This is Part II of a lengthy piece on South African wine. Read Part I here.

In Part I, I used the anarchic camaraderie of the Zoo Cru to illustrate something fundamental about South African wine: its unusual culture of collaboration. But collegiality alone cannot explain the country’s astonishing momentum. South Africa’s excitement comes from a convergence of ancient landscapes, old vineyards, stylistic relevance, brilliant hospitality, and a depth of winemaking talent that few regions can match.

Phenomenal Raw Materials

Those of us in the wine business often like to point out that the places where wine grows around the world are beautiful, which is true for the most part. But few bits of wine country can hold a candle to the sweeping beauty of South Africa.

Spectacular mountain vistas plunge toward the sea; craggy windswept highlands transform to lush protea-filled forests hosting troops of baboons; remote moonlike rocky plateaus can feel otherworldly. Some corners of the country feel positively tropical while, elsewhere, stretches of bounteous farmland offer idyllic pastoral views.

The landscape of South Africa demands your attention and rewards your gaze at every turn. Anyone who comes over the pass into the valley of Franschhoek and fails to have their breath taken away should probably just be put out of their own misery.

Geologically speaking, a trip through the South African landscape represents an excursion into deep time. The country features some of the globe’s oldest, well-preserved exposed rocks and layers formed by sedimentary and volcanic activity, dating to more than 3.22 billion years ago.

Unlike some younger landscapes shaped primarily by tectonic uplift and volcanic eruptions, South Africa’s peaks, valleys, plains, and plateaus have largely been carved by billions of years of wind and water, helped by occasional cataclysms such as continental collisions and asteroid impacts. That geological complexity has left the Cape with an extraordinary mosaic of soils capable of supporting a wide range of grapevines.

South Africa’s wine country sits within a broadly Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. But conditions vary tremendously throughout the Cape. Much of the Western Cape is cooled by the Atlantic Ocean and its icy Benguela Current, which generates fog and sends moisture-laden breezes into coastal vineyards during the growing season.

The country’s jagged mountains add even more variation. Elevation, slope, aspect, and distance from the sea can produce distinctly different mesoclimates within very short distances. Rainfall also varies dramatically, generally diminishing as you move north and inland, from relatively lush coastal and mountain sites to arid places where the survival of dry-farmed vineyards can seem almost miraculous. These climatic differences allow South Africa to ripen an enormous range of grape varieties. They have also helped produce an equally remarkable diversity of native plant life.

On top of South Africa’s stones and soil sits one of the world’s most diverse ecological zones, the Cape Floristic Region, sometimes known as the Cape Floral Kingdom. A combination of Mediterranean climate, infertile soils, recurrent wildfires, and wildly varying landscapes has contributed to the evolutionary isolation of the region. The resulting environment encouraged millions of years of what biologists call speciation, or the proliferation of new and different species from existing ones.

The Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest of six floral kingdoms around the world, but the most diverse of them relative to its size. It hosts approximately 9,000 different plant species, of which more than 6,200 are found nowhere else on Earth. The characteristic vegetation of the kingdom is known as fynbos, a mix of dazzling floral plants such as protea and many other evergreen flowering shrubs, heaths, grasses, wildflowers, and succulents.

Walking through fynbos offers an experience as aromatic as it is visual. Like the characteristic garrigue of southeastern France, fynbos offers rich and unique smells including rooibos (which many people know from its popularity as a tisane), as well as other resinous and herbal aromas. Just as in Provence, these aromas can show up in the wines, sometimes spectacularly.

One of the species that doesn’t naturally belong in this Cape Floral ecosystem is the wine grapevine, but Vitis vinifera has seemingly been quite comfortable in the nutrient-poor, rocky soils of the Cape since it arrived in 1655, carried and planted by Dutch settler Jan van Riebeeck.

His success in making the first wines in South Africa in 1659 encouraged farmers to plant vines wherever they saw fit to do so, and a particular set of economic and market realities ensured many of them stayed there.

South Africa, like some other sections of wine country around the world, possesses an incredible bounty of old vines, for many of the same reasons that Lodi in California still hosts a plethora of ancient Zinfandel.

The KWV Cooperative, soon after its launch in 1918, became the dominant force in the South African wine industry, eventually controlling the vast majority of its production with strict rules for growers. As a reliable customer to thousands of individual grape farmers throughout the country, KWV was counted on to purchase grapes for many decades. This steady, guaranteed income encouraged farmers to leave their vines in the ground and forgo the effort and expense of replanting or replacing them with other crops.

Later in the 20th century, when the wine market fell on hard times, it became simply too expensive to consider replanting them, or even ripping them out, so thousands of acres of mature vines, including precious scattered parcels approaching or exceeding a century in age, remained planted and in many cases producing. Today these vineyards are sought-after gems, prized by winemakers who understand the treasure that was hiding in plain sight.

This understanding and appreciation now held for South Africa’s old-vine resources is owed in large part to the efforts of a single individual. Rosa Kruger made early career stops in journalism and law before moving into agricultural management and viticulture in the late 1990s. In the early 2000s, inspired by visits to other regions around the world with old vines, she began to wonder what South Africa might have in the way of old vines. This led to years of driving around the country, discovering and documenting the country’s old vineyards.

In 2016, she formally established the Old Vine Project, an organization dedicated to documenting, preserving, and ensuring the value of South Africa’s old-vine vineyards. What she has accomplished under the banner of this organization in a mere decade is astonishing.

Using planting records verified by South African Wine Industry Information and Systems (SAWIS), the Old Vine Project introduced its Certified Heritage Vineyard seal in 2018 for vineyards at least 35 years old. This first-of-its-kind program is designed to generate more revenue for the farmers of these old vines, and it’s working. Research suggests that South African consumers place a measurable premium on wines identified as coming from old vines.

The Old Vine Project has elevated and foregrounded the conversation about old vineyards and their value across culture, genetics, agronomy, history, and wine quality, as well as inspired many other old-vine initiatives around the world, including the Old Vine Registry.

Many Routes to Delicious

A great wine region offers more than compelling bottles. It also rewards wine lovers who make the journey to stand among its vines.

Wine tourism in South Africa has improved significantly in the past 20 years and now offers an impressive array of experiences for serious wine lovers as well as the merely wine-inclined world traveler. The Western Cape boasts more than 20 distinct wine regions, many with strong regional identities and well-established Wine Routes.

The Cape Town wine region puts wineries within easy reach of the cosmopolitan and lively city of the same name, making winery stops possible via taxi or rideshare, even down to rugged Cape Point, where crisp Sauvignon Blancs can be consumed oceanside with fresh seafood. Nearby Constantia offers beautiful historic estates with ocean views, while Stellenbosch surrounds a small town packed with restaurants, shops, and bars. The epicenter of Cabernet Sauvignon production in South Africa, Stellenbosch makes historic estates such as Kanonkop and Meerlust key pilgrimage stops for Cab lovers.

With a car, wine lovers can go farther afield. The cooler-climate Elgin Valley and Bot River regions make excellent Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and increasingly interesting Rhône varieties. Farther along the coast, the windswept and craggy Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and Walker Bay countryside offer excellent Pinot Noir, stunning coastline, and some of the most consistent whale watching anywhere in the world.

Franschhoek offers stunning mountain landscapes, excellent wines, boutique hotels, and good restaurants. What the Swartland lacks in tourist infrastructure, it makes up for in sweeping vistas and spectacular wines, many of which come from old vines. More remote regions require slightly more planning, but readily welcome visitors, and increasing numbers of wineries offer guest accommodations, some of them quite luxurious.

South African wineries also offer some of the most impressive dining opportunities in the country. When the Michelin Guide gets to South Africa—not really a question of if, but when—mark my words, there will be more starred restaurants at wineries than in Cape Town itself. Many wineries now offer full-service dining, and a few of those kitchens are truly world-class.

There’s great food all over South Africa, with a strong focus on local sourcing, indigenous ingredients, and even foraging. Ocean bounty, wild game, excellent beef, and seasonal produce give local chefs plenty to work with. I have come to adore the country’s culinary variety, from casual braais to haute cuisine.

Beyond wine and food, South Africa offers mountain biking, surfing, hiking, paragliding, wildlife safaris, and the cosmopolitan vibrance of Cape Town. Combine all that with the quality and distinctiveness of the country’s wines, and South Africa easily vaults into the top tier of wine destinations around the world.

Beauty, hospitality, and a compelling travel experience alone do not make a great wine culture. Ultimately, the argument for South Africa being the world’s most exciting wine country rests on what ends up in the glass.

Fine Wines for Today’s Drinkers

Among the sommeliers, merchants, and engaged drinkers who shape conversations about wines over $25, the past 10 years have seen a growing appetite for freshness, moderate alcohol, less conspicuous oak, less-familiar grape varieties, and wines with strong regional identities.

South Africa’s current wine scene seems shockingly tailor-made for this moment. A whole generation of winemakers, informed by the pioneers of the Swartland Revolution, have adopted a lower-intervention approach to winemaking that, in addition to making thrilling wines, does an incredible job of showcasing South Africa’s varied terroir. The relative absence of new-oak signatures, combined with picking dates that preserve acidity and moderate ripeness, allows these wines to foreground site over cellar technique.

These winemakers have fully embraced the old-vine legacy of their homeland and now go to great lengths to ferret out patches of old vines and heritage grape varieties. South Africa is now making world-class Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Palomino, Colombard, and of course, Chenin Blanc, in addition to stalwarts such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and the uniquely local grape Pinotage. After years of a few producers making separate bottlings with the rosy-colored fruit that some of their Semillon vines occasionally produced, in 2026 the government officially recognized Semillon Gris as a legal grape variety, paving the way for another distinctive South African variety rarely found elsewhere in the world.

Chenin Blanc deserves special mention and additional discussion because I believe South Africa now rivals or even exceeds the grape’s homeland in the Loire Valley in producing extremely high-quality bottlings of this grape. That’s a bold statement, to be sure, but I confidently stand behind it. There are a few superstar producers of Chenin Blanc in the Loire that are unassailable, of course, but the Loire also makes plenty of mediocre Chenin. South Africa, on the other hand, can be distinguished not only by the heights of its greatest Chenins but also by the remarkable breadth of excellence beneath them.

Chenin first came to South Africa in Jan van Riebeeck’s initial importation of grapevines in 1655, and was known locally as Steen for more than 300 years until 1963, when it was identified conclusively as Chenin Blanc.

Interestingly, some of the Chenin Blanc plant material that has been grown in South Africa for three centuries no longer exists in the Loire Valley. What’s more, recent research suggests that centuries of propagation under South African conditions have produced measurable epigenetic differences from Loire material, adding another dimension to the Cape’s distinctive expression of the grape.

When it comes to bubbles, South Africa has spent decades perfecting Cap Classique, its traditional-method sparkling wine. Made with the traditional Champagne grapes (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier) much of the time, the wine can also be made with Chenin Blanc, offering a particularly distinctive take on the region’s signature white grape. Some Cap Classique producers have taken to very long lees aging, much like prestige Champagnes, and the results can be quite spectacular.

Pinotage represents perhaps the most distinctly “local” grape variety found in South Africa. Developed in Stellenbosch in 1925 as a cross between Cinsault and Pinot Noir, it has long been considered the country’s signature red grape, but has struggled to win over many consumers. However, a newer approach to winemaking and site selection shows great promise, as I wrote about in my article Pinotage is Dead, Long Live Pinotage! earlier this year.

Finally, a discussion of South African wine styles would not be complete without the late-harvest sweet wines that made the country famous in the 18th and 19th centuries. Often made from Muscat, historically known as Hanepoot, these unfortified wines were once in high demand around the world. Today, wines such as Vin de Constance have revived the tradition in small but delicious quantities, combining remarkable sweetness with enough acidity to stand alongside the world’s legendary dessert wines.

Talent at an Exceptional Scale

One of the most impressive characteristics of the South African wine industry at this point in its evolution has to be the sheer number of world-class independent wine producers making wine at the top of their game.

