3 of the best whites and reds to drink right now (or later)

WHITE WINES

SAVAGE WINES SAUVIGNON BLANC 2017
Duncan Savage’s mastery of Sauvignon Blanc was honed on the Noordhoek slopes of Cape Point Vineyards and these Durbanville grapes have his required “maritime influence”, which gives the Sauvignon Blanc its classic expressive fruit. His inclusion of wooded Semillon adds mouthfeel and texture.

Tasting notes: Aromas of granadilla and ripe gooseberry with luscious summer fruits and underlying notes of lime and grapefruit. A richly textured palate with a sea-breeze freshness.

Drink it with: Braaied snoek with apricot glaze.

KLEINE ZALZE CHENIN BLANC 2016
Chenin Blanc is experiencing a welcome upswing in popularity, given impetus by spectacular wines from old vines (at least 35 years old). The Kleine Zalze wine team scoured the Cape winelands and discovered five exceptional vineyards of old Chenin Blanc vines for this wine.

Tasting notes: Engaging fruit charm of quince, litchi and sweet melon on the nose. Eight months of barrel ageing have rounded out the wine and given it a creamy texture and a stylish finish.

Drink it with: Mussels in beer broth with garlic-mayo toast

DE WETSHOF CHARDONNAY 2016
The soils of the De Wetshof Robertson vineyards have a strong concentration of clay and limestone, ideal to provide the flavours, structure and texture for fine-quality Chardonnay.

Tasting notes: The nose has attractive citrus, overlaid with layers of peach and apricot. The palate balances layers of fruit with vanilla and wood spice, creating a feast of mouth-filling flavours and a long, lingering aftertaste.

Drink it with: Seared tuna on avocado rice.

RED WINES

SPIER MERLOT 2015
The south-facing, unirrigated vines for this Merlot lie on a sloping vineyard a mere 20 km from the sea, giving them the full benefit of the ocean’s cooling sea breezes.

Tasting notes: Perfumed violet notes introduce black cherry, cassis, subtle mint and dark chocolate flavours on the nose, while 18 months of maturation in French oak barrels has resulted in a velvety rich palate and well-integrated tannins.

Drink it with: Karoo lamb with shallot, anchovy and pomegranate dressing.

DE MORGENZON SYRAH 2015
The vines for this elegant and perfumed Syrah are grown on cool east-facing slopes in Stellenbosch and, famously, have Baroque music played to them as they ripen. They are matured in small oak for 12 months and in large oak for eight months.

Tasting notes: On the nose there are violets, white pepper and concentrated berry fruits, which lead to a well- structured, succulent mid-palate and velvety tannins. Elegant and perfumed.

Drink it with: Pot-roasted sticky oxtail with port and dried fruits.

THELEMA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015
In 1980, Gyles Webb bought Thelema Mountain Vineyards, a high-lying farm on the Helshoogte Mountains outside Stellenbosch. The wines were an immediate success. The tiniest hint of mint gives the Thelema Cabernets a delicious edge.

Tasting notes: A shimmering deep ruby colour. On the nose there is classic blackcurrant and toasty oak spice. An elegant yet concentrated fruit-driven palate gives way to a lingering ripe finish.

Drink it with: Beef fillet with café au lait sauce.

*The Signature Series wines are available exclusively at Woolworths for R129.99 each for the whites and R159.99 each for the reds.

Woolies is giving away one Signature Series hamper worth R870. Click here to enter!

Discover more TASTE features here.