Cape of Good Hope

Riebeeksrivier Caroline

Appealing spice, roasted stone fruit and hint of citrus on the nose. In the mouth it is fresh, zesty, bright and lively, packed with succulent stone fruit: nectarine, peach and apricot. A subtle grapefruit tang and broad lees element adds an extra dimension to the elegant, structured palate. Cohesive and refined, the wine is poised with a wonderfully long yet refreshing tail.

  • 4.5* - Platter's 2023
Tasting Notes

Riebeeksrivier Caroline

Aromatics of stone fruit with a nutty marzipan flavour and hints of oak are apparent too. The palate reflects the time the components of this blend spent in wood with a broad, creamy spiciness that complements the peach, quince, and gooseberry fruit flavours. Clean, structured, and powerful, the wine is kept in check with an acidic freshness. Lovely texture with good palate weight—the wine promises and delivers an elegant, creamy, long, and enjoyable mouthful.

Tasting Notes

Caroline

Crunchy dried autumn leaves, vanilla biscuit and roasted stone fruit fragrance. Those nectarine, peach and apricot notes translate to the palate – rich, ripe and fleshy although although it remains and elegant, dry and refined mouthful. Acidity counterbalances that ripeness and warmth and there’s a pleasant chalky grip too. Complex, structured with delightful mouthfeel and texture. Beautiful integration of oak makes for a long, layered but sophisticated wine.

  • Platters - 4 star
Tasting Notes

Caroline

Riebeeksrivier farm is situated on the slopes of the Kasteelberg, overlooking the Swartland towards iconic Table Mountain. Its unique terroir, especially the shale soils, expresses itself strongly in the wine with unique varietal characteristics. The vines for this blend are all planted on south facing slopes at elevations of 350 – 400m above sea level. The oldest Chenin Blanc bush vines were planted in 1987, and more recently a small parcel of Chenin Blanc was planted in 2013. The higher density plantings of Viognier (2009), Roussanne (2009) and Marsanne (2011/12) are all échalas trellised (each vine is trained on its own wooden stake).

The warmer regions, such as this were most severely affected by the continuing drought conditions in the Western Cape which resulted in extremely low yields of high quality fruit with great concentration and flavour.

  • 4* - Platters
Tasting Notes

Caroline

The Riebeeksrivier farm is situated on the slopes of the Kasteelberg, overlooking the Swartland. Its unique terroir, especially the shale soils, expresses itself strongly in the wine with unique varietal characteristics. The Marsanne (2012/11), Roussanne (2009) and Viognier (2009) vineyards are trellised in the typical &halm Rhone style ("stok by paaltjie"), while the Chenin Blanc (1988) vineyard is bush vine.

The fruit was harvested by hand at optimal ripeness and transported to the cellar in small lug-boxes in refrigerated trucks. The grapes were whole bunch pressed and the juice settled overnight before fermentation separately in both stainless steel tanks and French oak barrels. The wine spent 8 months on the lees in French Oak (9% new) and stainless steel (59%) before being blended and bottled.

  • 93 Points - Tim Atkin
  • 4.5 Stars - Platter's
  • Gold-Trophy - Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2020
Tasting Notes

Caroline

The Riebeeksrivier farm is situated on the slopes of the Kasteelberg, overlooking the Swartland. Its unique terroir, especially the shale soils, expresses itself strongly in the wine with unique varietal characteristics. The Marsanne (2012/11), Roussanne (2009) and Viognier (2009) vineyards are trellised in the typical &halm Rhone style ("stok by paaltjie"), while the Chenin blanc vineyard (1988) is bushvine.

The fruit was harvested by hand at optimal ripeness and transported to the cellar in small lug-boxes in refrigerated trucks. The grapes were whole-bunch pressed and the juice settled overnight before fermentation took place separately in both stainless steel tanks and French oak barrels. The wine spent 9 months on the lees in French oak (9% new) and stainless steel (58%) before being bottled in October.

Tasting Notes

Tasting Notes

Appealing spice, roasted stone fruit and hint of citrus on the nose. In the mouth it is fresh, zesty, bright and lively, packed with succulent stone fruit: nectarine, peach and apricot. A subtle grapefruit tang and broad lees element adds an extra dimension to the elegant, structured palate. Cohesive and refined, the wine is poised with a wonderfully long yet refreshing tail

Vintage notes

“Late, slow and steady” would be the best way to describe the 2021 vintage. The preceding winter was cold and wet, resulting in good dormancy and healthy dam levels prior to the growing season. The cool weather continued into Spring which in turn resulted in delayed but relatively even bud break, flowering and fruit set. The moderate Summer temperatures slowed the ripening period and resulted in harvest starting about two weeks later than normal. The usually hot month of February was uncharacteristically cool, allowing for the gradual ripening of fruit with good flavours and acidity. An exceptional vintage which promises to deliver outstanding wines.

Average Temperature

17.6°C

Rainfall

38.1mm

Origin of fruit

Riebeeksrivier, Swartland

Harvest

09/02/2021 (Marsanne), 24/02/2021 (Roussanne)

Soil

Shale

Blend

38% Marsanne, 20% Roussanne, 18% Chenin blanc, 17% Piquepoul Blanc, 7% Viognier

Tasting Notes

Aromatics of stone fruit with a nutty marzipan flavour and hints of oak are apparent too. The palate reflects the time the components of this blend spent in wood with a broad, creamy spiciness that complements the peach, quince, and gooseberry fruit flavours. Clean, structured, and powerful, the wine is kept in check with an acidic freshness. Lovely texture with good palate weight—the wine promises and delivers an elegant, creamy, long, and enjoyable mouthful.

