South Africa 2024 - Full List of Wines

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 juicy, supple, and fresh with ease and joyfulness in the glass.

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.

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.

The 2020 Raaigras is a beautiful Grenache, coming from just twelve long rows of the vineyard in front of the estate, planted in 1952, making it the oldest Grenache in the Cape. It’s delicate and floral on the nose, with a power and intensity that builds over the palate. There’s stunning freshness here, and a long and mineral finish. Beautifully done.

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.

The Grensloos is a new wine this year and is a blend of all of Adi Badenhorst's single vineyard sites. It offers incredible value for money, knowing the quality of fruit here, it shows superb intensity on the palate with flavours of white flowers, white peach and white grapefruit. There are characteristic flavours of beeswax, a little miso as well as wild honey and citrus pith on the finish. A brilliant Chenin, but it was always going to be thus!

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 Chenin that would make many German GG producers blush. Electric on the palate, this is pure, crystalline and saline. Primarily a mineral wine, there are notes of white peach, pear and stone fruit with white flowers and verbena. This is a wonderful effort from Sebastien Beaumont in the Bot River.

A single vineyard Chardonnay from Stellenbosch taken on in 2022 making this the second vintage for Pieter. The wine sees 40% untoasted new oak giving a faint acacia and vanilla pod note with fresh stone fruit. The vineyard faces into False Bay accounting for the real purity and salinity on the finish.

A Cinsault Shiraz blend with the Cinsault sourced from a 72 year old vineyard in Darling. This is supple and vibrant showing fresh summer berries, cola and crushed violets. Some wild herbs, fresh earth, and a little white pepper spice on the finish which is wonderfully long.

From Somerset West, with 60% Cabernet Franc this year. This is utter class, not overdone in the slightest with aromas of white pepper, violets, fresh strawberry and cherry. Grilled herbs and cocoa dust linger on this detailed, finessed Bordeaux blend.

12 different varieties in the blend but Verdelho and Clairette Blanc based. This offers floral notes of white flowers, jasmine and white tea. Very delicate and finessed, the palate delivers fresh stone fruit, white peach, and little white grapefruit. Very pure and saline on the finish.

Saline, long, and with a mouthwatering texture, Boekenhoutskloof’s Semillon stands out as one of South Africa’s highly lauded white wines. It’s sourced from three different old vine vineyards, planted in 1902, 1936, and 1942. This has lots of orange blossom on the nose, with plenty of drive. And on the palate, the wine displays a touch of smokiness, and plenty of complexity and spice. The 2021 vintage is not to be missed.

The 2021 Syrah is a brilliant iteration of this legendary wine from Boekenhoutskloof. This outstanding vintage has resulted in a wine that has delicacy and focus, but also incredible structure. Notes of violet and dark fruit, and lots of energy on the finish. Spectacular.

This is fermented in barrel, and has a decent dollop of Cabernet Franc in the blend. The incredibly intensive winemaking gives this a precision and finesse that marks it out as surely Franschhoek’s best red? The tannins are just so refined and pure. Wonderful.

Quickly gaining cult status, this is a spicy, peppery, elegant style of Syrah with an almost ethereal lift. Focus and supple on the palate with notes of wild herbs, iris, blood orange, and black cherry it offers just a little ferrous twist on the finish. Extremely fine.

Hard to resist when a wine tastes this good at this price, the Kottabos Chenin offers white flowers, notes of apricot skin, white grapefruit with a crystalline focus. Subtle notes of green mango and a hint of beeswax here with a delicious texture and salinity on the finish.

A blend of 73% Grenache that was whole bunch fermented and 27% of Syrah that was destemmed. This is a highly perfumed red with notes of violets, wild herbs, blood orange and black cherry. This is dangerously easy to enjoy.

A brilliant Chenin from the young Kiara Scott. From old vine Chenin Blanc, planted in 1985, which is grown on decomposed shale and granite. It offers restrained aromatics of pear skin, honeycomb and golden citrus with just a hint of toast. The palate is deep and concentrated. Yellow apples, kumquat and peaches sing above the chalky texture and fine, crystalline finish.

