Delaire Graff, Chardonnay, Banghoek Reserve, 2021, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Rather good is this Chardonnay from Delaire Graff in Stellenbosch. Its a solid dry chardonnay with plenty of flavour’s. Balanced acidity shows off the components with citrus, lime, lemon, pear and melon all showing up. There’s a little creaminess/butter and subtle oak in the back ground.
The downside is the £30 price mark which is a little steep but is worth trying.
Jordan Vineyard, Nine Yards, Chardonnay, 2019, South Africa
South Africa’s Western Cape is an amazing place that does fantastic wines at all levels and although this Nine yards vintage is on the pricier side it’s flaming brilliant.
It’s dry but bold with good acidity and flavours and aromas of peach, citrus, honey with vanilla and oak with hints of green apple and a softness that makes it absolutely delicious.
I would definitely have this with fish or a summer salad with a fresh zingy dressing and enjoy this in the sun. About £30 a bottle is not cheap but you should try this.
Bouchard Finlayson, Blanc de Mer, 2019, Western Cape South Africa
South African wine can be some of the finest in the world and this blend of Riesling, Viognier and chardonnay is really excellent.
There are flavours and aromas of citrus – lime lemon with stone fruits – peach and apricot in there with floral, minerals, honey and wetstone poking it’s way through. It has great depth and it’s fresh.
Great with a salad in the garden on a summer’s day. At £12 a bottle its not going to break the bank either.
I have a soft spot for Rustenberg as the wines are generally good quality I could prices and this pretty much follows through in this Chenin Blanc. Deep lemon in color and although it’s not meant to have been aged in any Oak you do get much more richness that you might expect, I think this is partly because it’s been left on its lees for maturing. It’s dry and crisp and lots of flavor of pear and citrus possibly a little strong for my liking that said it would go very well with white meat fish and Chinese food so from that aspect a thumbs up. At about £6 a bottle it is good value.
Rustenberg Estate, Chenin Blanc, 2018, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Nederburg, Sauvignon Blanc, Auction Reserve, 2015, South Africa
Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa is generally good, more french than New Zealand but this Auction Reserve from Nederburg is superb. Suble aromas of lemon, pineapple and hints of gooseberry and minerality and added flavours that include lime and peach.
There’s lots here but all in harmony and working together. Excellent, truly excellent.
We went to Hartenberg on our last trip to the Western Cape, South Africa and its still as great as when we first tried. There’s a big hit of petroleum on the nose with hints of ripe tropical fruit. Its an off dry riesling that comes across sweeter on the taste with floral, pear, tropical fruits it there. The texture is fuller than many white wines but below that of a traditional german Riesling. Excellent with a vegetarian sweet and sour meal and at £13 a bottle, fair value.
Hartenberg, Occasional Riesling, 2016, South Africa
South Africa produces a lot of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay and this Daniel’s Drift from Marks & Spencer is pretty typical. At £7 a bottle (£5 on offer) or part of the M&S meal deal this is an easy drinking white wine.
Its light in colour, fresh and crisp on the nose with smells of ripe melon, apple and hints of citrus. There’s more in the flavour with grass, gooseberry and more lemon coming through. It’s a dry wine table wine with goes well with a supermarket meal or on a summer afternoon sitting in the garden.
Decanter gave it a bronze medal at the 2019 awards with 87 points which on reflection and most of the bottle is spot on and great if you can get it at £5 a bottle.
Marks & Spencer, Daniel’s Drift, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, 2018, South Africa
South African Chenin Blanc has a decent reputation of being consistently good quality and good value. This is no exception.
This is the second vintage of Chenin Blanc produced by Rustenberg and they are doing things right. There are aromas of pear and pineapple with wood on the nose with follow through in the taste but are added to with lemon, lime and lychee. This is a crisp, dry white that at £10 a bottle is good on taste and value.
Rustenberg, Chenin Blanc 2018, Stellenbosch, South Africa
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is easy to spot, loads of gooseberry and in your face.
French Sauvignon Blanc is more subtle and this is where this one from South Africa sits. There’s citrus notes with hints of gooseberry on the nose. When you taste it there’s flavours of green apple, citrus, floral hints and a crispness. The acidity is high and there is a cleanliness on the finish that makes this pretty good. The finish is a little short which is a shame.
I liked this wine and at about £7 a bottle its good value. For the summer this will be a great BBQ wine, open, pour and drink.
Klein Street, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, South Africa more
Aromas and flavours of citrus with tropical notes and no gooseberry notes. There’s minerality and freshness and this got a silver medal from the IWSC. It’s nice but I’m not sure it’s a Silver medal, then again at £5 a bottle this might be the wine if the year if you want an easy drinking white wine.
Yellowwood Mountain, reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2018, South Africa