South Africa: New releases

The 2021 Secateurs Chenin is the best example we've tried. Loads of fresh, crunchy apple fruit and a lovely lick of spice, with a hint of oatmeal make this an awful lot of wine for the price. And if you forget a few bottles in the back of the cellar, you might just be surprised.,

We first tried the 2021 Secateurs red at a wedding on Adi's farm in November 2021: it's hard to explain just how easy this is to drink.

A blend of Shiraz, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Mourvedre and Grenache, it's so juicy, fine boned, and fresh. Brilliant.

A blend of Syrah, Cinsault and Grenache, with multiple other varieties, co-fermented alongside. This is wonderfully pure and complex, and there’s lots of energy and freshness here, and a fine and mineral finish.

Under a hectare of huge, old Grenache vines, planted in 1952, on the entry to Kalmoesfontein. This is the Cape’s oldest Grenache, and the resulting wine is astonishingly good. Floral and pure, with amazing tension on the palate, and such minerality on the finish. Bravo.

Chenin Blanc-based, with 46% Roussanne, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Muscat de Frontignan and Chardonnay, this is a stunning white blend from one of the Cape’s best winemakers. A real insider’s tip: excellent value, and will age brilliantly.

From the vineyard next door to the cellar - Kelder in Afrikaans - this is a quintessential Paardeberg Chenin Blanc. Planted in 1974, the vines are now considerable in size, and this has orchard fruit and lots of spice.

Planted in 1968 on the soils with the highest clay content, this is a structured, yellow-fruited wine, with amazing saline minerality on the finish. Delicious and mouth watering.

A vineyard planted on Kalmoesfontein in 1954, this is a beautifully complex, savoury, well-balanced Cinsault. There’s notes of rose petal and a core of blue fruit. Delicious.

Tinta Barocca has huge potential in the Swartland, this parcel, planted in 1972, shows it beautifully. There’s notes of iron oxide and black pudding, with a core of dark fruit. Structured and intense, this will age brilliantly.

From the same vineyard on the far west coast of the cape as Eben Sadie’s Skerpioen. This Palomino is savoury, fresh, and beautifully balanced. It’s a curious, long-lived white that’s seriously impressive.

A unique wine in our South Africa offer, this is mainly Roussanne, with a drop of Chardonnay. It's all about texture and bright fruit. Roussanne can be a little heavy, but there's none of that here: it's savoury and frest, with just a hint of herbal lift.

A Cabernet Franc led blend, this is one of the best bargains on our list. Loads of ripe, juicy fruit, fine-grained tannins, and a mouth-watering freshness, having a bottle to hand is a must.

The Full Moon White is a field blend from a single vineyard on the Swartland’s Uitkyk farm, a farm where plenty of others source grapes. Just a handful of bottles are made of this blend of Chenin, Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Chardonnay, from a 45 year old vineyard. Lovely weight on the palate, and plenty of energy. Delicious.

Caro is the Argentina project for the Rothschilds of Chateau Lafite, along with the pioneering Catena family. The nose is complex with aromas of red fruits, figs, and gentle notes of blue berries. On the palate the wine is round with soft tannins and refreshing acidity, displaying good density and persistence, well balanced. 2021 is the coolest vintage Mendoza has seen in years, and the result is one of the freshest, most vibrant Malbec blends we've tried.

A staple of Pieter’s range, and a brilliant value wine, this is a blend of all sorts: Swartland Grenache, Wellington Grenache, Breedekloof Cinsaut, Elgin Pinot Noir, Swartland Chenin Blanc, Swartland Fernao Pirez, Stellenbosch Chardonnay and Stellenbosch Pinotage. The name refers to the fact that working with 38 grape varieties from 60 vineyards, it’s impossible to be a master of all. Rather, Pieter and his team are happy to tell stories, and be Master of None. This is a delicious wine, with tons of energy, floral top notes, and a core of crunchy red fruit. There’s spice on the mineral finish. The perfect everyday red. Try this at cellar temperature.

Prausis biodynamically farmed Voor Paardeberg Shiraz, with a little Pinotage from Darling in the blend. It’s juicy and just so drinkable.

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.

From a high altitude Syrah vineyard on the Ceres plateau (where Pieter sees a huge potential for grape growing in general), and it’s one of the Cape’s best cool climate Syrahs. There’s so much energy here, with just the right amount of peppery complexity, and a fine thread of acidity throughout. Brilliantly balanced, and wonderfully long.

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.

Pieter’s old assistant introduced him to this parcel of Verdelho vines in the Swartland, so he named it in her honour (Makstokkie is her instagram handle). There were just 800 bottles made of this focussed, textured white, with brilliant energy.

