I’ve spoken of my love of Adi Badenhorst’s Dassiekop before: it’s one of my favourite Chenins. I brought a bottle to New Zealand and shared it with friends. It was…
Eben Sadie shows his wines and describes his philosophy (with video)
[Eben Sadie, in a suit, in the glam surroundings of the Lanesborough Hotel in London. Fortunately even these can’t keep him down. He was his usual thoughtful, opinionated self. He…
The Mount Abora Saffraan Cinsault: bright and luminous
This was a delicious and smashable wine, and it didn’t cost very much. It’s a naturally made Swartland Cinsault, and on the back label it says, ‘this wine harks back…
Video: interviewing Adi Badenhorst about his new wines
I caught up with Adi Badenhorst at Intrepid last week. He’s got some new wines out. Two in particular really appealed to me: a flor-aged Sauvignon Blanc called John Strikes…
Mother Rock and Force Majeure: brilliant wines from Stompie Meyer
Johan ‘Stompie’ Meyer is one of the most highly regarded of South Africa’s new wave winegrowers. He makes the wines for Mount Abora (as a consultant), and has his own…
Testalonga Cortez El Bandito 2009 Swartland
I’m a big fan of Craig Hawkins’ Testalonga wines. They’re very brave and distinctive. He works pretty naturally, so the big question: how do they evolve? This one had evolved…
Mount Abora Saffraan 2014 Swartland, South Africa
This is a lovely wine. It defines smashable. I had it while I was solo dining last week, and if you are solo dining then you need something like this…
In South Africa: the Mullineux new releases
I visited the new tasting room at the Leeu Collection in Franschhoek, to taste through the new releases of the Mullineux wines. It’s a lovely space, with glass windows looking…
The new releases from Testalonga, one of South Africa’s most interesting wineries
Caught up with Craig Hawkins to try the new releases from Testalonga, one of South Africa’s most interesting and bravest wineries. Craig and Carla left the safety of being based…