Regional profile: Franschhoek
Get our daily fine wine reviews, latest wine ratings, news and travel guides delivered straight to your inbox.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Frustrated that their valley is not always taken seriously as a wine appellation, a number of producers are prouder than ever to put Wine of Origin Franschhoek on their bottles. Joanne Gibson reports...
Six of Franschhoek’s finest wines
Boekenhoutskloof, Semillon 2010
18.5/20pts (95/100pts)
£20 Fine & Rare, Handford, Harvey Nichols, James Nicholson, Jeroboams, KWM Wines, SA Wines Online, Philglass & Swiggott, Swig
From bush-vine blocks registered in 1902 and 1942. Peach blossom and orange peel aromas, intense citrus palate developing nuttiness and beeswax. Very fresh despite its weighty texture.
Drink 2014–2020
Alc 13.9%
Get our daily fine wine reviews, latest wine ratings, news and travel guides delivered straight to your inbox.
Chamonix, Chardonnay Reserve 2012
18.5/20pts (95/100pts)
£18–£20 Avery’s, Berry Bros & Rudd, Halifax Wine Co, Lay & Wheeler, Raeburn, SA Wine Online, Stone Vine & Sun, Swig, The Wine Society, WoodWinters, Wright Wine Co
Austere and tight, but has tropical fruit purity, tangy ginger spice, oatmeal and toasted almond notes. The richness is still to come.
Drink 2015–2020
Alc 13.5%
Môreson, Mercator Chardonnay 2012
18/20pts (93/100pts)
£20 Courtnall Williams & Sons
Natural fermentation, no racking, no added sulphur. Ripe pineapple with lemon freshness, dried apricot and hazelnut notes. It has crème brûlée creaminess rather than buttery richness.
Drink 2014–2019
Alc 13.8%
Stony Brook, Ghost Gum Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
18/20pts (93/100pts)
£18 Dickens House Wine
From a low-yielding single vineyard. Concentrated blackcurrant fruit is well integrated with cigar box spice after 32 months in new French oak. Wonderful structure and finesse.
Drink 2014–2020
Alc 14.5%
Rickety Bridge, The Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
17.5/20pts (91/100pts)
N/A UK www.ricketybridgewinery.com
From a single bush-vine vineyard, inaccessible by vehicle, giving tiny yields. Dense and velvety palate of black cherry, cassis, dark chocolate, clove and tobacco notes with hint of eucalyptus to finish.
Drink 2016–2022
Alc 14.9%
Lynx, Cabernet Franc 2012
17/20pts (90/100pts)
£13 Carte du Vin
Smooth and richly layered palate of juicy black mulberry fruit with hints of smoke and liquorice. Lovely spearmint freshness and soft ripe tannins.
Drink 2014–2018
Alc 14.5%
Joanne Gibson is an award-winning wine writer, based in Cape Town, South Africa. She has a Level 4 Diploma from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. She was named South African Wine Writer of the Year in 2009 and 2015, and shortlisted in the 2010, 2012 and 2013 Louis Roederer International Wine Writers’ Awards. A contributing editor of Platter’s guide, she has also contributed to Decanter, JancisRobinson.com, The Sunday Times, Women's Health and The World of Fine Wine.