Southern Rhône Varieties & Blends - Red & White

It's hard to explain just how easy this is to drink. A blend of Shiraz, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Mourvedre and Grenache, it's juicy, supple, and fresh with ease and joyfulness in the glass.

The 2020 Raaigras is a beautiful Grenache, coming from just twelve long rows of the vineyard in front of the estate, planted in 1952, making it the oldest Grenache in the Cape. It’s delicate and floral on the nose, with a power and intensity that builds over the palate. There’s stunning freshness here, and a long and mineral finish. Beautifully done.

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.

12 different varieties in the blend but Verdelho and Clairette Blanc based. This offers floral notes of white flowers, jasmine and white tea. Very delicate and finessed, the palate delivers fresh stone fruit, white peach, and little white grapefruit. Very pure and saline on the finish.

A Cinsault Shiraz blend with the Cinsault sourced from a 72 year old vineyard in Darling. This is supple and vibrant showing fresh summer berries, cola and crushed violets. Some wild herbs, fresh earth, and a little white pepper spice on the finish which is wonderfully long.

A blend of 73% Grenache that was whole bunch fermented and 27% of Syrah that was destemmed. This is a highly perfumed red with notes of violets, wild herbs, blood orange and black cherry. This is dangerously easy to enjoy.

This comes from a vineyard that's from incredibly close to the sea: the old Bredell farm, that's the source of many of the Scions of Sinai wines, among others. This is just so joyful and fresh, with a real sense of purity and energy on the palate. Beautifully balanced, and very long indeed.

A beautiful, elegant style of Grenache showing delicate orange blossom, red summer berries and wild herbs, there is a seamless feel on the palate. Notes of Aperol, violets and pomegranate on the finish with a lovely hint of liquorice.

A beautiful, elegant style of Grenache showing delicate orange blossom, red summer berries and wild herbs, there is a seamless feel on the palate. Notes of Aperol, violets and pomegranate on the finish with a lovely hint of liquorice.

Just over 60% Grenache in the blend with the rest mainly Syrah, this opens with spicy white pepper notes, wild herbs and violets. The fruit is pristine and focused with flavours of red berries and red cherry. Wonderful perfume and energy to the wine.

A blend of Shiraz, Cinsault, and Grenache, this is a wine that gets better and better with every year that goes past. So much pretty fruit, with tension and lots of savoury notes. There’s a purity to the finish, and lots of mineral savouriness that shines through. Gorgeous.

Named in honour of Franco's daughter, Lua, this is a delicate, perfumed, almost Pinot-like Grenache from the Piekenierskloof. Tiny quantities are made, and its rightly soughtafter. Notes of pomegranate and wild strawberries, and also lots of spice on the finish. Just so pretty, long, and refined.

A wine that Lukas dreamed up when he spend 8 days in hospital with covid. From the Swartland, this has 3% Grenache, 9% Cinsault, with the balance made up of Syrah planted on Schist. Generous and velvety, but still with finesse, it’s utterly delicious.

From the Rustenhof farm, with the closest Cinsault vines to the ocean, this is stunning. Bright and juicy, 40% stems brings a lift and a herbal complexity. There’s purity and aromatic complexity, yet it remains so lively and fun. Delicious.

A delicate, fine boned, and strawberry fruited Grenache, that's one of the cape's best. There's so much perfume here, with notes of rooibos and fynbos, and also a core of delicate wild strawberries. The tannins are powdery and dry, and there's lovely freshness on the finish. A delight.

One of our favourite whites from South Africa, this is a wine that sees some skin contact, and is all about salinity, freshness, and texture. Notes of orange peel and wild strawberries support the white peach and pear fruit. There's a spiciness, and also a lot of texture on the palate. Beautifully judged.

From a historic parcel of dry farmed bush vine Cinsault planted in 1900 in the deep sandy alluvial soils in Wellington. This is South Africa’s oldest registered red wine vineyard. The wine has a deep perfume of freshly cut roses with a hint of thyme and pomegranate. Silky in texture, this delivers fine red berries and a hint of liquorice root.

From two parcels, one in the Swartland and one in Darling, this is all about perfume and fragrance. Bright red berry fruits, there's a lot of tension here, and also very fine tannins, and a wash of rosehip and floral notes on the finish.

A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault, this has some grilled wild herbs, black pepper and hedgerow fruit on the nose. Very fine and detailed on the palate with a gentle grip of tannin and supple, fruit driven finish.

From a parcel planted in 2009, this is a really fine, modern style of Grenache Blanc giving white peach, yellow flowers, a little flinty and spicy. Super tension, here with a little ginger spice and a hint of bitter melon and miso on the finish.

From a plot originally planted in 1968, and subsequently interplanted in 1988. Sappy and energetic this is effortless and weightless on the palate. Charming and very delicate and pure in style. Earthy, spicy, with wild herbs, and crunchy hedgerow red berries it has been fermented with around 20% whole bunches.

Mainly Grenache with 9% of Pinotage, this is a spicy, supple red with notes of violets, black cherry and black team. Poised and finessed, this is a medium-bodied red which focuses on charming aromatics and red berry fruit.

The best Grenache Blanc that Chris Williams has made to date. A tense and vibrant style, it offers notes of jasmine, white tea, white grapefruit with vibrant and moreish salinity. Beautifully focused, this is a totally charming white that delivers incredible value for money.

45% Syrah from Bredekloof and Bot River, with 33% Breedekloof Grenache, 13% Carignan, and 9% Mourvèdre. This is very pure and focussed, with lots of wild strawberry character, wet stones, bramble, and white pepper. A lovely red, that shouldn't be overlooked.