Now in Stock - Damascene!

From the outset, the idea for the Damascene range of wines was to create “a series of wines that would tell the story, not of their owners, or marketing trends, but of the very vineyards themselves.” Each bottle is an outstanding example of the great effort winemaker Jean Smit puts into the sourcing of fruit and the care taken in the cellar to produce these fine wines. (Apologies to Jean for the timing of my photo!) Here are WineMag’s Christian Eedes’ Tasting Notes for the Moya Meaker and Damascene:

Moya Meaker Riesling 2022: Fermented and matured in concrete. Enchanting aromatics of pear, peach, lime, green apple, white pepper and spice with just a touch of reduction in the background. The palate shows good clarity - clean, sweet fruit playing off against punchy acidity, the finish super-dry. Alc: 12.35%. Christian Eedes’ rating: 92/100.

Moya Meaker Pinot Noir 2022: Matured for 11 months in 300-litre barrels, 20% new. Exotic aromatics of red cherry, orange, rose and white pepper. The palate is luscious but not weighty or sweet. Lovely bright acidity to go with super-fine tannins, this grows in refinement with each new vintage. Alc: 13.37%. Christian Eedes’ rating: 92/100.

Damascene W.O. Swartland Chenin Blanc 2022: Grapes from two Paardeberg vineyards planted in 1979 and 1983 respectively. Tangerine, orange, peach, earth, ginger and other spice on the nose while the palate has good weight and snappy acidity, that intriguing bitter quality that this variety often shows on the finish. A little extra broadness compared to the previous vintage. Alc: 12.92%. Christian Eedes’ rating: 94/100.

Damascene W.O. Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc 2022: Grapes from three Bottelary vineyards planted in 1972, 1980 and 1982 respectively. Complex aromatics of pear, peach, nectarine, lemon and fynbos while the palate shows very good delineation and directness - pure fruit and bright acidity before a salty finish. Absolutely packed with flavour. Alc: 13.14%. Christian Eedes’ rating: 95/100.

Damascene Semillon 2022: From two Franschhoek blocks planted in 1942 and 1962 respectively. Matured for 11 months in 1000-litre foudre. Wonderfully complex aromatics of lime, peach, nectarine, thatch, floral perfume and dried herbs while blackcurrant reveals itself with time in glass. The palate, meanwhile, is exceptionally well balanced with great clarity of fruit, no shortage of freshness and a salty finish. Alc: 13.21%. Christian Eedes’ rating: 96/100.

Damascene W.O. Stellenbosch Syrah 2022: Grapes from Bottelary and Polkadraai. 75% whole-bunch fermented. Matured for 11 months in 2 000-litre vats. Gun-smoke like reduction sits alongside notes of floral perfume, red and black berries, fresh herbs and white pepper. The palate has lovely poise and detail - relatively light-bodied but great flavour intensity, vibrant acidity and fine tannins. Alc: 13.1%. Christian Eedes’ rating: 98/100.

Damascene W.O. Swartland Syrah 2022: Grapes from Riebeeksrivier on schist and Paardeberg on granite. 75% whole-bunch fermented. Matured for 11 months in 2 000-litre vats. Flinty reduction before red and black berries, lavender, olive, some meatiness and pepper. Rich and round - lots of ripe fruit, moderate acidity and powdery tannins. Alc: 12.93%. Christian Eedes’ rating: 93/100.

Damascene W.O. Cere Plateau Syrah 2022: 60% whole-bunch fermented. Matured for 11 months in 1 000-litre vats. Red currant, raspberry and black cherry to go with orange, jasmine and white pepper. Light-bodied (alcohol is 13.16%) with lemon-like acidity and a creamy texture. Super-elegant. Alc: 13.16%. Christian Eedes’ rating: 93/100.

Damascene Cabernet Franc 2022: Grapes from a Bottelary vineyard. Matured for 11 months in 1000-litre foudre. The nose is deeply perfumed with notes of cranberry, strawberry, potpourri and dried herbs. Good clarity of fruit, bright acidity and powdery tannins - already quite accessible. Alc: 13.33%. Christian Eedes’ rating: 93/100.

Damascene Cabernet Sauvignon 2021: Grapes from Fruit from Bottelary, Helderberg and Vlottenburg (near Polkadraai Hills). Matured for 12 months in barrique before being transferred to 2 000-litre vats for a further 12 months. Enticing aromatics of rose, violets, red and black berries plus pencil shavings. The palate is not short of concentration or depth despite an alcohol of just 13.56%. Great purity, bright acidity and immaculate tannins - grippy without being astringent, the finish super-long. Christian Eedes’ rating: 97/100.

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About Us

Have you ever heard about a great wine but could never find a bottle for yourself (to share with friends, of course)? Well, the team at Wine & Company do all the hard work for you! We visit wine farms and attend tastings to find, taste, and then stock wine from the smaller Estates and independent winemakers who buy grapes and produce outstanding wine under their own labels - much the same as the French negociants have been doing for centuries. Given that these winemakers make wine in such small quantities, sometimes just a single barrel, their wine will never be found on the shelves of the major retailers, but only in specialist shops like Wine & Company on High Street, Hermanus.

In addition to the great selection of well-known wines and MCC's, we also stock local craft gin and beer, French Champagne, Belgian Ales as well as whisky and other spirits. Wine & Company (established in 1998 by Bartho Eksteen) has a well-earned reputation for stocking hard-to-find small-batch wines and we strive to continue this great tradition. If you purchase a bottle of wine from us and it is faulty we will gladly replace the bottle and return the faulty wine to the winemaker.

Feel free to contact Wine & Company if you need a particular wine and we will do our best to source it for you. We are also able to ship wine locally and to most countries so do ask about international shipping.

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Please note that our website does not show the complete range of wine that we have in stock, so please do contact us if you are looking for something not listed online, especially those that are 'allocation' only. 

We offer free delivery in and around Hermanus, and free shipping to major centres around South Africa for orders over R1600. Please contact us for international shipping rates.

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