We have three ranges making up our wine portfolio, collectively showcasing what our unique terroir is capable of when farmed sustainably and matched with exacting winemaking.
The Gabriëlskloof Range wines focus on the estate vineyards and are accessible on release, the Landscape Series showcases our top vineyard sites along with some of South Africa’s best old vines while the Projects Range allows us space to experiment with alternative fermentation and ageing methods.
Wines on offer:
- Rosebud
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chenin Blanc
- Syrah
- Magdalena
- Elodie
- Syrah on sandstone
- Syrah on Shale
- Amphora
- Whole Bunch
- MME Lucy MCC
- The Blend
Rosebud
Rosebud is the little darling of our Estate Range (which also includes Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, The Blend and Syrah). The 2020 Rosebud consists of mostly Syrah (95%) with a dash of Viognier. These were co-fermented naturally in stainless steel tanks, racked and left to age for 4 months before bottling.
Best enjoyed between 8˚C and 10˚C, within a year or two of vintage and perfect as an accompaniment to a variety of lighter dishes.
Sauvignon Blanc
The Sauvignon Blanc is part of our Gabriëlskloof Range, together with the Rosebud, Chenin Blanc, The Blend and Syrah. This range offers a selection of boutique-style wines that always over-deliver on quality and value.
The 2020 vintage was about two weeks earlier than previous years. Cool conditions during harvest made for fresh, crisp wines.
The Sauvignon Blanc 2020 was fermented wild in stainless steel tanks and left on its lees for seven months before bottling
Chenin Blanc
The Chenin Blanc is the newest addition to the Gabriëlskloof Range – together with our Sauvignon Blanc, Rosebud, The Blend and Syrah. This range offers a selection of boutique-style wines that always over-deliver on quality and value.
The 2020 Chenin Blanc was naturally fermented in 85% old barrels with minimal intervention, with the remainder undergoing fermentation in steel tanks. On the nose – green apples, lime zest, honey and wet stone. An elegant palate with balance, freshness and a delightful texture.
Syrah
Following careful hand-picking, bunches were destemmed and transferred to fermentation tanks using a gravity system, allowing whole berry fermentation. Naturally fermented and aged 18 months in older French barrique.
Signature white pepper, blackcurrant and violets combine with light vanilla and spice to give you a classically styled Bot River Syrah. The wine has a palate-filling mouthfeel with a velvety finish, and will continue improving and developing for five to eight years after harvest.
Magdalena
The Landscape Series is a range of five wines that show the best of Gabriëlskloof’s vineyards and winemaking and aims to be a sincere representation of the elements that make them unique. We wanted the labels to reflect this approach and commissioned Niël Jonker – well-known for his landscape panels painted on location – to capture the spirit of our Overberg landscapes.
Elodie
The grapes were whole bunch pressed with no additions. After an overnight rough settling in tank, the juice was transferred to 400 and 500L old French oak barrels, where it fermented wild and remained until blending before bottling.
Light, pale golden straw hue. Clear and brilliant. A complex nose with lemon tart, white peach and honeysuckle, and a concentrated palate with vibrant acidity, balancing typical old vine viscosity.
Syrah on Sandstone
The fruit was hand-picked into small crates and transferred directly into our cold room where it remained overnight. About 50% of the crop was destemmed with the rest left as whole clusters. The wine was fermented wild in small, open-top fermenters with long post-fermentation maceration. Aged in 500L barrels for 18 months, with 30% new French Oak used.
The bouquet entices with tomato leaf, rose, violets and white pepper lifting from the glass, all highlighting this as a cool climate, rocky vineyard Syrah. The palate is elegant and concentrated with the whole bunch component adding tension and structure.
Syrah on Shale
The fruit was hand-picked into small crates and transferred directly into our cold room where it remained overnight. About 60% of the crop was destemmed with the remaining 40% left as whole clusters. The wine was fermented wild and aged in 500L barrels for 18 months, with 30% new French Oak used.
Plush and spicy, the Syrah on Shale is the extrovert of the Landscape Syrah pair, showing blackcurrant, fennel, roasted tomato and thyme on the nose. The palate is pure fruit, fresh acidity and fine tannins, each finely balanced making for a memorable, long finish.
Amphora
Whole bunch pressed, wild fermented and matured in amphorae for 10 months, low sulphur. Very limited availability.
Lime, blackcurrant, flint and orange blossom on the nose. The palate is saline, fresh and textured with lemongrass and a fresh acidic finish.
Whole Bunch
All the fruit was hand-picked, whole bunch (carbonic) fermented for ten days, pressed and taken off the lees and then aged in steel tanks for eight months.
The nose is lightly spicy with violets and savoury notes. The palate is deliciously fresh and crunchy, making it imminently drinkable.
The Blend
First created in 1994 from the classic blend traditionally reserved for sparkling wines, the Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir was the first South African still wine produced in this style. Today, this wine is one of South Africa’s most iconic white blends, proudly produced by the von Arnim family in Franschhoek.