South Africa: New releases

One of the most underrated wines on our list, this is a blend of 10 varieties that ages spectacularly. Pithy, textured, with brilliant volume, it’s a white that you really have to discover.

Shiraz 58%, Cinsault 14%, Tinta Barocca 14%, Mourvèdre 9%, Grenache Noir 5%. The 16th release of this benchmark red, that’s smoky, intense, and finely structured. A real stunner, from a great vintage, you’ll want to let this age.

Tinta Barocca is one of the great grapes of the Swartland, and this comes from a single vineyard planted in 1966. Floral and intense, and almost bloody in character, this is remarkably well balanced, and very long indeed.

From the vineyard next to the cellar - Kelder in Afrikaans - this is as bright and energetic a Chenin Blanc as you’ll find. Volumes are miniscule, and the vines were planted in 1972. Floral and intense.

Planted in 1954, this old block of Cinsault gives an intense and refined expression of the grape. There’s real energy here, and there’s also notes of fynbos, negroni, and very fine but almost Nebbiolo-like tannins.

From a vineyard planted in 1968 at the entrance to Adi’s property, this has lots of yellow fruit and an almost tropical note, but remains taut and mineral on the finish.

From a vineyard planted in the 1940s, which also provides Eben’s Skerpioen, this is a saline, pithy, long, delicious white that’s one of Adi’s hidden gems.

Fewer than 1500 bottles are made of this, from a vineyard planted in 1966. This is intense and vibrant, and there’s so much concentration and depth of flavour. A brilliant Chenin Blanc.

Miniscule production here - just 800 kg of grapes or so come from this wall-surrounded vineyard, planted in 1963. It’s savoury and spicy, with notes of ginger and rooibos. This is intense and stunningly pure.

The style that Andre has made his own, this is an ageworthy white, with lots of bright yellow fruit, a savoury character to the palate, and also lots of energy. This is surely a match for Andre's old baby, the GVB from Vergelegen.

From grapes from the Vergelegen estate, this is an impressive Bordeaux blend. Notes of graphite and a core of dark fruit, with lots of spice and a hint of smokiness. Already approachable and delicious, this will surely age well, too.

A Malbec that comes from Keermont’s vineyards, and named in honour of Alex Starey, this is such a joyful wine. Juicy and intense, with lots of blue and black fruit, and also simply brilliant freshness. A delight.

A Cabernet Sauvignon from the high-altitude, cool Ceres plateau, this has so much going for hit. There’s just a hint of greenness, but that gives this lift and life. It’s a cool-climate Cabernet that offers incredible value for money.

Verdelho from the Helderberg, this takes its name from the Vulture, as in its early years Pieter had to hang around and wait for others to take their fill before he could access the vineyard. Now his grapes are more secure, and this is always a favourite: a wine all about texture, length, and definition.

The first release of this Chardonnay, from just four rows of a Chardonnay vineyard on the Helderberg. This is grippy and fine boned, with lots of ginger spice, and also a lot of freshness on the finish.

100% merlot from Stellenbosch, this blew us away when we tried it in February. From a vineyard on the Simonsberg, this has notes of blueberries, and then also lots of violet character, and a charming, saline, mineral finish. Brilliant.Just 902 bottles made.

From the vineyard we’ve come to know and love for Retirement at 65, this is a pure Cinsault. It’s delicate in colour, but there’s so much intensity and vitality here. Notes of rose petal, and also a core of spice. Charming.

Grenache blanc, Verdelho, Grenache Gris and other bits and pieces, all sourced from the Voor-Paardeberg, this is a delicious mediterranean-inspired blend, that has so much savoury, herbal character, with pith, and long finish. We’re fascinated to see how this ages.

Is this the best Syrah that Boekenhoutskloof have made? Surely a worthy successor to the legendary 1997: this gets better and better under Gottfried's management. Now 90% from Porseleinberg's blue schist soils, and 10% from Goldmine's brown schist, this has astonishing aromatics, with wild flowers and pure fruit, and the palate is so refined and elegant. There's minerality on the finish, which lasts for minutes. This is undoubtedly a match for the world's greatest Syrahs.

The new vintage of Chocolate Block shows how this gets better and better. A core of Syrah, from Boekenhoutskloof's properties in the Swartland, this is intense, structured, but also approachable. Such a no-brainer at this price. Also watch how it ages.

This comes from vineyards on the Helderberg, and shows more generosity than the Franschhoek Cabernet Sauvignon, with silky tannins and slightly riper fruit. There's wonderful persisitance here, and also a hint of opulence just now. Very hard to spit.

Made with more Cabernet Franc than usual - there is no Journeyman, their top blend, in 2020, so this saw the best of the grapes. Gottfried has pulled back on the new oak here, and it’s restrained, and even a little austere. But there’s so much complexity and a driven, mineral finish that lasts an age.

Mainly Grenache, with around a third Syrah, this is made in a fresh, lifted style, for easy drinking. It's inexpensive and easy to approach, with red berries, cherries, pepper and rose. It gives a lot of bang for your buck.

From the maker of Boschkloof Epilogue, this is a stunning Syrah from the Polkadraai's granite soils. Focussed and fine, with hints of blood orange alongside the core of dark berry fruit, there's so much complexity here. Already delicious, you'd be wise to lock away a few bottles for the coming years.

From the Polkadraai, this yellow-fruited Chenin is from Reenen's experimental line, and sees some fermentation on skins. It's complex and textured, and utterly delicious. At this price, a bargain.

