First off, I don't normally like Pinotage, but this completly blew me away! Transient Lands Pinotage is an ongoing project to source, blend and bottle special parcels of Pinotage across the Western Cape and become an expression of each vintage through the grape’s proverbial lens. The blend incorporates Pinotage from diverse locations, each contributing its unique character. This includes granitic soils in the Polkadraai Hills above Stellenbosch, an old vine block in Stellenbosch's Helderberg region, the cooler climate and sandstone soils of the Stanford Foothills on the South Coast, and sandy granite soils in the Paardenberg of the Swartland. There is no "burnt tyre" here, just clean, crunchy and beautifully made red wine.

This wine is produced from the Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet and Aragonez grape varieties, and is aged in new French oak barrels. It is very fruity and full-bodied, with notes of red berries, black cherry and spice. It has great concentration and exuberance, and will age beautifully. 

This sensational Cabernet Franc carries spice and lightness from the glass to the palate. Full of vivacity, with good structure and fine tannins. Not overly herbaceous or extracted, this exudes the fruit and earth of Franc with a delicate hand. Nec-Otium matures the wine in old wooden barrels and bottles it unfiltered.

The grapes come from an old vineyard in the village of Buttrio, measuring about one hectare. The vines are managed organically but not certified. The grapes are picked by hand and the average yield is 20 hl/ha. They are fully destemmed before maceration and fermention is with natural yeasts. Matured in large oak barrels with ageing for a total of twenty months. Bottled with no fining or filtration.

The 2015 Barolo Riserva Cannubi is dense and expressive, with all of the richness of the year front and centre. Sweet red cherry, mint, pine, anise, dried flowers and spice all develop in this open-knit, supple Barolo. Time in the glass brings out the wine's textural depth and resonance. The Riserva emerges from the central part of the Rinaldi family's holdings in Cannubi Boschis. Drink now-2035

94 points