Chris Alheit’s ‘younger vine’ Chenin but also incorporating some old vine fruit from the Paardeberg and Tygerberg this is a stunner in the 2023 vintage. A vibrant line of acidity running through, with golden stone fruit, hints of beeswax and acacia. A hint of white sesame with a little white grapefruit and ocean spray on the finish.

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 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.

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.

Only 3800 bottles made of this shimmering Pinot. Using 40% whole bunch fermentation, there are notes of rose petal, allspice and nutmeg, with wild herbs mingling with the vibrant cherry and pomegranate fruit. A deliciously complex Pinot with layers of fruit and spice on the finish.

Just 3700 bottles made of this delicious Chardonnay. Opening with notes of fresh almond, a little butterscotch and vanilla pod, the palate delivers wonderfully focused flavours of pear, white peach and yellow grapefruit. There is a lift of ocean spray 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.

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 brilliant, fresh and zippy style, with just a hint of flinty reduction, and some ginger spice, lemongrass and ocean spray. Notes of white grapefruit pith, and apricot on the finish.

A beautiful, ethereal style of Pinot with notes of mulberry, red cherry and pomegranate. Light oak spice with a kiss of toasted cedar and bay leaf mingle with elegant floral notes of violets and cherry blossom. Super energy from start to finish.

From a vineyard planted in 1984, only 999 bottles were made this year. It is wonderfully pure, opening out on the mid-palate with notes of orange blossom, bitter melon, and apricot. Very fluid and saline on the finish.

From a vineyard planted in 1968 this is more flinty, spicy and driven in style. Offering notes of white grapefruit, verbena, with real tension at its core this is a beautifully chiselled Chenin.

Old vine project certified, this Chenin is sourced from 8 vineyards planted between 1968 to 1986. It is crystalline and focused with a pulse of energy running through the wine. White flowers, white grapefruit, and subtle notes of verbena, the finish is refreshing and very saline.

Old vine project certified, this Chenin is sourced from 8 vineyards planted between 1968 to 1986. It is crystalline and focused with a pulse of energy running through the wine. White flowers, white grapefruit, and subtle notes of verbena, the finish is refreshing and very saline.

A beautiful, elegant style of Grenache showing delicate orange blossom, red summer berries and wild herbs, there is a seamless feel on the palate. Notes of Aperol, violets and pomegranate on the finish with a lovely hint of liquorice.

A beautiful, elegant style of Grenache showing delicate orange blossom, red summer berries and wild herbs, there is a seamless feel on the palate. Notes of Aperol, violets and pomegranate on the finish with a lovely hint of liquorice.

This is a brilliant Chenin-based blend but including varieties such as Verdelho, Clairette Blanche, and Colombard it is a racy, and focused wine with notes of white flowers, lemongrass and white tea. The palate is saline and zippy with notes of white grapefruit, lemon essence, and hints of stone fruits.

At the moment the most reserved of the range, it also holds the most promise. Planted in 1981 on the Paardebosch farm the soils are primarily decomposed granite. Leading with notes of pear, white peach, and white flowers, there is also hints of ginger, lemongrass and chalk dust. Very crystalline and tense right now, this will age gracefully.

An intense, bold style of Chenin this offers real intensity of apricot and stone fruits on the palate, notes of salted almonds, acacia and peach skin. The soils is very shallow shale soils in the Paardeberg, which gives the wine a real mineral focus.

Just over 60% Grenache in the blend with the rest mainly Syrah, this opens with spicy white pepper notes, wild herbs and violets. The fruit is pristine and focused with flavours of red berries and red cherry. Wonderful perfume and energy to the wine.

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.

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 white flowers, fennel seed and stone fruit. Fresh and focused there is real intensity through the palate and saline on the finish.

Arguably our favourite wine from the Gabrielskloof range, this comes from a 19 year old vineyard on the property. It treads the line of ripeness and freshness beautifully, with notes of bell pepper and thyme, alongside lifted red fruits, and a beautifully balanced finish.

