We have been privileged to have worked with Craig and Anne since 2015 and it has been very gratifying to see the rise and rise of their Estate. Without doubt, they now stand among the top producers of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in South Africa with their Pinot Noir also rising in stock in only its 3rd release.
Our first introduction to the wines of Restless River was via our friend Jörg Pfützner. We were looking for a great Cabernet Sauvignon to add to our portfolio, and he told us about the Wessels and their Main Road & Dignity Cabernet Sauvignon. Needless to say we were hugely impressed, we hadn’t tried a Cabernet like it from South Africa – and 5 years later it still stands tall among its peers.
The resounding thing that stuck us on that visit was Craig’s uncompromising approach for not only quality, but transparency. By 2015 they had been working on the wines for seven years and had recently made significant changes to how the vines were farmed and the wines were made. A policy preferencing purity was self-imposed – this required subtle alterations at all stages of the process of producing wine. It meant that they were relying much more on the quality of fruit they were growing, rather than their skill in transforming it. This slight but consequential shift has continued to drive Anne and Craig on to create one of the finest and most respected labels in South Africa.
About Restless River
Restless River is synonymous with authentic, elegant wine. Craig and Anne Wessels own and run this small family estate in the cool Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.
Craig is committed to absolute site expression and a minimalist approach. Each vineyard on their farm is registered as a Single Vineyard and the wines are named after the vineyards.
Being terroir driven, the focus is on 100% single varietal wine: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. They also release a wine called Wanderlust – which changes every year and lays outside the core tenants of Restless River.
'Ava Marie' Chardonnay 2018
This Chardonnay bears the name of its vineyard, 2.06ha in size, and is registered as a single Vineyard. Slopes are south and east facing.Shallow top soils vary from iron rich rocks to a light sandy gravel. Below this is decomposed granite clay. In our opinion among the top Chardonnays in South Africa – the tighness of palate and ease of power is exhilarating. Minimal new oak (7%) allows the site and vintage to shine through. Remarkable
'Wanderlust' 2019
The Wanderlust project allows Craig Wessels to flex his creative muscles – the wine changes every year. The release from vintage 2019 is highly expressive. It began as an exploration of cool climate texture, via a 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Pinotage, and has resulted in not only a unique and thought provoking wine, but also a serious and delicious wine that reminds one that undiscovered potential in terroir and cultivar still exists in South Africa.
'Le Luc' Pinot Noir 2019
This Pinot Noir bears the name of its vineyard and is registered as a single vineyard. Slope is north facing. Shallow top soils vary from light, well-drained gravel loam to mineral-rich koffieklip (coffeestone). Below this is decomposed granite clay. Christian Eedes: “The nose is very expressive with notes of dark cherry, musk and spice while the palate has great fruit purity and tannin structure – it’s full and concentrated but still wonderfully energetic and possesses proper detail. Lovely fruit purity and freshness to go with crunchy tannins, this is the real deal.“
'Main Road and Dignity' Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
This is the wine that first alerted us to Restless River years ago. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is grown deep in the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir heartland of the Upper Hemel en Aarde Valley (just up from Newton Johnson). Cool-climate Cabernet allows for a longer ripening period and thus incredibly integrated tannin. Craig’s fastidious approach results in a wine of structure and length, without relying on big, ripe flavours or lashings of new oak. Pure class.
Note: we also have a few bottles of the ‘Main Road and Dignity’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 and ‘Wanderlust 2018’ (Sauvignon Blanc) – see below.
Restless River 2020 Release
Working with the Wessels
We have been privileged to have worked with Craig and Anne since 2015 and it has been very gratifying to see the rise and rise of their Estate. Without doubt, they now stand among the top producers of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in South Africa with their Pinot Noir also rising in stock in only its 3rd release.
Our first introduction to the wines of Restless River was via our friend Jörg Pfützner. We were looking for a great Cabernet Sauvignon to add to our portfolio, and he told us about the Wessels and their Main Road & Dignity Cabernet Sauvignon. Needless to say we were hugely impressed, we hadn’t tried a Cabernet like it from South Africa – and 5 years later it still stands tall among its peers.
The resounding thing that stuck us on that visit was Craig’s uncompromising approach for not only quality, but transparency. By 2015 they had been working on the wines for seven years and had recently made significant changes to how the vines were farmed and the wines were made. A policy preferencing purity was self-imposed – this required subtle alterations at all stages of the process of producing wine. It meant that they were relying much more on the quality of fruit they were growing, rather than their skill in transforming it. This slight but consequential shift has continued to drive Anne and Craig on to create one of the finest and most respected labels in South Africa.
About Restless River
Restless River is synonymous with authentic, elegant wine. Craig and Anne Wessels own and run this small family estate in the cool Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.
'Ava Marie' Chardonnay 2018
This Chardonnay bears the name of its vineyard, 2.06ha in size, and is registered as a single Vineyard. Slopes are south and east facing.Shallow top soils vary from iron rich rocks to a light sandy gravel. Below this is decomposed granite clay. In our opinion among the top Chardonnays in South Africa – the tighness of palate and ease of power is exhilarating. Minimal new oak (7%) allows the site and vintage to shine through. Remarkable
'Wanderlust' 2019
The Wanderlust project allows Craig Wessels to flex his creative muscles – the wine changes every year. The release from vintage 2019 is highly expressive. It began as an exploration of cool climate texture, via a 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Pinotage, and has resulted in not only a unique and thought provoking wine, but also a serious and delicious wine that reminds one that undiscovered potential in terroir and cultivar still exists in South Africa.
'Le Luc' Pinot Noir 2019
This Pinot Noir bears the name of its vineyard and is registered as a single vineyard. Slope is north facing. Shallow top soils vary from light, well-drained gravel loam to mineral-rich koffieklip (coffeestone). Below this is decomposed granite clay. Christian Eedes: “The nose is very expressive with notes of dark cherry, musk and spice while the palate has great fruit purity and tannin structure – it’s full and concentrated but still wonderfully energetic and possesses proper detail. Lovely fruit purity and freshness to go with crunchy tannins, this is the real deal.“
'Main Road and Dignity' Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
This is the wine that first alerted us to Restless River years ago. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is grown deep in the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir heartland of the Upper Hemel en Aarde Valley (just up from Newton Johnson). Cool-climate Cabernet allows for a longer ripening period and thus incredibly integrated tannin. Craig’s fastidious approach results in a wine of structure and length, without relying on big, ripe flavours or lashings of new oak. Pure class.
Note: we also have a few bottles of the ‘Main Road and Dignity’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 and ‘Wanderlust 2018’ (Sauvignon Blanc) – see below.
Available wines
Restless River ‘Ava Marie’ Chardonnay 2022
R620.00Restless River ‘Main Road & Dignity’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
R805.00Restless River ‘Main Road & Dignity’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
R765.00Restless River 2024 Mixed Case
R3,530.00Restless River Chardonnay 2023
R335.00Restless River Pinot Noir 2023
R335.00Please contact david@exanimo.co.za if you have any queries.