South Africa
At the bottom of its great continent, South Africa is a country of unlimited natural advantages. With the confluence of two oceans at the Cape, the sheltering effect of inland mountain chains and some of the most dynamic soils in the world, every piece is in place for the production of fine wine. The most well-known region has historically been Stellenbosch, but it is the wines of Swartland that have really turned South African wine on its head in recent years.
The wine industry is in the midst of a renaissance with classically styled wines making full advantage of remarkable terroir and an adventurous spirit. As a result, South Africa is producing some truly exceptional wines of great character and value. Striking blockbuster Syrahs and Bordeaux blends to full bodied Chardonnay and crisp Sauvignon Blanc are some of this great nation’s offerings. South Africa’s own grape, Pinotage, leaves critics divided yet can produce excellent single-variety offerings as well as distinguished Cape blends.
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South Africa
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Tim Atkin MW (96)
Hoë-Steen comes from a 1968 vineyard to the west of Malmesbury on deep red iron and clay-rich soils. Broader and richer than the other single site Chenins from the Sadies, with some ferrous grip, fine oak integration, pear, cream and stone fruit flavours and a taut finish.HK$835.00 -
(1x75cl) 2021Tim Atkin MW (96)
Hoë-Steen is a cooler, south-facing site on red, iron-rich clay soils that's generally picked last at the winery. Planted in 1968 with 2% Palomino and Crouchen Blanc, it's one of the Cape's most intense Chenin Blancs. Dense, layered and structured, the 2021 has aniseed and wild flower aromas, lots of grip, focus and extract and a palate of acacia honey, waxed lemons and wet stones.HK$695.00 -
(6x75cl) 2021Tim Atkin MW (96)
Hoë-Steen is a cooler, south-facing site on red, iron-rich clay soils that's generally picked last at the winery. Planted in 1968 with 2% Palomino and Crouchen Blanc, it's one of the Cape's most intense Chenin Blancs. Dense, layered and structured, the 2021 has aniseed and wild flower aromas, lots of grip, focus and extract and a palate of acacia honey, waxed lemons and wet stones.HK$3,105.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (96)
One of a quartet of brilliant single parcel, old-vine Chenin Blancs from David and Nadia Sadie, Hoë-Steen hails from a two-hectare parcel planted in 1968. The high clay content means that this is a cool, late-ripening site and the freshness shows in the wine. Focused, earthy and slightly ferrous, with understated power, coiled acidity and layers of fennel, wax and an exotic undertone.HK$4,095.00 -
Vinous (94)
The name of the maiden 2018 Plat’bos (“low bush”) indicates the kind of vines it comes from, lying in a vineyard adjacent to the Skaliekop on pure granite soils. It has a unapologetically silty, stony bouquet, very reserved and austere yet with an enthralling intensity that seems almost paradoxical. The palate is very well balanced. Perhaps one of the most concentrated of David and Nadia Sadie’s wines, it reveals a crescendo of flavors, with tangerine, citrus peel, stem ginger and a touch of rhubarb toward the persistent finish. This is another impressive Chenin from this producer.HK$3,380.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (98)
David & Nadia Sadie are now part of an elite group of South African Chenin Blanc producers, making world-class wines on a consistent basis. This is my favourite of their trio of single vineyard wines in 2019, sourced from a 3.9-hectare site on granite soils on the Paardeberg. Tight, taut and floral, with comparatively low alcohol, mouth-watering freshness, precision and acidity, notes of fennel, apple and gunflint and a lingering finish. A Cape Grand Cru. 2021-32HK$940.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (98)
David & Nadia Sadie are now part of an elite group of South African Chenin Blanc producers, making world-class wines on a consistent basis. This is my favourite of their trio of single vineyard wines in 2019, sourced from a 3.9-hectare site on granite soils on the Paardeberg. Tight, taut and floral, with comparatively low alcohol, mouth-watering freshness, precision and acidity, notes of fennel, apple and gunflint and a lingering finish. A Cape Grand Cru. 2021-32HK$3,615.00 -
(1x75cl) 2020Tim Atkin MW (98)
One of the great whites of the southern hemisphere, not just of South Africa, this is the Montrachet of Chenin Blanc. Made with three different pickings from the top part of the Paardebosch farm, it has the concentration of its 40-year-old vines, mouth-watering acidity and pH, chiselled freshness and layers of rock salt, aromatic spices, pear and lemongrass.HK$695.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (98)