From Sandstone soils, as the name suggests, this is a Syrah that's all about perfume and energy, with lots of elegant fruit and long a finessed finish. Charming, approachable, but with the possibility of ageing brilliantly, too.

From the cool climate area of Elim, this Pinot Noir is planted on a mixed of Bokkeveld slate, koffieklip and gravel soils. It offers a seductive nose of wild strawberries, cranberries, parma ham, black olives and a bruised rosemary herbal note. Wonderful finesse here.

Perhaps Ghost Corner’s most distinctive wine, the wild ferment Sauvignon is captivating on the nose with lemon curd and grapefruit marmalade taking centre stage. The palate is forthcoming with a kaleidoscope of flavours including crème brûlée, slight honeyed notes and a lime blossom freshness.

An explosive nose of asparagus and pink grapefruit citrus with some dusty fig leaf and blackcurrant aromas creates anticipation of what is to follow. The palate does not disappoint – a delicious carry through of the expressive nose creates a broad, flavour-intensive palate, ending with a lemon zest mouthwatering finish. The influence of the Cape Agulhas terroir is apparent in the saline aftertaste.

The Ghost Corner range was inspired by the extreme coastal area around Cape Agulhas near Elim, known as ‘Spookdraai’, where many ships have been wrecked. This Semillon is flinty with plenty of lime zest, bright acidity and hints of pineapple on the finish.

From the Laing's farm on the Skurfberg, this is a remarkable old vine Chenin Blanc vineyard. There's notes of orange blossom and rind, and an almost negroni-like perfume. So complex, piercing, and delicious, it's no wonder that the wines from the Skurfberg are so sought-after.

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

A very classical Cabernet focused nose with aromas of violet, graphite and cigar tobacco. On the palate there is ripe cassis, cocoa and wild herbs. The tannins are clothed in ripe bramble fruit with a building in tension and energy to the finish.

Cuvée Clive is Graham Beck’s prestige cuvée and only made in exceptional years. Year after year, the best sparkling wine of the Cape, the 2017 is 100% Chardonnay aged on the lees for 5 years before disgorgement. 70% of the blend originated from one block on their estate in Robertson, planted in 2002 to four different clones of Chardonnay on pure limestone soil. The remaining 30% comes from Darling, lending bright and racy acidity to the blend. This is a wonderfully tense wine, showing remarkable complexity of toasted brioche, salted almonds, ginger, and dried orange peel. The palate is chalky and focused with white grapefruit, white peach and fresh pear. This is so fine and so graceful.

A seductive Pinot with delicious red cherry and pink peppercorn on the nose. Hints of cocoa and wild herbs mingle with the red fruit core, and tannins are fine grained and refined. A refreshing violet tinged finish.

From the original Hemel-en-Aarde estate, this is a chiselled, vibrant style of Chardonnay, notes of acacia flower and ginger spice. A delicate kiss of oak helps to accent the fine, stone fruit flavours with a focused, refreshing finish.

From the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, this is beautiful, lifted style of Pinot with impressive freshness and intensity. Opening with a little spice and grilled herbs on the nose there is a core of dark berry fruit, and fine-grained tannins that linger, it's a very classy Pinot Noir.

From Kaaimansgat, from the same vineyard as Peter-Allan Finlayson's Malabel, this is a cool climate Pinot Noir that dazzles with its freshness and purity. Jessica has to battle the baboons here for the grapes, but it's well worth it: this is floral, delicate, and very long. The palate offers fresh red berries, cherry blossom and a little pepper on the finish.

Abrie Besselaar is a true master of Pinotage, and the Kanonkop Estate Pinotage in 2021 is simply brilliant. It offers bright cherry fruit, plum with notes of wild thyme, a little cocoa and a supple, fine-grained tannin. This wine will age gracefully, offering super fine aromatics, that become more and more Pinot like.

While Paul Sauer gets the plaudits, this is a brilliant value red from Kanonkop. In 2018 it's intense and refined, with notes of cassis and dark cherry, and also lots of grippy tannins and store cupboard spice. A benchmark Cabernet from the Cape.

