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: FAB119
False Bay, Chenin Blanc, Western Cape, 2019 (Screwcap)
“From dry-farmed, bush vines, mainly in the Paardeberg and Riebeek Valley, slowly fermented, using only wild yeasts. Lightly honeyed scent. This is...”
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Product Code: CED119
Cederberg, Chenin Blanc, Cederberg, 2019 (Screwcap)
“Always our benchmark wine at this estate - this is the 17th continuous vintage we have shipped. As usual, almost water white. Open, appealing scent...”
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Product Code: BAD119
Badenhorst, Secateurs White, Chenin Blanc, Swartland, 2019 (Screwcap)
“10% goes into old oak barrels, giving volume rather than oak flavour, and the wine gains weight from about seven months on its lees. This is just so...”
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Product Code: BAD317
Badenhorst Family White, Kalmoesfontein White Blend, Coastal Region, 2017
“The target is consistent, a densely textured, complex wine, based on fruit from the family vineyards on the Paardeberg: in this vintage 32% Chenin...”
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Product Code: CHX716
Chamonix, Chardonnay Reserve, Franschhoek, 2016
“Barrel fermented and aged for 14 months, with 20% matured in expensive Nomblot eggs. In its youth this appeared lighter - the actual alcohol is just...”
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Product Code: FRY117
Fryer's Cove, Sauvignon Blanc, Bamboes Bay, 2017
“A Cape Pouilly-Fumé - an intense mouthful of gooseberry and passion-fruit, checked by crisp minerality. Some tasters may taste salt in this wine -...”
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Product Code: CED418
Ghost Corner, Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc, Elim, 2018 (Screwcap)
“From vines on slate, koffieklip and gravel at cool Cape Agulhas, this is David’s top Sauvignon: the 2017 vintage won the Sauvignon Blanc trophy in...”
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Product Code: CAH119
Cape Heights, Chenin Blanc, Western Cape, 2019 (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: BAD219
Badenhorst Family Wines, Papegaai, Palomino / Semillon, Western Cape, 2019 (Screwcap)
“By European standards this is a strange blend: the Spanish Palomino grape, known for sherry; with Semillon, best known for dry and late harvest wines...”
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Product Code: CED619
Cape Atlantic, Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, 2019 (Screwcap)
“We are the sole importers of this brilliantly charged and zippy SB, made by top Cape winemaker David Nieuwoudt at Cederberg. Although there is no...”
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Product Code: GDV119
Goedverwacht, Great Expectations, Chardonnay, Robertson, 2019 (Screwcap)
“Our favourite wine at this estate - and one which has become more and more popular, even to the point of us selling it to some smart restaurants - is...”
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Product Code: CED319
Cederberg, Bukettraube, Cederberg, 2019 (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: FRY319
Doring Bay, Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, 2019 (Screwcap)
“Doring Bay is the second line of Fryer’s Cove. An intense, green-fruited and zippy example, based on their cool coastal fruit, punchy and...”
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Product Code: DDD116
Domaine des Dieux, Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, 2016
“ "A smart cool-climate Chardonnay. About 30 per cent new oak. A perfect, luxurious but keenly priced alternative to white burgundy with...”
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Product Code: SIX119
Six Hats, Chenin Blanc, Western Cape, 2019 (Screwcap)
“Six hats is the Piekenierskloof estate’s second, Fairtrade label, including fruit not just from the estate but from farmers near Malmesbury too....”
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Product Code: KOE117
Koelfontein Chardonnay, Ceres, 2017
“From a block planted in 1987, and about 1/3 matured in new barrels, 2/3 second fill. Opulent, exotic, full-on example – an old-fashioned Cape...”
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Product Code: RUS919
HALF Rustenberg, Straw Wine, Coastal Region, 2019
“From 81.5% Chenin Blanc and 18.5% Viognier dried on straw in the Italian passito manner to concentrate juice and sugar. Very luscious (an amazing 226...”
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Product Code: GDV318
Goedverwacht, J & G Chardonnay, Robertson, 2018
“Goedverwacht translates from Afrikaans as "good hope".This Chardonnay is made by father Jan Du Toit in collaboration with son Gawie, hence...”
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Product Code: STO120
Stonedance, Granite White, Swartland, 2020
“Look at this – a Swartland Chenin blend for less than £10 a bottle! Stonedance is a subsidiary label of Piekenierskloof (see below) and...”
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Product Code: CED620
Cape Atlantic Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, 2020
“Although there is no mention on the label, this is about two thirds from the young Sauvignon parcels at Cederberg, plus a third from the Ghost Corner...”
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Product Code: PIK119
Piekenierskloof, Grenache Blanc, Piekenierskloof, 2019
“Piekenierskloof, formerly a co-operative but now privately owned, owns outstanding vineyards across the Paleisheuwel plateau in the Citrusdal...”
Displaying Wines 1 to 21 of 21
