Reviews

Leopard Frog has a reputation for delivering unique lifestyle experiences. Our commitment to craftsmanship and quality in every facet of our winemaking tradition has been rewarded with accolades in numerous competitions and reviews.

SOUTH AFRICAN WINERY OF THE YEAR
New York International Wine Competition

BEST SOUTH AFRICAN PRODUCER
Berlin Wine Trophy

BEST WINE LABEL RANGE IN SOUTH AFRICA
UPM Raflatac Wine and Spirit Labels of Excellence Awards

Select awards and reviews for each wine are summarized in the following sections:

KISS & TELL

Gold Medal, 92 points
World Wine Championships

Gold Medal, 91 points
Florida International Wine Challenge

Gold Medal, 91 points
Sommelier Challenge International Wine Competition

Gold Medal
Gilbert & Gaillard International Competition

Gold Medal
Vitis Vinifera Awards

An Absolutely Stunning Blend
Black liquorice, black berry and toasty notes emanate from the glass of this ethereal red. The palate is drenched with savoury and warm (14.3% alcohol) fruit-forward flavours including bramble berry and Bing cherry. There is deft balance from finely grained tannins and moderating acidity. You will luxuriate in the lengthy finish.
– Vic Harradine, winecurrent.com

An Intriguing Blend
A kind of marriage of Bordeaux and the Rhône, very polished with lots of flavour, great balance and character.
– Tony Aspler, The Wine Guy, A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 78

Brilliant
A brilliant garnet red colour, with exuberant aromas of blackberries, currants, plums and peppers. In the mouth the velvety texture opens up to harmonious layers of flavours, and finishes with an excellent and long aftertaste.
– Hrayr Berberoglu, Archivum

Very Stylish
Very stylish with sweet raspberry, blackcurrant and spice notes on the nose. On the palate this Shiraz blend really comes through with persistent fruit flavours, a silky texture and a long clean finish. Very elegant with a great deal of finesse and a long future ahead.
– Larry Arnold, Eat Magazine

Foxy, Chocolate Tones
Deeply-coloured with clear bricking.  Extremely open nose with mineral, foxy notes.  The palate displays incredible mellowness and more of the same tertiary aromas.  The finish retains chocolatey, empyreumatic tones.
– Gilbert & Gaillard

TANTRA

Gold Medal, 93 points
World Wine Championships

Gold Medal, 90 points
Gilbert & Gaillard International Competition

Gold Medal, 90 points
Cape Wine Blend Report, Wine Magazine

Gold Medal
Berlin Wine Trophy

Gold Medal
Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition

Gold Medal
Vitis Vinifera Awards

91 Points
WineScores.ca

5 Stars
Readers rated this wine 5 stars out of 5 stars. This very limited release, Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot is an impressive wine with plenty of chocolate and espresso, blueberry, cherry and plummy aromas, smoke, grilled herbs, tobacco and tar with liquorice hints. The palate is supple with sweet fruit, carob and dark roasted coffee flavours, it is juicy, well-balanced and satisfying with sweet, chewy tannins. Very good!
– Wine Diva (Daenna Van Mulligen)

Impressive Blend
An impressive blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot from 15- to 35-year old vines. Enjoy rich, concentrated dark fruit flavours with broad and deep complexity, a luxurious texture, and a long complex finish.
– R. Parker, winecurrent.com

Editor’s Choice
It’s a Cab Franc, Cab Sauv and Petit Verdot blend. Heaps of plums, sour cherry and fruitcake over earthy, dark flavours. Delicious but serious too. Name’s great – delay the gratification because the wine can go the distance too . . .
– Fiona McDonald, Wine Magazine

Excellent Wine of Distinction
Recommended for special occasions and cellaring. Whiffs of coffee and sour cherry. Full-bodied palate with dark fruitcake and spice. Excellent balance. Firm tannin. Loads of potential.
– D. Hughes, C. Firth, J. Pieterson, G. Mocke and F. McDonald, Wine Magazine

