The stellar Boplaas 12 Year Old Pot still Brandy is the only brandy to receive 5 stars in the upcoming edition of the longstanding guide to South African wine.

With well over 5000 wines reviewed, the annual Platter’s South Africa wine guide offers users a glimpse of the ever evolving South African wine landscape and for wine producers a 5 Stars rating is its most sought-after accolade. Only 94 wines managed to receive 5 Stars and one brandy, namely the Boplaas 12 Year Old Pot still Brandy. The 12Year Old Pot still Brandy also won a gold medal at Veritas earlier this year. This is the second time Boplaas receive 5 Stars for a brandy; the first was for the Boplaas 20 Year Old Potstill Brandy.

Winemaker Margaux Nel

Having first exported brandy to London in 1880, Boplaas was one of the first private cellars to craft and bottle Pot still brandy in the Cape after amendments to the law in 1991. For Boplaas patriarch Oupa Danie Nel it was a source of great pride to craft the best possible brandy from his Calitzdorp Colombard, a tradition continued by cellar master Carel Nel.

The Boplaas 12 Year Pot still Brandy is glistening amber gold and brimming with a complex bouquet of peach blossom, dried apricot, tangerine, honey, roast almond, and sweet wood spice. Characterised by a mouth coating beeswax-like palate with lengthy finish and warming spirit lilt, . This fine Boplaas brandy – as all those bottled by Boplaas – was hand-crafted in small batches and aged in Limousin barrique. Due to Calitzdorp’s arid climes almost a third of the spirit is “lost to the angels” resulting in a concentrated and exceptionally smooth spirit.