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.

54% Chenin Blanc, 14% Semillon, 13% Roussanne, 9% Viognier, 6% Grenache Blanc and 4% Palomino. This is just so good. Floral on the nose, there’s notes of marzipan and sea spray, and then stem ginger and plenty of grippy texture on the palate. Our favourite SA white blend, surely.

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.

1,500 bottles of this ageworthy Chenin produced, which is the flintiest, most focussed of Adi's wines. The vines were planted in 1966, and yields are pitiful. The concentration and drive here is remarkable.

1,500 bottles of this ageworthy Chenin produced, which is the flintiest, most focussed of Adi's wines. The vines were planted in 1966, and yields are pitiful. The concentration and drive here is remarkable.

Planted at the same time as the Klipkop, next to the cellar (Kelder in Afrikaans), just 1,400litres of juice came from 1.2hectares: yields are astonishingly small here. It's a little more overtly fruited, with hints of yellow fruit, but still incredible focus on the saline finish. Brilliant.

Planted at the same time as the Klipkop, next to the cellar (Kelder in Afrikaans), just 1,400litres of juice came from 1.2hectares: yields are astonishingly small here. It's a little more overtly fruited, with hints of yellow fruit, but still incredible focus on the saline finish. Brilliant.

Undoubtedly the hardest wine name to pronounce in the world. It’s from a 1962 planted vineyard on the Paardeberg, and is an epic wine. Notes of iodine and blood orange, with a core of dark fruit, and sumptuous tannins. Don’t miss this, even in halves. Fewer than 1,500 bottles are made.

From a vineyard right on the coast, some 150km from the estate, this is the best straight Palomino we know. From anywhere. So saline and structured, there's hints of lemon oil and a minty lift, too. This is outstanding.

A blend of Shiraz, Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Tinta Barocca and Touriga National, there's wonderful depth here, with notes of fynbos and lots of spice, with clove and dried thyme shining through. This is incredibly pure and fine boned: a brilliant wine from Adi and his team.

A blend of Shiraz, Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Tinta Barocca and Touriga National, there's wonderful depth here, with notes of fynbos and lots of spice, with clove and dried thyme shining through. This is incredibly pure and fine boned: a brilliant wine from Adi and his team.

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.

Luuks means luxury in Afrikaans, and this was the first wine with which Pieter had ever used new oak. It's a real delight: lots of spicy notes from that oak, but it's retained the texture and focus we love in Pieter's wines.

The 2020 Empire Strikes Back is a blend of Verdelho, Marsanne, Viognier, Roussanne, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc, and is fragrant, textured, and impressively long. There’s a ripeness to the fruit here, but it’s not overblown: rather, it’s all about layers of flavour and precision on the saline finish. It’s a brilliant South African white: one to discover.

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.