Testalonga new releases – 2020

A visit to Swartland property Banditskloof is to understand very clearly how big and unfixed this district is. The relatively new home of Testalonga wines, it is situated between the towns of Piketberg and Citrusdal, an hour’s drive north of Malmesbury. With a ready supply of water and good soils, Craig and Carla Hawkins started establishing vineyard here in 2018 although will continue to buy grapes from other parts, most notably the Paardeberg. Tasting notes and ratings for the upcoming new releases as follows:

Baby Bandito Keep on Punching Chenin Blanc 2020
Approximate retail price: R150
Expressive aromatics of peach and apple. The palate has lovely fruit purity, bright acidity and a saline finish. Always an appealing wine, this vintage seems to have a little bit extra concentration and focus.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

El Bandito Lords of Dogtown Chenin Blanc 2020
Approximate retail price: R300
Cut apple, honey and a little nuttiness on the nose. The palate is broad with seemingly moderate acidity before a gently savoury, slightly grippy finish. This is peculiar and will appeal to some more than others…

CE’s rating: 89/100.

El Bandito Cortez Chenin Blanc 2020
Approximate retail price: R300
Alluring aromatics of pear, peach, apple, floral perfume and fynbos. The palate is clear and crystalline – extraordinarily pure with exhilarating acidity and super-dry, slightly bitter finish. Always a stand-out wine in the range, this vintage is sublime.

CE’s rating: 97/100.

El Bandito Mangaliza Harslevelu 2020
Approximate retail price: R300
Subtle notes of pepper and herbs on an otherwise shy nose. The palate is lean with zippy acidity, the finish long and dry. Rather striking.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

Baby Bandito Stay Brave Chenin Blanc 2020
Approximate retail price: R150
10 days on the skins. Grapefruit, orange, peach, a slight floral note and spice on the nose. The palate is light-bodied (alcohol is 11.5%) and yet full of flavour, the finish slightly grippy.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

El Bandito Skin 2020
Approximate retail price: R300
10 days on the skins. A compelling nose of flowers, fynbos, ginger and other spice plus orange and peach. The palate has an excellent core of fruit with punchy acidity before a savoury finish. This has lovely texture, leaving a powdery sensation in the mouth. An intricate, intellectually engaging wine.

CE’s rating: 96/100.

Baby Bandito Chin Up Cinsault 2020
Approximate retail price: R150
Red cherry and a little floral perfume on the nose. The palate is light-bodied, clean and fresh – quite charming in how immediately accessible it is.

CE’s rating: 88/100.

Baby Bandito Follow Your Dreams Carignan 2020
Approximate retail price: R150
Red cherry plus dried herbs and a slight earthy note. Good fruit concentration bright acidity and a nicely grippy finish – light but flavourful.

CE’s rating: 90/100.

El Bandito Queen of Spades Tinta Amarela 2020
Approximate retail price: R300
Complex and beguiling aromatics of red and black berries, flowers, herbs, earth and spice. Lovely fruit expressions, bright acidity and crunchy tannins before a super-dry but not astringent finish. A lot of structure relative to fruit weight, this is a subtle wine that reveals itself slowly.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

El Bandito The Dark Side Syrah 2020
Approximate retail price: R300
Dark fruit plus hints of lavender, fresh herbs and pepper. The palate is exceptionally light (some may well find this too meagre but very much true to the Hawkins vision) with bright acidity and crunchy tannins.

CE’s rating: 90/100.

El Bandito Monkey Gone to Heaven Mourvèdre 2020
Approximate retail price: R300
Red and black berries, some floral perfume and fynbos on the nose while the palate is relatively dense with fresh acidity and firm, nicely grippy tannins.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

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