Over the last few years, Boplaas has garnered a phenomenal string of awards for its ports, including the Peter Schulz Trophy for the Best Port in South Africa.

The Vintage Reserve 2005

The Vintage Reserve 2005 is made from 60% Touriga Naçional and 40% Tinta Barocca, and has been aged for 12 months in Portuguese-oak barrels. The quality shows in the strikingly vibrant ruby-black colour.

The nose has aromas of intense black fruit, dark chocolate, Christmas pudding and crushed black pepper.

The palate is fleshy and muscular with dense, dark,brooding promise. Boplaas’s Carel Nel says that although it is delicious now, it should not be drunk for at least five years and will last for more than 20 if the temptation can be successfully resisted.

Of Boplaas’s stable of fine ports, it was the Cape Tawny that brought home the honours in this year’s Peter Schulz Trophy.

It is a vibrant amber with a golden rim. The nose shows a complex range of flavours – caramel, mocha, orange peel, butterscotch and a delightful array of nuts.

It has enjoyed 12 years in Portuguese-oak barrels and is smoothly seductive, with a sweet, savoury tang and the longest of finishes.

Cellar prices: R150 (Vintage Reserve), R75 (Cape Tawny)

Axe Hill Cape Vintage Port 2003

Axe Hill’s 1.3 hectares of Touriga Naçional, Tinta Barocca and Souzào have produced a remarkable seven five-star John Platter wine guide ports in nine vintages, from 1997 to 2005.

The late Tony Mossop started Axe Hill on a high note with the stunning five-star 1997 vintage. The last port he bottled himself, before his untimely death in 2005, was the 2003.

It repeats the delectable mélange of fruit, nuts, spice and oak that made previous vintages of Axe Hill ports so irresistible.

The colour is a shimmering, inviting ruby with a nose that has bright red and black fruit, giving it almost New World appeal.

The palate is svelte with a round, supple texture and ripe tannins that will allow it to mature for at least another ten years.

Retail Price: R149

Allensverloren Port 2005

The Allesverloren Vintage Port has long been a South African favourite and is certainly the mainstay of Danie Malan’s annual production of 5 000 cases of wine.

The 2005 vintage is a blend of seven Portuguese cultivars,including 20% each of Tinta Barocca, Souzào and Pontac.

The grapes are unirrigated and grown in Malmesbury shale between 270 and 340 metres above sea level. The 2005 has an aroma of roast coffee, raisins and black fruits with a smooth and savoury palate that has rich, dark prune and fruitcake flavours, and a lingering finish.

Newly released, it is approachable now but will mature and mellow for at least another six years.

Cellar Price: R73.60

Bredell’s Cape Vintage Port

Only 21 wines were awarded five stars in Platter’s South African Wines 2008, of which five were ports. One of them was this richly voluptuous Vintage Port made by wine maker Anton Bredell.

While his red wines may have flourished over the last few years, his fame has always been founded on the making of fine ports.

For the 2003 Vintage, a blend of Touriga Naçional, Touriga Francesca and Souzào from dry-land bush vines was bottled after two years of ageing in 500-litre old-oak barrels.

The wine is a dark, brooding crimson with an expressive bouquet of stewed prunes, roast coffee, mulberry and brandy pudding.

The palate is full bodied, dense and spicy, with an excellent tannic grip and a dry finish that will ensure longevity.

Cellar Price: R95

Peter Bayly Cape Vintage Port 2005

Peter Bayly is genial, very good company and has great taste – much like his stylishly packaged 2005 Vintage Port.

Overcoming numerous difficulties, including a lack of power and regular raids on his grapes by baboons, he has quickly taken his place among the Cape’s top port producers.

His 2005 Cape Vintage is a deep purple-black colour with a nose layered with concentrated red fruit, rich spiciness and a hint of raisin.

The palate oozes charm with supple ripe tannins, fresh fruit and lively acidity, resulting in balance and drinkability. The fruit character makes it a port to be enjoyed now, although it will age elegantly for at least four years.

Cellar Price: R90 for 500 ml

De Krans Vintage Reserve Port 2005

De Krans Cape Tawny Port

Among the imposing range of natural and fortified wines made by Boets Nel and his brother, viticulturist Stroebel Nel, it is their ports that have put them on the map.

Testimony to this are numerous awards, including a five-star rating for the Vintage Reserve Port 2005 and a four-and-a-half-star rating for the Cape Tawny in Platter’s South African Wines 2008.

The Vintage Reserve is made predominantly from 28-year-old Tinta Barocca vines (50%) and Touriga Naçional (37%). After fortifi cation with unmatured brandy spirit, it is matured for 20 months. It is a vibrant plum colour with a concentrated nose of black fruit, prune, clove spiciness and tobacco.

On the palate, there is a seamless balance of fruit and spice, with a supple structure and a firm tannic grip that will ensure considerable longevity. It is rich and mouth filling, and a worthy successor to the 2003, also a Platter wine guide five-star wine.

The Cape Tawny, made mainly from Tinta Barocca, is coppery-gold in colour. It has aromas of hazelnut, nutmeg, coffee, fudge, dried fruit and tea leaves. Its eight years of maturation have left it elegant, with a smooth, light texture and a long, dry finish. It is a wine well suited to long evenings, good friends and oft-repeated anecdotes.

Cellar Prices: R120 (Vintage Reserve), R55 (Cape Tawny)

For part one of the article, click on the link: Port 101