I visit a lot of wine regions around the world, and I’m always on the hunt for the new wave of producers, often from a younger generation, that are defining the cutting edge of winemaking through truly brilliant wines. In most wine regions, there are only a handful of these producers making dazzling wines in small quantities that are quickly snapped up by those in the know. Think Chacra in Argentina; Comando G in Spain; or Kusuda in New Zealand. You get the idea.

South Africa doesn’t just have a handful of these producers; it has many dozens of such independent producers and labels in addition to the members of the Zoo Cru that I highlighted in Part I of this narrative. These are producers whose portfolios I can taste through, and after eight, ten, even fifteen wines, I haven’t encountered a single disappointing wine.

This is not normal for a region that is still considered to be up-and-coming in the world. It is frankly astonishing for a wine industry that has only been developing in the modern sense since the end of apartheid in 1994. What South Africa has accomplished in the last three decades simply blows my mind.

Eben Sadie and the Swartland Revolution helped to set the industry on its ambitious trajectory. Rosa Kruger taught the country to recognize the treasure of its old-vine vineyards. But pioneers alone do not transform an industry. What turned their example into a movement was the passion, dedication, and ambition of an entire generation of winemakers, and, above all, their instinct to share knowledge rather than hoard it. Ancient rocks and old vines may have given South Africa extraordinary raw materials, but its collaborative culture is what made the country’s wine so damn great, and what promises to keep it that way.

Tasting Notes

There are a lot of tasting notes below (more than 200), so here’s a handy link to jump to red wines if, for some silly reason, you want to skip all the world-class Chenin Blancs.

White Wines

White and Pink Wines With a Score Between 9.5 and 10

2018 Raats “Old Vine” Chenin Blanc, Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of salty grapefruit and pear. In the mouth, wonderfully salty flavors of pear, Asian pear, white flowers, and candied grapefruit have a hint of wet pavement. Gorgeous, mouthwatering salinity. Fantastically delicious.13% alcohol. Cost: $34. click to buy.

2024 Mullineux “Straw Wine” Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium yellow gold in the glass, this wine smells of honey, candied apricot, and white peaches. In the mouth, moderately sweet white peach and honey flavors have intensely bright, mouthwatering acidity, and a sensation of pure bright sunshine on the palate. Outstanding. Picked at normal ripeness and laid on racks to dry for 4 weeks. Takes 2 days to press and 12 months to ferment, stopping naturally. Very sweet. 7.5% alcohol. 345 g/l residual sugar. 375 ml bottle. Cost: $122. click to buy.

White and Pink Wines With a Score Around 9.5

2023 Cap Maritime Chardonnay, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Walker Bay, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon oil and white flowers. In the mouth, lemon pith and lemon oil flavors are wonderfully saline, with excellent acidity. Chalky, stony, and mouthwatering, with a lovely deep resonance to it. I couldn’t believe the price when I heard it. 13% alcohol. Cost: $19. click to buy.

2024 David & Nadia “Aristargos” White Blend, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of apples, pears, and white flowers. In the mouth, lemon and pink grapefruit citrus oil and pith mix with pear, apple, and a hint of guava. Lean and bright, balanced and faintly saline with excellent acidity. Delicious. Whole-cluster pressed, fermented with ambient yeasts, then aged for 10 months in 20% concrete and the rest in old barrels. A blend of 51% Chenin Blanc, 13% Colombard, 11% Semillon, 10% Clairette, 8% Marsanne, 6% Roussanne, and 1% Grenache Blanc from 24 different picks across various vineyards and varieties. 13% alcohol. Cost: $36. click to buy.

2024 David & Nadia “Plat’bos” Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest gold with hints of green, this wine smells of lemon oil and grapefruit pith. In the mouth, electric lemon and grapefruit oil flavors are brightly saline, lean, and mouthwatering. Salty lime, grapefruit, and lemon swirl with a hint of unripe pear. Grown on decomposed sandy granite and shale soils lacking clay. Plat’bos means “short plant.” 11.5% alcohol. Cost: $89. click to buy.

2024 David & Nadia “Langland” Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light gold in the glass, this wine smells of pear, pear skin, citrus pith, and white flowers. In the mouth, stony flavors of grapefruit pith, pear, and dried herbs have a juicy brightness thanks to excellent acidity. Saline and stony, with a faint chalky texture. Pure and crystalline in aspect. Langland means “long land.” Planted in 1971 on east-facing pure white granite sands in a valley with less light. 700 bottles made. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $89.

2024 David & Nadia “Hoë-Steen” Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light gold in the glass, this wine smells of pear, yellow plum, grapefruit pith, and wet chalkboard. In the mouth, silky, broad flavors of citrus oil, unripe pear, grapefruit, and dried herbs are shot through with a delicate wet chalkboard minerality. Saline and mouthwatering, but also smooth and silky. Grown on iron-rich clay over limestone on a southern slope. Whole-cluster pressed to tank, then fermented with solids in old barrels using ambient yeasts. Aged on gross lees for 10 months before bottling unfined and unfiltered. Hoë-Steen means “high stone.” 900 bottles made. 14% alcohol. Cost: $89. click to buy.

2022 Hamilton Russell “Ashbourne” Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde, Walker Bay, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon oil and bee pollen. In the mouth, lemon, green apple, bee pollen, and citrus pith flavors have lovely acidity and depth. A blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon, all amphora-fermented. Distinctive and compelling. 13% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 Jordan “Timepiece” Sauvignon Blanc, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of passionfruit, white flowers, and honeydew. In the mouth, green apple, honeydew, and passionfruit flavors mix with salty lime zest and lime blossom. Fantastic acidity and deep stony minerality. From 1983 plantings. 13% alcohol. Cost: $??

2007 Ken Forrester “Old Vine Reserve” Chenin Blanc, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of butterscotch and salty candied apple. In the mouth, salty butterscotch, green apple, poached pear, and hints of yellow herbs are nicely mineral, salty, and delicious. Excellent acidity. Aging beautifully. Cost: $n/a

2021 Kumusha “The Flame Lily” Chenin Blanc, Slanghoek, Breedekloof, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest greenish gold, near colorless in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, peach, and pear. In the mouth, faintly salty Asian pear, winter melon, white flowers, and a touch of pastry cream are all delicious. Excellent acidity. A blend of Chenin Blanc, Roussanne, Semillon, and Colombard. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $39. click to buy.

2017 Longridge “Clos du Ciel” Chardonnay, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of wet pavement and floral scents mixed with citrus oils. In the mouth, zippy grapefruit flavors mix with lemon and wet chalkboard, as sizzling acidity carries notes of dried herbs into the finish. Fantastically bright, persistent, and long. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 Mullineux “Old Vines White” White Blend, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of pears, white flowers, yellow herbs, and apples. In the mouth, lemon peel and lemon pith mix with pink grapefruit, white flowers, vanilla, and poached pear. Bright, rich, and faintly saline, with a lovely wet pavement texture underneath. Delicious, with a hint of fynbos in the finish. A blend of 70% Chenin Blanc, with the balance made up of Clairette Blanche, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, and Semillon Gris from about seven Paardeberg granite sites. 13.5% alcohol. 3,137 cases made. Cost: $42. click to buy.

2024 Mullineux “Granite – Eikelaan Vineyard” Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale yellow gold in the glass, this wine smells of bee pollen, chamomile, pear, and hints of struck match and wet pavement. In the mouth, pear, pear skin, wet pavement, hints of elderflower, citrus pith, and a touch of roasted nuts have a deeply crystalline aspect and wonderful faint salinity. Whole-cluster pressed, then fermented and aged in neutral oak for 11 months. Grown at 400 meters elevation. Eikelaan means “oak lane.” 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $93. click to buy.

2024 Mullineux “Iron – Rondomskirk” Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale yellow gold in color, this wine smells of nectarine and pear, with hints of yellow flowers and bee pollen. In the mouth, electric lemon, lemon curd, and nectarine flavors mix with hints of pear and a broad silky texture. Faint wet pavement notes creep underneath, but this wine is a sunrise on the palate, intense and golden. Great acidity. Grown on reddish clay soils. Rondomskrik means “frightened from all around.” 591 cases made. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $103. click to buy.

2023 Mullineux “Roundstone Estate” White Blend, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light yellow-gold in the glass, this wine smells of crushed eggshells, white flowers, pears, and lemon oil. In the mouth, white nectarine, lemon oil, pear, and white flowers mix with zingy bright acidity and faint wet-pavement minerality. Faintly saline, wonderfully broad and rich, while at the same time maintaining a neon-lemon brightness. A hint of vanilla lingers in the finish, but there’s no new oak at work here. Whole-cluster pressed, fermented in old oak and some concrete egg. Aged for 11 months before bottling. A blend of equal parts Macabeo, Vermentino, Verdelho, Chenin Blanc, and Assyrtiko. 273 cases made. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $62. click to buy.

NV Mullineux “Olerasay” Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light amber in the glass, this wine smells of roasted nuts, honey, candied apricots, and butterscotch. In the mouth, butterscotch, honey, candied white peaches, and apricots are very sweet with excellent acidity. Silky and rich and weighty. Notes of butterscotch and a hint of coffee with milk linger in the finish. 365 g/l residual sugar. A solera of vintages from 2008 to 2024. 8% alcohol. Cost: $311. click to buy.

2021 Raats “Eden – High Density” Chenin Blanc, Polkedraai Hills, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest greenish gold in color, this wine smells of wet pavement, pear, grapefruit, and citrus pith. In the mouth, wonderfully bright citrus, wet pavement, candied ginger, grapefruit pith, and grapefruit juice have a crystalline minerality. Gorgeously saline. Aged in 50% concrete egg and 50% oak (50% new). 8,000 vines per hectare. 13% alcohol. Cost: $81. click to buy.

2024 Storm Wines “Ridge” Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon pith, wet chalkboard, and fynbos herbs. In the mouth, gorgeous saline flavors of lemon pith and grapefruit mix with wet chalkboard and green herbs. Silky and lean with excellent acidity and stony minerality. About 25% of the wine naturally failed to go through malolactic conversion. Aged for 11 months in 22% new oak, with 15% aged in clay amphora. 13.0% alcohol. Cost: $59. click to buy.

2024 Storm Wines “2025 CWG Auction Lot – Vrede” Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Pale yellow-green gold in color, this wine smells of roasted nuts, lemon peel, and grapefruit pith. In the mouth, faintly saline flavors of lemon peel and lemon pith mix with unripe apple and wet chalkboard. A lightly grippy texture leaves a chalky sensation in the mouth. Aged in 30% new Louis Latour cooperage oak. 13.3% alcohol. Cost: $75. click to buy. (Note that link goes to the standard Vrede Chardonnay bottling, not the Cape Winemakers Guild wine, which was a special bottling).

2023 Van Loggerenberg “Kamaraderie” Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light yellow gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon-scented quartz and bee pollen. In the mouth, gorgeous silky-textured flavors of unripe pear, lemon oil, grapefruit pith, and crushed stones have gorgeous minerality and excellent acidity. Bottled, crystalline sunlight. From Lammershoek vines planted in 1966. Fermented and aged 85% in concrete tank and 15% in a 500-liter French oak barrel. 13% alcohol. Cost: $49. click to buy.

2024 Van Loggerenberg “Kamaraderie” Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light yellow gold in color, this wine smells of pear, lemon oil, and bee pollen. In the mouth, salty lemon oil, pear, and white flower flavors have a brilliance like clear quartz crystal, with a hint of chopped green herbs. Stony minerality lingers in the finish with a lovely salinity and snap thanks to very good acidity. Aged 85% in concrete and 15% in a 500-liter old oak barrel. 13.2% alcohol. Cost: $49. click to buy.

2024 Wolf & Woman “Always Present Often Invisible” Chenin Blanc, Olifants River, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of Asian pear and white flowers with hints of herbs and pink grapefruit pith. In the mouth, beautifully stony pear, winter melon, white flower, and pear skin flavors have fantastic acidity and wonderful chalky wet pavement minerality, plus that alluring salinity that makes the wine so mouthwatering. From vines planted in 1988. Cost: $??

