95-Points by Decanter.
Widely regarded as South Africa’s first négociant, Neil Ellis released his debut vintage in 1984. These days the winery still sources its grapes from growers across the Cape; son Warren Ellis is the winemaker. A single southwest-facing vineyard in the Jonkershoek provided the fruit for this wine, from vines rooted in decomposed granite and Table Mountain sandstone. The wine saw 18 months’ maturation in 100% new French oak. The cellar is located at the foot of the Helshoogte Pass. Malu Lambert: Creamy oak and black cherry opulence. Deep, satisfying aromas, sketched in with graphite, flint and a hint of savouriness. Palate likewise. Deep and layered. Andy Howard MW: Very attractive. Dark cherry fruit and good use of oak. Lovely spice notes and some leafiness. The finish is slightly dry, but this should improve with time in bottle. Roger Jones: Silky. Fresh blueberries. Bright and clean, with refreshing bursts of blue fruits. Well balanced. I love the freshness and sense of ease, which allows the fruit to sing.
 
Neil Ellis is a South African wine industry icon and one of the early pioneers to bring quality levels up to world class standards. The winery sits 5 miles east of the town of Stellenbosch in the Jonkershoek Valley. It was founded in 1993 with the philosophy to source grapes from the top growers of the region. The eco-friendly winery produces wines from the regions of Stellenbosch, Darling, Darbanville and Elgin.
South Africa’s most famous wine-producing district, Stellenbosch, surrounds the historic town with the same name; fine winemaking here dates back to the late 1600s. Its valleys of granite, sandstone and alluvial loam soils between the towering blue-grey mountains of Stellenbosch, Simonsberg and Helderberg have the capacity to produce beautiful wines from many varieties. The climate is warm Mediterranean, tempered by the cool Atlantic air of nearby False Bay.
Perhaps most well-known for its Pinotage and Bordeaux blends, Stellenbosch also produces noteworthy wines from Syrah, Chenin blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. The district’s wards—Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch—all produce distinctive wines from vines with relatively low yields.