Raises the Bar for All South African Wines
I’ve touted this winery before and I’ll do it again. None better than the 2004 Tantra. Made of Franc (44%), Sauv (32%) and Petit Verdot (24%) this wine shows what can be done in South Africa when care is taken to make a great wine. If you get a chance to try it I recommend it highly – it’ll raise the bar by which all South African wines are measured.
– Michael Pinkus, Good South Africa Means Big Bucks –The Grape Guy

Mother of All SA Wine Shows
My favourite is the Leopard Frog Tantra Limited Release 2004. A bottle of this should go to pop-star and tantric-sex advocate Sting. After all, if you like to make love for 16 hours without an orgasm, a limited release is right up your street.
– Neil Pendock, Sunday Times

Elegant, Full Palate
Deeply-coloured with bricking.  Fairly elegant nose opening up to tertiary aromas of spice, tobacco and cigar box after swirling.  The palate stays very full, sappy and balanced with a lovely, fruity, spicy finish.
– Gilbert & Gaillard

TRIBE

Platinum Medal, 95 points
South African Wine Index

Gold Medal, 92 points
World Wine Championships

Gold Medal, 91 points
AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge

Gold Medal
Gilbert & Gaillard International Competition

Gold Medal
Berlin Wine Trophy

Gold Medal
Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition

Gold Medal
Vitis Vinifera Awards

91 Points
WineScores.ca

Solid, Somewhat Unusual Blend
Tobacco leaf, peppery, black olive, smoky, rootsy, roasted pepper nose with some saddle leather and blackberry underneath. Dry, round, supple palate with balanced acidity. Peppery, resin, licorice, plum, cedar, tobacco and gamey flavours with a vanilla, orange peel and mocha finish. Solid, somewhat unusual blend.
– Wine Diva (Daenna Van Mulligen)

Dark Chocolate and Cacao
Deep-hued with bricking.  Nose of ripe fig backed by suggestions of dark chocolate and cacao.  The palate is still nice and lively, offering up very focused aromas.  Lovely precision and freshness on the finish.
– Gilbert & Gaillard

TAO

Gold Medal, 91 points
World Wine Championships

Gold Medal
Berlin Wine Trophy

Gold Medal
Gilbert & Gaillard International

Gold Medal
Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition

Gold Medal
Critics Challenge International Wine Competition

Gold Medal
Vitis Vinifera Awards

Jammy Fruits and Cacao
Fairly deep colour with bricking.  Extremely mature nose marrying jammy fruits and a cacao tone.  The palate delivers more of the same aromatics with very pleasant balance.  The finish is faintly lean though this does not obscure enjoyment.
– Gilbert & Gaillard

TENDRÉ

Gold Medal, 93 points
World Wine Championships

Gold Medal
Gilbert & Gaillard International Competition

Gold Medal
International Wine Awards

Delicious, Jammy Nose
Deep, mature colour with bricking.  Deliciously ripe nose accented by jammy fruits and undergrowth.  The palate is mellow and delivers the same extremely mature aromas.  The finish displays a measure of firmness.
– Gilbert & Gaillard

SPELLBINDING

Double Gold Medal
Michelangelo International Wine Awards

Gold Medal, 91 points
AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge

Gold Medal
Berlin Wine Trophy

Gold Medal
Vitis Vinifera Awards

Big and Flavorful
This limited release is big and flavorful upfront, with assertive aromas of sweet spice, clementine, tropical fruit and blanched almonds. A fleshy pear flavor leads the round, mouth-filling palate, followed by a lengthy finish laced with notes of hazelnut toast and sweet spice.
– Wine Enthusiast Magazine

SINGULARITY

Trophy (Best in Class)
Vitis Vinifera Awards

Gold Medal, 91 points
AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge

Gold Medal, 90 points
World Wine Championships

Gold Medal
International Wine Guide Awards

SOLSTICE

Gold Medal, 90 points
World Wine Championships

Gold Medal
Berlin Wine Trophy

Gold Medal
Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition

Gold Medal
Vitis Vinifera Awards

SOUTHERN SIRENS

Gold Medal
Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition

Gold Medal
Gilbert & Gaillard International Competition

Gold Medal
Berlin Wine Trophy

Sommeliers Selection
Sommeliers Selection Wine List

Beautiful, Brilliant & Very Compelling
Beautiful, brilliant yellow-gold. Notes of fresh oak and vanilla with a very compelling tropical fruit tone are exuded on the nose.
– Gilbert & Gaillard