One of the great whites of the southern hemisphere, not just of South Africa, this is the Montrachet of Chenin Blanc. Made with three different pickings from the top part of the Paardebosch farm, it has the concentration of its 40-year-old vines, mouth-watering acidity and pH, chiselled freshness and layers of rock salt, aromatic spices, pear and lemongrass.HK$2,955.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (97)
It's always hard to pick a favourite among David and Nadia Sadie's superb array of whites, but this is mine in 2021. Sourced from a north-facing site on granite that's always picked early to retain acidity, Plat'bos is effortlessly balanced and complete, with salty minerality, lots of concentration, wax and lanolin undertones, spice and citrus flavours and a thrilling, energetic finish.HK$3,300.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (98)
Plat'bos is made in slightly bigger quantities than the other Old Vine Project single vineyard releases from David & Nadia, but we are still only talking 1,500 bottles from 1.8 hectares. Picked in three stages for complexity and layers, this is a world-class expression of Chenin on granite soils, with mouth-watering acidity, steely precision and focus, wet stone, lime and lemongrass flavours and a taut, lingering finish.HK$910.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (98)
Plat'bos is made in slightly bigger quantities than the other Old Vine Project single vineyard releases from David & Nadia, but we are still only talking 1,500 bottles from 1.8 hectares. Picked in three stages for complexity and layers, this is a world-class expression of Chenin on granite soils, with mouth-watering acidity, steely precision and focus, wet stone, lime and lemongrass flavours and a taut, lingering finish.HK$4,095.00 -
Christian Eedes (96)
Grapes from a 1984 vineyard on iron-rich gravel situated in one of the more arid parts of the Swartland. 40% matured in concrete egg. A hint of reduction precedes dried herbs, white peach, citrus and melon while the palate has great purity, bright acidity and a pithy finish. Not without weight and texture despite an alcohol of just 12.5%.HK$3,800.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
As vineyards go, Rondevlei sounds relatively unexciting - it's a flat, 1.7-hectare parcel on red sand, but the wine it produces is thrilling. Made with five different components, it’s what David Sadie calls a "salt-driven" Chenin Blanc, with a noticeably maritime influence. Sappy and slightly ferrous, it has notes of kelp and citrus and a focused, tangy, engaging finish. 2024-29HK$870.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The David & Nadia 2023 Swartland Rondevlei Chenin Blanc shows a bright citrusy character with navel orange and tangerine at the top. Those carefully subside to reveal crushed seashell, wild oats and dried garden herb. I love the wine's sharply etched mineral signature that transcends the nose and the mid-palate. This is a limited release of 999 bottles. The mouthfeel is softened by waxy sensations, pithy fruit fiber and crunchy apple. This is a beauty.HK$835.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The David & Nadia 2023 Swartland Rondevlei Chenin Blanc shows a bright citrusy character with navel orange and tangerine at the top. Those carefully subside to reveal crushed seashell, wild oats and dried garden herb. I love the wine's sharply etched mineral signature that transcends the nose and the mid-palate. This is a limited release of 999 bottles. The mouthfeel is softened by waxy sensations, pithy fruit fiber and crunchy apple. This is a beauty.HK$4,220.00 -
(6x75cl) 2018Vinous (93)
The 2018 Skaliekop comes from shale soils in the Paaderberg subregion, the Chenin Blanc vines planted in 1985. It is blessed with a very aromatic bouquet of pressed white flowers and jasmine; a little honeysuckle emerges with time. The palate is fresh on the entry with a fine bead of acidity. This is understated and very well balanced, and quite reminiscent of Chris Alheit’s style of winemaking. A delicious tang of sea salt appears toward the finish. One of those wines where the adage “more is better” is surely apt.HK$3,380.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (96)
Skaliekop is a shallow shale site on the Paardebosch farm that benefited from the addition of moisture-retaining mulch in 2019. Yeasty, leesy and broader than the other two single vineyard Sadie Chenins, this has notes of citrus peel and beeswax, plenty of weight and a stony finish. 2021-29HK$3,370.00 -
Christian Eedes (96)
