1 | Wine | South Africa, $20 to $50, 91 to 95

"This has a hearty, slightly rugged core of dark currant, plum sauce and fig paste, while the edges are polished and racy, with alder wood, sweet spice and anise providing a nice contrast through the finish. Shows better purity than in some previous vintages."

"It is reticent at first and takes time to open up. It retains a pleasing sense of aloofness, which one would want from this South African icon. Patience is required, for it eventually rewards you with blackberry, briary, fresh tobacco, cedar and mint...not a million miles away from Pauillac! The palate is medium-bodied with fine, supple tannins: blackberry, raspberry and graphite all perfectly delineated with great refinement married with intensity on the finish. You would be hard pressed to find another wine that delivers such class at this price."

"Reticent but pure aromas of cassis, blackberry, licorice, bitter chocolate, espresso and spicy oak. Then pliant, lush and deep, with terrific inner-mouth energy and violet perfume to lift the dark berry flavors. The tannins saturate the palate and front teeth without coming across as dry. Classy, polished wine--the best yet from the team of Bruno Prats, Hubert de Bouard and Lowell Jooste. The co-owners have increased their wine's syrah percentage to great effect, as this 2008 avoids the green notes of earlier vintages without showing any syrah rusticity." Reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"A plump, full-bodied style, with a toasted brioche edge to the creamed pear, fig and apple notes. There's creamy mouthfeel and ample length, with a lingering note of hazelnut for a flashy hint."

"The nose is beautifully defined with scents of melon, honeysuckle and white peach with just a hint of creme patissiere. The palate is fresh and crisp on the entry with subtle almond and hazelnut. It has wonderfully integrated vanilla-tinged oak and a tense, mineral-rich finish that is Corton-Charlemagne in all but name and price. This is one of South Africa’s benchmark Chardonnays."

"It has ripe mulberry, cranberry, black olive, hickory and fresh prune aromas on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied, well-balanced with plush, plumy black fruit, crushed raspberry and a touch of white pepper. That leads to a refined finish that could do with a little more persistence, but it retains a degree of elegance."

"The superb 2005 Lourens River Valley has a touch of Petit Verdot in the blend. My immediate impression upon nosing this wine was: Pauillac comes to Saint Emilion. The palate is very well knit with good acidity and firm tannins. It is dry and masculine on the entry, but the Cabernet Franc is very expressive towards the finish with touches of green bell pepper and dried herbs. Very refined and demonstrating good persistence, this is an excellent wine."

"This shows alluring butter and creamed pear aromas and flavors, but stays racy, with honeysuckle, quinine and green fig notes rippling throughout, followed by a very stylish finish. Impressive and distinctive. Should age nicely."

"The flagship 2007 Gravel Quarry Cabernet Sauvignon has a lifted, herbaceous, tertiary bouquet with tobacco, cedar and graphite that lends it an Old World personality. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy dark berries, bilberry, blueberry and a touch of salt towards the finish that has good length and definition."