The 2020 AA Badenhorst is our 15th release of this appellation wine. The aromas are brooding but with complex notes of pepper, liquorice, perfume, and black cherries. The palate entry is quite dense with lavender and dark berry fruit. The finish is dry with well spread tannins ending with savoury and black currant flavour.

The vineyards – Mostly old bushvines planted in the 1950’s and 1960’s to Chenin Blanc, Cinsault and Grenache. The vines are unirrigated and farmed as biologically as possible. The vineyards are planted on north, east, and south facing slopes bringing tremendous variety to the fruit. Fruit from other selected sites within the appellation are also purchased to complete the final blends.

The winemaking – All fruit, red and white, is whole bunch-handled so no crushing or destemming takes place. The whites are tranferred directly to old casks or into concrete tanks for fermentation and ageing. The red grapes are fermented in concrete tanks and open wooden kuipe. The post fermentation maceration is lengthy – up to 4 months -whereafter the wines are put to cask or 4000L foudres. No additions are done to the grapes other than sulfur before and after fermentation.

The inspiration – The great old wines of South Africa and the discarded varietals, the bottles of which can be found in the forgotten corners of old cellars before modern methods and fame came along and changed the purity of the wines.

"Consisting primarily of Syrah, Cinsault and Grenache but also multiple other varieties, these co-fermented. The nose is quite heady with notes of red and black berries, lavender, fennel and fynbos while has plenty of ripe fruit and fine tannins – full of flavour with an nicely savoury finish."
93 points.
(Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, April 2022)

"Composed mainly of Rhône varieties, the "Kalmoesfontein" 2020 Family Red Blend is smartly made and has aromas of red and black fruit essences, spicy notions and dusty flowers. Medium to full-bodied, the wine opens to complex flavors of pepper, black cherry skin and spice plums before offering a fine mineral tension and balanced structure across the mid-palate. The wine glides to a delightful, mouthwatering finish that has me daydreaming of its multiple food and wine pairing applications. Bravo! Drink to 2035.
93 points."
(Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate, December 2022)