South Africa
South African White Wines
(from IWC 2016's South African Specialist Award Winner)
South Africa’s white grape is Chenin Blanc, a local speciality: after all, there’s a lot more Chenin planted in the Cape than there is in its Loire homeland.
We always offer half a dozen pure or Chenin-dominated styles, from thrillingly crisp and mineral via fruity and weighty to oaked examples.
Chardonnay is also hugely successful in the Cape, at every price level, but especially from cooler zones such as the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and Franschhoek. Likewise even if it’s too hot in most of the winelands for Sauvignon Blanc, the best, from cool coastal vineyards, successfully bestride the gap between Loire and New Zealand styles.
The most exciting recent development in the Cape is the emergence of South African white blends as a real national strength: these now come in three styles: Chenin-based blends with a seasoning of varieties from Chardonnay, Sauvignon to oddball extras; white Bordeaux blends majoring on Sauvignon and Semillon; and Rhône blends featuring Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, and Clairette - with perhaps some Chenin.
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South Africa
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Product Code: FAB118
False Bay, Chenin Blanc, Western Cape, 2018 (screwcap)
“This is becoming a stalwart of our list, always exhibiting a depth of flavour and weight in part derived from the inclusion of parcels of old vine...”
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Product Code: CED118
Cederberg, Chenin Blanc, Cederberg, 2018
“Almost water white. Mouthwatering entry of pineapple, lime and white peach. Zippy mountain wine - finishes dry and mineral. Now-2021”
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Product Code: BAD118
Badenhorst, Secateurs White, Chenin Blanc, Swartland, 2018 (screwcap)
“An old favourite here: sunnily exotic fruit - tangerines and lime - with a hint of honey. "The fruit is pristine with discreet pineapple husk,...”
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Product Code: BAD316
Badenhorst Family White, Kalmoesfontein White Blend, Coastal Region, 2016
“This is the top white blend made by Adi Badenhorst, hirsute parrot breeder and winemaking genius. The target is consistent, a densely textured,...”
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Product Code: CHX716
Chamonix, Chardonnay Reserve, Franschhoek, 2016
“This seems more restrained than past vintages - more sophisticated? Aromas of high quality barrels and stone fruit. Creamy volume and richness. So...”
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Product Code: FRY116
Fryer's Cove, Sauvignon Blanc, Bamboes Bay, 2016
“"The Fryer’s Cove Sauvignon, made with grapes that are grown right on the Atlantic Ocean, is always released a little later. It’s an...”
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Product Code: ATA114
Ataraxia, Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Western Cape, 2014
“Now sourced entirely from cool-climate sites in Hemel-enAarde, picked in late March, barrel-fermented, and aged in 26% new French barrels, 74% second...”
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Product Code: BBO117
Blankbottle, Moment of Silence, Wellington, 2017
“Moment of Silence (or MoS for short) is always the best value wine in Pieter Walser’s eclectic zoo of mad and bad blends. Chenin Blanc from four...”
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Product Code: CAH118
Cape Heights, Chenin Blanc, Western Cape, 2018 (screwcap)
“Surprisingly good at the price: winemaker Marinda Kruger Van Eck sources dry-farmed bush-vine Chenin from Paardeberg, Paarl and the Drakenstein area,...”
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Product Code: DDD115
Domaine des Dieux, Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, 2015
“A full-flavoured, perfectly-ready-to-drink, barrel-fermented and aged (about 30% new oak) Chardonnay of concentration and length. The grapes are...”
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Product Code: CED618
Cape Atlantic, Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, 2018 (screwcap)
“We are the sole importers of this brilliantly charged and zippy SB. It’s made by top Cape winemaker David Niewoudt from the young Sauvignon parcels...”
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Product Code: GDV118
Goedverwacht, Great Expectations, Chardonnay, Robertson, 2018
“From the Goedverwacht estate, very lightly oaked, gently creamy, with lime and melon flavours and a vanilla hint, this is a very correct,...”
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Product Code: CAP116
Cape Rock White, Olifants River, 2016
“Cape Rock is the creation of Gavin Brand, a mildly introverted and modest landscape architect in Cape Town. His family’s 11 hectare farm is near...”
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Product Code: CED318
Cederberg, Bukettraube, Cederberg, 2018 (screwcap)
“"Cederberg produce a well-made, exotically-fruited version with around 25g/l residual sugar", Jancis Robinson , Wine Grapes, 2012. We...”
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Product Code: CED516
Cederberg, V Generations Chenin Blanc, 2016
“Just seven barrels this vintage of the estate’s top Chenin – always one of the best in the Cape, attested by this vintage being a Platter five...”
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Product Code: FRY317
Doring Bay, Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, 2017 (screwcap)
“Doring Bay is the second line (with an artful tin can label, a nod to the winery’s location inside a former canning factory) of Fryer’s Cove. An...”
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