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Taste the wines of South Africa with their makers

South Africa is a region where interest climbs higher each year, and so we welcome new producers to the range all the time. We’re delighted to welcome many of these talented winemakers to London to share their wines (and their stories) in this tasting of many of the wines we feature. Some of the most established producers will make the trip, alongside rising stars, to provide a taste of the classics and the less familiar wines and styles here. The exceptional quality of the wines will be matched by the charm and wit of their creators - it is one of the most fun tastings, for both those new to these wines and those familiar.

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To save you the trouble of printing out a ticket, we’ll have a guestlist at the door.

If you purchase more than one ticket, please share the name(s) of your guest(s) with [email protected] so that we know to expect them.

If you can no longer make it, you’re welcome to find a guest to attend in your place - simply share the name of the new attendee with us. If you fail to do so, we’ll do our very best to credit your ticket towards the purchase of future wines, although regrettably, we cannot process credits with less than 48 hours’ notice prior to the start of the event.

Catena and the Rothschilds continue to show what can be achieved in Mendoza. The 2015 Caro is superb: blackberries and plums, with notes of fresh herbs and smoke. It’s beautifully balanced, with ripe tannins and a freshness that gives a touch of salinity. Already impressive, and there’s clearly a long life ahead of this.

The 2016 Caro has notes of wild violets, fresh herbs, and crunchy blackcurrents, alondside a remarkable sense of poise and energy. The finish is long and mineral. It's no surprise that this wine is so highly prized every year.

The 2009 Musar is a blend of approximately one third each of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, and Carignan. A spicy, complex nose with wild berries and dark chocolate leads onto a palate with lovely weight and texture. The finish is long and perfumed, with a hint of smokiness. Musar release their wines when they consider them ready, and this is undoubtedly delicious. But you needn’t be in a rush: this will certainly last well.

Attractive white blossom, white peach and citrus atoms with subtle hints of ginger spice. The palate is linear with a salty and chalky profile that is refreshing and delivers a pristine quality that is reminiscent of great examples of Chablis. There is a restrained concentration and wonderful grapefruit pith phenolic on the finish.

“Good deep ruby. Brilliantly pure aromas of black raspberry, licorice and flowers, with sexy oak tones. Plush, seamless and sweet, offering terrific floral lift to its berry and dark chocolate flavors; shows an uncanny combination of richness and verve. This Malbec has the glossy texture and velvety tannins of a great Pomerol. The slowly rising, extremely long finish saturates the palate with lush fruit.”
96 points, Stephen Tanzer, VinousMedia.com

Undoubtedly one of the finest Pinots ever to be produced in Chile, the cool conditions in 2021 have left Las Pizarras fresh and pure with wild strawberry and red cherry fruit. There’s lots of mineral, chalky complexity here around the juicy core of fruit.

"Incredible aromas of spice, cedar, walnut and dark berry. Floral too. Spectacular nose. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a racy and refined finish. Fresh and succulent. Made from old vines of mablec in Compuertas and cabernet sauvignon from Altamira. Such finesse. Half the normal production. The best wine ever from the Domaine Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and Nicolas Catena winery." 98 points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

"The 2011 Malbec Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard is Malbec from the eponymous vineyard in Gualtallary close to 1,500 meters altitude fermented together with some Viognier exclusively from the plots where the soil is rich in calcium carbonate. The vineyard is planted at high density, 12,000 plants per hectare. If all the vintages of Adrianna are to dream about, this could be the most balanced, harmonious, elegant and mineral of them all. The sense of place here is tremendous, it transfers you to the Gualtallary vineyards at the foot of the Andes with its stony, chalky soils. There is a sense of harmony and subtlety like you rarely see. The wine dances on the tongue and seems light on its feet, yet has a hidden power and concentration that is noticeable on the finish. The flavors stay forever on the finish and the lips are salty. Otherworldy. Words do not do justice to this beauty. It goes far beyond the variety, I didn't think about Malbec, I thought about the place and forgot about the grapes. The flavors linger in your mouth forever. I'd love to encounter this wine again in ten years time." 98 Points, Luis Guttierez, The Wine Advocate

A juicy, textured, joyful red, with silky tannins and loads of purity. Notes of dark cherry and blackcurrant swirl from the glass, with plenty of floral notes and mint, too.

