Tim Atkin report 2025
After being shortlisted alongside three other exceptional South African estates (Jordan Wine Estate, Steenberg Vineyards, and Vondeling), we're honoured to be named Best Cellar Door Experience in Tim Atkin's 2025 report.
This recognition means the world to us. It's a celebration of everyone who has been part of the Gabriëlskloof story: our dedicated team who welcome you with genuine warmth, our winemaking family who produce each bottle with care, and you (our visitors and wine lovers) who make every tasting room gathering special.
What Makes Our Cellar Door Special
Set in the heart of the Bot River Valley, the Gabriëlskloof Tasting Room is where we share our wines with guests, friends, and family. As much as possible, we try to spend time in the Tasting Room alongside our incredible team, led by Kwanda Ralijana, our fantastic ambassador and passionate Wine Tasting host. You'll often find Bernhard chatting to a group of tasters and see them leaving Gabriëlskloof as friends, or spot Peter-Allan and Anmar mid-barrel tasting and get invited to taste along. The tasting room is the heart of our farm.
Our 2025 Tim Atkin Scores
We're pleased to share that nine of our wines scored 92 points or above in this year's report, a testament to the exceptional quality across our entire portfolio:
Landscape Series
- Elodie Chenin Blanc 2024 (Swartland): 94 points
- Syrah on Shale 2023 (Bot River): 94 points
- Cabernet Franc 2023 (Bot River): 94 points
- Magdalena 2024 (Western Cape): 93 points
- Era René Chenin Blanc 2024 (Bot River): 93 points
- Syrah on Sandstone 2023 (Bot River): 93 points
Projects Range
- Oxalis Syrah 2023 (Bot River): 95 points (Our highest-scoring wine this year)
- Amphora Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Western Cape): 93 points
- Whole Bunch Syrah 2024 (Bot River): 92 points
What Tim Atkin Said About Our Wines
Here's what Tim had to say about some of our top-scoring wines:
Elodie Chenin Blanc 2024 | 94 points
Swartland (13%)
"Elodie is a stylish varietal Chenin Blanc from a couple of sources in the Swartland, owned by Chris Alheit and Adi Badenhorst, no less. The older oak makes a subtle contribution here, framing a palate of citrus, pear, aniseed and lanolin underpinned by some stony, ferrous grip. One to tuck away for a year or two. 2026-30"
Era René Chenin Blanc 2024 | 93 points
Bot River (13%)
"Era René is a Bot River Chenin Blanc that comes from two parcels at Gabriëlskloof, planted in 2003 and 2018 on sandstone and shale soils. Fermented in new and older 500-litre barrels, it's a structured, dense, concentrated white with underlying power and layers of waxed lemon, tarragon and fennel. 2026-30"
Magdalena 2024 | 93 points
Western Cape (13.5%)
"Blended from various sources in the Western Cape, Magdalena is now an unusual blend of Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Chenin Blanc, 23% Semillon and 3% Muscat d'Alexandrie. Deftly wooded in new and older barrels, it has orange zest and angelica root aromas, flavours of citrus, grapefruit and apricot and a stony finish. 2025-31"
Amphora Sauvignon Blanc 2024 | 93 points
Western Cape (13.5%)
"Amphora is now a 60/40 blend of grapes from Olifants River and Bot River, but is still fermented and aged on lees in a clay amphora. Stony reduction and petrichor aromas lead you into a palate of lime, greengage and grapefruit fattened by some cream from 100% malolactic. 2025-29"
Oxalis Syrah 2023 | 95 points
Bot River (13.5%)
"Oxalis is an exciting new Syrah from Peter-Allan Finlayson, made with equal components of grapes grown on shale and sandstone. Produced with the submerged cap technique that tends to produce softer, smoother tannins, this has enticing clove and pepper spice aromas, finely handled 50% whole bunches, blackberry, liquorice and black olive flavours, subtle oak and supporting acidity. 2027-33"
Cabernet Franc 2023 | 94 points
Bot River (14%)
"Racier and a little tarter than normal perhaps, but this remains a textbook Cabernet Franc from Gabriëlskloof's property in Bot River. Violet and basil aromas spring out of the glass here, adding perfume to a palate of redcurrant, black cherry and scented Asian spices. 2026-32"
Syrah on Shale 2023 | 94 points
Bot River (14%)
"The better of the two soil-focused Gabriëlskloof Syrahs in 2023, partly because ripening was more advanced on shale, this has some subtle whole bunch top notes of clove and sage, good structure and grip, flavours of tapenade and black tea and a firm, slightly chewy finish. 2026-31"
Syrah on Sandstone 2023 | 93 points
Bot River (14%)
"Not quite up to its normal excellent standard - blame the 2023 vintage - this is at the greener end of the Syrah spectrum, with violet, coriander and fennel aromas, lots of grip and tannins, well-judged older oak, cranberry and damson fruit and nice texture and perfume from 40% whole bunches. Maybe it just needs more time in bottle. 2026-31"
Whole Bunch Syrah 2024 | 92 points
Bot River (13%)
"Whole Bunch is true to its name, as the wine goes nowhere near a destemmer. Mostly fermented and aged in stainless steel, with a 20% old wood component, it's alluringly spicy, sappy and perfumed, with a note of meaty reduction, aromas of clove and thyme and a textured bramble and red cherry palate. 2025-31"
A Special Note on Oxalis...