The most iconic Pinotage from the Cape is Kanonkop’s Black Label. From a vineyard planted in 1953, the finest site on Kanonkop’s estate in their eyes, just 6,500 bottles are produced of this wine. Laden with delicious oak spice, it’s powerful and intense, but yet so poised and effortless. Morello cherry, dark chocolate, coffee beans, wild herbs, with fresh violets the spectrum of flavours is immense. A unique wine: this needs to be tasted to be believed.

This has more intensity and up front fruit than the 2017 at the same stage. There’s really crunchy berries here, notes of pepper spice, and then also a lot of fynbos and spicy complexity. Such a brilliant Syrah for the price.

Riverside is the oldest vineyard on the farm, planted in 1971. This is a classic old vine Chenin with floral notes of lily, toasted sesame, and mandarin zest. The palate is crisp with vibrant acidity and flavours of yellow pear, ginger spice and refreshing salinity on the finish.

The Keermont Amphitheatre 2017 opens with delicate spiced notes of nutmeg and cloves, wild herbs matched with ripe, bramble fruit. The palate is structured and tight-grained tannin and vibrant red fruit flavours of strawberries and cherries with accents of sandalwood.

The Estate Sauvignon Blanc is intensely perfumed with notes of white grapefruit, fresh pea shoots and green mango. There is racy acidity and crystalline purity here with delicate citrus notes on the finish.

Another Vin de Constance that is impossible to resist as soon as you nose it - aromatic fireworks of apricot and honey draw you into the glass. On the palate there is unrestrained generosity with an orange and ginger intensity, but just as the sweetness crescendoes a herbal, savoury edge rides in on the crisp line of acidity to keep it all in check. It’s hard not to be flowery about such a magnificent wine.

Quite simply a brilliant Cabernet from Christo Le Riche, following marvellously from the 2020. More tightly wound than the 2020, this has superb direction on the palate, a sense of drive and focus. Ripe, supple cassis fruit, cocoa and sandalwood with a little pepper and wild herb spice. The palate shows the compact, fine grained tannin structure that means this will be a superbly long-lived Cabernet. Excellent.

Quite simply a brilliant Cabernet from Christo Le Riche, following marvellously from the 2020. More tightly wound than the 2020, this has superb direction on the palate, a sense of drive and focus. Ripe, supple cassis fruit, cocoa and sandalwood with a little pepper and wild herb spice. The palate shows the compact, fine grained tannin structure that means this will be a superbly long-lived Cabernet. Excellent.

This is now unquestionably South Africa’s benchmark Viognier. A tense, vibrant style, the nose is so inviting with aromas of fresh apricot and nectarine. A hint of bitter lemon and peach skin adds complexity and the finish is bright and saline.

If you are looking for South Africa’s answer to top white Burgundy, look no further. With a little flintiness to start, the nose reveals flavours of orange blossom, white peach and quince. Real tension through the palate with a bright crystalline core, the finish is focused and effortlessly long.

Using 50% whole bunch fruit, this is a spicy, finessed style of Syrah from the shale slopes of Samantha O’Keefe’s Greyton vineyards. Linear on the palate, there are flavours of hedgerow fruit, wild cherry and wild thyme. The tannins are fine grained, with a powdery texture and the finish is brilliantly pure with a peppery lift.

A blend of Shiraz, Cinsault, and Grenache, this is a wine that gets better and better with every year that goes past. So much pretty fruit, with tension and lots of savoury notes. There’s a purity to the finish, and lots of mineral savouriness that shines through. Gorgeous.

A blend of 52% Chenin Blanc from a 61 year old vineyard in Piekenierskloof planted on its own rootstocks, alongside 27% Verdelho and 13% Colombard. This is very saline and fresh, and there’s lots of pithy fruit, too. Delicious.

From a single vineyard planted in 1977 on the decomposed sandstone of the Piekenierskloof, this is a brilliant Chenin Blanc. There's a luminosity here, and also a real freshness. But don't let the subtlety fool you: this is a serious wine, with a lot of potential in it.

Named in honour of Franco's daughter, Lua, this is a delicate, perfumed, almost Pinot-like Grenache from the Piekenierskloof. Tiny quantities are made, and its rightly soughtafter. Notes of pomegranate and wild strawberries, and also lots of spice on the finish. Just so pretty, long, and refined.

