South Africa 2021

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.

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.

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.

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.

From young wines on Chris’ own farm, from Oudam and Arbeitsend farms on the Skurfberg, and from Piekenierskloof. All dry farmed Chenin, this is so complex and fragrant, with plenty of up front fruit and a long and fine finish. Brilliant: a fine debut.

Chris had to change the name of the old La Colline Semillon due to a legal challenge. This comes from vines that were planted as far back as 1937. It’s got spearmint lift and loads of energy. There’s a hint of orange skin, too. Very complex, and going to be incredibly long lived.