October 1st - October 5th, 2025 | | |
THIS WEEK'S TASTING FLIGHT:
Journey Across the Western Cape
| | Four stand-out wines from my recent journey across the Western Cape of South Africa! | | |
This week’s flight takes you on a Journey Across the Western Cape, showcasing four remarkable wines that highlight the diversity, energy, and world-class quality of South Africa’s wine scene. From elegant sparkling wine in Franschhoek to bold, expressive reds in the Swartland, this lineup offers a vivid snapshot of the country’s most dynamic regions.
The inspiration for this flight comes from my recent trip through South Africa’s wine country, where we spent a week exploring celebrated appellations firsthand. Stellenbosch, the country’s historic wine hub, is known for estates that blend tradition with modern precision. Franschhoek, with its French Huguenot roots, excels in refined sparkling wines and polished whites. And Swartland, home to many of the country’s most adventurous winemakers, champions heritage varieties and Mediterranean grapes with a bold, innovative flair.
This week's $24 flight features four of the wines that impressed us the most during this trip. We'll begins with Chamonix ‘Cap Classique’ Blanc de Blancs, an elegant, Champagne-method sparkling Chardonnay from Franschhoek. From Stellenbosch, Journey’s End ‘Destination Reserve’ Chardonnay brings richness and poise, reflecting the region’s coastal influence. Then, in Paarl, De Kleine Wijn Koöp ‘Ou Treffer’ Cinsault 2022 showcases the beauty of old bush vines, while Swerwer Wines Touriga Nacional from Swartland closes the lineup with a powerful yet lifted red that speaks to the region’s pioneering spirit.
This curated flight offers the chance to explore four distinct corners of the Western Cape, each glass telling part of the story of South Africa’s evolving wine identity. We will be closed Thursday evening for a private event, so the flight will run from Friday-Sunday this week. Keep reading for more information on our flight wines and a first look at our two October wine dinners.
Cheers!
Mark & the Team
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Wine Dinner | Friday, Oct. 17th
Petrolo Wine Dinner
We are thrilled to be featuring Petrolo Winery for an intimate evening celebrating one of Tuscany’s most acclaimed estates. Nestled in the hills of Val d’Arno di Sopra, Petrolo has become synonymous with precision, elegance, and terroir-driven winemaking, most famously for their iconic Merlot, Galatrona.
This intimate dinner will feature a multi-course menu paired with a curated selection of Petrolo’s wines, while learning firsthand about the estate’s history, philosophy, and role in shaping the modern identity of Tuscan wine.
Save the date! Tickets will be released soon.
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Wine Dinner | Friday, Oct. 24th
Husic Vineyards Wine Dinner
w/ owner, Julie Husic
Join us for an exclusive wine dinner with Husic Vineyards, featuring special guest Julie Husic, co-owner and ambassador of the estate. Perched high above Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District, Husic has become renowned for producing limited, meticulously crafted wines that reflect the power and elegance of their dramatic hillside vineyards.
Over a multi-course dinner, guests will enjoy a curated lineup of Husic’s current releases, while Julie shares the Husic family’s story, their commitment to excellence, and the unique character that has made these wines among Napa’s most coveted.
Save the date! Tickets will be released soon.
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Saturday, October 25th @ 3-5 p.m.
October Wine Club Tasting & Pickup Party
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🍷 Taste exciting new selections curated for next month's offering while picking up your Club wine
🍷 Learn about our 2025 Club de Vin membership perks & exclusive events
🍷 Enjoy a complimentary tasting as a Club Member (or join us for just $15 if you're not yet a member).
*Tasting fee is waived when you sign up for a new club membership.
📍 Drop in anytime between 3pm - 5pm for a relaxed and welcoming experience!
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| Are you coming to the October Pickup Party? | | 10/25/25 3:00pm - 10/25/25 5:00pm US/Eastern | | Taste some of the contenders for next month's Club offering and learn more about joining Club du Vin if you're not a member! | | | | |
11:00 - 5:00pm Thursday (CLOSED AFTER 5PM FOR PRIVATE EVENT)
5:00 - 9:00pm Friday
1:00 - 9:00pm Saturday
1:00 - 7:00pm Sunday
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Chamonix 'Cap Classique' Blanc de Blancs 2021
Franschhoek, South Africa
PURCHASE ONLINE HERE
$35 retail
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Founded on land once part of the historic Huguenot settlement, Chamonix has evolved over the past three decades into one of Franschhoek’s benchmark estates, known for marrying Burgundian elegance with South African vitality. Perched high on the slopes of the Franschhoek mountains, the estate benefits from conditions that have made it a leader in crafting refined, terroir-driven sparkling wines.
