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: FAB117
False Bay, Chenin Blanc, Western Cape, 2017
“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: CED117
Cederberg, Chenin Blanc, Cederberg, 2017
“Almost water white. Mouthwatering entry of pineapple, lime and white peach. Zippy mountain wine - finishes dry and mineral. Now-2019”
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Product Code: BAD117
Badenhorst, Secateurs White, Chenin Blanc, Swartland, 2017
“From old - largely planted in the 1960s - vines on Adi Badenhorst’s family farm on the Paardebeerg, plus fruit from a neighbour. About 10% goes...”
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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: CHX615
Chamonix, Reserve White, Franschhoek, 2015
“Top Bordeaux-style blend, 79% Sauvignon Blanc and 21% Sémillon, barrel fermented, then into French barrels, 40% new. Lime and passion-fruit, already...”
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Product Code: CHX716
Chamonix, Chardonnay Reserve, Franschhoek, 2016
“A 2017 Platter Wine Guide 5 star winner, again confirming this as one of the Cape’s top Chardonnays. From vines at 400-500m up, the fruit is all...”
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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: NIT314
Nitida, Coronata Integration, Durbanville, 2014
“Nitida’s vineyards are at Durbanville, just on the north side of Cape Town. With its southern latitude, the chilly Atlantic just 9 kms away and...”
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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: BBO216
BLANKbottle, Epileptic Inspiration, Elgin, 2016
“It is perhaps best to let Pieter Walser introduce this wine:”
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Product Code: CAH117
Cape Heights, Chenin Blanc, Western Cape, 2017
“A revelation: winemaker Marinda Kruger Van Eck sources dry-farmed bush-vine Chenin from Paardeberg, Paarl and the Drakenstein area, and makes a...”
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Product Code: LEM813
Lemberg, Harslevelu,Tulbagh 2013
“Crafted in a deliberately oxydative style, aged in 500 litre French barrels. Apple skin fragrance, and a complex, pungent and savoury palate with...”
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Product Code: DDD114
Domaine des Dieux, Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, 2014
“A full-flavoured, perfectly-ready-to-drink, barrel-fermented and aged (about 30% new oak) Chardonnay of concentration and length. Gold medal in the...”
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Product Code: CED617
Cape Atlantic, Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, 2017
“This is David Niewoudt's 2nd label: the wine is from the young Sauvignon parcels at two cool-climate sites: the Cederberg estate, 3000 feet up...”
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Product Code: CAH316
Cape Heights Viognier Western Cape 2016
“From fruit grown on granite-based soils around Worcester, a warm zone perfect for ripening Viognier at the high yield necessary for this price. Open,...”
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Product Code: GDV117
Goedverwacht, Great Expectations, Chardonnay, Robertson, 2017
“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: CHX515
Cederberg, V Generations Chenin Blanc, 2015
“Usually about six barrels only of the estate’s top Chenin - and one of the best in the Cape - concentrated, quite oaky in youth, but delivering...”
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Product Code: FRY317
Doring Bay, Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, 2017
“The second line (with an artful tin can label) of classy seaside winery Fryer’s Cove: an intense, green-fruited and zippy SB based on their cool...”
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