Aldi, Bottelary Winery, 2024, Western Cape, South Africa
Could this be the best £5 bottle of white wine of 2025. Dry, crisp, and fresh with citrus, pineapple and apple, its got lots of flavour, a bit strong, its not subtle. It’s not Gold medal winning wine but it’s a wine to just drink by the case or a party. It’s like an old fashion mini car, great fun and one you want to have. Great work Aldi.
Tesco, Finest, Sauvignon Blanc, 2022, Western Cape, South Africa
Super markets sell some great wine and for Tesco in the UK this can be via their Finest range. Its nice and round on the flavours, without the over powering Gooseberry that can be in the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc’s. Dry with a bit more citrus but in a lighter way. Its not quite French but its easy drinking and won’t offend anyone. At under £10 its reasonable value but it doesn’t shout Finest to me.
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