61% of this comes from the Paaderberg, with the rest from the Polkadraai. And that gives this wine a brilliant balance of Stellenbosch yellow fruit, and Swartland savouriness. It’s full of energy: a benchmark Chenin Blanc from the Cape.

A wine that Lukas dreamt up when he spent 8 days in hospital with Covid. From the Swartland, this has 9% Grenache, 3% Cinsault, with the balance made up of Syrah planted on Schist. Generous and velvety, but still with finesse, it’s utterly delicious.

In 2022, Lukas sees this as his blue-eyed boy. 45% is aged in concrete to maintain purity, and this is a wine all about subtlety and balance, with wonderfully refined tannins and a core of pure fruit on the palate. Wonderful stuff.

A blend of 70% fruit from Lammershoek on the Paardeberg, planted in 1966, with a 1980-planted vineyard also on the Paadeberg. This is savoury and saline, and there’s lots of fynbos and confit lemon character. Long, savoury, and so vibrant.

From the Rustenhof farm, with the closest Cinsault vines to the ocean, this is stunning. Bright and juicy, 40% stems brings a lift and a herbal complexity. There’s purity and aromatic complexity, yet it remains so lively and fun. Delicious.

This is a blend of 17% Grenache from the Polkadraai, with the balance coming from one of the closest Cinsault vineyards to the ocean, in Stellenbosch. The resulting wine is savoury, saline, and totally delicious. This is South Africa’s best rosé, and the 2022 is a real winner.

A blend of fruit from three sources: 63% Elgin, 30% Polkadraai Hills, 7% Cape Agulhas. The Elgin fruit is largely destemmed, Cape Agulhus using two third whole bunch and the Stellenbosch fruit fermented fully as whole bunches. The resulting wine is fragrant and fresh, notes of juniper and white pepper with fine red and black hedgerow fruit. The tannins are fine-grained and supple with an enticing briny finish.

A true cool-climate Syrah coming from one of South Africa’s coolest growing regions. The wine has notes of wild herbs, woodland fruit, with pepper and liquorice root. There is freshness and focus here with a wonderful grip of tannins creating tension through the mid-palate. The finish is very long with notes of kelp and tapenade.

Sourced from three cool climate, low-altitude Syrah parcels (50m-80m above sea level), just 8km from the blustery Agulhas coast this vintage sees around 35% whole clusters. This is a saline, briary style of Syrah which shows so much freshness and energy. Peppery notes of juniper, dried sage, and iris mingle with the red and black cherry fruit with a saline, iodine edged finish.

One of our favourite whites from South Africa, this is a wine that sees some skin contact, and is all about salinity, freshness, and texture. Notes of orange peel and wild strawberries support the white peach and pear fruit. There's a spiciness, and also a lot of texture on the palate. Beautifully judged.

Tinta Barocca is a grape with remarkable potential in the Cape, and this is such a brilliant example. Notes of blood orange, bramble, iron oxide, and violets all swirl from the glass. The tannins are powdery and present, but all in perfect balance, while the finish is long, complex, and very impressive. Older bottles of this have blown us away: grab a case today.

With Chenin Blanc from Langkloof, from blocks planted in 1971 and 1979, as well as from Bot River, from shale and clay soils, and Verdelho from Voor Paardeberg and Bot River. This is a charming white, with lots of pith and savouriness. There's a salinity here, as well as lots of tension, and bright yellow fruit. Delicious.

A delicate, fine boned, and strawberry fruited Grenache, that's one of the cape's best. There's so much perfume here, with notes of rooibos and fynbos, and also a core of delicate wild strawberries. The tannins are powdery and dry, and there's lovely freshness on the finish. A delight.

A true classic, this is a spicy Syrah with notes of violets, iris, bramble fruit. There is a seamless feel to the fruit coating the detailed, and sinewy tannin ending with a beautiful peppery lift.

As always, a truly benchmark Stellenbosch Cabernet giving note of coffee bean, cocoa nib and blue and black berry fruit. The tannins are sinewy but coated in ripe plum fruit with accents of wild herbs and violets on the finish.

