AA Badenhorst, The Golden Slopes, Swartland 2019 97

£35.68-£39.50

Handford, Lay & Wheeler, Museum Wines, Swig

Adi Badenhorst is a central figure in the rise of Swartland, and this bottling demonstrates why the district has become so revered. The wine is named after the yellow-coloured granite rocks found in this vineyard, planted in 1966. The nose shows white fruit, flowers, herbs and a hint of flinty reduction, while the palate is pure, energetic and pithy. Super-detailed and super-elegant. Drink 2021-2029 Alc 12.5%

David & Nadia, Swartland 2019 96

£20 (ib)-£37.99

Exel, Hennings, Justerini & Brooks, Lay & Wheeler, The Holland Park Wine Co, The Vineking, Wine Direct

Grapes for this wine come from seven vineyards spread across Swartland, planted between 1962 to 1982, and all registered with the Old Vine Project. A touch of flinty reduction on the nose before pear, peach, lemon and some floral lift, while the palate is supremely elegant with lots of pure fruit, racy acidity and a pithy finish. Drink 2021-2029 Alc 13%

Roodekrantz, Die Kliphuis, Swartland 2020 96

£29.95

Edgmond Wines

Roodekrantz is a project that sees two families steeped in wine – the Morkels and the Burgers – combining to channel old-vine fruit from large commercial blends into premium bottlings. Made using fruit sourced from a 1977-planted vineyard, the wine’s nose shows citrus, peach, flowers and herbs, while the palate has great fruit definition, bright acidity and a saline finish. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 13%

Chamonix, Old Vine Steen, Franschhoek, 2020 97

£27

ABS Wine Agencies

The young Neil Bruwer has been head winemaker at this property since 2019, and he could not resist using a 1965 block to produce the first Chenin under a Chamonix label since 2006. Complex aromas of citrus, peach and apple, plus flowers and herbs, before a palate of great presence – dense fruit matched by driving acidity. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 14%

Gabriëlskloof, The Landscape Series Elodie, Swartland 2020 96

£25.99

Alexander Hadleigh, Bottle Apostle, Lay & Wheeler, Liberty Wines, Majestic, Specialist Cellars The acclaimed Peter-Allan Finlayson, whose own label is Crystallum, also makes the Gabriëlskloof wines. This cuvée is an effort to showcase the ‘national treasure’ that is old-vine Chenin, with grapes drawn mainly from Swartland but also Durbanville. Subtle and complex aromas of flowers, herbs, yellow apple, peach and spice, while the palate is dense and detailed and the finish gently savoury. Drink 2021-2030 Alc 13.5%

Alheit Vineyards, Huilkrans, Citrusdal Mountain, Olifants River 2019 95

£65-£72

Hedonism, Solent Cellar, Vin Cognito From Jozua Visser’s farm, where vines were planted between 1974 and 1984. Elusive but beguiling aromas of flowers, herbs, citrus and peach, plus a subtle leesy note. The palate is marked by a good core of fruit, bright acidity and a savoury finish. Lots going on, and not without weight. Drink 2021-2029 Alc 13.5%

David & Nadia, Plat’bos, Swartland 2019 97

£40.83-£54

Exel, Justerini & Brooks,

Vin Cognito

David and Nadia Sadie studied together before getting married in 2009, quickly becoming leading lights in Swartland. Plat’bos, part of their single-vineyard range, is from a 1981-planted site. This vintage shows lime, white peach, dried herbs and talcum powder on the nose, while the palate has extraordinary concentration matched by exhilarating acidity.

Drink 2021-2029 Alc 12.5%

Keermont, Riverside, Stellenbosch 2018 96

£42.80

Alexander Hadleigh, Liberty Wines, Majestic

Planted in 1971, Riverside is the oldest vineyard on this property. Aromas of white peach, citrus, herbs, spice and a little wet wool, before a full-bodied palate with nicely integrated acidity and a savoury finish. Intricate and sophisticated. Drink 2021-2028 Alc 13.5%

Alheit Vineyards, Magnetic North, Citrusdal Mountain, Olifants River 2019 95

£65-£79

Hedonism, Solent Cellar, Vin Cognito Sourced from celebrated grape-grower Basie van Lill’s property, planted in 1981 and 1984. Light reduction before citrus, peach and earthiness as well as yeasty complexity on the nose. The palate, meanwhile, has excellent fruit concentration matched by driving acidity before a finish that is long and pithy. Rich but balanced. Drink 2021-209 Alc 14% ➢