White and Pink Wines With a Score Between 9 and 9.5

2019 Beaumont “Hope Marguerite” Chenin Blanc, Bot River, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in color, this wine smells of poached pear, candied lemon rind, and a tiny hint of butterscotch. In the mouth, wonderfully saline flavors of grapefruit, pear, candied ginger, and a touch of caramel have fantastic acidity and length. From vines planted beginning in 1974. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $45. click to buy.

2006 Beaumont “Hope Marguerite” Chenin Blanc, Walker Bay, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium to dark yellow gold in the glass, this wine smells of honey, candle wax, and candied lemon peel. In the mouth, gorgeously saline candied lemon, chamomile, and stony minerality have a delicate acidity. Long and wonderfully stony. Aging beautifully. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $n/a

2022 Boekenhoutskloof Semillon, Franschhoek, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in color, this wine smells of lemon peel, crushed stone, bee pollen, and lemon oil. In the mouth, lemon pith and lemon oil flavors are bright and chalky with excellent acidity. Deeply stony and bright. Less reduced than normal for this bottling, but a factor of vintage rather than any change in winemaking. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $60. click to buy.

2024 David & Nadia Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of pear, star fruit, and grapefruit pith. In the mouth, pear and star fruit flavors mix with a hint of pomelo as bright acidity and salinity kick in, making the mouth water. Clean, bright, and crisp, with excellent balance. 13% alcohol. Cost: $38. click to buy.

2024 David & Nadia “Skaliekop” Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light greenish gold in color, this wine smells of white flowers, pears, and a hint of green herbs. In the mouth, silky-textured flavors of pear and citrus pith mix with citrus oil and dried herbs. The minerality here is softer and more subtle. Grown on shale with more clay and some iron components. Skaliekop means “shale hill.” 13% alcohol. Cost: $85. click to buy.

2019 De Morgenzon “Reserve” Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of struck match, pear, and a hint of citrus pith. In the mouth, wonderfully saline flavors of pear, grapefruit, and candied ginger have lovely mouthwatering acidity and a light tannic grip. 14% alcohol. Cost: $67. click to buy.

2012 De Morgenzon “Reserve” Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of struck match and a hint of butterscotch. In the mouth, candied apple and butterscotch flavors have a silky, salty quality backed by candied citrus and a touch of ginger. Excellent stony minerality and lovely acidity. Tasted from magnum. 14% alcohol. Cost: $n/a

2017 De Morgenzon “The Divas” Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of struck match, pear, and wet chalkboard. In the mouth, wonderfully bright wet chalkboard, citrus peel, and a touch of butterscotch have a lovely saline quality and excellent acidity. 14% alcohol. Cost: $??

2021 Delaire Graff “Banghoek Reserve” Chardonnay, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of apple and lemon with a brisk mineral note. In the mouth, bright lemon and lemon curd flavors have a nice saline overtone and zippy, mouthwatering acidity. Barrel-fermented in 50% new French oak. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $55. click to buy.

2024 Du Toitskloof “Old Vine – Single Vineyard” Chenin Blanc, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of wet chalkboard, Asian pear, pear skin, and grapefruit. In the mouth, pear and grapefruit flavors are bright with salinity and wonderfully mouthwatering with excellent acidity. Notes of citrus peel and a hint of dried herbs linger in the finish. Outstanding. From vines planted in 1985. 13% alcohol. Cost: $??

2021 Hamilton Russell Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde, Walker Bay, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon curd and lemon oil. In the mouth, wonderful lemon curd, lemon oil, and lemon juice flavors have a wonderful minerality and a crystalline quality. Gorgeous, with zippy acidity. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $49. click to buy.

2022 Hamilton Russell “Southern Right” Sauvignon Blanc, Cape Coast, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of passionfruit and green apple. In the mouth, passionfruit, green apple, and a touch of sweet celery have great, bright acidity. The wine gives a neon green impression on the palate. Lovely.13.5% alcohol. Cost: $20. click to buy.

2019 Hartenberg “The Eleanor” Chardonnay, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale greenish-gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon pith and lemon oil with floral notes on top. In the mouth, the wine is bright and pithy with a slightly saline quality and flavors of lemon juice, lemon pith, and wet stones. There’s great acidity here along with minerality. Excellent. Cost: $50. click to buy.

2021 Henning Villon Chenin Blanc, Bot River, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Light yellow-gold in the glass, this wine smells of faintly salty quince and lemon peel. In the mouth, a faint grippy texture surrounds flavors of lemon, quince, and stone, with hints of chamomile in the finish. Fermented with ambient yeasts and given a touch of skin contact using a mix of whole clusters and destemmed crushed fruit. From 37-year-old vines. Aged in 15–20% new oak. Cost: $??

2023 Illimis Chenin Blanc, Cape Coast, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of pears, pear skin, and elderflower. In the mouth, salty pear and pear skin, pink grapefruit, and yellow herbs mix with crushed stone and wet chalkboard. Juicy, bright, and stony. A portion was destemmed, and a portion left as whole-bunch. Aged for 8 months in barrel. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $32. click to buy.

2025 Jordan Assyrtiko, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of salty lime and lemon with a hint of white flowers. In the mouth, wonderfully saline flavors of lemon pith and white flowers are mouthwatering and backed by crackling acidity and deeply stony wet-pavement minerality. Gorgeous, bright, and delicious. 13% alcohol. Cost: $??

2019 Ken Forrester “Old Vine Reserve” Chenin Blanc, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of peach pit, green apple, and pear. In the mouth, wonderfully bright and zippy flavors of pear, apple, and wet chalkboard mix with pomelo pith and a hint of yellow herbs. Long and deeply mineral. Great acidity. A blend of 50% stainless-steel fermented and 50% barrel-fermented. 14% alcohol. Cost: $22. click to buy.

2020 Ken Forrester “Terre Noire” Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of flinty green apple and pear with hints of pink grapefruit. In the mouth, zippy mineral flavors of grapefruit, pear, and wet chalkboard mix with a hint of yellow herbs. Citrus pith lingers through the long finish. Very mineral in quality with great acidity. Fermented in old oak. From vineyards planted in 1959. 13% alcohol. Cost: $??

2019 Leeu Passant “Radicales Libres” Chardonnay, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light gold in the glass, this wine smells of roasted nuts, lemon peel, and pomelo pith. In the mouth, zippy lemon oil and lemon zest flavors mix with roasted nuts, a touch of vanilla, and vibrating sour lime. Lengthy finish. 96 cases made. 14% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 Lieveland “Old Vines” Chenin Blanc, Paarl, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of pear and white flowers. In the mouth, saline flavors of pear, white flowers, pear skin, and pink grapefruit have a lovely wet-stone minerality and chalky texture. Excellent acidity. Fermented 60% in tank, with the balance in neutral oak. 13% alcohol. Closed with a screwcap. An incredible value. Cost: $19. click to buy.

2023 Lismore “The Age of Grace” Viognier, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, vanilla, and white peaches. In the mouth, white peach, white flower, citrus pith, and wet chalkboard flavors are lovely and crisp, and not as fruity as you might expect from the variety. Lean and juicy with a hint of salinity. 14% alcohol. Cost: $55. click to buy.

2023 Lismore “Estate Reserve” Chardonnay, Greyton, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of fynbos, vanilla, lemon blossom, and lemon peel. In the mouth, stony lemon peel and lemon pith flavors mix with a hint of herbs and lovely chalky minerality. Excellent acidity, tasty salinity, and great crystalline quality. Aged in 20% new oak. Cost: $65. click to buy.

2021 Luddite Wines Chenin Blanc, Bot River, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Light yellow-gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon peel and lemon oil mixed with a hint of wet leaves. In the mouth, saline flavors of citrus pith, dried leaves, dried herbs, and hints of cheese rind lead to a long mineral finish. Faint tannins. Crushed and destemmed, with 20 days of skin fermentation before pressing into barrels. No sulfur. Malolactic conversion and bâtonnage once per month. Aged for one year in barrel. From vines planted in 2009. 12.3% alcohol. 1,900 bottles made. Cost: $80. click to buy.

2024 Mullineux “Schist – Roundstone” Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light yellow gold in color, this wine smells of lemon curd, nectarine, poached pear, and yellow flowers. In the mouth, broad, silky flavors of lemon curd, nectarine, and yellow herbs have an underlying wet-pavement minerality that builds in the long finish. Less aggressive acidity here. Richer and warmer. 14% alcohol. 357 cases made. Cost: $105. click to buy.

2024 New Dawn “OG Chenin” Chenin Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa
Light yellow-gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon peel, Asian pear, and pomelo pith. In the mouth, pear, pomelo pith, pear skin, and pink grapefruit flesh have a stony, chalky underbelly and excellent acidity. The minerality lingers long in the finish. Fermented with ambient yeasts and aged in old oak for 12 months. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $28. click to buy.

2021 Opstal “Estate” Chenin Blanc, Slanghoek, Breedekloof, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of salty pear and grapefruit. In the mouth, lovely salty pear, grapefruit, and candied ginger flavors mix with wet pavement and seawater. Excellent acidity and length. Aged 30% in large foudre, with the rest in concrete and stainless steel. 13% alcohol. Cost: $20. click to buy.

2020 Opstal “Carl Everson” Chenin Blanc, Slanghoek, Breedekloof, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of salty lemon curd, candied green apple, and pear. In the mouth, wonderfully crystalline flavors of pear, apple, and grapefruit have a beautiful wet-chalkboard minerality and faint salinity. Carl Everson was the winemaker’s great-grandfather, the fourth generation on the farm. From vines planted in 1982. Includes a tiny bit of botrytised fruit and some skin contact during fermentation. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $32. click to buy.

2021 Opstal “Carl Everson” Chenin Blanc, Slanghoek, Breedekloof, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of a touch of struck match, pear, and white flowers. In the mouth, gorgeous white flowers, wet chalkboard minerality, pear, and Asian pear flavors mix with a hint of green apple. Crisp and crystalline, with a hint of salinity. Carl Everson was the winemaker’s great-grandfather, the fourth generation on the farm. From vines planted in 1982. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $32. click to buy.

2021 Raats “Old Vine” Chenin Blanc, Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of salty pomelo pith and sea air. In the mouth, wonderfully bright pear and quince flavors mix with white flowers and a wonderful wet-pavement minerality. Faint saline lemon pith lingers in the finish. The youngest vines are 45 years old. Whole-bunch pressed to 50% neutral oak, 25% concrete egg, and 25% stainless steel. Cost: $34. click to buy.

2024 Stark-Condé “Field Blend” White Wine, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of yellow herbs, white flowers, pear, and apples. In the mouth, saline flavors of yellow herbs, lemon oil, grapefruit pith, apples, and pears have great acidity and a nice chalky minerality. A co-fermented blend of Roussanne, Chenin Blanc, Verdelho, and Viognier. 13% alcohol. Cost: $30. click to buy.

2024 Stark-Condé “Monk Stone” Chenin Blanc, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, Asian pears, pear skin, and grapefruit pith. In the mouth, pear, pear skin, white flowers, grapefruit pith, and white sage flavors have lovely stony minerality and excellent saline acidity. Barrel-fermented in neutral oak. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $31. click to buy.

2024 Storm Wines “Vrede” Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass with hints of green, this wine smells of green herbs and lime zest. In the mouth, lime zest and green herb flavors mix with a touch of unripe apple and wet chalkboard. Lean and bright. Aged for 11 months in 22% new oak, with 15% aged in clay amphora. 12.71% alcohol. Cost: $76. click to buy.

2022 Tesselaarsdal Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde, Walker Bay, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon curd, lemon juice, citrus oil, and sea air. In the mouth, bright lemon curd flavors are tangy and juicy and enlivened with fantastic acidity. Aged in amphora. 13% alcohol. Cost: $39. click to buy.

