Savage Girl Next Door 2018

By , 23 August 2019

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3

Duncan Savage of Savage Wines.

Duncan Savage describes 2018 as a “solid” vintage, saying of his white wines that they are “a touch more linear” than 2017 and of his reds “a touch more vinous with a little more colour and a slightly lower acidity” to which I would add that overall quality remains extraordinarily high, this range’s trademark elegance still very much to the fore.

Savage White 2018
Price: R280
54% Sauvignon Blanc, 28% Semillon and 18% Chenin Blanc sourced variously from Kaaimansgat, Villiersdorp and Piekenierskloof. A hint of reduction before subtle notes of sea breeze, fynbos, lime, white peach, tangerine and black currant. The palate has good fruit density and coated acidity before a gently savoury finish. Detailed and precise.

Editor’s rating: 93/100.

Never Been Asked To Dance 2018
Price: R280
From a 64-year-old Chenin Blanc vineyard in Paarl. Citrus and peach with some hay in the background. The palate is understated with delicate fruit, a lovely line of acidity and a dry finish.

Editor’s rating: 91/100.

Follow The Line 2018
Price: R280
86% Cinsault and 14% Syrah from Darling. Rose-like perfume before red fruit and a hint of pepper. The palate is extremely light bodied with lemon-like acidity and fine tannins, the finish possessing a salty quality. An immensely elegant and charming wine.

Editor’s rating: 91/100.

Thief In The Night 2018
Price: R280
54% Grenache, 24% Syrah and 22% Cinsault from Piekenierskloof. Again a top note of rose before cherries, plums and black olive. Light bodied yet possessing good fruit expression, the different varieties combining to good effect. Lovely freshness and fine tannins, the finish long and saline.

Editor’s rating: 93/100.

Girl Next Door 2018
Price: R370
From a 0.38ha Noordhoek Syrah vineyard. A touch of reduction before black fruit, red roses, dried herbs and pepper. The palate has massive thrill factor – weightless intensity, severe in the best way, the finish extremely long and very savoury. As ever, a singular wine.

Editor’s rating: 95/100.

Are We There Yet? 2018
Price: R280
50% Touriga Nacional, 50% Syrah from Malgas. An exotic nose with red, black and blue fruit with notes of herbs and flowers in the background. The palate is dense, smooth textured and very flavourful. A hearty drop despite a relatively modest alcohol of 13.5%.

Editor’s rating: 93/100.

Savage Red 2017
Price: R290
100% Syrah, predominantly from Stellenbosch but also some from Swartland. An appealing nose showing red and black fruit, rose, lilies, pelargonium and white pepper. The palate has lovely fruit expression, bright acidity and super-fine tannins. Delicate, detailed and beautifully poised.

Editor’s rating: 94/100.

Not Tonight Josephine 2018
Price: R320 (375m)
NEW – a straw wine from Piekenierskloof Chenin Blanc. The nose shows intense stone fruit, honey and straw notes while the palate is super-rich (residual sugar is 286g/l) yet still balanced thanks to tangy acidity. Good fruit definition, just the right amount of oily texture and a gently savoury finish.

Editor’s rating: 94/100.

Find our South African wine ratings database here.

Comments

3 comment(s)

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    Kevin R | 30 August 2019

    @Christian, tasted the full range last night – closely agree with where you’re coming from with your scores.
    For me, Thief in the Night has big scope to improve with aging.

    Kevin R | 23 August 2019

    Hi Christian,

    Regarding Follow the Line (personally haven’t tasted this vintage yet), what do you feel it was lacking to have scored higher, with it’s design of elegance and purity inevitably resulting in a light-bodied end result?

      Christian Eedes | 23 August 2019

      Hi Kevin R, This wine, like quite a few of the New Wave reds, is arguably too pared back. I think we need to be careful of celebrating “weightlessness” too much – some fruit density and tannic structure is crucial lest the wine become insubstantial. It’s the Goldilocks principle – not too heavy, not too light, just right.

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