Post House Penny Black 2021
A distinctive Stellenbosch blend with dark fruit, floral spice, and firm but supple tannins. Bold, layered, and full of personality.
Named after the world's first postage stamp, Penny Black is a tribute to craftsmanship, history, and bold expression - just like the wine itself. Produced by Post House Cellars, a boutique winery tucked between Stellenbosch and Somerset West, this blend reflects the estate’s passion for hands-on winemaking and minimal intervention.
Crafted from a meticulous blend of Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and an unconventional touch of Chenin Blanc, this wine is as inky and layered as its namesake. The cool coastal breezes and granitic soils of Stellenbosch lend both structure and elegance, while the Chenin Blanc adds aromatic lift and silkiness - a signature of Post House’s unique approach.
Expect powerful notes of dark berries, spice, violets, and fynbos, wrapped in a full-bodied frame with polished tannins and a long, savoury finish. With its depth, complexity, and regional authenticity, Penny Black 2021 is a modern Cape blend that speaks to both tradition and innovation.
South Africa
Stellenbosch
Blend
750ml
15%
2021Post House Penny Black 2021 comes from Stellenbosch and stands out immediately because of its unusual Cape blend. Built around Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, with smaller amounts of Petit Verdot and even a touch of Chenin Blanc in the mix, it is very much a South African wine rather than an attempt to mimic a classic European template.
That blend gives the wine both colour and character. Shiraz brings spice and aromatic lift, Cabernet Sauvignon brings backbone, Merlot adds breadth, Petit Verdot deepens the structure, and the small Chenin Blanc component — while unusual on paper — is part of the wine’s established identity and contributes to its distinctiveness rather than reading as a gimmick. In 2021, the wine shows ripe fruit, but also enough structure and freshness to stay controlled.
Penny Black is one of those reds that appeals to drinkers who enjoy blends with personality: not anonymous, not standard-issue, and not solely fruit-driven. It has a confidently South African feel, with dark fruit, fynbos-like herbal detail, white pepper spice, and a long, layered finish.
A dry, full-bodied red with a generous, smooth entry and firmer structure on the back half of the palate. It feels richer and more expansive than classic Bordeaux, but it still has enough tannin and freshness to avoid becoming broad or soft.
The wine sits in a particularly appealing space between plushness and grip. In simple terms: a bold, modern Cape red blend — ripe and layered, but with enough structure to keep it serious and food-worthy.
- Appearance: Deep inky ruby.
- Nose: Blackcurrant, floral petals, white pepper, fynbos, and dark spice.
- Palate: Ripe dark fruit with savoury herbs, cocoa, and structured spice.
- Texture: Full-bodied with firm but supple tannins.
- Finish: Long, layered, and lingering.
- Overall Impression: A distinctive, characterful Stellenbosch blend that offers real depth, individuality, and a strong sense of place.
- Grilled Steak – The wine has the body and tannin to handle proper beef.
- Barbecue Dishes – Its spice and dark fruit suit smoky, charred flavours.
- Lamb Chops – A good match for the wine’s mix of richness and peppery lift.
- Spiced Sausages – Pepper and herb notes in the wine pair naturally with spiced meats.
- Hard Cheeses – Mature cheeses help tame the structure and draw out the fruit.
- Serve at 16–18°C to show the full aromatic range and keep the tannins in balance.
- Decant for 30–45 minutes before serving.
- Use a large red wine glass to let the spice and floral notes open fully.
- Best enjoyed now and over the next 5–7 years while fruit and structure remain in strong balance.
5 The Market Place
Derrylin
Enniskillen BT92 9AN
United Kingdom