This vineyard, on decomposed granite, is adjacent to Skaliekop but is slightly older having been in planted in 1981. Bewitching aromatics of flowers and herbs before pear, peach and citrus while the palate shows great focus and tension, electric acidity playing off against perfectly delineated fruit, the finish long and dry.HK$1,035.00 -
Christian Eedes (96)
This vineyard, on decomposed granite, is adjacent to Skaliekop but is slightly older having been in planted in 1981. Bewitching aromatics of flowers and herbs before pear, peach and citrus while the palate shows great focus and tension, electric acidity playing off against perfectly delineated fruit, the finish long and dry.HK$2,850.00 -
(6x75cl) 2021Christian Eedes (98)
Grapes from a 1985 vineyard on shallow shale. Pretty aromatics of hay, potpourri and dried herbs before lime and white peach. The palate is crystalline in structure – great clarity of fruit and zippy acidity before an extremely long and dry finish. Poised and super-intricate, this is just about pitch perfect.HK$3,105.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (97)
Skaliekop uses a small-berry clone and hails from a Paardeberg vineyard planted on shale in 1985 and can produce pretty rich wines. Picked early for freshness since 2017 - it used to be a bigger wine - this is salty, saline and refreshing, all oyster shell, pink grapefruit and petrichor, plenty of extract and intensity and a leesy mid palate.HK$835.00 -
HK$1,900.00 -
Vinous (92)
The 2018 Chenin Blanc comes from seven vineyards, the vines planted between 1962 and 1982 (and therefore eligible for the “Old Vine Project”). It has a lovely bouquet of apricot blossom, white peach, pine nuts and orange pith, the latter becoming more pronounced with aeration. The palate is well balanced with a smooth, rounded texture. This is a slightly richer Chenin Blanc from Sadie, yet still very well balanced. Nashi pear and clementine notes appear toward the elegant, almost understated finish. Top-class. Just 5,000 bottles.HK$1,500.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (94)
This is "just" the basic Chenin Blanc from David and Nadia Sadie, but it's better than most wineries' single vineyard releases. Made with fruit from seven sites, all of them old vines, it's a focused, linear, Paardeberg-dominated style with mealy, citrus flavours, some lanolin and piercing freshness. 2021-27HK$1,480.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (94)
This is "just" the basic Chenin Blanc from David and Nadia Sadie, but it's better than many people's top wine. Made with fruit from seven vineyards, four of them on decomposed granite, this is a classy, understated white with negligible oak, layered citrus and beeswax flavours, a hint of aniseed and stony grip. 2022-28HK$1,355.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
Displaying a pale golden color and sourced from eight different vineyards, the 2021 Chenin Blanc offers a fine mineral sensation from being made partly in concrete eggs, while it expresses soft leesy and subtly spiced essences from being rested in oak. Light to medium-bodied, The wine offers lovely notions of citrus blossom, sweet citrons and dusty cherry skin. With a delicate nature, this medium-framed wine is bright and complex while delivering a thought-provoking, food-friendly finish. Bravo!HK$1,225.00 -
Vinous (92)
The 2018 Grenache includes 60% whole bunches and comes from two main sites, on iron and granite soils. It has a lovely, very pure bouquet of red cherries, crushed strawberry, pressed flowers and wild hedgerow, all extremely natural and well defined. The palate is fresh on the entry, offering plenty of crunchy fruit and oddly reminiscent of an artisan Beaujolais. The light but energetic, tensile finish has just enough dryness to encourage another sip. Very fine.HK$1,640.00 -
Jancis Robinson (17)
Very pale ruby indeed – an extremely distinctive pallor. Delicately sweet, fruity nose that would not be out of place in, say, Auxey-Duresses. Then a hint of gaminess and some light graininess that I associate with concrete. Wonderfully ethereal delicacy that positively dances on the palate. This seems absolutely ready now but has substance and persistence so should be no fly-by-night. Extremely playful, but be careful not to serve it with food that's too powerful. Not our merguez sausages planned for tonight, methinks. This would respond well to light chilling and shellfish or chicken.HK$1,480.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (93)
First made in 2011, the Sadies' Grenache combines fruit from granite, iron and schist soils. It's a refined, racy, low pH style, with notes of red cherry, cranberry and wild herbs, savoury tannins and fresh, mineral finish. 2023-28HK$1,460.00