Pieter discovered this vineyard in some bushes - it had been totally abandoned for twenty-five years. It’s a parcel of old Chenin Blanc, that’s now forty years old, along with some young Picpoul Blanc, Petit Manseng, Semillon, Macabeo and Grillo that have been planted among the old Chenins. Oorbegin means new beginnings, referring to this new start for a forgotten vineyard. Fermented and aged in Amphorae, this is complex and balanced, with remarkable purity and shape in the mouth.

This is a tiny production Tinta Barocca from the Swartland, that Pieter, in his inimitable wisdom, decided to only bottle in half bottles. It’s name means absent minded, and comes from the fact that the day Pieter went to pick this vineyard, he realised half way there that he hadn’t put his shoes on. Hence the label, too. It’s a brilliant example of this grape variety, that we reckon is one of the Swartland’s most exciting. Textured and bloody, with a core of dark fruit, and lovely energy. One of the best reds we’ve tried from Pieter.

Praus is biodynamically farmed Voor Paardeberg Shiraz, with a little Pinotage from Darling in the blend. It’s juicy and and utterly delicious; the perfect wine to enjoy in big bottle format.

A blend of a blend of Roussanne, Grenache blanc, Chenin blanc, Verdelho and Grenache Gris, this takes its name from the Lord of the Rings dragon that Pieter’s son drew for the label: in return he gets a small commission on every bottle they sell. It’s a lovely balance of ripe fruit, savoury notes, and lots of tension. A brilliant white.

A blend of 55% Cabernet franc with 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot - all from the Helderberg in Stellenbosch. Pieter discovered these vineyards by keeping an eye out for pickers wearing white surgical gloves - those being employed by estates with the deepest pockets for vineyard research - and then buying grapes from as close by as possible. This is a lovely red Bordeaux blend from the Cape, with lots of brambly fruit, super-fine tannins, and a long and precise finish. Pieter’s Bordeaux blends get better and better.

From a 1.6ha vineyard planted on Schist soils in 1996, on the Kasteelberg’s Goldmine property, this is a grippy, floral, spicy Chenin that’s utterly delicious. There’s notes of wild flowers, beeswax, and a hint of ginger spice. It’s ready to go, but will age well, too.

The 2019 Syrah from Boekenhoutskloof comes from the Goldmine property, planted on brown schist, and Porseleinberg, on blue schist. The resulting wine is wonderfully perfumed - like great Côte-Rôtie - but with a touch of added ripeness. There’s dark berry fruit and a hint of tapenade, and then silky tannins that last an age. This is an astonishingly good Syrah from the team at Boekenhoutskloof.

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.

From the Boekenhoutskloof property Goldmine, on the Kasteelberg, next to the Mullineux’s Roundstone, this is a brilliant Schist-based Syrah. It’s as elegant as Syrah in the Swartland gets: peppery, floral, and beautifully fine-boned. Incredible length and savouriness define the long finish. This is a delicious, charming wine.

A blend of 71% Syrah, 11% Grenache, 9% Cinsault, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, and just a dash of Viognier, the 2019 Chocolate Block is a wonderfully pure, elegant expression from the heart of the Swartland. Red berry fruit and wild flowers drift from the glass, while the palate shows crystalline purity and a beautifully mineral finish. It punches way above its weight: that they manage to produce this in such quantities is one of the wonders of the wine world.

From the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge WO, and a blend of Roussanne, Chenin, Chardonnay, and a few other grapes, this is the hidden gem of Chris's range. It's elegant, savoury and refined. Remarkable tension on the finish: this is delicious.

Chris' second vintage of this, his young vines cuvée. There's plenty of purity here, with lovely vibrant citrus fruit, and then a lick of ginger spice. This is turning into a must-buy every year. Outstanding.

Just an incredibly delicious Merlot from Ginny's Stellenbosch estate, this is plummy, juicy, and fine-boned, with a lovely thread of acidity. One to pop and pour.

From Albarino vines that were grafted onto unsuccessful Cabernet Sauvignon, this was a great decision from Ginny Povall. This is pithy and fresh, with lots of savoury density, and a delicious finish. Just so easy and drinkable

This comes from the legendary Skurfberg, from the Oudam farm. At this stage it's very tightly wound, with notes of thyme and fynbos, and incredible drive. Give this a couple of years, and it will be brilliant.

This Chenin Blanc is different from all the other Chenins in our range: it comes from Elgin, one of the coolest grape-growing regions in South Africa. Planted on Bokkeveld Shale - not all that dissimilar to the soils of the Loire’s Savennières - this is as cool and precise as South African Chenin gets.

