South African Reds Lineup
- Mixed
- Various
This roundup of ridiculously good South African reds offers six reasons to never look back at another Aussie vino again. We donāt see too many South African wines here in Oz, so weāve taken advantage of that gap in the market to source some of the most sought-after cult producers from the bottom end of Africa. Intrigued? Read on to find out more about each.Ā
Every case comes with ONE bottle of each of the following:
Red
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- Red Blend
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- Swartland
- Red Blend
- Swartland
Winemaker Donovan Rall has been making some of the best wines in South Africa, year after year. Such is the cult following, that we had to do some serious sweet-talking to get our hands on a tiny quantity of these beauties. This Rall Red is a serious and structured style with a couple of years in bottle to settle into its stride. Thereās a charmingly rustic quality on display. Itās rich and earthy, with red and black fruit bubbling up from undertones of black pepper and exotic spice. Itād be lost without some refreshing acidity, but that is happily delivered in spades. If you love top-notch wine, but canāt be doing with pretence, this is for you. Just honestly brilliant winemaking and great drinking.
Red
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- Shiraz
-
- Swartland
- Shiraz
- Swartland
This wine is grown exclusively in shale, given a riper, more generous style than its sandstone sister. The soil retains water better, hence an extra touch of plushness. Itās not all plain sailing for these vines, though. This vineyard faces the full brunt of the south-easterly wind providing just enough stress for the vines to show their true colours. The wine itself shows blackcurrant, fennel, roasted tomato and thyme, all held together with some juicy tannins. Itās seen a wild ferment, imbuing it with a uniqueness of place and character. Drink this now through to 2028, with a respectful stint in the decanter first.
Red
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- Grenache Blend
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- Cape Town
- Grenache Blend
- Cape Town
This wine could have been a meaty, savoury monster of dark earthy flavour. Could have beenā¦ It shows the absolute artistry and thoughtfulness of this incredibly maker that it isnāt. Instead, they picked early and went for a light extraction. Itās far more ethereal as a result, characterised by soft floral notes, black cherries, cedar and cinnamon. Thereās gentle grippiness that gives the soft strawberries just enough presence, before the mourvĆØdre adds its own, slightly medicinal tang. The result is beguiling, fun and enthralling. Iād recommend this to anyone who likes nice surprises.
Red
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- Grenache
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- Swartland
- Grenache
- Swartland
Grenache rises to a new level! All hail David & Nadia, two new age winemakers who are driven by organic and ecological farming practises. Their sustainably farmed vineyard in South Africa is planted in deep, clay soils, allowing their old vines to grow flourished. Perfumed with flowers and rich notes of red berries, this Swartland treasure is smooth and gentle. Red fruit forward, itās palate is balanced with earthy notes and a little touch of truffle and vanilla. This wine is just light enough to be drunk with lunch and we suggest to pair it with the sexiest charcuterie platter you can whip up.
Red
-
- Grenache Blend
-
- Swartland
- Grenache Blend
- Swartland
We are truly blessed to have this wine in our shed. Itās from a tiny production, family-owned independent producer in Swartland, South Africa. These wines generally just donāt make it all the way to Australia. David & Nadia spent ten years preparing their old dry-farmed bush vines to be ready to produce a wine of this calibre, letting the vineyard do the talking by acting with minimal intervention in the winery. Thereās grenache, syrah, carignan, cinsault and pinotage in the blend, all laid to rest in oak for a year before 18 months in the bottle. The wine is so complex, so layered and so compelling. Enjoy it while you can since something like this doesnāt come around very often.
Red
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- Shiraz
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- Walker Bay
- Shiraz
- Walker Bay
Gabrielskloof planted just outside of Botrivier back in 2000, waiting until 2009 for their first release. This syrah, bottled behind a stunning label and under a sexy wax cap, is part of the reserve range from the small family-run winery. After a laborious handpicking, the whole bunches were given a carbonic ferment before settling in steel tanks for eight months. This is about freshness, savouriness, and crunchiness. Itās a bit spicy and exceptionally drinkable, putting the long term survival of the bottle in serious jeopardy. Itās all good, go in for the kill.