Vintage notes

Higher rainfall helped the region recover from the challenging drought period. Favorable climatic conditions during the growing season, with early flowering and fruit set, resulted in an early harvest. The moderate ripening conditions and healthy canopies delivered excellent fruit with beautiful flavours.

Average Temperature

17.9°C

Rainfall

556.88mm

Origin of fruit

Riebeeksrivier (Swartland)

Harvest

30/01/2020 (Marsanne) - 10/02/2018 (Piquepoul Blanc)

Soil

Shale

Blend

38% Marsanne, 22% Roussanne, 18% Chenin blanc, 17% Piquepoul Blanc, 5% Viognier

Tasting Notes

Crunchy dried autumn leaves, vanilla biscuit and roasted stone fruit fragrance. Those nectarine, peach and apricot notes translate to the palate – rich, ripe and fleshy although although it remains and elegant, dry and refined mouthful. Acidity counterbalances that ripeness and warmth and there’s a pleasant chalky grip too. Complex, structured with delightful mouthfeel and texture. Beautiful integration of oak makes for a long, layered but sophisticated wine.

Vintage notes

Good rainfall brought much needed relief from the severe drought experienced in the preceding 3 years. Warm periods during winter and fluctuating temperatures during spring resulted in smaller berries and some uneven bunch development. Gale force winds and cool growing conditions led to significantly lower yields, especially in the Chenin Blanc vineyards. Moderate temperatures during December and January delayed the onset of harvest slightly, but the lower yields and early heat waves in February resulted in a short and compact white wine vintage.

Average Temperature

18.2°C

Rainfall

514.8mm

Origin of fruit

Riebeeksrivier

Harvest

31/01/2019 - 13/02/2019

Soil

Decomposed Shale & Clay

Blend

Marsanne (37%), Roussanne (37%), Chenin Blanc (20%), Viognier (6%)

Tasting Notes

Honey suckle, dried peaches and yellow stone fruit on nose, with baked pear, macadamia nuts and whiffs of vanilla creates an enticing nose. The palate is rich and layered, with vanilla follow through, dried peaches and stone fruit sweetness. The overall result is a delicately balanced wine with soft acidity and a pithy, dry texture. A well rounded and textural wine with wonderful food pairing potential.

Vintage notes

The warmer regions, such as this were most severely affected by the continuing drought conditions in the Western Cape which resulted in extremely low yields of high quality fruit with great concentration and flavour.

Average Temperature

17.32 °C

Rainfall

514.8mm

Harvest

01 February 2018 - Chenin Blanc
05 February 2018 - Viognier
16 February 2018 - Roussanne
19 February 2018 - Marsanne

Origin

Riebeeksrivier

Soil Type

Decomposed Shale & Clay

Blend

50% Marsanne, 36% Roussanne, 13% Chenin Blanc, 1% Viognier

Tasting Notes

Attractive complexity to the nose, which offers up oranges, autumn, leaves, lees and even a richer note of vanilla. That complexity is apparent in the mouth too. It is structured, rich and textural with creamy vanilla notes from oak maturation beautifully integrated and offset by the bright, zesty freshness of stone fruit and citrus. Elegant and poised with lovely integrated oak. Long, lingering aftertaste.

Vintage Notes

Warmer, drier conditions than usual between March and November with below average rainfall. The 2016 yield was slightly lower, and the smaller berries produced wines of great flavour, balance and concentration, despite the slightly lower acid levels due to the warmer conditions.

Average Temperature

17.32 °C

Rainfall

473.6mm

Harvesting

27 JAN 2016 - 11 FEB 2016
Chenin Blanc: 27/01/2016
Viognier: 29/01/2016
Roussanne: 04/02/2016
Marsanne: 05/02/2016

Origin of Fruit

Swartland / Riebeeksrivier

Soil Type

Decomposed Malmesbury Shale / Shale and clay

Blend

Chenin Blanc (46%), Viognier (15%) , Roussanne (11%), Marsanne (28%)

Tasting Notes

Delicate orange blossom floral notes overlay more distinctive creamy citrus peel on the nose. Ripe honeyed peaches drenched in cream, but the palate is not big and bold. It's refined and elegant. A zesty lemon pith note keeps it fresh and lively. Delightful integration of oak and fruit, utterly seamless and harmonious. Serious, nuanced and layered with beautifully smooth mouthfeel and a prolonged, rewarding finish.

Vintage Notes

The 2015 season will go down as one of the earliest and best vintages in decades. Warm weather in August resulted in earlier bud break, after which a warm, dry and windy summer kept vineyard growth under control and accelerated ripening by approximately two weeks. Yields were slightly lower, and the smaller berries produced wines of exceptional flavour, balance and concentration.

Average Temperature

17.6°C

Rainfall

645.17mm

Harvesting

Chenin blanc: 30/01/2015 Viognier: 04/02/2015 Marsanne: 03/02/2015 Roussanne: 05/02/2015

Origin of Fruit

Swartland

Soil Type

Decomposed Malmesbury Shale

Yield

8ton/ha

Blend

Chenin blanc (40%) Roussanne (26%) Marsanne (20%) Viognier (14%)

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