South Africa 2021

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.

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.

In the early 20th century, Caperitif was mentioned in many of the greatest bartending books, and now Adi is bringing this Vermouth-like aperitif back to life. 46 different ingredients are infused into a wine base, which is fortified with grape spirit. It's utterly delicious, and transports you to the cape immediately. We love it with tonic and ice, but check our Adi's website for more cocktail ideas.

A serious Cinsault from a vineyard planted on the Paardeberg in 1954. This has notes of liquorice, rose petal, and lifted strawberry fruit. And it will age brilliantly, too. Powdery tannins complete the picture. You can almost taste the soil here. Brilliant.

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.

From a vineyard that only really started being productive at the age of 65, this is so lifted and pure. It's one of the best examples of Cinsault we know of in South Africa. Just so delicious.

A cool climate Cabernet Sauvignon, with very refined tannins, a little clove spice and lifted lavender notes, and a lovely core of dark fruit. Pieter is so talented when it comes to this grape variety.

A left field blend from Pieter: Grenache, Cinsault, Pinot, Syrah and then some Chenin Blanc & Viognier. This is a ripost to those who claim Pieter is a jack of all trades, master of none. It's so easy drinking, but with the structure and length to make it interesting.

The 2020 Little William Syrah is a stunning, cool-climate Syrah from one of South Africa’s most dynamic producers. It’s cool, fresh and perfumed, with lots of floral lift and a really mineral finish. This is so delicious now, but will age well, too.

While the Epilogue Syrah gets all the plaudits, the Sons of Sugarland is arguably just as good, if not even better. It sees no oak, and is a peppery, suave, floral expression of the grape. With bottlings like this, it's no wonder that Reenen is regarded as one of the Cape's Syrah masters.

The 2019 Epilogue underlines its credentials as one of South Africa's best Syrahs, and one of the best wines here in general. It's almost Hermitage like in intensity, with dried herbs and a hint of iron oxide on the finish. Reenen's wines get better and better. Don't miss this.

A blend of 32% Chardonnay, 25% Roussanne, 13% Chenin Blanc, 13% Verdelho, 5% Muscat, this is the first vintage this has been predominantly Chardonnay. This is so complex and delicious, and gets better and better every year. A brilliant wine from a wonderful producer.

All the fruit for this comes from upper part of the vineyard, and is the result of three separate picks. This is lower in alcohol than usual, and has loads of yellow and greengage fruit, and lots of saline tension. Just so alluring: brilliant.

Due to a delay in bottles arriving, this spent 18 months on the lees, rather than the planned 16. Just two thirds of a normal harvest this year, and this is the most expensive per bottle wine they’ve ever made, due to the tiny yields and the careful selection that went into the wine. The result is stunning, with incredible concentration and power. Fruit that would normally go into Broom Ridge and Huilkruins went in here.

Chris comments that the 2020 Magnetic North had the most perfect grapes he’d ever seen. It’s from a 550m high vineyard, 30km from the coast, on red soils, with just 1.3 tons picked this year. This is stunning, and totally unique. It’s so savoury and herbal, with incredible focus and a finish that lasts for minutes. Stunning.

The vineyard takes its name from from the final use for the land before vineyards were planted: to shoot a film about Napoleon. Here, clay and iron rich soils with schist, just 6km from the ocean give plenty of structure: this is an intense Pinot Noir. Notes of pomegranate and a hint of citrus complete the picture on this brilliant wine.

The Peter Max Pinot Noir is the introduction to the estate. It comes from five different plots, from different regions, and its name honours the first growers to sell grapes for the wine (the sources have since changed). It’s lifted and approachable, with lots of pomegranate and blood orange character. Just lovely in 2020.

From seven different vineyards, planted on different soils, with planting dates ranging from 1968 to 1985. This is the best yet: suave and silky, with just enough palate weight and a lovely thread of acidity.

The Hoë Steen, literally high Chenin Blanc, comes from tall bush vines (hence the name) planted in 1968 on iron rich soils some 40km to the west. South facing it ripens late, and there’s a bed of limestone, virtually unheard of in the Swartland, that brings nervy acidity alongside the wine’s creamy texture. There’s a lovely peachy core here, and a long and saline finish. Brilliant.

The first single vineyard they made was the Skaliekop, from a vineyard planted in 1985 on the Paardebosch farm. This vineyard is an anomaly: an island of schist on the normally granite Paardeberg. Indeed, the name means hill of Shale, and this gives a mineral, reserved character to the wine. This has notes of fennel and lime blossom, and the potential here is outstanding.

From five sites in the Swartland, this might just be the best pick in the entire range. It’s a wine that works on different levels: it’s easy drinking and very approachable, with pure fruit and mouth watering freshness. But there’s also a complexity and purity here that marks out the Cape’s very best Chenin Blancs.

