Testalonga El Bandito Cortez Swartland 2022

Description

There is no shortage of people that get labeled ‘best young winemaker’ or ‘one to watch’. Testalonga's winemaker Craig Hawkins is constantly described like this in the wine press, but we think he is now very much established as one of South Africa’s finest. In the past Craig has struggled getting export approval for his wines due to them lacking ‘typicity’. However finally South Africa is recognising these more unusual complex wines and has introduced some new categories giving more freedom to the more creative winemakers like Craig. His two Chenin Blancs undergo prolonged maceration (soaking) on the skins, which gives the wines a deep colour and instils them with incredible texture and depth of flavour and his King of Grapes is one of the purest forms of Grenache you’re likely to find.

An element of struck match before herbs and hay, pear, white peach and lime on the nose. This precedes a palate that is super-light yet super-concentrated with thrilling acidity and a finish that is long and pithy.