A Chenin based blend from the Swartland with the addition of Clairette Blanche, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Semillon Gris and Verdelho. It shows upfront aromas of fresh stone fruit and lightly poached pears which follow through to a complex palate which has layers of yellow grapefruit and nectarines, a vibrant acidity with hints of ginger and lemongrass on the finish.

A classic schist Syrah that is not dissimilar to the best of Côte Rôtie. The aromas show hints of bergamot orange, fresh iris and violets and nutmeg spice. The palate is so harmonious and seamless with finely etched tannins clothed in vibrant hedgerow fruit. A stunner this vintage.

From Jakkalsfontein farm, this Syrah offers a delicate floral nose of violets, juniper, cherry blossom. This follow through with red berry compote on the palate and a stony minerality on the finish.

Always the more dense of the three single vineyard Syrahs, the wine brims with flavours of dark plum, wild blueberry and hints of tomato leaf and charcuterie. Supple, chalky tannins add structure, and the finish is extremely long and detailed.

Coming from the Mullineux’s own vineyard on the Paardeberg, the vines yield small, intense berries which bring real intensity to the wine. Highlighted by fresh quince, white peach and hints of lime, the nose of this Chenin Blanc is difficult to resist, and it follows through with a firm chalky texture and a lively, focused finish.

From the Eikerlan vineyard on the Paardeberg, one of the highest altitude spots here, this is a Chenin with spiced notes of ginger, fennel seed, and fresh white peach and white grapefruit. A gentle bitter lemon note adds intrigue with a breath of sea air on the finish.

This parcel, situated on the rolling hills outside of Malmesbury with Koffieklip soils enjoys cool nights and mild days during the growing season. Notable yellow orchard summer fruits, fresh orange peel and a slight flintiness welcome one on the nose, with a multi-layered palate and slightly saline finish that round off this beautifully textural wine.

From a historic parcel of dry farmed bush vine Cinsault planted in 1900 in the deep sandy alluvial soils in Wellington. This is South Africa’s oldest registered red wine vineyard. The wine has a deep perfume of freshly cut roses with a hint of thyme and pomegranate. Silky in texture, this delivers fine red berries and a hint of liquorice root.

Such a fine Chardonnay, this will give top Burgundy a run for its money. Reflecting the maritime climate, the wine opens with aromas of crushed lime and yellow grapefruit. It is so vibrant on the palate with flavours of tangerine and white pear, a touch of salinity and finishes with a textured and lush mouthfeel.

A wine to be tasted to be believed. The highest level of detail goes into the making of this wine. Each vintage a few barrels are selected to go into a complex solera system of barrel-aging. The fractionally blended Olerasay number 4 comprises wines from the 2008 through 2023 vintages. Aromas of sun-dried apricots and fynbos are followed by a concentrated palate with complex layers of citrus, candied ginger and marzipan, all balanced by a zesty acidity.

The 2023 Family Vineyards Chardonnay is sourced from three vineyard sites from the farm, two north facing, and one south facing. This is a detailed, chiselled and impeccable balanced Chardonnay with subtle notes of butterscotch, acacia, and a very fine saline finish.

A subtle, delicately spiced wine using 20% whole clusters this year. It offers notes of grilled herbs, fresh red cherries and red flowers with a little black pepper and nutmeg spice on the finish.

Always brilliant value for money the Southend Chardonnay delivers mouthwatering freshness, with immediate charm. Flavours of ripe orchard fruit, a little apricot blossom, and subtle pastry notes give way to a beautifully focused, zesty finish.

From a 2.5 hectare vineyard at the top of the slope, Windansea has a majestic view to the sea. The shallow dense clay of the soil always lends the wine more density. The 2023 is elegant and more filigree than the previous vintage with notes of red and black cherry, grilled herbs and a little savoury spice. The palate is bright and sappy with floral notes of violet and cherry blossom mingling with a little pepper spice on the finish.