The Oxalis Syrah 2023 holds particular significance to us. Named after the rare and endangered Oxalis duriuscula endemic to the Overberg region, this wine champions both botanical conservation and terroir expression.
The grapes come from three blocks planted in 2003 (previously sold but retained from 2023 onwards). The wine showcases our philosophy perfectly: 50% whole-bunch fermentation, 14 months in older French oak, and minimal intervention. Block A1's 100% shale soils contribute half the blend, with the remaining 50% from two sandstone blocks.
The Philosophy Behind the Experience
Since cellar master Peter-Allan Finlayson arrived in 2014, we have adopted a minimalist approach to winemaking, utilising indigenous yeast, whole-bunch ferments, and traditional vessels such as clay amphorae. Our use of new oak is kept to a minimum, using only the lightest toast and finest grain French oak when needed.
But great wine is about more than the cellar. As a Biodiversity and Wine Champion, we're committed to sustainable farming and uplifting our local community. The Heyns family has owned and run GabriëlskloGabriëlskloof, and that family now includes members of the local community who've risen through the ranks.
The 2025 Tim Atkin Report: South Africa's Rising Excellence
Tim Atkin's 13th South Africa Special Report reflects an exceptional year for South African wine. After spending five weeks tasting 2,000 wines from 397 producers, Atkin notes a sense of guarded optimism in the winelands.
An Outstanding Vintage
Atkin was particularly impressed with the 2024 vintage, with many calling it one of the best of the last decade. His report awarded two wines perfect 100-point scores, with 212 wines scoring 95 points or above. The strongest performers were Chenin Blanc and Syrah, though as Atkin observes, "there are dozens of different styles among my top wines. The Cape's diversity is one of its trump cards."
For Gabriëlskloof to be recognised among this incredible company (with nine wines scoring 92+ and winning Best Cellar Door Experience) speaks to the dedication of our amazing team.
Why This Recognition Matters
The Tim Atkin Special Report has become an essential benchmark for South African wine. As Rico Basson, CEO of Wines of South Africa, notes: "The Tim Atkin Special Report consistently shines a spotlight on South African wines, bringing global attention to our industry's quality, diversity and innovation." Rosa Kruger of the Old Vine Project adds: "Tim knows and understands our wines, our industry and our viticultural landscape in greater depth than anybody I know. His impartial opinion and extensive knowledge of our wines since 1990 is widely appreciated."
Visit Us and Experience It Yourself
This award is an invitation. If you haven't visited us yet, we'd love to welcome you. If you have, we'd love to see you again. Every interaction at GabriëlskloGabriëlskloofd to be more than just a tasting – it's an experience, a gathering, a chance to connect with the land, the wines, and the people behind them.
Book your visit through our website at www.gabrielskloof.co.za and discover what makes our cellar door special. And after your tasting, stay for lunch at The Kitchen Door (or swap it around and come for breakfast before the tasting!) where wood-fired food and homely hospitality create the perfect pairing for our wines.
About Tim Atkin MW's 2025 South Africa Special Report
Tim Atkin MW is one of the wine world's most respected critics. At 319 pages and more than 110,000 words, his annual South Africa Special Report is one of the most comprehensive overviews of the world's eighth-largest wine producer, and clearly a labour of love.
To compile the 2025 report, Atkin spent five weeks in South Africa across visits in March, June, and July, tasting 2,000 wines from 397 different producers. Every wine in his report is tasted personally, and every interview is conducted in person.
Purchase the full report at timatkin.com/reports