The most improved wine in the cellar, this is a really lovely Cabernet Franc. From shale and sandstone, there’s lovely red fruited perfume as well as plenty of energy on the finish. This is incredibly well balanced.

As the name might suggest, this from Elgin and Botrivier fruit was all fermented and then left in amphorae. It’s nicely textured, with grapefruit purity, and loads of salinity on the palate. A really delicious Sauvignon Blanc.

From vines that are reaching a good level of maturity, this is a really impressive Syrah from Peter-Allan. Lavender and liquorice, and blackberry fruit mark out a wine that balances the warmth of the site and delicate winemaking. Outstanding.

Just the second vintage, and produced in miniscule quantities, this is floral and lifted, with lovely purity of fruit, and a juicy, fine-boned finish. Serve this at cellar temperature for a totally delicious Syrah.

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.

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.

The Chi Riesling is from the cool region of Elgin, and reflects Jessica’s love for all things Mosel. Indeed, the soils here, at 300m of altitude and 10km from the ocean, are red slate, just like the hillsides above Urzig. It’s slightly off-dry (although in German classifications it would be classed as dry), and is a pure, savoury Riesling that’s simply delicious. Chi means ‘life force’, reflecting the energy Jessica seeks in her Riesling, and also refers to Chiuta, the African rain god: Elgin is the wettest part of the Cape. This ages brilliantly.

The country’s benchmark Pinotage delivers again in 2019. Notes of rose petal and a whiff of smoke on the nose, the palate is vibrant and full, with lovely minerality on the finish.

2017 was a spectacular vintage in South Africa, and this Cabernet Sauvignon is a brilliant iteration from Kanonkop: possibly the best we’ve tasted from here. This is fine-boned, crunchy, but with perfect ripeness. Don’t miss this.

From a vineyard planted in 1953, the finest site on Kanonkop’s estate in their eyes, just 6,500 bottles are produced of the Black Label Pinotage. It’s powerful and intense, but it’s the quality of the tannins that’s simply remarkable. A unique wine: this needs to be tasted to be believed.

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.

Keermont's Bordeaux blend has undergone a revamp from 2015, with more careful selection and much smaller production. This is brilliant: minty, dark berries, and incredibly refined tannins. Very very good.

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 2016 Kaaimansgat Blanc de Blancs Cap Classique from Krone is a stunning fizz that puts many Champagnes at double the price to shame. Notes of apple and a hint of fresh ginger on the nose, as well as citrus peel, there’s a focussed palate with just the right amount of richness. This is utterly delicious and long. It’s well worth discovering.

A blend of grapes from Greyton and Cape South Coast. Lovely energy here, with fynbos and tapenade notes, and then a core of dark fruit. Very nicely done.

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. 

Sam is probably South Africa’s best Viognier producer. This shows why. Bot River, Elgin, Stellenbosch and Sutherland fruit makes up the blend, and the wine is peachy, with pear skin complexity and stem ginger, too. Lovely.

The 2018 Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc comes from a blend of fruit from the Lismore vineyards, and also from a vineyard overlooking Walker Bay. Creamy, with notes of nettle and manuka honey, and a lovely lifted grapefruit finish. This is textured and poised, with a persistent finish. Really rather lovely.

The most improved wine in Franco’s cellar, this is a stunner in 2020. It’s a blend of 44% Grenache Noir, 31% Cinsault, and 25% Syrah, and is floral, lifted, and so light on its feet. There’s such perfume here, as well as incredible energy. Just such a delight.

This is a blend of 52% Chenin Blanc from Swartland and Stellenbosch, 40% Verdelho from Stellenbosch, from the Cape’s oldest block, 5% Grenache Blanc which spends five days on the skins, and 3% Grenache Gris, fermented in clay pots. It’s a brilliant white, all about texture, drive, and savouriness. This is not to be missed.

For Lukas, a good glass of Cinsaut should be like jumping into weightlessness, shouting Geronimo. This comes predominantly from 40+ year old vines on the Helderberg, and is one of our favourite Cinsauts from South Africa. Floral and fine, with citrus lift and real salinity, it's an absolute beauty. Slightly chilled, it's ready to go right away - but it will surely age brilliantly, too.

The 2020 Trust your gut is absolutely gorgeous. Floral, perfumed and wonderfully lifted, there's a core of grapefruit and elderflower, as well as greengage and yellow plum, and then leesy complexity on the palate. There's such drive on the finish, from the Paardeberg fruit, and then a peacock's tail of flavours emerges. Remarkable, and for this price a must-buy.

