“Black with a crimson edge. Bordeaux blend of Cab, Merlot and Cab Franc. Sweet vanilla, strong berries and spicy savoury nose. Eucalyptus on the palate, as well as balanced fruit and acid, with a firm dry finish. Dense tannic and chewy. A "wild" nose and mouth-expanding flavours. Will develop with benefit over 8 to 12 years” - WINE, December 2001.

“Pitch black garnet ruby edge. Sweet plum vanilla aromas with a touch of eath. A well integrated, ripe, complex wine. Quite dense. Good fruit, succulent on palate. Rich ripe fruit, very intense, almost porty - good structure. Ripe red fruit and mint. Drink now to 6 years” - WINE, August 2001

"Pitch black with a garnet edge. An attractive nose with herbal cassis and a hint of eucalyptus. Sweet chunky entry with enough fruit to balance the tannins. Forward ripe black cherry fruit flavour and balanced spice from the wood. Great potential" – WINE, January 2002.

“Lime green hue. Complex butterscotch, tropical fruit, peach aromas with undertones of char and lemon zest. Good fruit and wood balance on the palate with fresh acid. A youthful wine with a lingering finish. Savour now or hold for two to four years” – WINE, January 2002.

“Clear green-straw. Big, buttery grapefruit and toast with vanilla, peach and passionfruit. Sweet entry: creamy with tropical fruits and concentrated butterscotch. Good fruit and acid balance. Drink now or in a year” - WINE, October 2001.

"Clear greenish-yellow. A lovely perfumed nose with tropical fruit, toast, fruit salad and cream overtones on to grapefruit, marmalade, toast and lemon-butter flavours. Well balanced and supple with good fruit on the finish. An elegant little number which shows its warm vintage. Drink now or in 2 to 3 years" - WINE, April 2001

“Yellow gold. Rich style; complex. Ripe marmalade and toast aromas. Hints of asparagus, honey. Complex. Very big, with good wood also dominant in the flavour spectrum. Long dry finish. Drink now to 4 years” – WINE, August 2001.

“Plum with a deep garnet edge. Strong herbal smoky toasty nose with intense ripe plum fruit, spice and potpourri. A nicely balanced wine. Dense and chewy, soft and ripe with a sweet fruit centre. Lively, dry finish. Drink now or in 6 years” - WINE, October 2001.

“A blackish plum hue, showing lovely fruitcake and savoury notes, with just a hint of camomile aroma. A fat, sweetly fruited wine – violets, cassis, cherries – with lively, yet fine-grained tannins and powerful finish promising great longevity. Drink in 1-5 years” – WINE, March 2002.

”Black with crimson rim. Complex cassis, tar, vegetal, liquorice and pepper whiffs. Dense and chewy. Smoky, toasty, meaty and wild with herby, grassy flavours. Should age well: allow two to five years” – WINE, January 2002

“Wonderfully intense colour. Hazelnuts, generous toast, plums, cigar box and rich choc-chip cookie nose, follows into soft, chewy palate with liquorice and juicy black cherry fruit. Lovely wine in a modern style. Drink now to 6 years” - WINE, July 2001.

Johan Malan, winemaker at the Simonsig cellar in Stellenbosch has been respected as one of the Cape’s top winemakers for some time now. It’s little wonder then that one of his Shiraz wines was praised so highly by the WINE tasting panel (May 2000). Accolades for this wine under the Merindol label follow a 4 Star rating in 1999 for Simonsig’s Reserve Shiraz ’97. Tasting notes: “Deep plum-brick rim. Toasty, mocha and plum aromas with some cassis, liquorice and spice too. Silky entry with lovely balance of chocolate/cherry flavours. Well-balanced wood and fruit. Enjoy now to 5 years” – WINE, May 2000.
 

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc. Deep purple, almost black. Gorgeous, full-ripe fruit. Cassis, liquorice, prune. Creamy mouthfeel. Firm tannins. Big yet elegant. Distinctly Bordeaux-like; could well have been a French ringer. A wine for long-term development. Give another 6 to 10 years - September 1999 issue of WINE.
 

”Ruby crimson colour. Vanilla and pungent mocha on the nose. Soft velvety palate with plums, molasses, spice and vanilla. Dry tannin on finish. Very Australian in style. Good depth and concentration. Drink now to 6 years” - WINE, July 2001.