Neal Martin 90+ Mixed Case 2025

This is the maiden vintage of a wine named after Franco Lourens's newborn son, Mathias. For years, the grapes from this vineyard were a key component in the Lindi blend, but Franco felt it was time for this special site to stand on its own.
Sourced from a single, 44-year-old dryland bush vine vineyard planted in 1981, the grapes grow on the slopes of the Paardeberg in the Swartland on decomposed granite soils. These vineyards are farmed sustainably, yielding incredibly low harvests.

This Chenin is all about energy and texture, with notes of tobacco and thatch roof.
“NEW. From a 0.9ha Paardeberg vineyard planted in 1981. Lime, lemon, green apple, peach, herbs, a hint of ginger and some leesy complexity. Super-concentrated with punchy acidity, the finish long and savoury, slightly pithy in texture. A riveting wine – great focus with plenty of hidden power. Al: 13.34%. 97/100” - Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za

Elandskloof WO

KAAIMANSGAT VINEYARD, VILLIERSDORP

Nom stands for nombulelo (gratitude in “Xhosa”) and Nomkhubulwane (a forgotten African goddess of agriculture). Situated at 700m altitude, the vineyard is a place where gratitude is instilled and tales appear. This extreme vineyard site has a shale origin with a significant portion of granite in the topsoil and clay throughout. I believe this gives breadth and power to the Nom. It lies at 700 m above sea level and is surrounded by tall mountains, making for a unique terroir ideal for the optimal ripening for Pinot Noir, in this case clones 115, 667 & 777. The vineyard was planted in 2008.

18 barrels produced.

Grapes are hand-picked, hand-sorted, cold-soaked, leading to spontaneous fermentation. The tannins are optimal after a relatively long post-fermentation maceration and then aging in 228-liter French oak barrels (new and older) for 10 months.

Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za:

Expressive aromatics of orange, musk, red cherry and white pepper. The palate is opulent – saturated with ripe fruit, just enough acidity and smooth tannins. A wine of presence and generosity.

Single Vineyard and Certified Heritage Vineyard (100% Pinotage)
W.O. Stellenbosch
Rustenhof Farm (Firgrove/Lower Helderberg) - P. Bredell Planted: 1976
Clone unknown, interesting DNA here. 101-14 rootstock Decomposed Granite. High in silica. Sandy/Well drained.

Christian Eedes, Winemag
“Grapes from a vineyard planted in 1976. Heady aromatics of red and black cherry, plum, florals and fynbos. The palate shows plush fruit—rounded but not overly sweet, bright acidity lending balance. The tannins are soft, perhaps lacking a little grip, but the finish is still clean and dry. Harvested 18 January, alcohol at 13.5%. 92/100.”

Single Vineyard Certified (100% Grenache blanc)
W.O. Klein Karoo
Welgevonden (Middelplaas/De Rust) - JD Grinister (Farmer) Planted: 2009
Decomposed Schist and Shale clay loams. Red brown and hard when dry. Close to the nearby mountain rock pools, which supplies water when needed in tough dry spells.

Christian Eedes, Winemag
“Grapes from a Klein Karoo vineyard planted in 2009. Boisterous aromatics of flowers, herbs, citrus, peach and ginger, with an intriguing yeasty edge. The palate is marked by great fruit purity and racy acidity, the finish long and dry. Intensely flavoured with a compelling angularity – arresting and hugely characterful. Alc: 12.5%. 95/100.”

This single-vineyard Grenache Noir is named after the winemaker's daughter, Lua. He says it's a wine he loves making, and he loves everything about the vineyard, despite the variety being finicky and needing to be protected.
The grapes come from a dryland bush vine vineyard in Piekenierskloof, located at 650m on sandstone soils.

Described as a "serious" Grenache, the wine sits at a "sweet spot" of 14% ABV. It's noted for its smoky, fine tannins and for having both substance and flavour while remaining zippy and structured.
" Grapes for a Piekenierskloof vineyard planted in 1998. 25% whole-bunch fermentation. Black berries, wilted rose, fynbos, earth and spice on the nose while the palate shows dense fruit, big acidity and firm but not coarse tannins. Pure and deep with no impression of sweetness – substantial but not ponderous, powerful yet precise. Alc: 14.2%. 95/100” - Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za

Thorne & Daughters' cornerstone wine is everything you want to see in a Western Cape white blend: grace and finesse, acidity and balance. John uses simple winemaking techniques, letting the fruit express itself in each vintage.

