Scents of lavender, cream and honey. Grapefruit heart, enfolded in nuances of honey, caramel, and toasted nuts. Richly satisfying, and very long. Now-2013

Product Code: CED508

The vineyards here are 1100-1150 metres up in the Cederberg mountains. Good natural rainfall, around 550-600mm, cool temperatures and occasionally snow-bound winters, with plenty of wind, mean that Cederberg enjoys a near perfect climate, in particular a long ripening period. The whites are mountain-fresh, with plentiful natural acidity: our favourite is the Chenin Blanc, unfailingly excellent, but we have also shipped the latest vintage of the excellent Sauvignon Blanc, and the V Generations Chenin Blanc, a tiny production wine, and a prime example of a Cape barrel aged style. The Shiraz is undoubtedly the pick of the reds: the 2006 vintage, including 5% Mourvèdre and 3% Cinsaut, won the International Rhône Trophy over £10 at the Decanter World Wine Awards in the autumn of 2008.

Ever since we first started shipping from the Cape we have prized our friendship with David Niewoudt, one of the kindest, big-hearted, amusing and passionate winemakers we know, who took over this remarkable estate from his father in 1997. Not content with the efforts he has made at Cederberg - for example the new plantings into the hard shale slopes - he has also bought land in Elim on slate and granitic soils. He has branded his wines from there Ghost Corner, the name sailors used to give to nearby Cape Agulhas, the most southerly point of Africa. The oaked Semillon was picked for the prestigious Cape Winemakers Guild Auction and also won the prize for Best Semillon at last year’s South African Terroir Wine Awards.