South Africa’s winemaking heritage spans more than three centuries, bridging Old World tradition with New World dynamism. Nowhere is this duality more vividly expressed than in the Swartland—once a quiet farming district, and since the late 1990s, a magnet for the country’s most visionary, hands-off winemakers. Here, a community of pioneers has embraced dry-farmed old vines and Rhône varieties, crafting wines that speak with honesty, depth, and place.
When Marc Kent first discovered the rugged, windswept slopes of the Porseleinberg mountain in the Swartland, he envisioned a Syrah that could rival the great wines of the Northern Rhône. On the windswept mica-schist slopes of the Porseleinberg mountain, winemaker Callie Louw has farmed these vines organically with uncompromising focus. Whole-bunch fermentations, large foudres, and a famously austere white-on-white letterpress label signal a pursuit of purity above all else.
Rugged yet elegant, structured yet soulful, it is a wine that captures both South Africa’s winemaking past and its thrilling present. The Syrah shows ripe cherry fruits against a backdrop of dusty tannins, balanced with an element of elegance and restraint—a testament to the singular character of this extraordinary site.
Porseleinberg is a true insider’s wine, one that requires patience, often needing hours of decanting and years in the cellar, but collectors around the world recognize them as among the most age-worthy and important wines in the Cape. For lovers of Jamet in particular, this is a must in your cellar, for a fraction of the price. Today, Porseleinberg is regarded as the apex of South African Syrah—praised by Vinous critic Neal Martin as a wine “inspired by, and in my view, equalling the Rhône greats.”
We are pleased to offer a handful of bottles from across several vintages to our members:
2020 Porseleinberg, 750ml and 1.5 L
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97 points, Vinous: “It is very fragrant on the nose with black fruit, white pepper, fennel, and hints of lavender, not unlike a mature Jamet in style. The palate is medium-bodied with light and peppery entry, beautifully proportioned with fine tannins. Old World in style, very focused, it gently builds momentum to a bewitchingly complex Porseleinberg that will give 20-30 years of drinking pleasure. Divine.”
2019 Porseleinberg, 750ml
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96 points, Vinous: “The 2019 Porseleinberg has a brilliant nose, as I would expect, presenting an exquisitely defined mixture of red and black fruit with hints of honey and orange blossom, pressed iris petals and incense. The medium-bodied, harmonious palate offers fine-grained tannins and a judicious touch of white pepper and clove. Very Rhône-like in style, it reminds me of a Jamet Côte-Rôtie tasted the previous month.”
2017 Porseleinberg, 750ml
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98 points, Decanter: “Alive and dynamic, this soars out of the glass, a touch of firework smoke to the vibrant berry fruits. Incredible energy and elegance on the palate, great freshness and focus, tiny tensile tannins and zesty acidity. Very long, this crackles on and on.”
2016 Porseleinberg, 750ml
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94 points, Vinous: "The very expressive bouquet, more vivid than the 2015, features blackberry, bilberry, a touch of raspberry, cracked black pepper and just a faint hint of charcoal. This is a very cerebral Porseleinberg. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, outstanding structure, broody black fruit and gentle grip, and the schist soils are very expressive on a finish that feels fresh but extremely complex”
Secure your allocation of Porseleinberg Syrah today—an uncompromising wine of place that has redefined South African excellence.