Due to the vintage being warmer and drier, more stems were used in 2022. This has a lot of tension, which is balanced with ripe yet perfectly fresh fruit, and a lot of mid palate weight. This remains a benchmark for the Hemel-en-Aarde.

Very fine and pithy. Really nice fruit definition, that is fresh and juicy - and there’s also lots of cool fruit. Nicely balanced. There’s a very bright energy and good depth and density here. Good value.

A lavish wine with dense fruit, soft spice and violets. The lush black and red fruits merge to a savoury core, strewn with mineral characters and freshly turned earth. The firm framework and granular tannins are rooted in the clay soil, lengthened by fine, sinewy tannins in the finish.

Seadragon is from the oldest vineyard on the farm. It always gives fine bright red berry fruit, with perfumed aromatics of rose petal and violets. This vintage sees around 25% whole bunch lending a delicate herbal spice. The finish is long, detailed with accents of black cherry and fresh earth.

The 2023 Steen is a brilliant old vine Chenin produced from a 0.6ha block planted in 1984, at 800m elevation. Tightly coiled, this races out of the glass with energy and vibrancy. This will age beautifully – not one to miss this year.

The 2023 vintage sees a refreshed label for this wine. This year there is slightly more Colombard in the blend (just over 50%) with the remainder old vine Chenin. The wine is intense and focussed, with beautiful definition of fruit. Easy going but precise, there's an almost Chablis-like character to the fruit on the finish.

The 2021 Bosberaad comes from a single parcel on the Paardeberg, planted in 1980. The nose has quince and fresh conference pears, as well as a citrus element, while the palate is arrow straight with incredible texture. This is an outstanding Chenin Blanc: a wine from one of South Africa's best winemakers, that shouldn't be missed.

The 2022 Porseleinberg opens slowly, gradually, from the glass. A wine not to rush. Clearly a wine drawn up from below, it shows a persistent, mineral-etched focused. White pepper, wild herbs, subtle dark berry fruits and black tea mingle together. With air, the floral elements take flight giving violets, iris, and even dried lavender. The tannins are clothed in fruit but offer sinewy grip with accents of fresh earth and a ferrous, sanguine note. The wine is fermented and aged in foudres and 15% concrete with around 95% whole bunches. A profound Porseleinberg.

One of the best value Syrahs in our range, the 2023 is a continuation of the brilliant form in the 2021 and 2022. The essence of Syrah here with violets, purple fruit, black pepper, with fleshy plum notes on the palate while, all the time, remaining fresh and elegant.

100% whole bunch fermented, this is the most serious of the Syrahs from the Rall range. Dried thyme, black pepper, with compact bramble and black cherry fruit on the palate there is a note of iris and oyster shell here too. The finish is supple and extremely long with an accent of black olive tapenade.

The Ava Chenin is a focused and finessed style offering notes of white and yellow flowers, conference pear and notes of orange peel. There is a racy acidity to the wine with fine detail and subtle lemongrass notes on the finish.

Produced from a single concrete egg this year, the fruit comes from a vineyard planted in 1969 at one of the highest, most granitic points on the Paardeberg. It is tense and focused, with notes of lime blossom, white grapefruit and ocean spray on the finish.

Primarily a blend of Chenin Blanc with some Verdelho and a little Viognier, this is a charming white with bright white peach and pear flavours, delicate white flowers and lovely hint of bitter melon on the finish.

From two parcels, one in the Swartland and one in Darling, this is all about perfume and fragrance. Bright red berry fruits, there's a lot of tension here, and also very fine tannins, and a wash of rosehip and floral notes on the finish.

A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault, this has some grilled wild herbs, black pepper and hedgerow fruit on the nose. Very fine and detailed on the palate with a gentle grip of tannin and supple, fruit driven finish.

This is a brilliant iteration of one of the most interesting reds in our range. From a region that is marginal for Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 is beautifully floral, with hints of oak and refined but grippy tannins. There’s real tension on the long, savoury, mineral finish.

Very pure on the nose, with notes of citrus and stone fruit. Very tight and young - and lots of energy. This is very stony - salty and mineral, with lots of citrus. Craig likens it to St-Aubin, and we can see what he means.