Neil Ellis Groenekloof Sauvignon Blanc 2006 – 88 Points
“Pungent aromas of gooseberry, lemon, pineapple, peach, licorice and mint. Juicy, pure and penetrating, with a lively minty intensity. A bit lean and steely but not hard. And firm and persistent on the finish. Bottled with a screw cap.”

Neil Ellis Vineyard Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2004 – 90 Points
“(Fermented in oak) Pale, slightly hazy yellow. Highly complex, vibrant nose combines lemon, lime, orange peel, minerals, mint and licorice. Deep, ripe and enticing on the palate, with a captivating element of green tropical fruits (kiwi, green papaya) accented by spices. Round in the middle, then firm and long on the back. This wine was not made in 2005, as this block of vines, planted on granite-rich soil, could not be harvested on its own.”

Neil Ellis Elgin Chardonnay 2005 – 89 Points
“(Made entirely in new 500-liter barrels) Pale green- tinged color. Soil- inflicted aromas of wet stone, flint and minerals, with a touch of smoky oak. Ripe but not particularly fruity, showing a racy lime quality that lifts the stony and leesy flavors. Densely packed and a bit youthfully tough; I’d give this another year in the bottle. Finishes with notes of pineapple and stone. Sixty percent of the wine finished its malolactic fermentation.”

Neil Ellis Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2005 - 89 Points
“Bright yellow. Musky aromas of lime and smoky oak. Juicy and firm- edged, with good grip and a bite of acidity to the intense citrus flavors. This intensely flavored chardonnay needs a year to knit. Finishes with very good cut and persistence. (In comparison, the 2004 version was a bit suppler and broader, showing leesy nuances and cotton candy on the nose and riper flavors of pineapple and green tropical fruits. I rated this one 88 points.)”

Neil Ellis Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 - 89 Points
“Medium red. Perfumed, nuanced nose of cherry rose petal, musky coffee, graphite and earth. Supple, sweet and silky, with lovely density framed by harmonious acidity. This has richness and dimension but remains light on its feet. From the vineyard in front of the winery in the Jonkershoek Valley, which assistant winemaker Avram De Klerk told me doesn’t get a lot of sun.”

Neil Ellis Vineyard Selection Jonkershoek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 - 97 Points
“Bright ruby- red. Sappy aromas of currant, minerals and licorice. Densely packed, vibrant and fine- grained but quite youthfully backward. Brisk acidity gives this pure, classic cabernet a penetrating character. Finishes with broad, fine tannins and a distinct spice character. Wonderfully balanced, structured cabernet, but give this plenty of air if you plan to open it anytime soon. Ten percent of Shiraz from 2005 vintage was blended in after the wine had spent 18 months in oak.”

Neil Ellis Stellenbosch Shiraz 2003 - 89 Points
“Bright, deep red. Perfumed aromas of candied raspberry, flowers and cinnamon. Sweet and accessible but with lovely cut from harmonious acidity. A supple, rather polite midweight with very good intensity and a firmly tannic, gripping finish. This struck me as a bit cabernet- like in its combination of ripeness and dryness.”

Neil Ellis Vineyard Selection Groenekloof Shiraz 2004 - 88 Points
“(The winery’s first Vineyard Selection Shiraz from this area.) Bright ruby-red. Somewhat reduced aromas of meaty dark fruits, leather, tobacco, mocha and fresh blood. Supple, broad and round but quite dry and backward, with flavors of peppery red berries and cherry. With its combination of 100 percent new oak and slightly peppery tannins, this comes across as drier than the ’03 Stellenbosch Shiraz. Finishes long, but this bottle needs time.”