(2020) Made for Great Grog by the Kaapzicht winery, this is a pungent and vivacious style of Sauvignon Blanc, with plenty of green pepper and grassy aromatics, but the fruit to balance. In the mouth it seems quite rich in texture despite its lowly 12.5% alcohol, and the blast of tropical-tinged through the mid-palate is nicely gathered up and extended by the briney and very effective acidity of the finish. Actually very stylish.
(2020) Made for Great Grog by Danie Steytler of the Kaapzicht winery, this comes from very old bush vines in Stellenbosch, reputedly almost 100 years old. It's a ripe and leesy, rich style, but with excellent freshness too. Aromas are quite tropical and exotic, but there's a thrust of fresh apple and fresh-squeezed lemon on the palate, giving it a zesty, lip-tingling finish. Very nice to drink on its own or with fish and shellfish.
(2019) Lovely glimpse of flintiness to the pure apple and pear fruit, very pure and delightfully fresh, this entry level Chenin shows the attention to detail and precision given throughout the Forrester range. It's all about the fruit in this wine, made in stainless steel, and with a sense of limpid purity.
(2018) Jordan is one of my favourite Cape wine estates, family-owned, and Gary and Kathy Jordan always making beautifully-pitched wines. This vibrant wine flits between limey aromatic punch and luscious tropical note, the palate showing excellent fruit ripeness and sweetness that fills the mouth. Lees-ageing adds a richness to this, but the core of shimmering acidity propels the wine forward deliciously and intelligently. Bring on creamy pastas and risottos.
(2015) The first of the house wines from Simonsig in Stellenbosch is an unspecified blend weighing in with 13.5% alcohol and bottled with a composite cork. I'm guessing Chenin Blanc might dominate, as this has the apple and pear fruit, hint of honey and freshness one would expect. In the mouth it is fruity and boldly flavoured: more very sweet, ripe apple and pear, a touch of spice and a glimpse of the more exotic with notes of pineapple and mango coming through. The finish is very nicely balanced, both sweetly easy to drink and savoury enough.
(2013) 13. Lovely passionfruit and elderflower punch and vibrancy, a big push of grassiness and green bean, massive crunch and freshness on the palate, a lot of flavour and concentration, plenty of vivid tropical notes and that streak of green into a very crunchy finish.
(2012) Christian tells me this also has little bits of Roussanne, Marsanne, Semillon and Viognier," in the blend. Lovely aromatic nose, lots of juicy, bright passionfruit, apple and a bit juicy, tropical mango. Fresh and juicy, Christian has notched a little extra sugar in this for the commercial market, but it is still very dry, singly and appealing.
(2011) 13.5%. Alluring nose here, the quality hints of toast and brioche evidence of a little French oak influence, over abundantly ripe apple fruit. On the palate this is focused and terrifically decisive: the fresh, juicy apple tang of the fruit and the lemon zest sharpness of the acids is just teased into softness by some creamy, nutty but very delicate and floral oak influence in the finish. Fabulously stylish.
(2011) 13.5%. There's plenty of French oak influence here from six months ageing, with loads of charry toast and vanilla. On the palate the ripe fruit is sweet and mouth-filling, the Ogen melon and apple joined by plenty of fresh acidity, that melds nicely with the creamy oak in a Chardonnay with plenty of class and a very drinkable style. Long and would cellar for a couple of years.
