In South Africa, the word Port is synonymous with a standing issue of controversy with the ruling that prohibits South African labels to use the name since the end of 2011. Like they say, adapt or die – De Krans shifted gears and embraced this finality with the launch of their 2010 Cape Vintage Reserve as The Last Cape Vintage Reserve Port, of which we still sell at the cellar. The farm continued to not only embrace this change, but also to challenge the use of port through their development of port style innovations such as the espresso and the Original Cape pink.  The Cape Pink was launched in 2008 and is ideally served chilled or as a cocktail – a far cry from the traditionalist fireplace scenario.

With this year’s annual Nederburg Auction just around the corner, the De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2006 will be up for grabs.  Cape Vintage Reserve, the farm’s flagship port, boasts no less than 11 five-star ratings in the Platter’s Wine Guide, dating from 2003 to 2013 vintages – a testament of the consistent quality of this wine. Recently awarded 95 points by esteemed sommelier Miguel Chan, you wouldn’t want to let this one slip through your fingers.

While carefully made to mature for about 25 years, this port will be able to hold its own if kept longer.  However, with the wine already having matured for over 10 years, it is more than ready to drink now. This Cape Vintage Reserve serves as a perfect accompaniment to a rich blue cheese, or drink on its own – from a red wine glass, of course. The small, sherry glasses are so yesterday. A port in its heart is still a wine and you want to be able to swirl and smell, don’t you? So, next time you have guests over, surprise them by serving this delight in a big glass, that is, if you were lucky enough to get your hands on one of these gems – 60 bottles (the amount which will be going on auction) don’t really seem like a lot. If entertaining guests is not really your thing, but spoiling your grandkids is, do them a favour and get them a little piece of SA wine history, they’ll thank you one day when they are old enough to enjoy a great port.

Even though we may not call it port, if it still talks like one and it walks like one, you know what they say. Even Shakespeare’s iconic words seem perfect to describe the current times: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.”  And richness & sweetness in a bottle, indeed it is.

This year’s Nederburg Auction will be on Friday 15 September and Saturday 16 September 2017.