With seven owners behind its success, visitors to Boekenhoutskloof are awed by its award-winning wines. Cape Wine Master Allan Mullins takes a closer look.

The eye-catching label of the premium range of wines from Boekenhoutskloof wine farm features seven antique chairs with designs dating back to the 18th century.

The significance of the seven chairs, therefore, lies equally in the farm’s successful ownership. It was in 1993 that a group of six – Tim Rands (owner of wine distributor Vinimark), an hotelier and four advertising executives – bought the farm.

A year later, winemaker Marc Kent became the seventh partner (the seventh chair, if you will), and the first wines were released in 1996.

THE WINES

As testimony to the farm’s success, the initial 1996 release of 6 000 bottles has grown to close on four million, without ever sacrificing quality for quantity.

THE BOEKENHOUTSKLOOF RANGE

This exclusive range currently consists of a Syrah2008, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Semillon 2008, Semillon Noble Late Harvest 2008 and Cabernet Franc-Cabernet Sauvignon blend, The Journeyman 2007.

To maintain their quality, these wines are made in minute quantities and are offered once a year, in a mixed case.

The 1997 Syrah, the maiden release, has become a benchmark in South Africa. The grapes came from a vineyard near Somerset West, which, shortly after being harvested (as the 1960s Joni Mitchell song complains) was “turned into a parking lot”.

Subsequently, Kent sourced grapes from a southeast-facing Wellington vineyard with ideal Syrah soils of decomposed granite.

The 2008 is a wonderful melange of spiciness, savourytones and beautifully integrated oak. The grapes for the Cabernet Sauvignon are from a riverside vineyard in Franschhoek. Matured in new French oak for 27 months, the wine is a mouth-watering mix of blackcurrant cassis fruit balanced with oak vanillins.

PAIR THE CABERNET SAUVIGNON:

The Semillon is from 107-year-old vineyards in Franschhoek. It has a rich lanolin texture and will get even better with age.

The Semillon Noble Late Harvest is a scrumptious treat, but very hard to find as only two barrels were made.

Even rarer is The Journeyman, which was made only in 2005 and 2007 from grapes grown on Boekenhoutskloof.

PAIR THE SEMILLON:

THE PORCUPINE RIDGE RANGE

From its funky labels to the stylish elixir in its bottles, this range of six wines is a runaway success.

Annually, two-million bottles are made, of which half are the ever-popular Sauvignon Blanc.

There are three red cultivar wines - Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot – and Kent has added two intriguing Rhône-style blends: a Syrah-Viognier red and a Viognier-Grenache Blanc white.

They are all from the 2010 vintage, with the Sauvignon Blanc priced at R40 and the others R50.

PAIR THE SAUVIGNON BLANC:

THE WOLFTRAP RANGE

Although this range is named after a wolf trap found on the farm, there are no reported sightings of wolves inthe area!

Again, we find three excellent wines, all from Rhône varieties and each priced at R40.

The red is a Syrah, Mourvèdre and Viognier blend, the white a blend of Viognier, Chenin Blanc and Grenache Blanc, and the rosé made from Syrah, Cinsaut and Grenache.

PAIR THE CHENIN:

THE CHOCOLATE BLOCK

At last, South Africa has a “rock star” wine. The Chocolate Block oozes sex appeal and is gaining popularity as fast as Lady Gaga. But itssuccess is an enigma. The 2002 maiden release consisted of a mere 15 barrels.

Despite a slow-moving wine market, this climbed to 765 barrels for the 2009 release.

Despite the economic downturn, The Chocolate Block continues to sell at a cellar price of R150.

Whereas the other Boekenhoutskloof wines fit neatly into clear and well-planned ranges, The Chocolate Block stands alone – a maverick of sorts, rich and forward with lavish fruits. And it keeps getting better.

PAIR THE CHOCOLATE BLOCK:

Seared steak with red onion and beetroot confit

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