There's just so much great wine coming out of South Africa ....

I’ve said it once before but it bears repeating… There’s just so much GREAT wine coming out of South Africa these days.

They have well and truly shed the shackles of the ‘dictatorship’ of production methods that controlled the industry until the late 1980’s. The freedom that has come from this, in all it’s manifestations, has come to fruition in wines that are not only hitting their stride, but giving the Old-World stalwarts a run for their money.

We’ve been reminded of this again this month having discovered the wines of Samantha O’Keefe; head winemaker at Lismore Estate in Greyton (a cool climate area in the Overberg region of the Cape).

Her wines are some of the highest quality we’ve tasted in a long while and we are privileged to be stocking her Reserve Chardonnay and Reserve Syrah; both lines only produce a few thousand bottles.

The Chardonnay brings to mind a fine Puligny-Montrachet, with its apricot, quince and acacia notes, whilst her Syrah rivals many a top Cote Rotie we’ve tried; plump and peppery and gastronomic in its character. And the best part? As ever, you are not paying ‘French’ prices.   These will never be ‘cheap’ wines, and nor should they be. But I’m of the belief that £30 should be sufficient to buy you a truly memorable bottle of wine; if that’s what you’re looking for, then these wines are it.

Our other star find is from Ernst Gouws & Co, using the flagship grape of South Africa, Chenin blanc.  
Here in the shop, the ‘Percheron’ white is one of the best sellers, and a favourite of many of our customers. Its success is in part down to a high proportion of Chenin blanc in the blend. This beautiful wine from EG&C is an opportunity to experience the greatness of this grape in all its individual glory. Nobody put Chenin in the corner! With top quality fruity sourced from cool vineyards in Stellenbosch, you can find aromas of bramley apple, kiwi, and grapefruit, followed on the palate by great concentration yet tangy freshness. Worryingly good on its own… Also great with fish or sushi, complimenting the salty-savoury-mineral flavours perfectly.