Calitzdorp specialist, De Krans makes a range of Port-style wines and this is the youngest of them. The raisin and plum aromas have a light floral or blossom appeal too. The palate boasts ripe fig and syrup flavour said Elvina and Dee while Clifford loved the spiciness with its clove and cinnamon highlights. Soft textured and smooth with a light raisin, blueberry and nutty note.

Gentle rose petal perfume with waxy raisin and spice on the nose. The same spice and prune flavours could be discerned in the mouth, with a lovely dryness and a chalky tannin grip from its time in oak barrels. Somewhat unusual almost saline nuance to the palate. The panel speculated that this latter characteristic might possibly have something to do with the protracted drought the area experienced leading up to the vintage. Still rewardingly rich and tasty. Not too sweet.

One of the most appealing noses of all the wines was the consensus: confectioner’s sugar, sultana, herbs and notes of freshly planed wood. The flavours were rich and delicious with macerated ripe plums, prune, spice and blueberries. Smoothly fine with light warming fiery note and precise length. Finishes dry.

Another Calitzdorp specialist, this was the oldest in the lineup. Deep, dark and densely inky colour. Wilson’s malty toffees, tea leaf and prune. Richly concentrated with a superbly sweet succulence and balanced fortification. Complex, sophisticated and long with a lovely dry tannin grip. As Clifford remarked, the sort of thing you could easily enjoy a second or third glass of!

Exotic spices sprang from the glass with Dee finding Chinese five spice while Shayne discerned cardamom and garam masala! Spice was an obvious component of the richly fruited palate, Christmas pudding with kola tonic and a beautiful citrussy lemon oil note. Complex and refined. Utterly poised and balanced with lovely harmony and length – but that’s to be expected from 2017 which was an excellent vintage overall.

“Lots to talk about here,” said Shayne who found ripe fruit galore. Dried apricot (Elvina), mango strips (Dee), Clifford found dried fruit roll while Fiona noted antique roses. Lovely roasted hazelnuts, prune and fruitcake flavours galore. Big spice and notes of old church pews with a delightful dryness and length. Balanced and long.

“Spicy ginger cake!” said Dee who also found toasted almonds. Elvina noted a citrus or orange zest nuance while Shayne proclaimed Karoo herbs and spice. “Big explosion of flavour in the mouth,” he said. Rich, spicy, maple syrup, sweet dried cherry and spice galore. Balanced, dry, lovely nutty flavour and dry tannin grip. Clifford loved the fact that the brandy spirit could also be picked up on the palate, along with a hit of white pepper at the end.