Christian Eedes, Winemag:
"30% Roussanne, 28% Chenin Blanc, 20% Chardonnay, 15% Semillon and 7% Clairette Blanc sourced from across the Western Cape. A triumph being both multifaceted but also completely coherent. Flowers, pear, peach, citrus, apple, earth, spice and a hint of leesy complexity on the nose while the palate has it all: depth of fruit, texture, a lovely line of acidity and long, savoury finish. A wine of pin-point accuracy. 98/100"

100% Cinsaut from a single vineyard in Stellenbosch. The fruit is de-stemmed and fermented on skins for 7-10 days and aged in concrete until bottling after 9 months.
"From two Helderberg vineyards, one planted in 1978 and the other in 1988. The nose shows red and black cherry, maybe some plum, potpourri, earth and spice. Good fruit concentration, snappy acidity and powdery tannins. Intensely flavoured and well balanced, this is substantial without sacrificing vitality. 93/100" Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za

Polkadraai, Stellenbosch WO

This Syrah comes from a vineyard on Karibib Farm, located on a steep, south-facing slope of the Polkadraai Hills at an elevation of 290m. The grapes were 100% whole-bunch fermented with natural yeasts, with one daily punch-down. After pressing, 15% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation in barrels and 85% in Italian concrete. The wine was aged for 11 months before being blended and bottled.

Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za 97/100:

Grapes from Polkadraai Hills. 100% whole-bunch fermented. Gorgeous aromatics of red and black berries orange, rose, fynbos and white pepper. The palate is pure and energetic with powdery tannins – this vintage has weight which Polkadraai can sometimes lack a little bit. The wine nevertheless is elegant and poised with a long, insistent finish – very nicely judged. 

Stellenbosch WO

This Cabernet Franc from Stellenbosch is a blend of two vineyard parcels planted in 2004 and 2008 on decomposed granite soils with a layer of Koffieklip. The 2004 parcel, from a Loire clone, contributes 20% to the final blend and underwent 100% whole-bunch fermentation. The second parcel was fully destemmed and spent four weeks on the skins with daily punch-downs. The two wines underwent malolactic fermentation separately in third-fill French oak barrels. They were blended after 11 months of aging and bottled immediately.

Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za 94/100:

80% of grapes from Lynedoch (destemmed) and 20% from Polkadraai Hills (whole-bunch fermented). Aromatics of pencil shavings, red and black cherries, violets, herbs and crushed leaves. Medium-bodied with vivid acidity and velvety tannins – neither overly stern nor overly plush. A wine of balance and vibrancy. 

The marquis wine from The Foundry and a multiple Platter's 5 Star winner.

Awarded 5 stars and category winner in the 2024 Platter's South African Wine Guide. This Grenache Blanc from the Voor Paardeberg showcases lifted floral notes, lemon cream, white stone fruit, and a distinct crushed rock minerality. The palate is linear and focused, offering clean grapefruit and quince flavours, a minerally mid-palate, rich texture, and a long, pithy finish.

Viticulture: Sourced from two adjacent vineyards on different slopes in the Voor Paardeberg, grown on Malmesbury shale and decomposed granite. Trellised vines allow for precise canopy management.

Vinification: Hand-harvested and cooled, whole-bunch pressed. Fermented with a high percentage of solids in seasoned French oak (Allier & Compiègne hogsheads), stainless steel tanks, and terracotta clay doliums (500L & 1000L). 10 months of lees aging before bottling.

From three Swartland vineyards, John's Old Vine Chenin Blanc is spectacularly complex but precise with beautiful aromatics.

Christian Eedes, Winemag:
"Grapes from three Swartland vineyards, two Paardeberg vineyards on granite and one west of Malmesbury on more iron-rich soil. The nose is expressive, offering notes of pear, peach, a touch of lemon, hay and florals. The palate is rich and intense, yet brimming with energy, the finish deeply savoury. Dense but equally remarkably taut. 96/100"