Rijks Private Cellar
Tulbagh, South Africa

After working in Cape Town for 20 years, Neville Dorrington and his family decided it was time to move to the country. Lovers of good food and collectors of good wines, the search for a wine farm began. Months and miles later, it was decided to buy an undeveloped farm. "Lets do it all from scratch".

They fell in love with the Tulbagh valley. The town was named after Rijk Tulbagh, governor of the Cape from 1751 to 1771. Steeped in history, the beautiful Church Street has 32 National Monuments, more than any other street in South Africa. Only one hour from Cape Town, this little valley lies in a fertile basin almost completely surrounded by the majestic Winterhoek and Witzenberg mountains, often snow-capped in winter. The Klein Berg River snakes its way across the valley floor, providing ample water for irrigation.

What better way to enjoy great wine than with a good meal, in relaxing and beautiful surroundings. It was decided to build a 15 room luxury Country Hotel on the farm. Neville had built and managed The Farmhouse in Langebaan so had been in the hospitality industry for many years and was perfectly suited for the task. Development of the farm began in January 1997. In July, architect John Doyle was contracted to design the Country Hotel which was completed and opened for business in December of 1998.

The entire farm consists of vertical shale soils. 300 mm of topsoil, then a thin layer of clay and then the vertical shale as deep as you can imagine. After 160 test holes were dug, the soil anylsis called for a small amount of lime and gypsum to be added. This was evenly spread on the topsoil and deep ripped to 1.5 meters. Drainage trenches were dug to drain all excess water away from the vines.

There are no flat areas on the farm. Slopes facing north, south, east and west abound. This offered the opportunity to plant the different cultivars on the slopes best suited to them and no block is bigger than one hectare. This allows careful monitoring and conopy management to each block throughout the growing season and at harvest time each block can then be vinified seperately.

 

Rijks Iceberg Red 2004 Attractively deep ruby red rimmed colour. The nose is that of freshly picked red rose petals. R83.39 p/b R500.35 per 6 bottles VAT Incl. 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96 108 120 Rijks Iceberg Red 2004 available from eWine.eu for €8.50 p/b. EU delivery only.

Rijks The Crossing 2005 Dark ruby red colour. Spicy nose with hints of lavender, cinnamon, coriander and red berries in the background. R90.97 p/b R545.83 per 6 bottles VAT Incl. 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120 Rijks The Crossing 2005 available from eWine.eu for €20.75 p/b. EU delivery only.

Rijks Pinotage with a Touch of Oak 2009 Dark red coloured. Fruity nose, with aromas of strawberry, plum and cherries present. R98.55 p/b R591.32 per 6 bottles VAT Incl. 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120

Rijks Chardonnay 2006 Rich colour with gold tint. Pome fruit aromas on the nose with ripe pear dominating the golden delicious apple aroma by a small margin. R106.13 p/b R636.80 per 6 bottles VAT Incl. 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120

Rijks Sauvignon Blanc 2008 This fragrant wine has aromas ranging from Granny Smith apple, asparagus to goosberries. R106.13 p/b R636.80 per 6 bottles VAT Incl. 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120

Rijks Chenin Blanc 2008 Light straw in colour. Aromas of winter melon, peach and pine nut. R106.13 p/b R636.80 per 6 bottles VAT Incl. 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120

Rijks Chenin Blanc with a Touch of Oak 2009 Youthful colour. Complex yellow fruit nose with hints of pine nut and honeysuckle. R106.13 p/b R636.80 per 6 bottles VAT Incl. 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120

Rijks Fascination 2007 Straw coloured with a greenish tint. Intense green asparagus to grasy nose. Typical for a cooler vintage. R136.46 p/b R818.75 per 6 bottles VAT Incl. 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120 Rijks Fascination 2007 available from eWine.eu for €15.55 p/b. EU delivery only.

Rijks Bravado 2003 White pepper, coriander spices on the nose from dominant Shiraz percentage. R136.46 p/b R818.75 per 6 bottles VAT Incl. 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120

Rijks Pinotage 2006 Wine has a deep ruby red colour. An orchestra of cherry tobacco and plum aromas are present, while backed by pure Pinotage fruit. R142.52 p/b R855.14 per 6 bottles VAT Incl. 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120

Rijks Chenin Blanc Reserve 2007 Goldish colour with youthful green tint. Attractive nose with combinations of pineapple and dried apricot aromas. R181.94 p/b R1091.66 per 6 bottles VAT Incl. 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120

Rijks Chardonnay Reserve 2007 Rich colour with gold tint.Concentrated citrus aromas – more naartjie - on the nose, with hints of a smokiness derived from medium toasted French oak barrels. R181.94 p/b R1091.66 per 6 bottles VAT Incl. 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120

Rijks Pinotage Reserve 2006 Wine has a vibrant deep ruby red colour. Voluptuous nose of red berries and cherries, supported by ginger and coconut woody spice. R212.27 p/b R1273.61 per 6 bottles VAT Incl. 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120

Rijks Estate Syrah 2007 Intense deep red colour. The nose explodes with aromas of coriander, liquorice and cloves. R272.92 p/b R1637.50 per 6 bottles VAT Incl. 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120

Rijks Estate The Master 2007 Attractive deep red colour. A complex nose with spicy aromas of cinnamon, coriander and cloves underlined by black fruit notes from the Syrah. R272.92 p/b R1637.50 per 6 bottles VAT Incl. 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90 96 102 108 114 120