@Cobus Coetzee – dude I have to disagree! REALLY good wines! Their 2004 will be bottled soon and I can not wait to get my hands on some. A true treat to the palate and the wallet! You will struggle to find such quality for the same price.

If you want truly old world style wines… do not miss the Cab or Shiraz from Hempies du Toit’s farm. The wines spend an average of 4 years in barrel and another 2 in bottle before it is released. Truly magnificent wines.

below average

Nice cosy place. Enjoyed the Cab but not much else. Hosts were nice with Hempies wandering around greeting people which is nice

So after I enjoyed that magnificent Cavalier 2001 the other night, I just had to go back for more. This time around we met the legend himself, Springbok Hempies du Toit and the winemaker Ryan Wynless. (What a ironic name

Ryan shared a bottle of 1984 Alto Rouge with us, the oldest wine I’ve tasted to date. It was so, so yummy and we all felt super privileged. Ryan informed me that they have quite a few older vintages in their cellar. I was super stoked to find out that they even had a 1979 Alto Rouge which is my birth year. Considering the fact that I’ll be turning 30 in October, I immediately invested in a bottle. What a cool gift to buy for yourself and to share with your friends on your birthday.

Annandale is a real piece of heaven on earth! A truly special experience not to be missed.

First impression: someone hand me the Mr Min, a duster and some Handy Andy!! However, the urge to clean, will strip the tasting room of all its enchantment.

Ryan Wineless (this winemaker should stay in the tasting room because he was as warm and welcoming as the fireplace) took over from our tasting hostess and offered us a special tasting of a 24-year old Alto (if only all 24-year old were this perfectly matured, the world would be a much better place). Up next was the farm dog, literally UP next because he’s all over you with his massive head. Luckily Hempies came to the rescue from the horse-dog-saliva-assault.

Ripley’s, they barrel their best wines for an average of 5 years for the smoothest reds ever and you don’t have to worry about making your mortgage payment after a purchase, believe it! Also the best original and perfect port ever tasted which is partly fermented in whiskey casks with none of that overpowering sweetness one often find when it comes to port.

Only thing missing is a restaurant (I’m not taking anything away from this already perfect gem), I will then spend an entire day sucking in the beautiful surroundings and overdose on the fabulous wines with the truly true and awesome people from the estate.Definitely going back soon!!

^M^

Enjoyed a bottle of their 2001 Cavalier last night. THE BEST! Really yummy and hearty. A must for any collection.

We got carried away playing with the dog and almost forgot to wine taste(not). Wines are old school and classics the whole range is great.
Keep it up

“Ring the Bell for service”… Finally, a farm that use their Slave Bell for more than just an “extra” in wedding photo’s!

It almost felt as if we entered a Fairy Tail. If you take in consideration that Annandale keeps their wine in French oaks barrels for 5 years….Hallo Neverland! Oh, but it’s actually Rugby Land.

The owner of Annandale, Hempies du Toit, is an ex Springbok. Hempies believes in the traditions of “Old World” wine making. This means that the grapes are hand-selected during harvesting and that the entire maceration and maturation process is conducted at Annandale Estate’s cellar. One can only appreciate the passion and the effort that goes into their wines, especially when you taste it. Great, great, great! The best part, you don’t have to pay an arm or a leg for a bottle. What a great find. Highly recommended!

5 year wooden red, and that’s 5 years in wooden barrels. WOW

Absolutely amazing wine!