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.

Made by pinching the tops of the bunches, concentrating the sugars, and acidity, in the grapes, this is a really lovely sweet wine from Alex Starey. Green pineapple, ginger, and a hint of lemongrass create a very refreshing but intensely sweet wine. This is a blend of vintages, hence (for the one and only time) it's a N/V wine.

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.

This 2017 from Keermont reminds us why we loved this vintage so much. A blend of Syrah from four vineyards, with just a dash of Mourvèdre, it’s energetic, intense, with a gorgeous structure of fine-boned tannins. And the finish goes on and on, and more and more complexity emerges. Just so delicious.

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.

A blend of three different blocks on the Klein Constantia hillside, the 2020 Clara is drop-dead gorgeous. Delicate and floral on the nose, with notes of oyster shell, lime blossom, and sea spray, and plenty of fresh ginger too, this is complex and delicious already. There’s the structure here to age beautifully too. Everyone should secure a case of this, if they can.

Taking it's name from the horses that used to work this plot, the Perdeblokke is a real beauty in 2020. There's such energy here, alongside the opulence we've come to expect from this warm site. Sweet and sour in character, this will convert even the most anti-Sauvignon wine lover.

Just a few hundred bottles of this single block are produced: for Matt, it's a play thing, something that informs the rest of his winemaking. Notes of ginger and fresh grapefruits swirl from the glass of this wine, that's all about texture and purity. South Africa's best Sauvignon Blanc?

Block 382 is a single vineyard at the top of the Klein Constantia hillside, and the 2020 is intense and pure and remarkably textured. Just a few hundred bottles are produced this: we're thrilled to be able to offer it in the UK.

The 2019 Vin de Constance is disarming in its beauty. Notes of honeysuckle and pear swirl from the glass, with hints of spice and plenty of Seville oranges, too. The palate is so impeccably balanced, you barely feel the sweetness. And there’s such precision of flavour here, too, with so much unfurling in the mouth. This is an extraordinary wine: a bottling that belongs in every cellar.

From a range of vineyards across the Cape South Coast region, this is an intense and wonderfully poised cool climate Syrah. Notes of pepper and graphite, and lots of lifted red berry fruit. There's a focus and length here. Delicious.

The Syrah is a blend of 30% Greyton fruit, and the rest from a shale and sandstone vineyard in Elgin. These cool vineyards produce a Syrah that’s all about pepper and rose petal: a joy to behold.

A newer wine for Lismore, this comes from Walker Bay, and has plenty of points of difference from the Chenin Blancs from Stellenbosch and the Swartland. Notes of orange blossom and jasmine, alongside a core of apple fruit, and lots of texture.

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. 

South Africa's best Viognier? This has notes of peach and apricot, but is in no way overblown. There's a floral character, and also so much intensity and balance here. It's the salinity that strikes you on the finish, which lasts an age. Just brilliant.

Long a favourite Chardonnay, this is intense and structured. The fruit fills the mouth with stone fruits, white peach, and pear, while there's lots of spice and a long, savoury, mouth-watering finish. Just brilliant.

The 2021 Lindi Carien is a blend of predominantly Verdelho, with 65% Chenin Blanc, Colombard, Grenache Blanc and Palomino supporting. Waxy and expressive, notes of greengage, fynbos, and lots of yellow fruit. There's a lot of ginger spice, and plenty of persistence on the finish.

The 2021 Trust Your Gut is an absolute delight. Perfumed, saline and wonderfully lifted, there's a core of grapefruit and yellow plum, and a leesy complexity on the palate. There's such drive on the finish, from the Paardeberg fruit that perfectly envelops the classic Stellenbosch yellow fruit. Outstanding.

The 2020 Connect the Dots comes from vineyards in Elgin, Stellenbosch (on the Helderberg and Polkadraai) and Darling. It shows plenty of plum fruit, with some spice, and plenty of grip. This is saline and pure, with tannins that coat the mouth. It’s ready to go now, with a softness to the fruit and structure, but we’re sure it will age brilliantly, too.

The 2020 Experimental Syrah comes from a single estate in Elgin. It’s a cool climate Syrah with loads of fresh, juicy fruit, a long and delicate finish, and just the right amount of tannic structure. This is delicious - a spectacular bargain - and can be enjoyed right away. But don’t dismiss its ability to age for a couple of years.

Wary of the propensity of Chenin Blanc to lose acidity when ripening, she wanted something to add vibrancy to the white. The Chenin comes from a 1979-planted vineyard on the Paardeberg, from the same farm as the Grenache, and a 1982-planted vineyard in Botrivier, while the Verdelho comes from the Voor Paardeberg. This is a beautifully elegant, textured white, with white peach, lemon zest, and a hint of brioche on the pithy finish.