2024 Thistle and Weed “Springdoring” Chenin Blanc, Paardeberg, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, wet straw, pear, and pomelo pith. In the mouth, pomelo pith, Asian pear, yellow herbs, and wet straw flavors have bright, zingy acidity and a deep, stony wet-chalkboard minerality. Faint salinity. Grown on granite soils from vines planted in 1982 and 1988. Whole-bunch pressed, fermented in old oak, and aged for 10 months. 12% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 Thistle and Weed “Duwwetjie” Chenin Blanc, Paarl, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, poached pear, and Asian pear. In the mouth, silky and broad flavors of white flowers, pear skin, Asian pear, and a hint of dried herbs have excellent acidity and a subtle stony quality. Faint salinity. From vines planted in 1961 on ferrocrete soils. 13% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 Thistle and Weed “Brandnetel” Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of sweet pear and white flowers. In the mouth, lemon and pomelo pith mix with pear and pear-skin flavors as wet-pavement minerality and excellent acidity emerge. Slight salinity. Grown on sandstone and clay from vines planted in 1980. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2023 Van Loggerenberg “Trust Your Gut” Chenin Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa
Light yellow gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, ripe pears, pear skin, wet chalkboard, and citrus pith. In the mouth, pear and Asian pear flavors mix with faintly saline lemon oil and white flowers, with excellent acidity and a lovely crystalline quality. Vinified separately in old oak and aged for 10 months. 12.7% alcohol. Cost: $31. click to buy.

2024 Van Loggerenberg “Trust Your Gut” Chenin Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa
Light yellow gold in color, this wine smells of white flowers, pear skin, citrus pith, and lemon oil. In the mouth, pear and lemon oil have a lovely crystalline quality and mouthwatering saline acidity. Stony wet chalkboard notes linger in the finish along with lemon oil. 13.2% alcohol. Cost: $39. click to buy.

2024 Wolf & Woman Grenache Blanc, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, white melon, green apple, and pears. In the mouth, white flowers, nectarine, green apple, and white melon flavors are juicy with fantastic acidity and chalky, wet-pavement minerality. A hint of sarsaparilla lingers in the finish with lovely salinity. From half-sandstone and half-granite soils. Whole-bunch pressed straight to old barrels with solids, then aged for 8 months following fermentation. 13% alcohol. Cost: $32. click to buy.

2024 Wolf & Woman Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light gold in color, this wine smells of pear, pear skin, lemon pith, and dried herbs. In the mouth, pear and pear skin flavors have a focused intensity with pink grapefruit flesh and pith mixed with a hint of quince. Chalky texture, great acidity, and notes of citrus oil linger in the finish. Deeply stony. From vines planted between 1976 and 1984 on 70% granite and 30% clay-rich soils. Whole-bunch pressed into old oak and concrete egg, then aged for 10 months on the lees. 13% alcohol. Cost: $32. click to buy.

White and Pink Wines With a Score Around 9

2021 Aslina Chardonnay, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon curd and lemon pith, with a hint of white flowers. In the mouth, white floral notes mix with lemon pith, lemon curd, and a stony underbelly. Bright and juicy. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $26. click to buy.

2022 Melish Family Vineyards “Bakenkop Blanc Fumé” Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass with a hint of green, this wine smells of light floral notes, crushed stone, and lime pith. In the mouth, lime pith, crushed stone, and a hint of flowers mix with a deep, chalky wet stone note. Clean and crystalline. Cost: $??

2021 Beaumont “Hope Marguerite” Chenin Blanc, Bot River, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of pear and grapefruit pith. In the mouth, bright lemon, pear, and grapefruit pith flavors have a nice wet-chalkboard minerality and excellent acidity. Faintly saline. From vines planted beginning in 1974. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $40. click to buy.

2016 Beaumont “Cape Winemakers Guild – Demi-Sec” Chenin Blanc, Bot River, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, poached pears, and a hint of butterscotch. In the mouth, lightly sweet flavors of pear and candied citrus mix with a hint of salty butterscotch and white flowers. Very pretty. A special bottling made for the Cape Winemakers Guild auction. 16 g/l residual sugar. 12% alcohol. Cost: $n/a

2020 Capensis “Silene” Chardonnay, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon pith, lemon peel, and lemon curd. In the mouth, lemon peel and pith have a bright saline quality with hints of grapefruit and orange rind. Excellent acidity, with hints of vanilla lingering in the finish. Made from three different vineyard sites in Stellenbosch. 14% alcohol. Cost: $28. click to buy.

2017 Capensis Chardonnay, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light greenish gold in color, this wine smells of yellow herbs and a touch of Chartreuse. In the mouth, lemon, lime, and grapefruit mix with lemon curd and lemongrass. Crisp and bright with a hint of candied citrus in the finish. 14% alcohol. Cost: $76. click to buy.

2024 Carinus “Rooidraai” Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light yellow gold in the glass, this wine smells of struck match, pear, pomelo, and a hint of citrus oil. In the mouth, pear, white flowers, citrus pith, and pomelo have a nice stony underbelly and faint salinity. Made by Lukas Van Loggerenberg. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2025 De Grendel Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of green apple and passionfruit with a hint of cut grass. In the mouth, faintly saline flavors of green apple and cut grass mix with kiwi and star fruit. Bright, crisp, and mouthwatering with excellent acidity. Cost: $18. click to buy.

2021 Delaire Graff “Banghoek Reserve” Chardonnay, Banghoek, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in color, this wine smells of lemon curd, white flowers, and pastry cream. In the mouth, bright lemon curd and lemon peel have a nice bright minerality and a hint of hazelnut, with notes of vanilla lingering in the finish. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $49. click to buy.

2017 Genevieve “Cap Classique” Blanc de Blancs Brut Zero Sparkling Wine, Bot River, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Pale to light yellow gold in the glass with medium-fine bubbles, this wine smells of white flowers and lemon pith. In the mouth, bright lemon pith and white flowers have a soft, velvety mousse. Lovely and ethereal. Zero dosage. 2,000 bottles made. Cost: $49. click to buy.

2015 Henning Villon “Single Vineyard” Chenin Blanc, Bot River, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Light to medium yellow gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon curd and citrus peel. In the mouth, gorgeous saline flavors of candied lemon peel and orange peel mix with crushed stone, a touch of chamomile, bee pollen, and herbs. From 31-year-old vines. Fermented with ambient yeasts. Cost: $??

2020 Ken Forrester “The FMC” Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of honey, baked apples, and candied grapefruit. In the mouth, candied grapefruit, honeysuckle, baked apples, and citrus pith have a very nice mineral underbelly. A light grip lingers in the finish. Decent acidity. FMC stands for “Fucking Marvelous Chenin.” Includes a little botrytised fruit. From vines planted in 1974. 13% alcohol. Cost: $100. click to buy.

NV Ken Forrester “Dirty Little Secret” Chenin Blanc, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of green apple, Asian pear, and white flowers. In the mouth, salty green apple and star fruit flavors mix with deep wet chalkboard minerality. Despite no sulfur being added at all, it’s quite clean. Unfiltered and unfined. From vineyards planted in 1969. Aged for 5 years in old 500-liter oak barrels. Cost: $240. Click to Buy.

2022 Lismore Chenin Blanc, Greyton, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of yellow flowers, pears, and a hint of oak. In the mouth, vanilla, pear, and white flower flavors have a nice pear-skin chalky grip and very good acidity. Aged in 15% new oak. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2022 Lismore Sauvignon Blanc, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Light gold in the glass, this wine smells of roasted nuts, lemon peel, and grapefruit. In the mouth, salty grapefruit, lemon peel, and wet stone flavors have nice, mouthwatering, zippy acidity. Tasty. 12% alcohol. Cost: $43. click to buy.

2022 Lismore Chardonnay, Greyton, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, lemon-scented pastry cream, and lemon oil. In the mouth, lemon oil and lemon pith flavors mix with a hint of vanilla, wet chalkboard, and lovely acidity. Crystalline and lengthy. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $31. click to buy.

2023 Lismore “Estate Reserve Cuvée Blanc” White Blend, Greyton, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light greenish gold in color, this wine smells of apples, white flowers, vanilla, and herbs. In the mouth, apple and pear flavors mix with white flowers and a hint of herbs. Filigreed acidity and nice chalky, stony minerality. A blend of Roussanne with 5% Viognier and 5% Chardonnay. 13.5% alcohol. About 1,400 bottles made. Cost: $??

2023 Le Belle Rebelle “Mariëtte” Chenin Blanc, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of Asian pears, white flowers, and wet chalkboard. In the mouth, wonderfully delicate aromatic flavors of pear and wet stones mix with citrus peel and pomelo pith. Filigreed acidity and an overall sense of grace. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2025 New Dawn “White” White Blend, Western Cape, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of candied lemon, nectarine, pear, and white flowers. In the mouth, saline flavors of nectarine, pear, white flowers, and grapefruit are juicy and delicious with excellent acidity and length. Nice stony minerality with a chamomile note in the finish. A blend of 54% Chenin Blanc, 42% Roussanne, and 4% Verdelho. Closed with a screwcap. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $22. click to buy.

2024 Noble Hill “Simonskop” Chenin Blanc, Simonsberg-Paarl, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light yellow gold in color, this wine smells of nectarine, white peach, pear, and pear skin. In the mouth, white peach and pear flavors mix with stony wet pavement and citrus pith. Excellent acidity. From old vines planted in 1987. Organic. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $30. click to buy.

2021 Raats “Original – Unwooded” Chenin Blanc, Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Near colorless in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers and pears. In the mouth, wet pavement, white flowers, Asian pear, and grapefruit pith flavors have wonderfully bright acidity that makes this wine quite mouthwatering, with a hint of salinity. Fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel. 13% alcohol. Cost: $216. click to buy. I am not sure what is up with this pricing.

2022 Saurwein “Chi” Riesling, Elgin, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of honeysuckle and mandarin orange oil. In the mouth, crisp and bright honeysuckle and mandarin flavors are wonderfully stony and bright with excellent, crystalline acidity and a faint tannic grip. Very tasty. 11.5 g/l residual sugar. 11.5% alcohol. Closed with a screwcap. Cost: $32. click to buy.

2025 Schenkfontein Grenache Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of citrus pith, ripe apples, and a hint of green melon. In the mouth, green apple, a hint of nectarine, lime zest, and a touch of white melon have a crisp, stony minerality and excellent saline acidity. Delicious. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2022 Schenkfontein “Truids Sparkling Cap Classique” Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light gold in the glass with fine bubbles, this wine smells of white flowers, pears, and wet chalkboard. In the mouth, white flowers, Asian pear, and wet chalkboard flavors are clean and bright with a lovely aromatic sweetness. Dry, crisp, and delicious. 12% alcohol. Cost: $??

2021 Schenkfontein “Stofjas” White Blend, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light gold in the glass, this wine smells of candle wax, white flowers, bee pollen, and citrus pith. In the mouth, lean Asian pear, unripe apple, yellow herbs, and candle wax have a stony wet-chalkboard minerality. Excellent acidity. A blend of Grenache Blanc, Verdelho, Marsanne, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chenin Blanc. Aged for 11 months in large-format old oak. 13% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 Thistle and Weed “Khakibos” White Blend, Paarl, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of yellow flowers, lemon pith, vanilla, and a hint of nuts. In the mouth, electric lemon pith and pink grapefruit mix with dried herbs and a touch of nut skin. Light, chalky minerality gives this wine a lovely purity. A blend of 29% Verdelho, 23% Chenin Blanc, 18% Alvarinho, 15% Palomino, and 15% Fernão Pires. 13% alcohol. Cost: $26. click to buy.

2024 Thistle and Weed “In Pieces” Chenin Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa
Light greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of pears and Asian pears. In the mouth, stony flavors of pear and white flowers have a lovely crisp brightness thanks to excellent acidity. A chalky texture lingers in the finish. 13% alcohol. Cost: $23. click to buy..

2024 Thistle and Weed “Cap Classique” Sparkling Chenin Blanc, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass with medium-fine bubbles, this wine smells of white flowers, apples, and beeswax. In the mouth, crisp, chalky-clean flavors of pear and pear skin mix with lemon oil and lemon pith. Faint salinity lingers with a chalky ocean-air quality. Aged 12 months on the lees. 4.5 g/l dosage. 12% alcohol. Cost: $??

2019 Tokara “Director’s Reserve” White Blend, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon, bee pollen, and green apple. In the mouth, green apple, lemon, and lime flavors mix with hints of bee pollen and citrus pith. Juicy, saline, bright, and tasty. A blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon. 14.5% alcohol. Cost: $69. click to buy..

