Founded by Paul Boutinot in 2004, Waterkloof is a family-owned farm using organic practices. The farm is perched high up on the windswept Schapenberg, overlooking False Bay and The Atlantic Ocean. Living soils, naturally low yields and a long growing season help provide talented Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard with naturally balanced grapes that are imbued with a truly defining sense of origin. Those grapes are then transformed into wine with a minimum of intervention. The resulting wines are fine, inimitable and best enjoyed with food.

Situated high on The Helderberg is a small and singular parcel of mature vines measuring just 1.25 hectares and planted back in 1999. This rare little block sits just 8km from False Bay on a steep, elevated and cooler south-westerly slope. Soils and stony and well-drained and therefore low vigour. The yield is a miniscule 1.5 tons/hectare or 12 hectolitres/hectare. However, good things really do often come in small packages and the up-side here is healthy grapes with excellent balanced concentration and a wonderful natural acidity. A winemaker's dream! The one challenge remaining is to convince the vine's owner to keep them in the ground.

The approach is natural and simple, yet also rigorous and labour-intensive. Handpicked and hand sorted then delicately whole bunch pressed in a horizontal basket press for the purest juice. Fermented with wild yeast in a single 2nd fill 600l French oak barrel and a solitary 3rd fill 225l French oak barrique. Bottling without fining and only the lightest of filtrations. Minimal sulphur added with no further additions. Only 1170 bottles made.

On Borrowed Time pairs beautifully with creamy fish dishes and chicken.

91 Points - Tim Atkin MW 2023 South Africa Special Report