Anwilka 2008

Anwilka has been described by Robert Parker as “the finest red wine I have ever had from South Africa”. Anwilka is located in the heart of the prestigious Helderberg region of Stellenbosch in South Africa.

Only 7 kilometers from the ocean, this prime location within the renowned Golden Triangle is where the harmony of nature meets the art of culture, creating some of the world's most distinguished red wines.

Anwilka is the joint venture between Bruno Prats (former owner of Château Cos d'Estournel), Hubert de Bouard (owner of Château Angelus) from Bordeaux, and Lowell Jooste representing the home team. The grapes in their Stellenbosch vineyard are selected from 12 of the 40 hectares planted and yields are kept around 35 hectoliter per hectare. They are fermented in 7,000-liter “tronical” stainless-steel tanks and mature for nine to ten months in French oak barrels.

The name "Anwilka" is a combination of the names of the three founding owners of the estate: "An" from Lowell Jooste, "Wil" from Bruno Prats, and "Ka" from Hubert de Boüard. This fusion of the first syllables of their respective names symbolizes the union of their expertise, their combined passions, and their common vision to create an exceptional wine estate. "Anwilka" represents not only the heritage of the founders, but also the spirit of collaboration and innovation that characterizes the vineyard.

Anwilka stands out for its selection of grape varieties and quality winemaking practices, which play an essential role in creating exceptional wines. The main grape varieties grown on the estate include Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Each grape variety is carefully adapted to the specific terroir of the Helderberg region of Stellenbosch, where the well-drained soils, maritime climate and gentle slopes provide ideal conditions for their development.

Vineyard practices at Anwilka are focused on sustainability and quality. The harvest is carried out by hand, allowing careful selection of the clusters and preserving their integrity during the winemaking process. In addition, environmentally friendly practices are favored, helping to maintain the ecological balance of the vineyard and ensuring the sustainability of the land for future generations.

With every bottle, Anwilka invites you to savor the culmination of tradition, innovation and a relentless pursuit of excellence, a testament to the enduring legacy of South African enology.

''A blend 48% Syrah, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot and aged in oak for 15 months, the 2008 Anwilka has a glossy, well-defined bouquet that is rather taciturn at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with a lactic entry: touches of dark chocolate and mocha at first, interwoven with blackberry and boysenberry fruit. The texture is a little “furry” but it is endowed with a satisfying, silky finish. Cellar this for 2-3 years and wait for those secondary flavours. Drink 2013-2020. Anwilka is the joint venture between Bruno Prats, Hubert de Bouard from Bordeaux, and Lowell Jooste representing the home team. The grapes in their Stellenbosch vineyard are selected from 12 of the 40 hectares planted and yields are kept around 35 hectoliter per hectare, before fermentation in 7,000-liter “tronical” stainless-steel tanks and matured for nine-months in French oak. A majority of Anwilka is exported and sold through the Bordeaux “Place.” Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate (8/30/2011) Ratings: 90 Drink: 2013-2020