2023 Van Loggerenberg “Break a Leg” Rosé, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale peachy pink in the glass, this wine smells of citrus peel, unripe peach, and wet chalkboard. In the mouth, citrus pith and unripe nectarine mix with faint sour cherry and watermelon notes. Bright, crisp, and beautifully saline. Delicious. Made from the closest Cinsault vineyard to the ocean on soft granitic soils. Picked in three passes, one for acidity, one for fruit, and the last for color. Fermented and aged 50% in old oak barrels. Closed with a screwcap. 12% alcohol. Cost: $??

2020 Van Loggerenberg “Break a Leg” Chardonnay, Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of struck flint and lemon zest. In the mouth, saline flavors of gunflint, lemon zest, grapefruit pith, and juicy, salty lemonade are bright and delicious. Fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel. 12% alcohol. Cost: $24. click to buy..

2024 Wolf & Woman Rosé of Grenache, Piekenierskloof, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale pink in the glass with a hint of peach, this wine smells of peach, strawberry, and dried herbs. In the mouth, chalky notes of peach, strawberry, white flowers, and wildflowers have a light chalky texture beneath a silky body and very good acidity. Unusual in character, but compelling. Bush vines grown on sandstone. The first pick went to tank, the second pick to barrels. All whole-bunch pressed, then fermented and aged for 8 months. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

White and Pink Wines With a Score Between 8.5 and 9

2016 Beaumont “Hope Marguerite” Chenin Blanc, Bot River, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of butterscotch and candied grapefruit. In the mouth, filigreed acidity shoots through mineral flavors of apple, pear, and candied ginger with hints of pear skin. Nicely salty. This was the earliest vintage in the winemaker’s history. From vines planted beginning in 1974. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $n/a

2022 Beaumont Chenin Blanc, Bot River, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of pomelo pith and white flowers. In the mouth, tart pomelo pith, poached pear, and a hint of white flowers are brisk with excellent acidity. There’s a light chalkiness to the wine as it finishes. 12.5% alcohol. Closed with a screwcap. Cost: $24. click to buy.

2025 Botanica Wines “Flowergirl Pet Nat” Rosé of Petit Verdot, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light peachy pink in the glass with fine bubbles, this wine smells of flowers, berries, and sweet cream. In the mouth, a soft mousse delivers sweet cream and berries to the palate. Faint floral sweetness lingers in the finish. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 Carinus “Polkadraai Heuwels” Chenin Blanc, Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light yellow gold in the glass, this wine smells of pear and poached pear with a hint of citrus. In the mouth, bright pear and citrus pith flavors mix with a nice poached pear and pastry cream note. Delicate acidity and nice, silky texture. Made by Chris Alheit. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2025 D’Aria Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of wet chalkboard, passionfruit, and lime pith. In the mouth, a touch of blackcurrant mixes with lime zest, lime leaf, and green apple. Chalky, stony minerality. Excellent acidity. Cost: $??

2024 Dashbosch “Massiesdrift Steen” Chenin Blanc, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of citrus pith and pear skin, with a strong wet pavement note. In the mouth, pear skin and crushed stone flavors have a chalky, lean, stony, almost austere quality. Great acidity. 13% alcohol. Cost: $??

2019 De Grendel “Koetshuis” Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of cut grass, alfalfa, and wet pavement. In the mouth, lean cut grass, green apple skin, wet chalkboard, and hints of ice plant have a crisp, crystalline acidity. Notes of lime zest linger in the finish. Cost: $23. click to buy.

2024 Durbanville Hills “Collectors Reserve – The Cape Mist” Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of green apple and kiwi. In the mouth, faintly saline green apple, chopped green herbs, and straw flavors have a nice brightness thanks to excellent acidity. Cost: $??

2025 Durbanville Wine Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of cut grass and green apple. In the mouth, green apple and cut grass flavors mix with lime peel and lime juice. Crisp, bright, and stony, with wet chalkboard minerality. Cost: $??

2024 Eight Gates Chenin Blanc, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of pear and pear skin with a hint of citrus. In the mouth, pear and grapefruit flavors mix with a hint of nectarine and a nice note of saffron. Excellent acidity. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2012 Genevieve “Cap Classique” Blanc de Blancs Brut Zero, Bot River, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Light yellow-gold in the glass with medium-fine bubbles, this wine smells of baked apples and lemon pith. In the mouth, a soft mousse delivers flavors of baked and fresh golden apples with hints of salinity. Nice yeasty, bready notes linger in the finish along with citrus peel. Zero dosage. Only 2,000 bottles made. Cost: $??

2022 Ken Forrester “Petit” Chenin Blanc, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of honeysuckle, green apple, pear, and a hint of grapefruit. In the mouth, green apple, pear, and grapefruit flavors mix with nice wet chalkboard minerality. Fresh and bright with excellent acidity and a hint of grip. 13% alcohol. Closed with a screwcap. Cost: $20. click to buy.

2024 Klein Roosboom “Limited Edition” Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of wet chalkboard, lemon pith, and wet straw. In the mouth, lemon pith, green apple flesh, and green alfalfa flavors have a faint grassy bitterness that lingers in the finish. Very good acidity. Cost: $??

2019 Lammershoek “Die Ou Nooi” Chardonnay, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light greenish-gold in the glass, this wine has a stony lemon pith aroma with hints of crushed shells. In the mouth, flavors of lemon pith and grapefruit are bright and stony and undergirded by wet chalkboard minerality. Deeply, deeply stony. These vines were planted in 1981 and are believed to be the oldest planting of Chardonnay in South Africa. 13% alcohol. Cost: $n/a

2023 Lismore “Estate Reserve” Viognier, Greyton, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light gold in the glass, this wine smells of peaches, apricot, and candied ginger. In the mouth, intense peach and apricot flavors mix with lemon oil and bright grapefruit pith notes. Intense and rich, but without weight, though there’s a little heat in the finish. Excellent acidity. Faint minerality. Aged in 300-liter barrels, 20% new. 14% alcohol. Cost: $53. click to buy.

2023 Le Belle Rebelle “Mariëtte” Pinot Blanc, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of citrus pith and vanilla. In the mouth, lean citrus pith, lemon peel, white flowers, and a hint of vanilla have a nice chalky grip and lovely underlying minerality. Excellent acidity and faint salinity. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 Meerendal “The Chapel Blanc Fumé” Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest gold in color, this wine smells of cut grass, citrus pith, and a hint of honey. In the mouth, a light salinity accompanies flavors of lemon and pomelo pith, a hint of green apple skin, and a touch of jalapeño. Cost: $??

2025 Meerendal Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of jasmine and green apple. In the mouth, faintly sweet flavors of green apple, jasmine, and star fruit have a lovely perfumed florality, with slightly softer-than-desirable acidity, but also a nice chalky minerality. Alluring. Cost: $??

2024 Off The Record Chenin Blanc, Elgin, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon peel, lemon blossom, and pears. In the mouth, lemon peel, pomelo, and pear skin flavors have a nice chalky minerality, with very good acidity. Lean. A blend of two batches, one whole cluster and one fully destemmed with a slow press. Aged 11 months in barrel. 13% alcohol. Cost: $??

2021 Olifantsburg “Lark” Chenin Blanc, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Palest yellow gold in the glass, this wine smells of peach and pear. In the mouth, faintly saline notes of peach and pear are a little outside the normal bounds of expected Chenin flavors but quite tasty. Good acidity. Vines trained with VSP on slate-heavy soils. Cost: $??

2019 Olifantsburg “Soul of the Mountain” White Blend, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Light yellow gold in the glass, this wine smells of bee pollen and lemon rind. In the mouth, sweet vanilla, lemon, and apple flavors have a silky texture and faint stony minerality. Light tannic grip. A blend of 72% Roussanne, 20% Grenache Blanc, and 8% Chenin Blanc. Decent acidity. Cost: $??

2024 Stark-Condé “The Press Club” Chenin Blanc, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Near colorless in the glass, this wine smells of pears and white flowers. In the mouth, saline flavors of pear and citrus pith mix with a touch of grapefruit. Crisp, bright, and chalky with stony minerality. Chenin Blanc with 10% Roussanne. Comes from vineyards “not yet ready” for estate wines. Fermented in amphora, concrete, and tank. 13% alcohol. Cost: $??

2019 Thelema Chardonnay, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon pith and lemon curd. In the mouth, lemon peel and candied citrus flavors have a bright, zingy quality with hints of bitter citrus lingering in the finish. Lightly chalky grip. Tight. 13% alcohol. Cost: $n/a

2024 Van Loggerenberg “Break a Leg” Chardonnay, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light gold with a hint of green, this wine smells of lemon peel and lemon pith. In the mouth, lemon curd and grapefruit flavors mix with lemon zest and a note of wet chalkboard. Crisp and bright with hints of orange peel in the finish. From two vineyards in Stellenbosch, one aged in 500-liter old oak barrels and the other in stainless steel. Both aged for 8 months on the lees. 13% alcohol. Closed with a screwcap. Cost: $20. click to buy.

2021 Wildekrans “Barrel Select Reserve” Chenin Blanc, Bot River, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Light gold in the glass, this wine smells of apples and chamomile. In the mouth, lemon pith, lemon zest, wet pavement, and unripe apple flavors have a silky texture. Good acidity and decent length. Aged for 9 months in 500-liter barrels, 20% new oak. Cost: $??

White and Pink Wines With a Score Around 8.5

2025 Allesverloren Chenin Blanc, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of sweet ripe pear, honeysuckle, and white flowers. In the mouth, sweetish white flowers, pear, poached pear, and pear skin flavors have a nice stony underbelly, but are just slightly sweeter than I would like. Excellent acidity. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2021 Bosman Family Vineyards “Adama” White Blend, Wellington, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, apple, and lemon. In the mouth, bright apple and a hint of melon mix with lemon pith and lemon juice, and the flavors linger in the finish. Contains 30% Grenache Blanc. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2025 Botanica Wines “Flowergirl” Albariño, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of passionfruit and citrus pith. In the mouth, lean lime and passionfruit flavors have a nice stony quality and a chalky texture. Decent acidity. 13% alcohol. Cost: $28. click to buy..

2023 Botanica Wines “The Mary Delaney Collection” Chenin Blanc, Citrusdal Mountain, Olifants River, South Africa
Light gold in the glass, this wine smells of baked apples and pear skin with a hint of dried orange peel. In the mouth, pear tarte tatin, orange peel, and wet chalkboard flavors mix with yellow herbs. Good acidity, but I would like more. Own-rooted vines planted in 1960 in red sandy decomposed sandstone. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $40. click to buy..

2023 D’Aria “The Songbird” Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in color, this wine smells of lemon and pomelo pith, wet chalkboard, and herbs. In the mouth, hints of lime and lime zest mix with jalapeño and a touch of green apple. Very good acidity. Cost: $??

2024 De Grendel “Koetshuis” Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, candied lemon peel, and elderflower. In the mouth, lemon peel, yellow plum, and orange blossom flavors are bright with excellent acidity. A note of cut grass lingers in the finish. Cost: $23. click to buy..

2023 Deep Rooted Wines “Journey to the Centre of the Universe – Fumé Blanc” Sauvignon Blanc, Walker Bay, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Pale gold in color, this wine smells of sweet white flowers and passionfruit. In the mouth, passionfruit, white flowers, and candied lemon have a faint sweetness and decent acidity. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 Deep Rooted Wines “Centre of the Universe – Fumé Blanc” Sauvignon Blanc, Walker Bay, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells intensely of passionfruit, guava, and gooseberries. In the mouth, chalky-textured flavors of passionfruit, candied kiwi, and gooseberries have bright acidity. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 Deep Rooted Wines Verdelho, Walker Bay, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Medium yellow gold in color, this wine smells of lemon curd, candied citrus, and candle wax. In the mouth, textures of candle wax and wet pavement underlie candied citrus and yellow flowers. Faintly sweet. 14-day carbonic maceration. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $25. click to buy..

2024 Diemersdal “The Journal” Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of wet stone and lime pith. In the mouth, lime pith, wet stone, and cut grass flavors have a lean, angular brightness. Somewhat austere. Decent acidity. Light chalky texture. Cost: $??