A recent bottle of 2013 of this shows just how good Tinta Barocca can be. It’s a real labour of love, and comes from three different, old vine sources: one in Bot Rivier, one in Stellenbosch, and then a parcel on the same farm on the Paardeberg as the other two wines. As mentioned this is a bottling that benefits from a couple of years in bottle: with that it develops wonderful smoky notes, and hints of blood orange. The 2019 is simply stunning: a real hidden gem of our South African range.

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.

This, from the Voor Paardeberg, from really young vines, is just spectacularly delicious. Red apple and wild roses swirl from the glass, while it’s the salinity and texture of the palate that really blew us away. Such an individual wine; such a wonderful wine.

The Kweekamp Chardonnay comes from a high altitude vineyard, planted on limestone. Limestone, the top pick for Chardonnay plantations throughout the world, is a rarity in the Cape, and this is a tense, mineral yet pleasingly open expression of the grape, with a lovely lick of oak spice. Just five barrels are made. In recent years, as well as being bottled by the Bruwers, this vineyard is also around one third of the blend of Capensis, South Africa’s most expensive Chardonnay, made by Jackson Family Wines.

The Syrah is as true an expression of this grape variety in the Swartland’s varied terroirs as you’ll find. In 2019, this was sourced from seven different parcels. Two parcels were from dry-land bush vines grown in the decomposed granite soils of the Paardeberg, two from the iron-rich soils just west of Malmesbury, and three parcels were from the stony Schist of the Kasteelberg. There's a great depth to the fruit here; the wine is bursting with Syrah black pepper, black olive pits, and red currants, with a floral note lifting the palate. Savoury and highly appetising, this is an exceptionally well-made wine from Chris and Andrea Mullineux.

From the hills that surround Malmesbury, this single vineyard Syrah is always the most backward of the Mullineux's wines. It's intense and bloody in character, with loads of dark fruit, intense tannins, and also a saline minerality. Long, precise, and incredibly soulful, it's a simply wonderful wine.

The Mullineux Old Vines White is a distinctly South African marriage of Chenin Blanc with Mediterranean varieties Clairette Blanche, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Semillon Gris, and Verdelho. 2021 was a celebrated white wine vintage in the Cape, and this is a fragrant, saline and textured expression of the Swartland’s terroir. All the vineyards are sustainably farmed and are up to 67 years old. Indeed, this punches well above its weight.

From 4 different vineyards on the estate, this is one of the finest expressions of Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir. The 2021 is all about elegance, with notes of pomegranate and floral perfume, as well as lots of energy and real tension. There’s incredible purity on the palate, and a saline minerality, too. This is wonderfully complex and delicious. It’s not to be missed.

Adi Badenhorst is one of the original Swartland trailblazers. He is based on the Paardeberg, where deep, decomposed granite soils are perfect for growing Chenin Blanc. This is from a single vineyard - Dassiekop - a tiny plot of vines planted in the 1970s, that produces a quintessential Swartland Chenin: vibrant and tense, with lots of ripe citrus fruit, and a long, savoury finish.

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.

This is a unique blend of Chenin Blanc, Verdelho and Viognier. In 2021, the wine features notes of clementines and fresh ginger spice on the nose and a melange of green apples and pears on the palate. It’s all held together by impressive acidity – brought by the Verdelho – and a beautiful texture. Donovan’s wines sometimes fly a little under the radar: with examples like this that really shouldn’t: this is one of the best whites you’ll try from South Africa.

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.

The 2021 Salt River Sauvignon Blanc is an incredible bottle of wine for the price. There's so much texture and tension here, alongside super-exuberant fruit, and a long and savoury finish. Utterly delicious, it will continue to improve in the bottle. If you can keep your hands off it.

The Miracle Bush White is a brilliant white blend from high altitude. It's a blend of 47% Chenin blanc, 40% Grenache blanc and 13% Palomino, with the Palomino from a vineyard planted in 1964. It's elegant, refined, with so much texture and floral lift. This is a brilliant wine from one of the Cape's best winemakers.

This impressive wine comes from one single parcel in the remote Piekenierskloof. This is surely the best Pinotage we've tried: it’s savoury and pure, with incredible raspberry fruit, notes of tea and wild herbs, and a long, citrus-infused finish. It’s fragrant, fine-boned, and incredibly long.

A Bordeaux blend with a little Syrah and Sangiovese, this is a really charming, approachable wine from Schalk and his team. Notes of morello cherry, and also plenty of cinnamon and clove spice. Just delicious, and great value.

