Tasting Notes
This was shown as part of a flight of Boekenhoutskloof Semillon's at the 2023 vintage launch and I think everyone in the room earmarked this as their pick of the bunch. 19/20 from Matthew Jukes, describing it as "my pick of the quartet. This time, the fruit was bristling with oyster-shell and pumice notes, and it was stunningly energetic, mega-clean, incredibly concentrated, and yet so light on its feet." I quite agree. This is in its peak drinking window right now. It has a little Pessac about it, with a nose giving grass, ripe oranges, citrus and ginger spice. It has a minerality that balances the richness. It's gravelly, generous and offering some roasted herbs too. Magnificent, near perfect wine.
More Info
Made by Gottfried Mocke, winemaker at Boekenhoutskloof since 2016, named by Tim Atkin MW as his winemaker of the year in 2021. This is made exclusively from plantings on their Swartland property Goldmine, that borders the Mullineux's Roundstone property just outside Riebeek Kasteel. Gottfried explained that the fruit from here is amazing, and the vines have come of age. The wine that he started making experimental quantities of a few years ago has certainly shifted up a couple of gears. They can foot stomp and micro-vinify in separate foudres, and do everything you'd do in a small Domaine.