2025 Diemersdal “Reserve” Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold with a hint of green in the glass, this wine smells of cut grass, green apple skin, and lemon cucumber. In the mouth, lime zest and lime pith flavors mix with cut grass and lime leaf. Lean and herbal. Cost: $??

2019 Ken Forrester “Sparklehorse” Methode Cap Classique Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of wet chalkboard, a hint of yeastiness, and a touch of baked apple. In the mouth, chalky notes of apple and pear have a light grip. Hints of citrus pith linger in the finish. Spent 28 months on the lees in bottle. Vineyards planted in 1975. 12% alcohol. Cost: $40. click to buy..

2024 Klein Roosboom “My Way” Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in the glass, this wine smells of honey and warm hay. In the mouth, faintly sweet vanilla, lemon peel, a hint of nougat, and lightly bitter dried herbs mix with decent acidity. Notes of dried herbs linger in the finish. Cost: $??

2023 Leeu Passant Chardonnay, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of lemon curd and lemon peel. In the mouth, lemon curd and white flowers mix with softer acidity and a stony aspect. Silky, but slightly flabby. 14% alcohol. 424 cases made. Cost: $86. click to buy.

2024 Maastricht “The Contour” Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale greenish gold in color, this wine smells of lemon peel and lemon oil with a hint of star fruit. In the mouth, lemon and lime flavors mix with green apple and lime leaf flavors. Notes of cut grass linger in the finish. Decent acidity. Cost: $??

2024 Marais Family Wines “Breëland” Chenin Blanc, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, green apple, and a hint of Asian pear. In the mouth, zingy bright flavors of green apple and white flowers mix with a hint of Asian pear and bitter pear skin. Lightly chalky texture. Excellent acidity. More on the simple side. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 McFarlane Wines “Capitoline Wolf” White Blend, Western Cape, South Africa
Palest gold in the glass, this wine smells of struck match and pear skin. In the mouth, pear skin and wet stone flavors have chalky minerality. A blend of 60% Semillon and 40% Chenin Blanc. Aged in barrel for 9 months. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 Noble Hill “Clos Simond” White Blend, Simonsberg-Paarl, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light yellow gold in the glass, this wine smells of honey, peaches, baked apples, and white flowers. In the mouth, intense nectarine, baked apple, honey, and citrus peel flavors have great acidity. Lightly mineral. A blend of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Chenin Blanc, and Viognier. Organic. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 Nitida “Wild Child” Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville, Coastal Region, South Africa
Pale yellow gold in the glass, this wine smells of white flowers, green apple, and hints of something more vegetal. In the mouth, faintly saline flavors of apple, lemon peel, and green herbs leave a slightly bitter note in the finish. Very good acidity. Cost: $??

2020 Olifantsburg “Old Vine” Chenin Blanc, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Light gold in the glass, this wine smells of pear and a hint of grapefruit. In the mouth, pear and grapefruit flavors mix with a hint of ginger. Good acidity. 13.5% alcohol. Closed with a screwcap. Cost: $??

2021 Olifantsburg Roussanne, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Palest gold in color, this wine smells of yellow herbs and citrus pith. In the mouth, spiced apples and a touch of citrus pith are wrapped in a lightly tannic grip. Good acidity, with hints of orange peel lingering in the finish. Cost: $??

2020 Olifantsburg Grenache Blanc, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Pale gold in the glass, this wine smells of sagebrush, apple, and a hint of pear. In the mouth, green apple and dried herbs have a nice lime citrus quality lingering in the finish. A little higher in alcohol. Cost: $??

NV Opstal “Southern Secco” Sparkling Chenin Blanc, Slanghoek, Breedekloof, Coastal Region, South Africa
Palest greenish gold in the glass with coarse bubbles, this wine smells of wet chalkboard and green apple. In the mouth, green apple and white flowers have a nice wet-chalkboard minerality. Faintly sweet. Made using the Charmat method. Cost: $??

Red Wines

There’s a noticeable lack of Cabernet Sauvignon wines in this list, as I chose to focus my tastings and visits instead on the other grape varieties that I believe are more exciting options in South Africa at the moment.

Red Wines With a Score Between 9.5 and 10

2024 David & Nadia Grenache Noir, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light garnet in the glass, this wine smells of strawberry and flowers. In the mouth, mouthwatering flavors of strawberry, and dried herbs swirl with crushed stones and flowers. Saline and brilliant with excellent acidity, as faint, gauzy tannins coat the mouth. Crunchy and delicious. Ferments with ambient yeasts and then receives 4 weeks of post-fermentation maceration. Pressed to stainless, then aged 11 months in 50% concrete and 50% old oak. Sourced from 4 vineyards, 80% on granite soils. 50% whole cluster. 14% alcohol. Cost: $48. click to buy.

2024 Van Loggerenberg “Graft” Syrah, Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of blueberries and pink peppercorns. In the mouth, phenomenally aromatic blueberry, cassis, blackberry, iodine, salty flowers, and peppercorn flavors are wrapped in muscular tannins that stay quite supple. The wine is off-the-charts juicy. Mouthwatering and impossible not to swallow. 100% whole bunch. Aged 87% in concrete, with the balance in second-fill barriques. 13.7% alcohol. Cost: $??

Red Wines With a Score Around 9.5

2023 Boekenhoutskloof “Porseleinberg” Syrah, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of blackberries, crushed stones, flowers, and blueberries. In the mouth, beautiful blueberry and blackberry flavors mix with wet pavement, a hint of orange peel, and dried flowers. Light, fleecy tannins and nice earthy notes. Excellent acidity. 90% whole-cluster fermentation with ambient yeasts, aged for 14 months in large-format oak, blended into concrete, then aged in bottle for another year before release. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $76. click to buy.

2024 David & Nadia “Epidios” Red Blend, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light to medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of forest berries, blueberries, and herbs. In the mouth, gorgeous berry and herb flavors are wrapped in lightly fleecy tannins. Faintly saline, with a hint of snuffed candles. Light herbal notes linger in the finish. Foot-stomped with 50% whole clusters, punchdowns, ambient yeast fermentation, and about 4 weeks of post-fermentation maceration. A blend of 26% Grenache, 24% Syrah, 22% Carignan, 20% Pinotage, and 8% Cinsault. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $40. click to buy.

2024 Fogwell (Alheit) Syrah, Western Cape, South Africa
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of blackberry and blueberry fruit. In the mouth, powdery, stony tannins wrap around a core of blackberry, cherry, and blueberry fruit shot through with crushed stone. Hints of dried herbs and flowers linger in the finish. 50% whole cluster. Spends 2–3 weeks on the skins. Half aged in concrete and half in old oak for 16 months. 13% alcohol. Cost: $??

2023 Illimis Grenache Noir, Wellington, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Light ruby in the glass, this wine smells of strawberries, chopped green herbs, dried herbs, and flowers. In the mouth, salty flavors of strawberry, strawberry leaf, dried flowers, and dried herbs have lightly fleecy tannins and a deeply stony aspect. Mouthwatering acidity. Fermented with 70% whole bunches, then aged for 8 months in old oak. Soils of shale with pockets of schist. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $32. click to buy.

2023 Illimis Cinsault, Darling, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light garnet in the glass, this wine smells of wildflowers, plums, and sour cherries. In the mouth, fantastically juicy and bright plum and sour cherry flavors mix with dried herbs and dried flowers. Grippy tannins and crunchy acidity are delicious with a hint of salinity. From vines planted in the 1970s. 100% whole cluster, aged in old oak for 7–8 months. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $32. click to buy.

2023 Illimis Pinotage, Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of ripe berries, plums, and herbs. In the mouth, the wine is crunchy and bright with plummy berry and green herb notes wrapped in fleecy tannins. Excellent acidity and lovely minerality. Yum! Grown at 200 m of elevation. A mix of carbonic, whole-bunch, and destemmed fruit. Aged for 8 months in old oak. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $32. click to buy.

2022 Leeu Passant “Leeu Passant” Dry Red, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium to dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of blackcurrant and blackberries with a hint of chopped green herbs. In the mouth, cherry, plum, and blackcurrant fruit are wrapped in lightly fleecy tannins that remain very supple as bright fruit and a touch of floral herbs linger in the finish. Excellent acidity and stony minerality. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, and Cabernet Franc. 14% alcohol. 327 cases made. Cost: $115. click to buy.

2023 Mullineux “Schist – Roundstone” Syrah, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in color, this wine smells of struck match, wet chalkboard, and dark blueberry fruit. In the mouth, wonderfully stony blackberry and blueberry fruit is shot through with fynbos, wildflowers, ink, iodine, and pulverized stone. Fleecy tannins coat the mouth and remain supple, lingering with a hint of oak and earth in the finish. Fantastic acidity and stony minerality. 430 cases made. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $120. click to buy.

2023 Mullineux “Roundstone Estate” Red Blend, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium to dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of fynbos, rooibos, and red berries. In the mouth, strawberry and cherry flavors mix with dried and fresh herbs, a touch of toasted oak, and wildflowers. Gorgeously bright acidity and lovely length, with gauzy tannins that stay supple. A blend of 50% Syrah, 25% Grenache, and 25% Cinsault. 100% whole cluster in open-top fermenters, aged initially in 50% new oak, then moved into old oak for the second year. 14% alcohol. Cost: $63. click to buy.

2023 Stark-Condé Three Pines Syrah, Joenkershoek, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in the glass with purple highlights, this wine smells of blackberry, flowers, herbs, and earth. In the mouth, supple, fine-grained tannins wrap around a core of blackberry, blueberry, earth, and dark black plum. Light dried herb and chopped green herb flavors add a nice complexity. Fine supple tannins and lovely minerality are matched with great lift and perfume. Fantastic acidity. All primary fermentation in concrete with 30% whole cluster. Spends a year in older oak, and then goes back to concrete. 14% alcohol. Cost: $50. click to buy.

2023 Stark-Condé “Three Pines” Cabernet Sauvignon, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in color, this wine smells of sweet oak, black cherry, and blackcurrant with dried herbs. In the mouth, blackcurrant, sweet oak, and chopped green herbs are wrapped in fine-grained, tight tannins over deep stony minerality. Fantastic acidity. Supple and delicious but still quite young. Hold for at least 5 years, even though it is delicious now. 14% alcohol. Cost: $45. click to buy.

2023 Stark-Condé “Oude Nektar” Red Blend, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark purple in the glass, this wine smells of black cherry, blackberry, black plum, and blackcurrant leaf. In the mouth, blackcurrant, blackberry, green herbs, and earth flavors are wrapped in a muscular, fleecy blanket of tannins that remain supple as excellent acidity keeps things juicy and fresh. Very young and ideally needs 5 years. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. From the highest Cabernet vineyard in Stellenbosch, at 600 meters. Cost: $??

2024 Van Loggerenberg “Geronimo” Cinsault, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium garnet in color, this wine smells of wildflowers, pomegranate, plums, and dried herbs. In the mouth, plum, pomegranate, and a hint of cranberry are bright and juicy with excellent acidity. Notes of green herbs and dried flowers linger in the finish. Crunchy, with powdery tannins that coat the mouth and linger. 60% whole-cluster fermentation, followed by 3–4 weeks on the skins and 10 months in old oak barrels. 13% alcohol. Cost: $35. click to buy.

2024 Van Loggerenberg “Lötter” Cinsault, Franschhoek, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light to medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cassis, dried flowers, plums, and herbs. In the mouth, plum, cassis, sour cherry, and dusty earth are wrapped in fleecy, stony tannins that leave the mouth chalky and coated with a dusty texture. Fantastic acidity and length. Notes of wildflowers and wet earth linger in the finish. Planted in 1932 by Koos Lötter, this is the second-oldest red vineyard in the country, planted on iron-rich granite soils with large iron nodules. Lost 90% of the crop in 2024 to weevils. 100% whole-bunch fermented. 13% alcohol. 770 bottles made. Cost: $49. click to buy.

