Three Pines Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Score: 17 out of 20
"Rather more complex. Fills the palate and is in fact lip-smackingly good! There's still a little tannin here but with food it could delight already. Should develop well too."
- Jancis Robinson, "Great new South Africans", 5 November 2009
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Three Pines Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
4 Stars
"Brooding nose. Rich and full on the palate with ripe fruit and relatively soft tannins. Modern style."
- Wine Magazine South Africa, April 2009
Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
3 ½ Stars
- Wine Magazine South Africa, April 2009
Stellenbosch Syrah 2005
4 ½ stars Best Buy
"This is a really lovely syrah, with a lot of complexity in the flavours and a terrific seam of acidity that contributes an edgy tanginess to the texture. It's drinking now and will hold another year or two. Open it with grilled lamb."
- Rod Philips, Wine Pointer 11 Feb 2009, rodphillipsonwine.com
Three Pines Jonkershoek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
90 points
"Saturated medium ruby. Ripe aromas and flavors of cassis, dark chocolate, licorice, menthol and dried herbs. Dense, sweet and suave, with attractive ripe acidity giving it lift, but also showing a medicinal austerity today. This persistent but seriously backward wine is very young and needs several years of cellaring."
- Stephen Tanzer, Mar/Apr 2009
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Three Pines Jonkershoek Valley Syrah 2006
89 points
"Saturated ruby. Medicinal black fruits, licorice and a meaty nuance on the nose and palate. Dense and smooth but youthfully impenetrable now, with the medicinal quality carrying through in the mouth. There's very good texture and intensity here, but this classically dry wine needs patience. Finishes with very smooth tannins and a hint of exotic flowers."
- Stephen Tanzer, Mar/Apr 2009
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Stark-Condé Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
89 points
"You pay a slight premium for this unfined, unfiltered wine, but it is certainly worth it. It delivers the complexity and depth expected at $20, with interesting almost cool climate herbal notes and fresh fruit character. It's dry and well balanced, with juicy acidity and streaks of earthy-savoury-spicy flavours running through to a long finish. Nice value for current enjoyment."
- John Szabo, www.wineaccess.ca ON, Canada
Stark-Condé Stellenbosch Syrah 2005
89 points
"Above average complexity on the nose; fullish, ripe, balanced, with neither excessive tannins, oak or acidity. Decent length. All in all, a solidly made, varietally correct example for current drinking."
- John Szabo, www.wineaccess.ca ON, Canada
South African Wines Step Onto the Stage
By Eric Asimov
New York Times, January 21, 2009
"...including the 2005 Stark-Condé at $40, which just squeaked in at No. 10. This wine, from the Jonkershoek Valley, a subdivision of the Stellenbosch region just east of Cape Town, was powerful and a little rounder than some of the more structured wines, yet it was still in balance.
Almost all of our other favorite cabernets came from the Stellenbosch region, practically on the southwestern tip of the African continent and centered on the old university town of Stellenbosch. The area is blessed with weather as gorgeous as the vistas for which it is renowned. The Bon Cap was the lone outsider, coming from Robertson in the Breede River Valley to the east."
Stark-Condé Jonkershoek Valley Twin Peak Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
** Stars: Pretty floral aromas; powerful yet balanced.
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Platter's Guide 2009
Three Pines Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
4 ½ Stars
"Range previously listed as “Twin Peak”. From single vineyard, highest elevation on home-farm. Hedgerow fruit with cassis, gives wild edge, adds to individuality of 06; refined tannins accessible, reflect careful handling: unfined/filtered, as all reds. 22 months French oak, 70% new. TWS Gold."
Platter's Guide 2009
Three Pines Jonkershoek Syrah 2006
4 ½ Stars
"Concentrated plush dark fruit in 06, ably matched to serious oaking, building it for longer haul, as befits wine of this class. Meaty, smoky notes point to complexity, depth. Amenable, but infanticide – allow time. Fruit ex-single vineyard."
Platter's Guide 2009
Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
4 ½ Stars
"Powerful cassis and dark fruit plums in 06, on a firm tannin base. No harshness, already good partner for roasts, rich casseroles, but few more years ageing will allow more integration, reveal full potential."
Platter's Guide 2009
Stellenbosch Syrah 2006
4 Stars
"Richly perfumed red berries in 06, with variety’s trademark savoury & dried herb notes on the palate. Lots going on here, all good; fleshy, delicious, with excellent typicity."
Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2008 RSA
Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Gold Medal Winner
Michelangelo Wine Awards 2008 RSA
Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Gold Medal Winner
Michelangelo Wine Awards 2008 RSA
Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Double Gold Medal Winner
Wine Spectator
Stark-Condé Twin Peak Vineyards Jonkershoek
Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 – 91 points
"Has a dark, mountain-grown fruit profile, with a brambly undertow to the dark licorice, loam, black currant, tobacco and coffee flavors. Solid structure dominates the finish for now, but this should open nicely in the cellar. Best from 2008 through 2010. –JM"
Wine Spectator
Stark-Condé Twin Peak Vineyards Jonkershoek
Syrah 2005 – 91 points
"A tight-grained Syrah, with cocoa and coffee hints leading the way for slightly burly dark cherry and currant fruit. Good mix of minerality and toast on the structured finish, which has a dark, mountain-grown fruit profile. Needs a little time to open up. Drink now through 2010. –JM"
Wine Spectator
Stark-Condé Stellenbosch
Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 – 90 points
"Offers a solid mix of briar, grilled sage, tobacco and dark currant fruit backed by a structured finish that shows a nice tangy iron note. Drink now through 2009. –JM"
Wine Spectator
Stark-Condé Stellenbosch
Syrah 2005 – 90 points
"Pure, with an excellent core of raspberry and boysenberry fruit riding atop racy, graphite and iron notes. Bright, mocha-tinged finish hangs together wonderfully. Drink now through 2009. –JM"
Wine Enthusiast
Stark-Condé Twin Peak Vineyards Jonkershoek
Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 – 91 points
"Layers of cherry, currant and herbs give this fresh Cab an elegant but earthy feel. A lovely balance of fruit and acid, topped with supple and structured tannins, add to the success. Very pretty and collectible."
Wine Enthusiast
Stark-Condé Stellenbosch
Syrah 2005 – 90 points
"Elegant berry and pepper lead on the nose of this balanced Syrah. On the palate, the wine offers fresh fruit with a peppery backbone that results in a soft but structured style. Refined flavors and a long finish seal the deal. A classy choice."
Tasting Notes from the Underground
By George Heritier
www.gangofpour.com
November, 2006
"Stark-Condé is hardly a household name in the
US
, much less around here in metro Day-twah. I’d barely ever heard of this South African wine producer until I did some research on MAN Vintners recently, and discovered that José Condé (1/3 of the triumvirate of partners in that project) is the owner-winemaker. Upon further investigation, I learned that Stark-Condé is a family-run boutique operation whose total output is less than 5,000 cases a year, and produces only red wines. There are two levels of production; the Condé line is made up of single vineyard bottlings sourced from their best vineyard blocks, while the lower priced Stark line (named after a now-deceased family matriarch) are blended from more than one vineyard. The wines at both levels are made in the same manner, with hand-sorting, open-top fermentations, hand punchdowns and manual basket pressing.... I had no idea what to expect when we took possession of six bottles from Stark-Condé for review a few weeks ago, but we soon discovered that this is an outfit to be reckoned with ..."
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Wine Spectator
Condé Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
July 2006
"Lots of plum, blackberry and currant fruit is backed by mint, coffee and bacony toast. A touch brawny on the tobacco-tinged finish, but should soften in the near-term. Drink now through 2008. 90pts."
Wine Spectator
Condé Syrah 2003
July 2006
“Ripe and streamlined, with a pure beam of black cherry and raspberry fruit stitched with tobacco, mineral and judicious toast. Solid, focused finish. Drink now through 2007. 90pts.”
Wine Enthusiast
Condé Syrah 2003
July 2006
“Chocolate, cigar leaf and plum fruit aromas lead to a big, full-bodied wine with great balance and plenty of ripe tannins. Kirsch, black currant and spice flavors are plenty deep; tobacco shines through on the long, smooth finish. 90pts."
Wine and Spirits
Condé Syrah 2003
August 2006
“Complex scents of the velt gain a lift from this wine’s high-toned acidity. It shows syrah’s gamey, meaty side as well as its peppery aromas, with white and green peppercorn spice. Rich and intense, this wine needs several years in the cellar to show at its best. 90pts.”