Botanica, The Mary Delany Collection, Citrusdal Mountain, Olifants River 2019 95

£17(ib)-£27.50

adVINture, Lay & Wheeler Grapes from 1957-planted vineyards. The nose is complex and evocative – floral perfume and herbs before citrus and peach, with some wet wool complexity in the background. The palate, meanwhile, has dense fruit matched by bright acidity, the finish long and dry. Plenty of flavour intensity. Drink 2021-2029 Alc 14%

Spice Route 2019 95

£14.95-£15.70

Appellation Nation, Chez Vin, Exel, Liberty Wines, Nickolls & Perks, Simply Wines Direct, Symposium Wine Emporium,Theatre of Wine, The Drink Shop, Wine- Man

An early-picked portion from this 1978-planted vineyard was fermented in tank and matured in clay qvevri, and a later-picked portion in old oak. Dried herbs, potpourri, lime and white peach, and a light, fresh, very dry palate. Elegant, restrained. Drink 2021-2026 Alc 13.8%

David & Nadia, Hoë-Steen, Swartland 2019 94

£40.83 (ib)-£60

Hennings, Justerini & Brooks, Vin Cognito

Another of this acclaimed pair’s singlevineyard wines. The site was planted in 1968 between Malmesbury and Darling. Some flinty reduction and wet wool before stone fruit and tangerine on the nose, while the palate is rich and thick-textured with tangy acidity and a savoury finish. Drink 2021-2029 Alc 13.5%

Metzer, Maritime, Stellenbosch 2018 95

£26

Indigo Wine

Sourced from a vineyard planted in 1980, 4km from False Bay. A slight leesy note before citrus and peach. Good weight and texture on the palate with nicely integrated acidity. This has layers of flavour, the finish long and savoury. Drink 2021-2028 Alc 13%

Tierhoek, OVP, Piekenierskloof, Citrusdal Mountain, Olifants River 2019 95

N/A UK

www.tierhoek.com

From Piekenierskloof, north of Swartland, and Made from the fruit of old vines planted in 1977. A hint of flinty reduction before citrus, peach and dried herbs on the nose. The palate shows great fruit concentration, which is matched by zesty acidity – intricate and refined. Drink 2021-2026 Alc 14.1%

Reyneke, Stellenbosch 2019 94

£19.89-£26.99

Cellar Door Wines, Highbury Vintners, JN Wine, VinoSA, Wines with Attitude,

The Vineking

Johan Reyneke holds a postgraduate degree in environmental philosophy and is South Africa’s leading proponent of biodynamics. The fruit for this wine is from the two oldest blocks on the property he farms, 44 and 46 years old respectively. Pronounced reduction but also floral perfume, citrus, apple and dried herbs.The palate is extraordinarily vivid, pure, fresh and pithy. Drink 2021-2026 Alc 12%

Mullineux, Granite, Paardeberg, Swartland 2019 95

£54.99

Exel, Handford, Lay & Wheeler,

Liberty Wines, The Holland Park Wine Co

Chris and Andrea Mullineux established themselves in Swartland in 2007 and are now among South Africa’s most highly regarded winemakers. Grapes for this wine come from a 43-year-old vineyard. A floral top note before citrus, peach and a hint of spice, while the palate has a great core of fruit, punchy acidity and a deeply savoury finish – pure and energetic. Drink 2021-2029 Alc 13%

Cape of Good Hope, Van Lill & Visser, Citrusdal Mountain, Olifants River 2019 94

£15.90

Q Wines

Van Lill and Visser are the growers who farm these 1964-planted vineyards on the famed Skurfberg. Lightly wooded and showing a hint of reduction before citrus and white peach plus a little floral perfume. The palate is marked by a great core of fruit matched by lively acidity, the finish long and gently savoury. A wine in the Anthonij Rupert stable.

Drink 2021-2026 Alc 13.5%

Thistle & Weed, Duwweltjie, Paarl 2020 94

£28

Dreyfus Ashby

Thistle & Weed is a partnership between Etienne Terblanche, a Vinpro viticulturist, and winemaker Stephanie Wiid, with grapes for this wine sourced from a vineyard planted in 1961. A yeasty note before aromas of yellow fruit, herbs and spice, followed by a rich palate with well-integrated acidity and a gently savoury finish. Bold and flavourful.

Drink 2021-2027 Alc 12%