South Africa: New releases

The 2019 Clara comes from three high altitude vineyards, with the Perdeblokke added for richness and intensity. It’s an astonishing Sauvignon. Notes of peach and spearmint swirl from the class, with a textured palate, and real focus on the finish. Matt Day is a brilliant winemaker, and this shows why: this is one of the best Sauvignons we know.

The Metis Sauvignon Blanc was inspired by Matt’s time in Sancerre. It comes from a single plot at high altitude, with more granite in the soil than the single vineyards. Treated naturally in the cellar, with as little intervention as possible, Matt leaves this on the lees for longer than when he started, and is putting more and more of the blend into oak. The result is a wine that impresses with its tension and sizzling energy, but that doesn’t lack breadth, or mouthfilling texture.

Just a lovely Rose from Matt Day, only bottled in tiny quantities, and only in magnums. So much texture and salinity here, it has you reaching for glass after glass.

The 2017 Vin de Constance is another example of how Matt Day has moved the style of this into something that is stunningly elegant, without losing any of its purity and freshness. This is remarkable - explosive on the nose with fresh apricots and thyme, there’s incredible poise and freshness here. The finish is long and savoury - this is sweet but not overbearing. Bravo - a match for the greatest sweet wines of the world.

The 2017 Vin de Constance is another example of how Matt Day has moved the style of this into something that is stunningly elegant, without losing any of its purity and freshness. This is remarkable - explosive on the nose with fresh apricots and thyme, there’s incredible poise and freshness here. The finish is long and savoury - this is sweet but not overbearing. Bravo - a match for the greatest sweet wines of the world.