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay sourced from estate vineyards planted at elevations between 300–400m on decomposed granite soils. Hand-harvested fruit is whole-bunch pressed, with primary fermentation in stainless steel and neutral oak. Secondary fermentation occurs in bottle, followed by 36 months of aging on the lees before disgorgement. No dosage is added, preserving the precision and minerality of the terroir.
Tasting Notes: Delicate aromas of lemon zest, green apple, and crushed chalk unfold into notes of toasted brioche and almond with time in the glass. The palate is racy and finely etched, with vibrant acidity and a long, saline finish.
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Journey's End 'Destination Reserve' Chardonnay 2023
Stellenbosch, South Africa
PURCHASE ONLINE HERE
$39 retail
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Founded in 1995 on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountains, Journey’s End has quickly risen to prominence as one of Stellenbosch’s most forward-thinking estates. The Gabb family has invested deeply in both sustainable viticulture and fine winemaking, earning a reputation for precision-crafted wines that combine New World fruit purity with Old World structure.
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay sourced from select blocks on the estate’s cool, ocean-facing slopes, rooted in decomposed granite and clay soils. Grapes are hand-harvested and whole-bunch pressed. Fermentation takes place in French oak barriques (70% new), with full malolactic conversion and 10 months of maturation on the lees.
Tasting Notes: Aromas of white peach, lemon curd, and toasted hazelnut are layered with subtle flinty minerality. The palate is concentrated yet poised, offering a seamless balance of ripe stone fruit, vibrant acidity, and well-integrated oak, leading to a long, saline finish.
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De Kleine Wijn Koöp 'Ou Treffer' Cinsault 2022
Stellenbosch, South Africa
PURCHASE ONLINE HERE
$30 retail
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Founded in 2015 by winemaker Wynand Grobler, De Kleine Wijn Koöp has become one of the Cape’s most exciting small producers, celebrated for its adventurous spirit and focus on heritage varieties. “Ou Treffer” (Afrikaans for “Old Hit”) is sourced from a remarkable block of old-vine Cinsault in Paarl and pays homage to South Africa’s long history with this variety.
Varietal: Sourced from a dry-farmed bush-vine vineyard planted in 1964 on decomposed granite soils in Paarl. Hand-harvested fruit is partially destemmed and undergoes a spontaneous fermentation with a portion of whole clusters to enhance aromatic lift and structure. The wine is aged for 10 months in seasoned French oak foudres and amphora, preserving freshness and delicacy.
Tasting Notes: Perfumed and expressive, with notes of wild strawberry, red cherry, rose petal, and dried herbs. The palate is silky and medium-bodied, with fine-grained tannins and a vibrant, sapid finish. A beautifully pure and old-vine–inflected expression of Cinsault that balances charm and depth.
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Swerwer Wines Touriga Nacional 2022
Swartland, South Africa
PURCHASE ONLINE HERE
$27 retail
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Swerwer is the personal project of Jasper Wickens, one of the key figures in the new wave of Swartland winemaking. Wickens founded Swerwer in 2012, crafting small lots from carefully selected, sustainably farmed vineyards scattered across the Paardeberg. His approach is hands-off and intuitive, producing wines that are soulful, expressive, and rooted firmly in Swartland’s rugged terroir.
Varietal: Sourced from a single dry-farmed vineyard planted on decomposed granite and shale in the Paardeberg. Grapes are hand-harvested and aged for 10 months in seasoned French oak barrels, allowing the grape’s intense aromatics and firm structure to shine without excessive influence from new wood.
Tasting Notes: Deeply perfumed, with notes of violet, black cherry, and graphite over subtle spice. The palate is structured yet graceful, showing Touriga’s characteristic depth and fine tannins alongside Swartland’s hallmark freshness and lift.
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mark@petitphilippe.com | www.petitphilippe.com
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