Aristargos 2018
David & Nadia Aristargos 2018, Swartland, South Africa, 13.5%,
(£25, Justerini & Brooks)
We cracked open this voluptuous but energising white to mark South Africa’s Heritage Day (24th Sept). You can see a short vid we filmed for the occasion, as below.
Many wine industries around the world are having a tough time right now but South Africa has surely been the hardest hit. The government has taken an extremely tough line, introducing export and sales bans for a time during lockdown, and restrictions continue to this day.
Trade body Wines of South Africa estimate that around £45 million was lost as a result of the export ban, and many more millions at stake as a result of lost wine tourism. They cite 21,000 jobs being at risk
The good news is that we wine lovers can help. Simply by buying and enjoying South African wine, we can all make a difference. It’s no hardship given the wines have never been more diverse and rewarding, across pretty much all wine styles you can think of.
These days, it seems we all need to be activists. To stick up for what we believe in and what we want to see persist and thrive. To consider a wine world in which so many brilliant South African producers aren’t going to survive – should make all wine lovers shudder. Time to take action in the best way we know how…
This wine is a blend of old-vine fruit, mainly Chenin Blanc. It’s golden hued, with aromas of bruised red apple, warm wax and honeycomb. The texture is rich and creamy, with sun-kissed fruit flavours and a gloriously succulent palate profile, with beautifully judged underscoring acidity. Packs a lot of wine into a small sip.
(7.5/10, Susie & Peter, Sept 2020)
