Tim Atkin MW 96
2018 Vinous 93
Piet Bok Se Bos
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Bushvines of Chenin Blanc planted in 1968. This vineyard is planted at the bottom of a steep granite slope and benefits from the underground water flowing over the bedrock. 1200L casks. Refreshing, saline, stone fruit.
Scores
2018 Tim Atkin MW 94
2018 Wine Spectator 92
2017 Vinous 92
Raaigras Grenache
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
The oldest Grenache in South Africa, they say. Planted in 1952 on decomposed granite, all 12 rows. That’s it, 12 rows. Fermented in old foudre and then moved to old 500L casks for 14 months. Fresh, red currant, oregano.
Scores
2019 Tim Atkin MW 94
2019 Greg Sherwood MW 95
2019 Vinous 94
Ramnasgras Cinsault
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Cinsault planted in the 1950s on a southeast facing parcel on decomposed granite. Hermitake, or Cinsault, has been the workhorse of the South African industry and hopefully finally getting its due. Red fruits, earthy, spice.
Scores
2019 Tim Atkin MW 94
2018 Vinous 91
2018 Tim Atkin MW 93
Ringmuur Cinsault
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
This Cinsault was planted in the mid 1960’s. A tiny parcel that undergoes carbonic maceration before being finished in a 500L vat. Lifted, grippy, concentrated.
Scores
2019 Tim Atkin MW 95
2018 Tim Atkin MW 95
2018 Vinous 93
Sk’windjiesvlei Tinta Barocca
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Sk’windjiesvlei: Paardeberg mountain Tinta Barocca! 5.5ha, but with many vines missing due to their years of struggle. Replanting is done by encouraging an underground root system. Fermented in concrete and finished in 2000L casks. Opaque, fig, liquorice.
Scores
2018 Vinous 92
2018 Tim Atkin MW 93
2017 Wine Spectator 92
Sout van die Aarde
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Palomino! Historically called Fransdruif in the Cape. Sandy soils with limestone bedrock. Whole bunch pressed into older vats and then finished in old 500L casks. Pure, delicate, savory.
Scores
2019 Tim Atkin MW 95
2018 Tim Atkin MW 95
2018 Vinous 90
The Curator Red Blend
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
The other best value in the wine world: bush vines of Shiraz and usually Grenache and Mourvèdre, hand harvested from granite and slate soils, done in concrete and old casks. Juicy, red berry, fresh herb. casks. Juicy, red berry, fresh herb.
Scores
2019 Vinous 92
The Curator White Blend
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
A Chenin Blanc blend from the Swartland for a price that warrants case buys. Perhaps the best value in the wine world today: hand harvested, bush vines, granite and slate soils. All done in concrete. Structured, dried peaches, warm spice.
Scores
TBA
The Curator Chardonnay
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Naturally fermented Chardonnay grown on limestone soils. Hand harvested, whole bunch pressed, in concrete. Then put in an easy to open and easy to share can. Bright, yellow apple, acidity.
Scores
TBA
The Curator Cinsault Rosé
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Some of the same Cinsault you’ve had in other bottlings, some from neighbors. But all hand harvested from granite soils. Minimal filtration so may throw sediment. Fresh, crunchy, and juicy.
Scores
TBA
The Curator Grenache
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
All Swartland Grenache from granite soils. Bush vines, hand harvested, whole bunch pressed. Slightly filtered, but not fined. Crispy red fruit, floral, mouth filling.
Scores
TBA
4th Rabbit
Raff-Reinet
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Karoo agave spirit! Following the true mezcal production process of Mexico, the 20+ year old agave Americana is hand harvested and then cooked in a buried stone oven powered by natural wood grown on Adi's farm. Fermented in wooden vats and then small batch double distilled in copper pots. Pear eau de vie, smoke, floral honey.
Scores
TBA
Caperitif
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Caperitif = Cape Aperitif. Caperitif existed in the early 1900s, but disappeared with the family who created it. Fast forward nearly 100 years and Adi Badenhorst revives the history and recipe as best he can. White wine made on the farm, neutral grape spirit, at least 45 different ingredients including Fynbos - flora and fauna indigenous to the Cape and herbs, fruit, and spices make for an enjoyable vermouth styled aperitif. Endless cocktail possibilities or simply over ice. Bittersweet, mandarin, leafy.
Scores
Lot 10 Tim Atkin MW 92
SWAAN Tonic Water
Swartland Appellation
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Caperitif = Cape Aperitif. Caperitif existed in the early 1900s, but disappeared with the family who created it. Fast forward nearly 100 years and Adi Badenhorst revives the history and recipe as best he can. White wine made on the farm, neutral grape spirit, at least 45 different ingredients including Fynbos - flora and fauna indigenous to the Cape and herbs, fruit, and spices make for an enjoyable vermouth styled aperitif. Endless cocktail possibilities or simply over ice. Bittersweet, mandarin, leafy.
Scores
TBA