2023 Van Loggerenberg “Breton” Cabernet Franc, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of wildflowers, plum, and green herbs. In the mouth, gorgeous, juicy acidity makes plum, wildflowers, green herbs, and a hint of nut skin positively mouthwatering on the palate. Saline, with excellent acidity and powdery tannins. From two vineyards, one destemmed (70%) and the other fermented 100% whole cluster (30%). Aged in concrete and old oak. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $36. click to buy.

2024 Van Loggerenberg “High Hopes” Red Blend, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in color, this wine smells of blueberry, blackberry, and dried flowers. In the mouth, blackberry and blueberry flavors are bright with excellent acidity and amazing salinity. Fleecy tannins coat the mouth as stony floral notes linger through the finish with hints of cassis. Purple-flavored and vibrant, if that makes any sense at all. Grown on schist. A blend of 94% Syrah from Porseleinberg and 6% Grenache. 100% whole bunch, aged 50% in concrete and 50% in old oak. 14% alcohol. Cost: $32. click to buy.

2018 Van Loggerenberg “Geronimo” Cinsault, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light to medium ruby in the glass, this wine smells of rooibos, dried flowers, and sour cherries. In the mouth, sour cherry and pine duff mix with a hint of raspberry and rooibos, plus some black tea, as fleecy tannins coat the mouth. There’s a very lovely herbal freshness that keeps this wine crisp and mouthwatering. Excellent acidity. 100% whole-cluster fermented in 300-liter barrels. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $n/a

2024 Wolf & Woman Syrah, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark purple in the glass, this wine smells of flowers, blackberries, wet pavement, and blueberries. In the mouth, fleecy tannins coat the mouth like chalk dust as wonderful blueberry and blackberry fruit sings with a pure, resonant note of aromatic sweetness. Deeply mineral tones underneath and fantastic acidity. Notes of thyme linger in the finish. Made from two vineyards: one site is clay, one site is schist, picked and vinified separately. 80% whole-cluster fermentation. Spends 2–3 weeks on the skins before going to old oak for 10 months before bottling. 13% alcohol. Cost: $47. click to buy.

2024 Wolf & Woman “Glen Frank” Syrah, Darling, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark purple in color, this wine smells of intensely floral blueberry and violets with hints of sweet herbs. In the mouth, a core of blueberry and violet fruit is wrapped in thick fleecy tannins that stiffen with a little time. Deeply intense and aromatic, with a hint of salinity and deep wet chalkboard minerality underneath it all. Fantastic acidity. Big, needs time, but gorgeous. From a south-facing granite hill 7 km from the Atlantic Ocean. 100% whole-bunch, cold-soaked, then 3 weeks on the skins before pressing to old oak for 10 months of aging. 14.1% alcohol. Cost: $40. click to buy.

Red Wines With a Score Between 9 and 9.5

2023 Stark-Condé Syrah, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium to dark garnet in the glass with purple highlights, this wine smells of blackberry, wildflowers, wet pavement, and green herbs. In the mouth, blueberry, blackberry, white flowers, and a hint of peach have juicy, bright acidity and fleecy-but-tight tannins that are very fine-grained. Supple and juicy. Cofermented with some whole bunches of Roussanne and Viognier. 14% alcohol. Cost: $45. click to buy.

2023 David & Nadia “Topography” Pinotage, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of flowers, plums, berries, and earth. In the mouth, saline flavors of plum, berries, green herbs, and earth have excellent acidity and length. There’s a faint green herbal bitterness that lingers in the finish. Matured for 1 year in foudre. 80% whole berries, 20% whole cluster. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $28. click to buy.

2019 Delaire Graff “Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon, Banghoek, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in color, this wine smells of beautifully sweet cherry and cola. In the mouth, this wine tastes of cherry, cola, and cedar. Gorgeously fine, supple tannins hang in a faint haze. Gorgeously bright acidity and great length. 14.5% alcohol. Cost: $54. click to buy.

2020 Hamilton Russell “Ashbourne” Pinotage, Cape Coast, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells wonderfully of berries and flowers. In the mouth, fine tannins wrap around a core of berries and crunchy acidity that mix with herbs and flowers through a long, long finish. Gorgeous.12.9% alcohol. Cost: $62. click to buy.

2023 Leeu Passant Cinsault, Wellington, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light to medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of plum, berries, and flowers. In the mouth, floral plum, berry, and sour cherry flavors have a wonderful balance and a nice silkiness with an underlying stony quality. Great acidity and very faint, gauzy tannins. Planted between 1890 and 1900, this is the oldest red wine vineyard in South Africa. 135 cases made. 14.5% alcohol. Cost: $42. click to buy.

2023 McFarlane Wines “Saturday’s Child” Pinotage, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light to medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of plum, berries, flowers, and herbs. In the mouth, fleecy tannins surround crunchy acidity that enlivens berry and plum flavors which are shot through with dried and chopped fresh herbs.10% whole cluster. Aged 11 months in old oak. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2023 McFarlane Wines “Tuesday’s Child” Cinsault, Darling, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light ruby in the glass, this wine smells of sour cherries, plum skin, and redcurrant. In the mouth, faintly salty sour cherry and plum skin flavors mix with dried herbs and wildflowers. Excellent acidity, stony fine-grained tannins, crunchy and delicious. 100% whole cluster. 12% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 McFarlane Wines “Wednesday’s Child” Grenache, Citrusdal Mountain, Olifants River, South Africa
Light to medium purple in the glass, this wine smells of wildflowers, aromatic herbs, and red berries. In the mouth, sour cherries and alpine strawberry flavors mix with chopped resinous green herbs. Lightly fleecy tannins and crunchy acidity. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2022 Mullineux Syrah, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in color with purple highlights, this wine smells of struck match, wet chalkboard, blackberry, and blueberry. In the mouth, blackberry, earth, and dried and fresh herbs are wrapped in very fine, fleecy tannins that hang in the background. Very good acidity. 80% whole cluster fermented in large open-top 5,000-liter wooden vats. Spends four weeks on the skins, then 2 years in large-format old oak. Made from four main soils: granite, schist, ironstone, and quartz. 4,222 cases made. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $40. click to buy.

2023 Mullineux “Granite – Jakkalsfontein” Syrah, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in color, this wine smells of snuffed candle, wildflowers, fynbos, and earth. In the mouth, muscular, fine-grained, fleecy tannins wrap around a core of pulverized rock, wildflowers, blueberry and blackberry fruit, and dark earth. Intense minerality and excellent acidity. Wonderfully fresh. 100% whole cluster. Fermented in 5,000-liter open-top fermenters with hand punchdowns, focused on infusion rather than extraction. Aged for 2 years in old oak. 432 cases made. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $145. click to buy.

2024 New Dawn “Dark Leap” Red Blend, Western Cape, South Africa
Medium to dark garnet in the glass with purple highlights, this wine smells of blackberries, blueberries, black cherry, and dried herbs. In the mouth, dried flowers, blackberries, blueberries, and citrus peel flavors are bright and saline with fantastic acidity. Lightly gauzy tannins gain strength through the citrus-peel finish. A blend of 58% Syrah, 20% Carignan, 17% Grenache, and 5% Cinsault. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $26. click to buy.

2021 Saurwein “Nom” Pinot Noir, Elandskloof, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cranberry and raspberry fruit with a hint of marijuana resin. In the mouth, raspberry and cranberry have a lovely umami salinity and a nicely faint tannic grip. 14.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2023 Stark-Condé “Stellenbosch” Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in the glass with purple highlights, this wine smells of black cherry, blackcurrant, violets, and cola. In the mouth, black cherry and blackcurrant flavors mix with chopped green herbs, fleecy tannins, and excellent acidity. Smooth and supple, fine-grained and approachable. Mostly destemmed. 14% alcohol. Cost: $35. click to buy.

2023 Storm Wines “Vrede” Pinot Noir, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Light to medium ruby in the glass, this wine smells of raspberry, flowers, citrus peel, and dried herbs. In the mouth, citrus peel, dried herbs, sour cherries, and raspberries lean towards more tart redcurrant notes as the wine finishes with bright citric acidity. Fine, gauzy tannins. Juicy and bright with a lean, stony character that lingers. 15% whole-cluster fermentation. High clay content in the soils. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $61. click to buy.

2023 Storm Wines “Ignis” Pinot Noir, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Light to medium ruby in the glass, this wine smells of alpine strawberries, cherries, and raspberries shot through with fynbos and herbs. In the mouth, raspberry and sour cherry flavors mix with fynbos and dried herbs, as notes of citrus peel linger in the finish. Gauzy, barely perceptible tannins, with a fine stony texture in the mouth. 15% whole-cluster fermentation. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2023 Storm Wines “Ridge” Pinot Noir, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Light to medium ruby in the glass, this wine smells of rooibos, raspberry, and herbs. In the mouth, bright citrus peel and raspberry notes mix with hints of blue fruits and baking spices. Excellent citrus-peel acidity and raspberry-leaf brightness. Powdery, stony tannins coat the mouth. 15% whole-cluster fermentation. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2023 Storm Wines “2025 CWG Auction Lot – Vrede” Pinot Noir, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Light to medium ruby in color, this wine smells of raspberries, sour cherries, herbs, and dried flowers. In the mouth, juicy raspberry and sour cherry flavors are shot through with dried herbs and fynbos. Slightly muscular tannins wrap around the core of fruit and linger with a chalky, stony sensation in the finish, with a hint of bitter herbs. 15% whole-cluster fermentation. 13.5% alcohol. A special barrel made for the Cape Winemakers Guild auction. Cost: $n/a

2024 Thistle and Weed “Knapsekêrel” Cabernet Franc, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of plum, chopped green herbs, flowers, and cherries. In the mouth, tobacco, plum, chopped green herbs, and flowers are wrapped in fleecy tannins and carry a nice wet-pavement minerality underneath. Clean and bright with excellent, even crunchy acidity. 15% whole cluster. Aged for 10 months in old oak. 14% alcohol. Cost: $34. click to buy.

2024 Van Loggerenberg “Breton” Cabernet Franc, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in the glass with purple highlights, this wine smells of plums, wildflowers, chopped green herbs, and wet pavement. In the mouth, muscular tannins wrap around a core of black plum and plum, dried herbs, black tea, and green resinous herbs. The tannins stiffen with time and are slightly drying. This vintage saw a 45% reduction in yield. Three weeks on the skins. Usually aged in concrete, but only old oak this vintage. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $36. click to buy.

2021 Van Loggerenberg “High Hopes” Red Blend, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium to dark ruby in the glass, this wine smells of meaty blackberry and blueberry fruit. In the mouth, gorgeously juicy blackberry and blackberry leaf flavors are shot through with black tea and sour cherry. Tangy and bright. Muscular tannins close around the core of fruit. Stony, wet pavement minerality sings while the tannins stiffen in the finish. A blend of 87% Syrah, 9% Grenache, and 4% Cinsault. The coolest vintage since 1997. First vintage of this wine. 12.5% alcohol. Cost: $28. click to buy.

2024 Wolf & Woman Pinotage, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium garnet in the glass with purple highlights, this wine smells of plum, flowers, green herbs, and earth. In the mouth, bright plum and crunchy acidity are wrapped in fleecy, supple tannins as plum skin, sour cherry, and citrus peel notes mix with flowers, herbs, and earth in the finish. Comes from two sites, one on granite soils and one on clay soils. 15% whole bunch. Four-day cold soak, with one extraction per day, either a hand punchdown or pumpover. Three weeks on the skins before pressing into old 500-liter oak for aging. 13% alcohol. Cost: $30. click to buy.

Red Wines With a Score Around 9

2023 Cap Maritime Pinot Noir, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Walker Bay, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Light to medium ruby in the glass, this wine smells of raspberries and green herbs. In the mouth, raspberries, green herbs, dried herbs, and wet chalkboard have a nice silky texture and faint tannic grip. Excellent acidity. 25% whole cluster. 13% alcohol. Cost: $22. click to buy.