Lukas van Loggerenberg lamented the lack of a rosé culture in South Africa. And so he decided to do something about it. This comes from Cinsault vines, from the closest vineyard to the southern ocean in Stellenbosch, on the sandy soils of the lower slopes of the Helderberg. More akin to top Bandol rosé than easier, quaffing styles, it’s saline, savoury, and totally beguiling. A total bargain at this price.

The 2020 Stars in the Dark comes from 3 different sites within the Cape Agulhas ward, in the far south of the African continent. With parcels on clay, shale, and koffieklip, and each plot treated differently, this is a stunningly pure, silky, complex Syrah. Notes of wild flowers and white pepper swirl from the glass, while the palate has astonishing purity and focus. There's the salinity on the finish that we've come to expect from this great wine. This is not to be missed.

The 2020 Experimental Blanc comes from a single Semillon vineyard planted in Elgin. It's a vibrant, pure, textured while, with stunning purity and a long and focussed finish. This will age beautifully: bravo Sam.

The 2019 Connect the Dots comes from 3 different sites - 2 in Elgin, that have subsequently been ripped out, and one in Stellenbosch, on the Helderberg. The wine is whole bunch fermented, and has lift and pepper spice, and a really beguiling texture. This is a real beauty.

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.

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 from a farm on the Paardeberg, next to Eben Sadie’s farm, and it’s so complex and pure. Notes of wild berries and pomegranate, and a fine thread of acidity - too often missing with Grenache. Just spectacular.

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.

The first vintage of this, completing the Grenache trilogy. It’s from the Voor Paardeberg, and it’s a lovely expression of a grape that can too often be flabby and uninteresting. This is anything but. Lime zest and pear flesh, and just a hint of fresh vanilla pod, this is complex, savoury, and delicious.

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 Syrah is as true an expression of this grape variety in the Swartland’s varied terroirs as you’ll find. In 2018, it’s a blend of four parcels planted in the stony Shale and Schist based soils of the Kasteelberg; two parcels of dry-land, bush vines grown in the decomposed Granite of the Paardeberg; and one on the rolling, iron-rich soils west of Malmesbury. The vines are aged between 22 and 30 years, and while delicious on first release, it’s a wine that will age impressively. There’s slightly less whole bunch this year, and it’s really open, grippy, and very fine.

From a plot in Franchhoek planted in 1932, there are just 5,000 bottles of the Franschhoek Old Vines Lötter Cinsault.

Chenin Blanc is grown on a 39-year-old Schist soil vineyard on Kasteelberg and a 43-year-old Granite soil vineyard on the Paardeberg, and the grapes are left to dry in the shade for 2-4 weeks following harvest. The resulting wine is remarkably pure and focussed. There’s a lemon character, with seville oranges and loads of spice all adding complexity. This is a brilliant sweet wine from Chris & Andrea Mullineux.

The Dry Red is inspired by the South African reds of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. At this time, wines labelled as Cabernet Sauvignon would frequently have a considerable proportion of Cinsault, and this is an equal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Cinsault, and is a wine built for long ageing.

From a parcel planted in 1900, this is an incredible Cinsault of depth and power, and remarkable structure. Tiny quantities produced.

A blend of Chenin, Viognier, Verdelho, Semillon Gris and a few other grapes. A lovely nose that is saline and fine, with plenty of reduction. Really nice savoury finish. Punches above its weight

The 2020 Family Vineyards from Newton Johnson is another brilliant release from this beautiful estate. So fine and finessed, with lovely juicy fruit and lots of saline, savoury tannins, this is long and pure, and totally delicious already. This is a must buy every year.

The 2020 Bosberaad is from a single vineyard on the Paardeberg, planted on granite, with just 2,000 bottles produced. This is savoury and pure, with citrus lift, delicate spice, and a long and floral finish. Utterly delicious and sure to age well, it's not to be missed.

The 2019 Porseleinberg is an astonishingly complex, concentrated, refined wine, with notes of lavender and dark berries on the nose, and a palate that wows with its poise yet power, and incredibly sumptuous tannins. This is surely now one of the world's greatest Syrahs. It's not to be missed on first release.

First produced in 2015, his Grenache Blanc comes from 600-650m elevation in Piekenierskloof, and this elevation makes sure that this is as taut an expression of Grenache Blanc that you’ll find, all about texture and focus. It’s a benchmark for the grape in the Cape.

Donovan’s Cinsault was first released in 2015, and is a blend of fruit from Swartland, shared with David Sadie, and Darling, from the same vineyard as Duncan Savage’s Follow the Line. It’s a really lovely expression of this grape, with loads of rose petal and plenty of juicy berry fruit. Will also age well.