SONANCE

Grand Gold Medal, 93 points
South African Wine Index

Gold Medal
Berlin Wine Trophy

Gold Medal
International Wine Guide Awards

Gold Medal
South African Women’s Wine Awards

Gold Medal
Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition

Gold Medal
Vitis Vinifera Awards

Gold Medal
Asia Wine Trophy

INGÉNUE

Gold Medal
Vitis Vinifera Awards

Gold Medal
Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition

A Great Rosé
Aged in medium toasted French oak for nine months this Cabernet rosé is smooth on the attack with a great crisp finish. The mid palate has hints of blackberries and light cherries. This wine is perfect for any occasion. I’d personally drink it with cool summer salads outside on picnics, but this rosé can hold its own with calzones and heavier dishes too.
– The Lions Den

TRYST

Double Gold Medal
International Women’s Wine Competition

Double Gold Medal
Vitis Vinifera Awards

Gold Medal, 90 points
World Wine Championships

Gold Medal
Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition

Gold Medal
Berlin Wine Trophy

TITILLATION

Double Gold Medal
Vitis Vinifera Awards

Gold Medal, 90 points
World Wine Championships

Gold Medal
International Women’s Wine Competition

Gold Medal
Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition

Gold Medal
South African Women’s Wine Awards

TANTRUM

Gold Medal
South African Women’s Wine Awards

MIDNIGHT MAASAI

Double Gold Medal
Michelangelo International Wine Awards

Gold Medal, 93 points
AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge

Gold Medal
Vitis Vinifera Awards

Gold Medal
Florida International Wine Challenge

92 points
WineScores.ca

Impressive
Readers rated this wine 5 stars out of 5 stars. This “once-off” Proprietor’s Private Release Shiraz has some built in cellar ageing done for you. It spent an amazing 60 months in new Nevers French oak and only 5 barrels were made. The aromas are alluring – gobs of sweet berries, cocoa, forest fruit and crushed, dried herbs with savoury pepper and spice rub undertones. Supple and succulent on the palate, plenty of nice acidity still and lovely balance. It is laden with black fruits, char, roasted coffee and dark chocolate flavours with pepper lingering on an extended finish. Impressive!
– Wine Diva (Daenna Van Mulligen)

Blew Me Away
The Leopard Frog 2002 Midnight Maasai Shiraz just blew me away. Made from 325 year old vines hand-picked in the Stellenbosch region, the wine is aged for 60 months – that’s right, 5 years – in medium and toast Nevers oak. Only five barrels were made and if you can find a bottle at a private wine store, [expect] an absolutely amazing taste.
– Anya Levykh, Food Girl Friday

APHRODITE AFRICA

Double Gold Medal
Vitis Vinifera Awards

Gold Medal
Challenge International du Vin

Gold Medal
Berlin Wine Trophy

DIVA

Gold Medal
Gilbert & Gaillard International Competition

Gold Medal
International Wine Guide Awards

Gold Medal
South African Women’s Wine Awards

Gold Medal
Vitis Vinifera Awards

Gold Medal
Asia Wine Trophy

Beautiful, Ripe Cherries,
Beautiful medium deep hue with ruby-brick tints.  Open nose of ultra ripe cherries.  The palate seems slender but is actually taut.  Freshness enhances the extremely ripe fruit aromas.  A wine that takes you by surprise.
– Gilbert & Gaillard

SHARPEVILLE

Gold Medal, 93 points
World Wine Championships

Gold Medal, 91 points
Gilbert & Gaillard International Competition

Gold Medal
Berlin Wine Trophy

Gold Medal
International Wine Guide Awards

Gold Medal
Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition

Gold Medal
Asia Wine Trophy

Beautiful Harmony
Deep, slightly mature colour with bricking.  The nose is crisp with suggestions of ripe stone fruits.  The palate offers up beautiful harmony, it is tense yet robust and aromatic.  Fruit flows into spice on the finish.  A charming wine.
– Gilbert & Gaillard