Costa del Swart/The Wine Thief new releases

Ewan Mackenzie is a sommelier and small-batch wine producer, his two labels being Costa del Swart which he makes in collaboration with Christa von La Chevallerie of Huis van Chevallerie and The Wine Thief which sees him working with various winemakers on projects of mutual interest. Among his current releases, the stand-out wines are as follows:

Costa del Swart Verdelho 2020
Price: R250
Grapes from the Voor Paardeberg. Matured for 11 months in older oak. Peach, pineapple, a little earthiness and some flinty reduction on the nose while the palate shows good fruit purity, the bright acidity that’s so typical of the variety and a pithy finish. Lean and direct (alcohol: 12.5%).

CE’s rating: 91/100.

Costa del Swart Fauxjolias 2021
Price: R250
From a 1969 Swartland vineyard planted to Pinotage. Made in a Beaujolais Nouveau style, grapes picked early (alcohol is 11.5%) and vinification involving a third whole-bunch, a third whole-berry and a third juice. Charming aromatics of cranberry, raspberry, flowers and spice while the palate is light and zippy but not short on flavour. Has a nice energy about it.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

The Wine Thief Grenache 2021
Price: R250
From a Swartland vineyard planted in 2003 and made in partnership with Catherine Marshall. The nose shows smoky reduction before cranberry, rose and fresh herbs while the palate is light bodied with pure fruit, snappy acidity and powdery tannins, the finish super-dry. Elegant and balanced, it’s a pretty but not insignificant wine.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Also available at present under the Costa del Swart label are: Vonkelwyn 2020 (from Verdelho, Viura and Pinotage) as well as Chenin Blanc 2020 and Palomino 2021.

Under the Wine Thief label: Colombard 2021 and Nooer 2019 (from Souzao, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Barocca).

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