For some, tasting the Delheim Grand Reserve is a religious experience. So imagine the shock of seeing Angela Lloyd, award-winning Platter taster, develop a white cornette on the stoep of Delheim yesterday lunchtime as she tasted the latest release, a 2013 that was as harmonious as vespers in a nunnery. Can a wimple and coif for Mother Angela be far behind?

Suddenly the detached wing from a passing angel pierced the roof of leaves and there was more religious symbolism than in the Da Vinci Code.

Lunch was preceded by a vertical tasting of 8 vintages of Grand Reserve. Stations of the Cross of the Vera Cruz vineyard, if you like. There were two standout stations: the 1984 which confirmed the vintage as the annus mirabilis for Stellenbosch wine, reminding older tasters present of Rustenberg Dry Red 84 and those modest gems from Meerlust.

The 2007 was also miraculous, possessing the faint perfume of a saint’s tomb to stir the faithful to raptures of religious ecstasy. it’s been four years since the Reserve was last among us and yesterday’s tasting confirmed the wait was worth it.