South Africa: New releases

The story of Retirement @ 65 is now well known: it’s one of our favourite wines from Pieter. It was a Cinsault vineyard which only started to be productive at 65 years of age, thanks to Pieter’s efforts to outsmart the baboons, sheep, and birds that would always come and eat the grapes. An old vineyard Cinsault, from the same farm as Duncan Savage’s Follow the Line, this is so complex and delicious, with an added savouriness and complexity to it. Brilliant in 2021.

This comes from a vineyard in Wellington, planted on a hill overlooking a farm called Twyfeling. Pieter was chatting to his mum, and she mentioned that her ancestors had owned this Wellington farm: it was purely by accident that Pieter was now buying grapes from it, and the neighbouring hillsides. So the label shows the hill overlooking seven generations of the Hauptfleisch family - Pieter’s mum’s maiden name. The resulting wine is textured and very impressive, with lots of leesy complexity, and very saline finish. Delicious.

The Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon blew us away when we tasted it this year. From three vineyards on the Helderberg, and one on the granite of the Polkedraai, this has floral lift and dark cassis, and then just a hint of dried thyme and black olive. It’s a new benchmark for this wine: it’s not to be missed. A match for cru classé Bordeaux, without a doubt.

The 2019 Semillon comes from three sites in Franschhoek, from vines planted in 1902, 1936 and 1942. It’s so complex and fresh, with a hint of orange blossom from 3% Muscat from 1902 planted vines. There’s incredible texture here, and a sea-spray tinged finish that lasts an age. Incredible.

One of South Africa's most legendary wines. This has so much intensity and power, but remains refined and wonderfully balanced. Notes of mulberry and ripe plum, and also graphite and leather. This is so long, stony, and refined. It will make old bones.

A small parcel of this, the single vineyard Chenin Blanc from the outstanding 2017 vintage, has been made available to us. It was planted in 1971, and this is in such a lovely place right now. Textured, lifted, and incredibly fine-boned, this is a stunning Chenin Blanc.

From a North-East facing vineyard, this is all about intense fruit and spice. There’s a floral element here that wouldn’t look out of place in the best Côte-Rôties, and there’s also remarkable fruit purity. This is so long and fine boned. Brilliant.

Much more savoury and structured than the steepside, this is much more Cornas to Steepside’s Côte-Rôtie. The palate has notes of lavender and other herbs, and there’s also loads of bloody notes. From a vineyard that sees no morning sun, it’s no surprise that it’s so savoury and complex. This will age spectacularly.

The second wine of Anwilka. This is nicely juicy, with real energy and there’s good grip on the palate. An excellent value wine from the team behind Anwilka.

The 2020 Phoenix Chenin Blanc comes from a single old vine, organically-farmed vineyard in Paarl, planted with bush Chenin Blanc vines. 70% was vinified in tank, with 30% in barrel (the barrel component was aged at Radford Dale while Sam’s cellar was rebuilt, and hence the wine isn’t labelled organic - Radford Dale isn’t organic). The wine is brilliant. Focussed and textured, with real vibrant energy and an incredibly long finish, it’s not to be missed. 

This is a real contender for South Africa’s finest Grenache. She calls Grenache “South Africa’s Pinot Noir”, and is always looking to make as elegant and precise an example as possible: this comes in at just 13.5% abv, yet is perfectly ripe. It comes mainly froma farm on the Paardeberg, next to Eben Sadie’s farm, with a drop of Voor Paardeberg and Bot Rivier fruit in 2018, from young vines and carefully selected clones.

2021 is the maiden vintage of Bartàs from exciting young winemakers Pauline Roux and Paul Jourdaan of Paulus Wine Company. Floral, with classic Stellenbosch yellow fruit, the Bartàs is a Chenin brimming with intensity and texture. Fruit is sourced from the Rustenhof farm in Stellenbosch where granite soils and a maritime influence from the nearby False Bay lend the wine salinity and a spectacular mineral character. Bright, long, and utterly delicious, this is one to follow from the very beginning.

A wine with an amazing story, where the proceeds go to helping the workers on Johan Reyneke's farm, this Bordeaux blend is classically styled, with just enough South African energy. It's a total bargain: this with a barbecue (or a Braai!) will be heaven.

A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Cabernet Franc, 1% Merlot, with 30% new oak, this is a brilliant Stellenbosch Bordeaux blend. Cornerstone refers to the project whereby Johan supports his workers by buying them houses, and this wine lives up to the project. Long, intense, yet still lifted, it's a lovely wine.