Duncan is always a busy man, working in the vineyards – both in those he has established already and the small handful of ones he’s recently planted from scratch – making the wines, managing his team and travelling the world to promote his wines.

Cape Winemakers Guild Protegé Programme:

He is also part of the Cape Winemakers Guild Protegé Programme that aims to bring on young talent from diverse backgrounds, many of them black women, to better represent the whole of South African society. Protegés have to prove their skill, ambition and tenacity to get onto the programme. Then they spend three years of learning and mentorship under three Guild member winemakers. There is also now a very similar programme for those going into viticulture. It provides great opportunities to students who might never have had the means to get into the wine industry otherwise.

As Duncan reported:

“We have had a fantastic young protégé working with us this year by the name of Shanice du Preez. She is a 3rd year protégée finishing up shortly to pursue her career in this wonderful industry. My previous assistant winemaker, Kiara Scott, is now the winemaker at Brookdale Estate in Paarl, and Shanice will be joining her as assistant winemaker in October. Two very talented young ladies at the helm of a fantastic property!”

Shanice is the second Protegée that Duncan has had the pleasure of mentoring – Duncan talked very highly of the programme, seeing it as key for the future success of the South African wine industry.

Give new grapes a chance!

One of Duncan’s current projects is trialling new grape varieties, with an eye to the world’s changing climate. His latest additions are Petit Manseng – the prized grape of the Jurançon appellation in southwest France – and Grenache Blanc, the main white grape of the southern Rhône and the France’s deep-south Roussillon, which is showing its prowess in the heat. He is also testing out plots of Santorini’s Assyrtiko grape, Roussanne, Grillo and Sauvignon Gris. Early days but there should be some interesting results.

2023 vintage

Duncan described 2023 as one of the cooler vintages, certainly with its challenges. There had been a warm, dry winter, early budburst, then a cool, wet summer arrived which wasn’t all together welcomed. However, the quality at harvest was good, particularly for the earlier-ripening varieties, which were brought into the cellar before the late-harvest rains during March. Then it poured. In some areas there was flooding too.

In essence, grapes harvested before the rains were very good and that included Syrah. It was more challenging for those growing grapes like Cabernet and Pinotage, which mature a little later.

This is how Duncan summed up his 2023 wines:

“the wines are looking superb, what a cracking vintage. Real elegance and purity from this cooler year.”

Its wines are already lovely and open, textured too, so you shouldn’t have to wait long before you enjoy your new delivery of the Hommage à B.

Hommage à B 2023 is pure Syrah, all taken from Boetie’s own vineyard – a site buffeted by Atlantic winds to lend this terrific red its deliciously fresh edge. The wine sees no new oak but is aged in a combination of seasoned 225-litre barriques, larger format foudres and concrete eggs, so “we can show off the spice, purity and fruit character of Syrah”.

Here is Duncan’s most recent tasting note for the wine:

Deep purple-ruby, with aromas of creamy blackberry, plum and a lift of rosemary and violets, with a touch of liquorice. The wine has an appealing silky texture, ripe black fruits, herbal notes and an appetising freshness, lending it elegance and balance.

The 2023 will be ready to be enjoyed this autumn and winter, but it’s best to open the bottle early and decant to let the wine open out. It’ll continue to develop for a few years yet, so there’s definitely no hurry. We recommend drinking up your bottles by 2031.

Why not enjoy a bottle of Hommage à B with slow-cooked lamb shanks, roasted red meats or squash and black bean casserole with smoky chipotle? They would all work a treat.