A blend of parcels of younger vines, from the Swartland's Malmesbury Hills and the Paardeberg, as well as sites throughout Stellenbosch. 2022's selection also meant that some serious old vine fruit made it into the blend, making it even better than usual. Complex yet approachable, this is the best example yet.

This is a restrained and saline Chardonnay from Mick and Jeanine Craven, from the Helderberg, that balances white pear and citrus pith with hints of anis and sea spray. Refined, and brilliant value: a wine for any night of the week.

Pinot Gris is rare in Stellenbosch, and this rust-coloured example is simply brilliant. There's lots of phenolics here, from time on the skins, with notes of peach and also a smokiness. A brilliant food wine, or a wine for summer.

This comes from a vineyard that's from incredibly close to the sea: the old Bredell farm, that's the source of many of the Scions of Sinai wines, among others. This is just so joyful and fresh, with a real sense of purity and energy on the palate. Beautifully balanced, and very long indeed.

From a single vineyard owned by Crystallum, this is so lean and focussed, and is all about mineral complexity and apple blossom notes. There's a little smokiness, and a hint of reduction. This is a Chardonnay built for the long haul.

This is the final vintage of this wine, and it's an intense, concentrated, complex iteration. Notes of black cherry and forest floor, with cinnamon spice and plenty of structure make a wine that will need some time to show its very best.

A 700m altitude vineyard, on Kaaimansgat farm, this is surrounded by mountains that are often snow-capped in winter. The wine is complex and intense, and there's also a lot of freshness on the finiss. It's much more red fruited, and even citrus, than its stablemates, but that gives it a lot of charm.

Named after their great grandmother, who arrived in South Africa at 14 years of age, this is a blend of Chardonnay vineyards from across the Overberg. It's a pithy example, with just a hint of reduction, and some ginger spice and sea spray. There's lovely citrus energy on the finish.

A blend of grapes from across the Overberg make this charming, juicy, village-level Pinot Noir. So crunchy and fresh, with lovely tannins, and a lot of floral lift on the finish. This is so easy to drink: but don't underestimate its ability to age.

A film about Napoleon was filmed on this site the year before vines were planted, on this site on the Hemel-en-Aarde ridge. It's high density vines produce a wine of intensity and power. Slightly dark in character, this has bramble and pomegranate, and also plenty of spice. Long, fine-boned, and complex, this will age wonderfully.

From a vineyard on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, at high altitude, on shale soils, in the shadow of a mountain. The resulting wine is restrained and delicate, with notes of greengage and green pineapple, balanced with thyme and oatmeal, and a finish that is intensely mineral. The power builds here, making a wine that's incredibly complex and intense.

54% Grenache, with less Syrah than usual, this red blend has lots of focus, very fine tannins, and a long, fynbos-infused finish. Very nicely judged, charming, and already approachable.

From five vineyards in the Swartland, this has lots of Thyme and Pomegranate notes, with wild strawberries and lots of focus, too. There’s tension and salinity, and a long and pure finish. Beautifully done.

A blend of nine varieties, this gives a lovely impression of the vintage. There are notes of pineapple and peach, as well as plenty of spice and herbal notes. Beautifully complex, but also refreshing and approachable, this is a lovely white wine.

From eight vineyards, including the four single vineyards, from across the Swartland. A lovely wash of fruit here, with notes of fresh honey and hay. There’s a power and purity to the palate, and there’s also real grip and salinity. This will age brilliantly. A bargain.

From a 1981 planted vineyard on Paardebosch, the farm where David’s cellar is based. This is taut, with lots of lemon peel and hints of tea and bright fruit on the finish. Very good.

Planted in 1985, this is very intense and savoury and saline. There’s such tension here, with real purity and lots of minerality on the finish. From the vineyard next to Plat’Bos, but so different in style: this has more rippling energy.

From red clay soils on Malmesbury, this has notes of apricot and lots of lime. There’s a reductiveness here: this is almost Chardonnay like in its character. There’s lots of minerality on the finish, and it lasts an age.

Planted in 1984 in a vineyard with double rows. David started here in 2017, but 2021 was the first release. This is out towards the ocean, and produces intense, powerful wines. Lots of phenolics, energy, and hints of blood orange.

This is a brand new wine from the Helderberg in Stellenbosch, generally thought of as the finest spot in South Africa for growing Bordeaux varietals. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, and shows lots of cassis fruit, savoury spice, and there's wonderfully refined tannins. This is a brilliantly exciting new wine: you should join this journey from the very beginning.

A tiny production Syrah, made with 100% whole bunch, this is peppery and red fruited, with lots of energy and also a real sense of purity. There are notes of graphite and plenty of floral top notes. A bargain, and delicious to drink.

As the name suggests, this is Sauvignon Blanc that's made in Amphorae, bringing texture and definition to a perfectly ripe wine. Notes of pineapple and lemon pith are supported by ginger spice and plenty of herbal complexity. Will be even better with a couple of years in bottle.

From four different farms in the Swartland, including Adi Badenhorst's Jakkalsfontein, Chris Alheit's Nuwedam, and the Langkloof farm that's source of some brilliant old vine Chenin, this is focussed and fine, with lots of hay, jasmin notes, and some aniseed. Not from Bot River, but a brilliant wine nonetheless: we can see why Peter-Allan gets so excited about this.