Spioenkop New Releases

Belgian native Koen Roose farms a hilltop in the middle of Elgin WO he planted to vines in the early 2000s. A qualified engineer and former sommelier, he has a very clear vision for what he wants to achieve. His wines reflect his European heritage while still reflecting the terroir of Spioenkop.

Koen’s wines are heralded by both local (Christian Eedes) and international (Tim Atkin) critics.

His top wines all come from the vineyards on the farm and are produced under the Spioenkop label, and those destined for earlier drinking are bottled under the 1900 label (the year of the battle of Spioenkop).

Below is the entire selection of Spioenkop wines available via Ex Animo.

An exotic blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chenin Blanc. This is the resident white blend at Spioenkop, and changes every vintage.
Electric, bright and punchy.

93pt – Christian Eedes

Top-class Sauvignon from one of the coldest WOs in South Africa. Koen usually releases this wine with some age, and it makes for a super interesting take on South African Sauvignon Blanc – lovely blackcurrant, green fig and minerality.

The first Chardonnay under the Spioenkop label, and we like it! Perhaps a little richer than one might expect from Spioenkop, which makes it super versatile – a nice lick of new oak gives this wines some gravitas and sexiness.

100% Chenin Blanc from the Spioenkop farm. Most years the Sarah Raal is the top section of the block (koffieklip), but in 2020 Koen blended in the lower section ‘Johanna Brandt’ (shale) to add some weight and power. Extraordinary.

95pt Tim Atkin

94pt Christian Eedes

This is Spioenkop Chenin Blanc turned all the way up to 11! This is from the lower, more powerful, section of the Chenin vineyard, from a very dry growing season. Thankfully it has the characteristic Spioenkop acidity and freshness. Drinking beautifully.

The best Riesling in the country? Both Christian Eedes and Tim Atkin think so at least. This 2017 is an absolute dream of a wine if you like persistence and purity. Lime and lemon, with some subtle earthy spice and succulent acid. Still super-youthful at 4 years old.

95pt Tim Atkin

A one-off wine made from a neighbour’s fruit. There remains one “finger” of land to plant on Spioenkop – could Syrah possibly be the right choice? This is characteristic of Koen’s other red wines; perfumed, subtle and bright. A pure joy.

90pt Christian Eedes

Koen was one of the early champions of rethinking Pinotage a few years ago, and this is his Stellenbosch example. It is super classic – properly dense purple and black fruit coupled with juicy acid, with lovely grip and some spice on the finish. One for the Pinotage fan.

94pt Christian Eedes

“Uneasy is the head that wears a crown“. Along with the Riesling, it has been the Spioenkop Elgin Pinotage that has shaped Koen’s and Spioenkop’s international reputations for years. Sometimes this is too much for a wine and it inevitably falls in standing. Not this Pinotage; the 2020 is a triumph of balance and complexity. Lovely wild cherry, pomegranate and violet flavours with almost Pinot Noir-esque potpourri. Fine-grained tannin meld into the fruit on the palate giving length and structure. Super-classy.

95pt Tim Atkin

96pt Christian Eedes