2023 Carinus Syrah, Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of blackberry and cherry with hints of dried herbs and flowers. In the mouth, fleecy tannins wrap around a core of blackberry and black cherry fruit. Lightly dusty. Dried herbs linger in the finish. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2021 Hamilton Russell “Southern Right” Pinotage, Cape Coast, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium to dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cherry and boysenberry. In the mouth, suede-like tannins wrap around boysenberry and cherry with a touch of herbs and flowers. Excellent, smooth, and easy to drink. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $35. click to buy.

2023 Leeu Passant Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of black cherry and blackcurrant. In the mouth, muscular, fleecy tannins coat the mouth as blackcurrant and black cherry flavors swirl with dried herbs and earth. The tannins are slightly drying and parch the mouth. Very good acidity. Needs time. 14% alcohol. 1,365 cases made. Cost: $54. click to buy.

2022 Lismore “Estate Reserve” Syrah, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of snuffed candle, sandalwood incense, green herbs, dried herbs, and dried flowers layered over red and blue fruits. In the mouth, dried herbs and dried flowers mix with blueberry and mulberry flavors tinged with road dust. Fleecy, dusty tannins coat the mouth, and there’s a faint dried flower note in the finish. Very good acidity. Intriguing and distinctive. 50% whole-cluster fermented. Aged in 20% new oak for 11 months. 12% alcohol. Cost: $65. click to buy.

2023 Marais Family Wines “Breëland” Pinotage, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Medium to dark garnet in the glass with purple highlights, this wine smells of boysenberry and cherry. In the mouth, crunchy acidity and bright fruit are zingy, with excellent acidity. Fleecy, stony tannins coat the mouth, but the acidity cuts through it all, leaving a fresh, mouthwatering quality to the boysenberry and plum fruit. Outstanding. 14% alcohol. Cost: $??

2023 Merwida Barbera, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Medium purple in the glass with garnet highlights, this wine smells of cherry and sweet oak. In the mouth, cherries, candied orange peel, and dried flowers have a wonderful brightness and stony, fine-grained tannins. Great acidity. Best Barbera I’ve ever had from South Africa. Also the first. 14% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 New Dawn “Red” Red Blend, Western Cape, South Africa
Dark garnet in color with purple highlights, this wine smells of blackberries, black plum, aromatic green herbs, and black tea. In the mouth, bergamot, blackberries, black cherry, raspberries, and dried herbs are wrapped in fleecy tannins and have a lovely wet-pavement minerality underneath. Fantastic acidity and very aromatic. A blend of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Shiraz, 27% Grenache, 11% Cinsault, and 5% Carignan. 13.5% alcohol. Closed with a screwcap. Cost: $20. click to buy.

2023 Off The Record Syrah, Ceres Plateau, South Africa
Medium purple in the glass, this wine smells of wildflowers, blackberries, and dried herbs. In the mouth, black cherry and cassis flavors are wrapped in fleecy tannins that stay quite fine and supple. Made destemmed, but with all the stems added back in for maceration. Dried herbs linger in the finish. Excellent acidity. 12.9% alcohol. Cost: $??

2018 Olifantsburg “Soul of the Mountain” Red Blend, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of dried herbs and strawberries. In the mouth, strawberry and black cherry flavors are shot through with stony notes and dried herbs. Supple, suede-like tannins. Good acidity. A blend of 42% Syrah, 22% Carignan, 20% Mourvèdre, and 16% Grenache. Cost: $??

2021 Saurwein “Om” Pinot Noir, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light garnet in the glass, this wine smells of raspberry and dried flowers. In the mouth, raspberry and citrus peel are wrapped in tight, muscular tannins that accompany a bright, wet-stone quality. Hints of bitter herbs linger in the finish. 25% new oak. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $70. click to buy.

2019 Saurwein “Nom” Pinot Noir, Elandskloof, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light garnet in the glass, this wine smells of marijuana resin and raspberries. In the mouth, raspberries and dashi mix with herbs and dried flowers. Faint tannins and excellent acidity. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2019 Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium to dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of green herbs and a touch of green bell pepper layered over cherry and cassis. In the mouth, herbal notes of cherry and plum have a bright juiciness and plush, suede-like tannins. Excellent acidity. A blend of different vineyards on the farm. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $42. click to buy.

2024 Thistle and Weed “Nastergal” Red Blend, Western Cape, South Africa
Very dark garnet in the glass with purple highlights, this wine smells of black cherry, blackberry, and blueberry. In the mouth, black cherry, blueberry, and chopped green herbs mix under a fleecy blanket of tannins. Big and muscular but not heavy, with sweet dark berry fruit that lingers with a chalky texture in the finish. Excellent acidity. A blend of 50% Alicante Bouschet, 25% Touriga Nacional, 17% Touriga Franca, and 8% Sousão. 14.5% alcohol. Cost: $28. click to buy.

2019 Tokara “Reserve Collection” Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of black cherry and cassis. In the mouth, cherry and plum flavors are wrapped in gauzy, fine tannins. Hints of herbs and cigar box linger in the finish with a touch of licorice. Excellent acidity. Aged for 22 months in 60% new oak. 14% alcohol. Cost: $49. click to buy.

Red Wines With a Score Between 8.5 and 9

2001 Beaumont Shiraz, Bot River, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Dark ruby in the glass with still some garnet hue, this wine smells of leather, warm earth, and hints of red and black fruits. In the mouth, wonderfully savory notes of stewed meat mix with dried and still-fresh blackberries and red miso. Notes of red apple skin and herbs linger in the finish with faintly fleecy tannins. Fermented in open-top cement tanks. Still good acidity. Fifth vintage from these vines, some of the first of this variety planted in the Bot River region. Cost: $n/a

2019 Beaumont “Dangerfield” Shiraz, Bot River, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Medium to dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of herbs, flowers, blackberries, and earth. In the mouth, fleecy tannins wrap around a core of blackberry, earth, and crushed stone. Herbs and dried flowers linger in the finish. Stony. Spends 18 months in 25% new oak. 13% alcohol. Cost: $38. click to buy.

2023 Deep Rooted Wines “Hinterlands” Syrah, Walker Bay, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Medium to dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of earth, blackberry, and black cherry fruit with a nice floral overtone. In the mouth, blackberry and black cherry fruit flavors are shot through with green herbs and straw. Chalky, fleecy tannins coat the mouth, and a deep stony underbelly rumbles through the finish. Decent acidity. 12.8% alcohol. Cost: $22. click to buy.

2023 Du Toitskloof “Granite” Pinotage, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Medium garnet in the glass with purple highlights, this wine smells of plum and boysenberries. In the mouth, bright, juicy acidity keeps plum and boysenberry flavors vibrant as fleecy, fine-grained tannins coat the mouth. Notes of flowers linger in the finish. 14.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 Kara Tara (Stark-Conde) Pinot Noir, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of plum, raspberry, cherry, and green herbs. In the mouth, cherry and cranberry flavors have a bright juiciness with a hint of herbs to add complexity. Uncomplicated. Tasty. Very good acidity. 13% alcohol. Cost: $34. click to buy.

2022 Kelvin Feku Grenache, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light ruby in the glass with orange highlights, this wine smells of orange peel, strawberries, and flowers. In the mouth, wildflowers, strawberries, and dried herbs mix with gauzy tannins and notes of crushed stone. Excellent acidity. Long. 13% alcohol. Cost: $.??

2021 Lismore Syrah, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium to dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of blackberry and cherry flavors with chopped green herbs. In the mouth, cherry and blackberry flavors mix with wet earth and dried herbs. Very good acidity and fleecy, muscular tannins. 50% whole-cluster fermented in old oak casks. Aged in 15% new oak. 13% alcohol. Cost: $66. click to buy.

2022 Opstal “Carl Everson” Cape Blend, Slanghoek, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Medium garnet in color, this wine smells of cherries, black tea, blueberries, and licorice. In the mouth, fleecy tannins surround a core of cherry and blueberry fruit mixed with black tea and dried herbs. Slightly bitter notes of oak linger in the finish but are not overpowering. Very good acidity. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Cinsault, and Carignan. 13.5% alcohol. Tasted out of magnum. Cost: $??

2018 Saurwein “Om” Pinot Noir, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Coastal Region, South Africa
Light garnet in the glass, this wine smells of dried raspberries, herbs, and cranberry. In the mouth, mineral notes of crushed stone are welded to dried raspberry, raisins, and a touch of herbs. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $n/a

2023 Van Loggerenberg “Break a Leg” Merlot, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium to dark garnet in color, this wine smells of plum, green herbs, and hints of flowers. In the mouth, juicy plum and green herbs mix with wet pavement minerality and fantastically juicy acidity. Faint powdery tannins coat the mouth and stay supple. Planted on clay-rich soils. Three weeks on the skins. Aged in French oak for 11 months. 13.5% alcohol. Closed with a screwcap. Cost: $20. click to buy.

Red Wines With a Score Around 8.5

2021 Allesverloren Cape Vintage Fortified Wine, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Very dark ruby in the glass, this wine smells of caramel, brown sugar, coffee nibs, and herbs. In the mouth, very sweet flavors of caramel, brown sugar, café au lait, and honey have a long finish and faint tannic texture. Excellent acidity. A blend of Tinta Barroca, Touriga Nacional, and Sousão. 19.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2004 Beaumont Mourvèdre, Bot River, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Medium ruby in color, this wine smells of leather, incense, and dried flowers. In the mouth, powdery tannins hang gauzily over the palate while notes of incense, dried flowers, earth, and dried black fruits have a nice brightness to them despite the age. Hints of fennel seed linger in the finish. 15% alcohol. Cost: $n/a

2019 Botanica Wines “Arboretum” Red Blend, Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Very dark ruby in the glass, this wine smells of mocha, baking spices, cedar, and tobacco. In the mouth, cherry and tobacco flavors mix with dried herbs, cedar, and dried flowers. Fleecy tannins coat the palate and stiffen slightly, leaving baking spice notes in the finish. Decent acidity. A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Petit Verdot. 14% alcohol. Cost: $33. click to buy.

2019 Eight Gates Pinotage, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Medium to dark garnet in color, this wine smells of earth, leather, and dried flowers. In the mouth, cherry and plum flavors mix with dried herbs and chopped green herbs. There’s a hint of molasses here. Decent acidity and muscular, fine-grained tannins. 14% alcohol. Cost: $??

2023 Noble Hill “Sic Transit Gloria Mundi” Red Blend, Simonsberg-Paarl, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium garnet in color, this wine smells of strawberry and herbs. In the mouth, strawberry, dried herbs, and green herbs are wrapped in fleecy tannins. Stony. A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. 13% alcohol. Cost: $?

2023 Olifantsberg Grenache Noir, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Light to medium garnet in color, this wine smells of dried herbs, strawberries, and earth. In the mouth, dried herbs, earth, and strawberries are held tightly in a fist of fleecy tannins. Muscular. Very good acidity. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $27. click to buy.

2021 Olifantsburg Grenache Noir, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of berries and herbs. In the mouth, thicker tannins wrap around a core of dried herbs, wood, strawberry, and boysenberry. Good acidity. 20–40% whole cluster. Cost: $??

2018 Olifantsburg Syrah, Breedekloof, Breede River Valley, South Africa
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of raisins and blackberries. In the mouth, blackberry and black cherry flavors are wrapped tightly in a leathery blanket of tannins. Decent acidity. Cost: $??

2023 Schenkfontein Shiraz, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium to dark garnet in color, this wine smells of struck match, blackberries, and a touch of dried herbs. In the mouth, blackberry and citrus peel mix with dried herbs and wet earth. Decent acidity. Fleecy tannins. 13% alcohol. Cost: $??

2024 Schenkfontein Red Blend, Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Medium to dark ruby in color, this wine smells of blackberry and strawberry fruit with a hint of oak. In the mouth, strawberry and blackberry flavors have a nice, bright fruitiness with a hint of herbs. Faint, gauzy tannins. A blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Pinotage, and 20% Shiraz. 13.5% alcohol. Cost: $??

2020 Wilderkrans “Barrel Select” Shiraz, Bot River, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cherry and blackberry. In the mouth, faintly saline notes of cherry, leather, and blackberry mix with dried herbs and earth. Excellent acidity. Notes of incense linger in the finish along with herbs. Includes 5% Tempranillo. Cost: $23. click to buy.