Saurwein Chi Riesling 2021

The quality that South African Riesling typically lacks most often is a certain clarity of fruit compared to the best examples made in the Northern Hemisphere but the 2021 vintage of Saurwein Chi has precisely this and more.

The growing season was cool and therefore extended, the resulting wine a little higher in both residual sugar and acidity but lower in alcohol than 2020 (60% of the grapes from Vrede en Lust’s Casey’s Ridge property and 40% from Paul Cluver, winemaking involving spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel tank. RS 11.5g/l; TA 7.4g/l; Alc 11.5g/l).

Aromatics are subtle and complex – gun smoke, floral perfume, herb, pear, peach, lime and green apple as well as ginger and a little white pepper while the palate shows pure fruit and a cracking line of acidity before a super-dry finish. It’s already an extremely attractive wine but should only gain extra dimension over time.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

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