DOOLHOF XCLUSIV MAKES HISTORY AND IS TIM ATKIN’S ROSÉ OF THE YEAR
Doolhof Wine Estate’s 2025 XCLUSIV rosé has made history, earning the prestigious title of Overall Rosé of the Year in Tim Atkin MW’s influential South Africa Report. The wine achieved a remarkable 94 points, the highest score ever awarded to a South African still rosé, a feat achieved by very few wines in the past.
“Our XCLUSIV rosé was conceived to showcase the exceptional soils and cool-climate terroir that characterise its Limietberg origins and give the wines purity, freshness and elegance. This rating from such an esteemed, independent and well-travelled wine expert goes a long way to underscoring this vision.”
says winemaker Rüdger van Wyk
Atkin assessed over 2,000 wines from more than 400 producers to produce his 13th South Africa Report, widely regarded as one of the world’s most anticipated analyses of globally influential wine regions. The release of this year’s report coincides with the Cape Wine trade show, South Africa’s premier wine industry event.
The first vintage of XCLUSIV was released in September 2024, marking Rüdger van Wyk’s debut at Doolhof.
“We are establishing Doolhof as one of the Cape’s top wine destinations. Rüdger’s appointment brings us a step closer while amplifying the story of the incredible terroir behind our wines.”
Owner Philip Richards commented:
Doolhof lies in a steep-sided valley at the foot of the Limietberg Mountains, benefiting from unique soil diversity, microclimates, and extended grape-hanging times that produce balanced, complex wines. The Limietberg enjoys exclusive Wine of Origin status, with Doolhof as its sole producer.
The 2025 XCLUSIV rosé is a blend of 51% Grenache and 49% Syrah, hand-harvested during cool mornings. Whole-bunch pressing gives the wine its pale salmon hue, while cold stainless-steel fermentation preserves freshness and purity. Three months of lees aging enrich the texture and palate weight.
The wine displays delicate aromas of candyfloss, rose petals, and grapefruit, while the palate reveals chalky minerality, white chocolate, and hints of Turkish delight. Vibrant yet balanced, it finishes long and intricate.
Doolhof complements this elegance with luxury packaging, featuring a pink glass Vinolok closure, positioning XCLUSIV among the world’s finest rosés. The wine is available from select retailers and directly from the estate at R275 per bottle.
Visitors can enjoy tastings at Doolhof, stay at the five-star Doolhof Country House, glamp with Africamps, and dine at the estate restaurant. Doolhof is open Monday to Friday (08:30–16:00), Saturday (10:00–16:00), and Sunday (10:00–15:00).
Follow @Doolhofwines on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or contact the estate at wine@doolhof.com or +27 (0)21 864 2805.
