South Africa's Great Whites...

We have waited and waited but finally HMR&C have done their stuff and we have just had delivered 100 or so cases from South Africa. As the temperature gauge drops, how nice would it be to head to the Cape right now?

Anyway, from Chris Mullineux we have the “full house” of award winners: Syrah 2009; Chenin Blanc 2010; & his much lauded and intense Straw Wine. Those who have pre-ordered, we will be starting to deliver from today onwards. However, I am going to concentrate on four of South Africa’s finest white varietals or blends. Three are new vintages, the Adi Badenhorst 2008 Vintage however is down to about the last 6 cases. Ordinarily not a problem but both Henry and I tried and agreed that the next Vintage of this, which we sampled last week, is not quite as good so will not look to stock this. Id est, if you are a fan of the extraordinary and eclectic Badenhorst blend (Chenin Blanc / Roussanne / Grenache Blanc / Viognier / Verdehlo / Chardonnay) then I’d urge you to snaffle a half-case or so now and duly squirrel away in your cellar, as once it is gone, it’s gone!

All wines are in stock; all have individual merit so I would suggest mixing and matching in any odd amounts, unless you are sold or set on one particular favourite.

The other plus is that as we are now shipping the Mullineux wines directly so these are 50p to £ 1.00 cheaper a Bottle and the Daneel is also £ 1.00 cheaper. Unlike Bordeaux, we are pressing for the wines in the “right” direction!

South Africa’s Four “Great Whites”:

Chris Mullineux Chenin Blanc 2010 Swartland at £ 15.00 per Bottle

(£ 14.50 by the Case)

Radford Dale “Renaissance” Chenin Blanc 2010 Stellenbosch at £ 17.50 per Bottle

Jean Daneel “Signature” Chenin Blanc 2010 Swartland at £ 20.00 per Bottle

(£ 19.00 by the Case)

  

Adi Badenhorst Family Wine “White Blend” 2008 Swartland at £ 22.00 per Bottle

Last few cases remaining so if you like it, I’d urge you to buy some now.

Next week – Cloudy Bay

Presumably to celebrate New Zealand’s crushing World Cup victory in the Rugby, next Wednesday’s e-mail we be the bang up-to-date 2011 Vintage of Cloudy Bay’s Sauvignon-Blanc. The price will be unchanged at £ 17.50 and should be about the best if not the best retail price.