The Producer
We can’t tell you which cellar on the slopes of Simonsberg-Stellenbosch this Simonsberg red blend case comes from — that’s the deal at the heart of XCellar Black, Vinty’s premium unlabelled tier. What we can tell you: it’s sourced through WineTrader’s insider network from an estate with real pedigree, released without the label and without the No Label Tax that comes with one. XCellar Black is the dark side of the cellar — the wines we get most excited about, offered at insider pricing because the name stays off the bottle.
Vintage & Terroir
2024 was a season of contrasts across the Cape winelands: a cold, wet winter and a flooded spring gave way to a warm, dry summer and a clean, disease-free harvest. Simonsberg’s red varieties benefited from the long, even ripening window, and it was a strong year for structure across the board — deep colour, ripe tannin, full body. This blend draws on old, low-yielding vineyard parcels on the slopes of Simonsberg, sites that reward a dry summer with concentration rather than stress.
In the Cellar
The grapes were picked at full ripeness to carry that character through to the glass. Fermentation opened with an extended cold soak for deeper, more nuanced extraction, then continued with a hands-on regime of pump-overs and punch-downs — with the Bordeaux-style components given extra time on skins to build structure. The wine matured for around eighteen months in French oak, developing its layered character, before a gentle filtration that protects texture rather than stripping it. The result is fine, silky tannin with real power underneath — a wine that speaks to a serious site and a patient hand in the cellar.
Tasting Notes
Dark berry fruit, black cherry and plum lead, layered with spice, a subtle herbaceous lift and smooth, structured tannins. Full-flavoured and well-balanced, with real depth and an elegant, lingering finish.
Food Pairing
Built for the table: pour it with grilled meats, rich pasta dishes, roast lamb or a well-aged cheese board. Order your case and keep the Tribe fed.