The 2019 Taaibosch Crescendo is a Cabernet Franc led blend, that's utterly stunning in its second vintage. This has floral lift, plenty of body, and a lovely, saline, long, expressive finish. Delicious: this will age brilliantly, too.

The 2021 Grenache Blanc, sourced from vines grown on the famed granite soils of the Voor Paardeber, is another magnificent effort from winemaker Chris Williams. Displaying pithy citrus fruit and a round, enveloping texture, it's an incredibly well-balanced and fine-boned wine. 2021 was a brilliant white wine vintage across the Cape, and this is consistently one of the best value wines in our range. Not to be missed.

Arguably our favourite Roussanne from the Cape. It comes from the Voor Paardeberg, and is surprisingly deep in colour. Aged half in terracotta and half in older oak, this is all about grip and tension rather than oiliness. Just such a complex, delicious wine.

From a vineyard planted in 1957 on the Klein Heldererg, just 2,900 bottles were made. There's lots of tension here, and very vibrant fruit shining through. Notes of yellow plum and citrus, and a long, fine-boned finish. Delicious.

A blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, this is a biuscuity, complex sparkling wine, liberated by Richard Kelley MW. Notes of hazelnut and dried fruits, and there's a long and ample finish. Simply really delicious: give this a go.

From a vineyard in Paarl planted in 1956, yields from here are absolutely miniscule. There's pure peach on the nose, with plenty of citrus lift and a beautifully textured palate. A lovely addition to our range.

45% Syrah from Bredekloof and Bot River, with 33% Breedekloof Grenache, 13% Carignan, and 9% Mourvèdre. This is very pure and focussed, with lots of wild strawberry character, wet stones, bramble, and white pepper. A lovely red, that shouldn't be overlooked.

From 5 separate vineyards, this is a brilliant, juicy, delicious Pinot Noir, that shows just how talented John is. There's a coolness and sapidity here, but also perfectly ripe fruit. One to enjoy, any night of the week.

Made with 50% skin contact and 50% without, the 2021 Tin Soldier is beautifully balanced. There’s lots of iron oxide on the nose, with ripe red apples, and a wonderfully driven, saline finish. This is from a parcel of Semillon Gris planted on the Paardeberg, on decomposed granite soils.

From a 1993 planted vineyard on the Skurfberg, this is an astonishing expression of Sauvignon Blanc. There’s orange blossom and peaches, and then there’s that amazing Skurfberg acidity that comes screaming through. This is more a product of its place than of its grape variety.

A blend of grapes from as far afield as the Ceres Plateau, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, the Swartland and the Voor Paardeberg, this is a blend of Roussanne, Semillon, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Clairette Blanche. It’s textured and weighty, but there’s the freshness of the ‘21 vintage shining through. A stunning Rocking Horse: the best yet?

Mainly from a block of Chenin Blanc planted in 1979 on the Paardeberg, this is chiselled and fine, with amazing purity. A benchmark for Paardeberg Chenin: stunning.

From an old, 1963 planted vineyard on granite soils on the Paardeberg, this has such depth and density. It’s been vinified for the first time in a 500 litre Stockinger foudre, and is all about finesse and purity. Utterly beguiling.

Bukettraube is likely a grape you don't know brilliantly, but it's found its home in a few small vineyards in the Cape. Hanneke and Pauline are doing something quite special with it, making an utterly delicious Pet Nat. Sometimes likened to Muscat, this is floral and peachy, with very fine bubbles, and a vibrant finish. A delicious fizz.

From an old Palomino vineyard at 670m of elevation, which sees some skin contact, this is an impressive wine from Pauline and Hanneke. It's incredibly complex, with notes of ginger and guava, and also lots of fynbos character on the finish. It's the kind of wine that has you reaching for glass after glass.

This comes from Piekenierskloof, from a vineyard at 670m of elevation, which ensures that this maintains vibrant acidity and plenty of cool fruit. It's fermented in egg, with a portion of skin contact, and that gives a beautiful texture and just a hint of ginger spice, too. It's spicy, with guava and a slight herbal lift. Delicious.

Chris Keet's Weather Report is a brand new producer, and he focusses on Cabernet Franc from the Cape. This is a blend of sites and soils, and is a really lovely wine. Informed by the best examples of the Loire, but with a little more SA sun, it's silky and savoury, and very long indeed. A brilliant first vintage.

This is from the cool Elgin valley, from trellissed vines on rich koffieklip soils. Deep in colour, there's loads of intensity here, and real precision to the acidity. Agile and pure, it's totally delicious, and very ageworthy.