A blend of 70% Syrah, 12% Grenache, 10% Carignan, and 8% Cinsault, this is a brilliant Mediterranean red from a master winemaker. Hints of wild herbs and plenty of red fruit, there are saline tannins here, and a really lifted, elegant quality to the fruit.

From the same schist vineyard as the Ava Chenin, farmed by Donovan and his team. Incredible purity of fruit here, with plenty of baked earth complexity, as well as amazing energy. Donovan is making some of the Cape’s best wines today. Don’t miss this.

From two vineyards on Craig & Anne’s estate, the 2018 Main Road and Dignity might just be the best iteration of this yet. It’s got incredible depth of fruit, with blackcurrant and lavender notes, as well as the slight leafiness that marks these wines out as so refined. The finish is mineral and long, and the potential for ageing is spectacular. Don’t miss this.

Made from vines that were first planted 21 years ago, and named after Anne and Craig’s daughter. Incredibly Burgundian in style, the granite soils here give taut minerality and restraint, while the finish on the wine is astonishingly long.

From biodynamically farmed grapes in the Polkedraai, the 2019 Syrah from Reyneke is a stunning red. Floral and expressive, there’s notes of raspberry coulis and pomegranate, as well as incredible lift, and a mineral, textured finish. It’s a brilliant wine, with everything in impeccable balance. It’s a real advert for the holistic approach of Johan Reyneke.

The reserve red is Polkedraai Syrah, and is a stunningly beautiful Syrah from Johan and his team. This has loads of violet lift, crushed rock, and a core of blue fruit on the nose. The tannins are so refined, and the finish lasts an age. Outstanding.

Dubbed one of the "world's greatest Sauvignon Blancs" by Tim Atkin MW, the 2019 Reserve White is a really lovely wine. Fine-boned and suave, with notes of grapefruit and lime cordial, and plenty of spice too. A hint of reduction ensures it remains restrained, as well as hints at future greatness.

From biodynamically farmed grapes from Reyneke's estate, the 2020 Chenin Blanc is the best we've tried from Johan and his team. A hint of bruised apple, wild flowers, and a slight leesy complexity makes a wine that's ridiculously easy to drink

From 11 tiny parcels, the 2018 Pinot Noir is a powdery-tannined example of the grape, with notes of pomegranate and loads of floral elements. Red fruited and long, it’s a really lovely Pinot.

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 Thief in the Night is, in 2020, around 63% Grenache, with the rest made up of 26% Cinsault and 11% Syrah. It comes from Piekenierskloof, with the Grenache coming from the same vineyard as Eben Sadie’s Soldaat - Eben has 8 rows, and Duncan has 4. Here, at 550m elevation on sandstone soils, the wine maintains stunning energy alongside perfect ripeness. It’s red fruited and spiced, and very long indeed.

The 2020 Viognier from The Foundry is a really lovely expression of this grape variety. It has a little of the peach character you'd expect of Viognier, but it remains brilliantly balanced, with plenty of saline minerality on the finish. Just delicious.

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.

Tin Soldier is 100% Semillon Gris from a vineyard propagated from cuttings from the Paper Kite vineyard, and planted just eight years ago. It’s fermented on the skins, and is copper-coloured and stunningly complex. Notes of orange pith and fresh ginger swirl from the glass, while the palate is wonderfully saline and brilliantly long. A favourite, the 2020 is taking this wine to a whole new level.

A blend of 41% Grenache from the Voor Paardeberg, 30% Syrah from the Swartland and Stellenbosch, and 29% Bot River Mourvèdre, this is a juicy, fine boned red that shows lovely focus alongside notes of pepper, redcurrant, and pomegranate. A wine that shows just how talented John is: it shouldn’t be missed.

Originally made for John’s parents-in-law’s restaurant in the Drakensberg, in KwaZulu-Natal, we’re thrilled that he’s now allowed us to buy a little. This comes from different sources in the Overberg, and is a lovely Pinot Noir, with notes of fresh red berries, and plenty of silky tannins, herbal notes, and a long and savoury finish. A lovely addition to the range.

In 2020 this is a blend of 35% Semillon Blanc from a 38 year old vineyard in Franschhoek, 28% Roussanne from Stellenbosch & the Paardeberg, 16% Chardonnay from the Ceres Plateau, 15% Paardeberg Chenin Blanc from a 41 year old vineyard, and 6% Clairette Blanche from a 36 year old Swartland vineyard. The 2020 is a wine of elegance and refinement, with notes of honey and nettle, and lots of yellow fruit and greengage. Complex, delicious, and spectacular value.

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.

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 an ageing Cabernet Franc bushvine on the edge of the Paarl appellation, that’s grown on weathered sandstone and decomposed granite soil. It’s a very silky, elegant expression, with lots of top floral notes, and then very silky tannins, too.