Testalonga Baby Bandito new releases

The Testalonga portfolio has traditionally been released in one go, but for the 2025 vintage Craig and Carla Hawkins have chosen to hold back their more premium El Bandito wines for a few months, with only the Baby Bandito range going on sale now. “Even when we try to whittle things down, we still end up with eight new wines,” says Craig.

Mielie Green Chenin Blanc 2025
Price: R170

Includes a dash of Macabeo. Two-thirds matured in stainless-steel tank, one-third in foudre. Very fragrant with notes of flowers, herbs, citrus and peach. The palate is clean, fresh and pithy, almost steely. Alc: 12%.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

Mielie Magenta Grenache Noir 2025
Price: R170
Destemmed and matured in concrete. Wild berry, flowers and herbs on the notes while the palate shows pure fruit, snappy acidity and grippy tannins. More substance than the price might lead you to expect. Alc: 12%

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Keep On Punching Chenin Blanc 2025
Price: R205
From a Piketberg vineyard planted in 1961. Two-thirds matured in stainless-steel tank, one-third in foudre. The nose shows pear, peach, talc and dried herbs. The palate is linear and energetic – great fruit definition and a super-dry finish. Alc: 12%.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Stay Brave Chenin Blanc 2025
Price: R205
Fermented on skins for 14 days. Matured in fibre glass tank. Subtle notes of cut apple, orange, ginger and spice. The palate is edgy in the best, most refreshing way with zippy acidity and a lightly grippy finish. Alc: 11.5%.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Chin Up Cinsault 2025
Price: R205
Matured for 11 months in concrete. Overtly perfumed with cranberry and floral notes. Light-bodied and pure, with zippy acidity and the faintest tannic grip. Cheerful, uncomplicated and made for early drinking. Alc: 12%.

CE’s rating: 90/100.

Follow Your Dreams Carignan 2025
Price: R205
From the Paardeberg. Fermented 100% whole-bunch and matured for 11 months in concrete. The nose shows red and black berries, a faint playdough note, herbs and spice. The palate is vinous and energetic, with snappy acidity and rustic, slightly coarse tannins – a wine full of personality. Alc: 12.1%.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

The two Méthode Ancestrale wines – I Am the Ninja (Chenin Blanc) and I Wish I Was a Ninja (Colombard), both at R225 a bottle – are great fun, but they resist formal rating, pitched more as carefree lifestyle wines than anything else.