"Incredible purity of malbec and clarity. So much wild flower and stones. Full body, firm and silky tannins and an incredible depth and precision. Tangy acidity. Yet ethereal and dream-making. La Tache of Argentina. A definition for malbec. 3,000 bottles made. Try in 2018 and onwards." 100 points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

On the nose notes of dark cherry and blackcurrant, while the palate has spice and silky tannins, and a finely judged thread of acidity. This is a beautifully restrained Cabernet Sauvignon, from a talented team.

“Bright, deep ruby. Classic Malbec aromas and flavors of blackberry, bitter chocolate, licorice and violet display an almost liqueur-like sweetness. Wonderfully rich and fine-grained; at once thick and bright, showing a sexy sweetness that verges on exotic. Finishes sappy, glossy and powerful, with noble tannins melting into the wine's chocolatey fruit.”
94+ points, Stephen Tanzer, VinousMedia.com

From 120 year old Pais vines, made by a legendary vineyard mapper and soil scientist, who’s worked as a consultant at some of the world’s greatest estates. It’s a peppery, floral, fragrant red, with charming acidity and a long and pure-fruited finish. Absolutely delicious: a brilliant alternative to Gamay, or to lighter cool-climate Syrah.

The 2017 Caro is a really impressive, structured wine. Dark and intense, with lots of grippy tannins and a very fine finish, this will be brilliant in a few years. The best yet?

This comes from Assyrtiko vines with an average age of 180 years old, and is an impossibly delicious white from Matthew Argyros. Notes of sea spray, fennel and candied lemon on the nose, while the palate is so textured, and so saline. Incredibly long and focussed, this is a real delight. Not to be missed.

The top wine from Casa Lapostolle, this Clos Apalta is full of concentrated blackberry, black plum fruit, with light woody herbs and floral notes. It's rich and full bodied, with bags of potential to age, and at this early stage has lots of densely packed, ripe tannins. Focussed, polished and seriously impressive.

Beautifully, darkly aromatic on the nose, with the peppery savouriness of the Malbec really coming through. Long and refined on the palate, with filigree tannins and all the elegance of high-altitude Cabernet.

Very primary at the moment on the nose, with dark fruits, violet notes, and a sprinkling of well-integrated sweet fruit. In the mouth the power builds, but the thread of freshness ensures a weightless quality. With excellent acidity, fine-grained tannins, and intensity of flavour, the 2013 Caro has all the characteristics required for a long life ahead.

“The 2012 Malbec Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard feels fresher and more harmonious than the 2011, when in reality the vintage character is the opposite. It is sourced from the vineyard that names the wine and that is located in Altamira. The Malbec grapes fermented in open barrels and cement vats with 15% whole-cluster Cabernet Franc. There is one extra level of precision and harmony here. It has an elegant nose and the palate almost reflects the tension in the skin of the grapes with its a velvety texture and great acidity. This is really tasty and long, it could be the best Nicasia ever produced. 8,000 bottles produced.”
95 points, Luiz Guttierez, The Wine Advocate

From vineyards at 4,400 ft in the Gualtallary sub-region. This is intensely purple with soft, ripe plum, red cherry and blueberry fruit flavours. There's lavender and woody herb notes creating complexity alongisde the subtle vanilla and cedar flavours from 20 months in partially new French oak. There's structure here with abundant, fine tannins. There's high altitude, breath taking freshness and masses of concentration.

Floral and delicate on the nose, with beautiful aromatics of cherry and plum and violets. The palate is structured and very fine, with plenty of energy and texture, and a focussed, saline finish. This is wonderfully balanced and elegant.