South Africa: New releases

One of the most underrated wines on our list, this is a blend of 10 varieties that ages spectacularly. Pithy, textured, with brilliant volume, it’s a white that you really have to discover.

Shiraz 58%, Cinsault 14%, Tinta Barocca 14%, Mourvèdre 9%, Grenache Noir 5%. The 16th release of this benchmark red, that’s smoky, intense, and finely structured. A real stunner, from a great vintage, you’ll want to let this age.

Tinta Barocca is one of the great grapes of the Swartland, and this comes from a single vineyard planted in 1966. Floral and intense, and almost bloody in character, this is remarkably well balanced, and very long indeed.

From the vineyard next to the cellar - Kelder in Afrikaans - this is as bright and energetic a Chenin Blanc as you’ll find. Volumes are miniscule, and the vines were planted in 1972. Floral and intense.

Planted in 1954, this old block of Cinsault gives an intense and refined expression of the grape. There’s real energy here, and there’s also notes of fynbos, negroni, and very fine but almost Nebbiolo-like tannins.

From a vineyard planted in 1968 at the entrance to Adi’s property, this has lots of yellow fruit and an almost tropical note, but remains taut and mineral on the finish.

Fewer than 1500 bottles are made of this, from a vineyard planted in 1966. This is intense and vibrant, and there’s so much concentration and depth of flavour. A brilliant Chenin Blanc.

From a vineyard planted in the 1940s, which also provides Eben’s Skerpioen, this is a saline, pithy, long, delicious white that’s one of Adi’s hidden gems.

Miniscule production here - just 800 kg of grapes or so come from this wall-surrounded vineyard, planted in 1963. It’s savoury and spicy, with notes of ginger and rooibos. This is intense and stunningly pure.

The style that Andre has made his own, this is an ageworthy white, with lots of bright yellow fruit, a savoury character to the palate, and also lots of energy. This is surely a match for Andre's old baby, the GVB from Vergelegen.

From grapes from the Vergelegen estate, this is an impressive Bordeaux blend. Notes of graphite and a core of dark fruit, with lots of spice and a hint of smokiness. Already approachable and delicious, this will surely age well, too.

A Malbec that comes from Keermont’s vineyards, and named in honour of Alex Starey, this is such a joyful wine. Juicy and intense, with lots of blue and black fruit, and also simply brilliant freshness. A delight.

A Cabernet Sauvignon from the high-altitude, cool Ceres plateau, this has so much going for hit. There’s just a hint of greenness, but that gives this lift and life. It’s a cool-climate Cabernet that offers incredible value for money.

Verdelho from the Helderberg, this takes its name from the Vulture, as in its early years Pieter had to hang around and wait for others to take their fill before he could access the vineyard. Now his grapes are more secure, and this is always a favourite: a wine all about texture, length, and definition.

The first release of this Chardonnay, from just four rows of a Chardonnay vineyard on the Helderberg. This is grippy and fine boned, with lots of ginger spice, and also a lot of freshness on the finish.

Grenache blanc, Verdelho, Grenache Gris and other bits and pieces, all sourced from the Voor-Paardeberg, this is a delicious mediterranean-inspired blend, that has so much savoury, herbal character, with pith, and long finish. We’re fascinated to see how this ages.

From the vineyard we’ve come to know and love for Retirement at 65, this is a pure Cinsault. It’s delicate in colour, but there’s so much intensity and vitality here. Notes of rose petal, and also a core of spice. Charming.

100% merlot from Stellenbosch, this blew us away when we tried it in February. From a vineyard on the Simonsberg, this has notes of blueberries, and then also lots of violet character, and a charming, saline, mineral finish. Brilliant.Just 902 bottles made.

The new vintage of Chocolate Block shows how this gets better and better. A core of Syrah, from Boekenhoutskloof's properties in the Swartland, this is intense, structured, but also approachable. Such a no-brainer at this price. Also watch how it ages.

Is this the best Syrah that Boekenhoutskloof have made? Surely a worthy successor to the legendary 1997: this gets better and better under Gottfried's management. Now 90% from Porseleinberg's blue schist soils, and 10% from Goldmine's brown schist, this has astonishing aromatics, with wild flowers and pure fruit, and the palate is so refined and elegant. There's minerality on the finish, which lasts for minutes. This is undoubtedly a match for the world's greatest Syrahs.

This comes from vineyards on the Helderberg, and shows more generosity than the Franschhoek Cabernet Sauvignon, with silky tannins and slightly riper fruit. There's wonderful persisitance here, and also a hint of opulence just now. Very hard to spit.

Made with more Cabernet Franc than usual - there is no Journeyman, their top blend, in 2020, so this saw the best of the grapes. Gottfried has pulled back on the new oak here, and it’s restrained, and even a little austere. But there’s so much complexity and a driven, mineral finish that lasts an age.

Mainly Grenache, with around a third Syrah, this is made in a fresh, lifted style, for easy drinking. It's inexpensive and easy to approach, with red berries, cherries, pepper and rose. It gives a lot of bang for your buck.

From the maker of Boschkloof Epilogue, this is a stunning Syrah from the Polkadraai's granite soils. Focussed and fine, with hints of blood orange alongside the core of dark berry fruit, there's so much complexity here. Already delicious, you'd be wise to lock away a few bottles for the coming years.