Testalonga new releases – 2024

The Testalonga label is owned by Craig and Carla Hawkins and is resolutely Swartland in focus. It was established in 2008, the first wine being the El Bandito Skin from Chenin Blanc. In 2015 they purchased a property some 120km north of the Paardeberg and 400m above sea level which they called Bandits Kloof, the first vines planted in 2018. “The feeling of place is quite powerful,” says Craig and it really is.

To date, only one wine from own fruit – Daisy’s Pond Grenache Blanc – but they source grapes from across the district and the range is anything but small. Tasting notes and ratings for the new releases as follows:

Baby Bandito Keep on Punching 2024
Price: R195
Grapes from a Piketberg vineyard planted in 1961. Pear, peach and apple on the nose while the palate is well balanced – this vintage is quite broad with moderate acidity. Alc: 12%.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

El Bandito Cortez 2024
Price: R390
Grapes from a Paardeberg vineyard planted in 1972. Haunting aromatics of potpourri, herbs, lime and peach. The palate shows great purity and precision – extraordinary fruit concentration matched by a lovely line of acidity, the finish long and savoury. Great definition and shape, this is as distinct and captivating as ever. Alc: 12%.

CE’s rating: 98/100.

El Bandito Lekker Chenin Blanc 2024
Price: R910 per magnum
Grapes from a vineyard planted in 1981 on “beach sand” near Elands Bay on the West Coast. Pear, peach, soft citrus and a hint of ginger on the nose. Broad and textured with moderate acidity and a salty finish. Plenty of interest. Alc: 12.5%.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

El Bandito Lords of Dogtown Chenin Blanc 2024
Price: R390
Grapes from a Paardeberg vineyard planted in 1981. 10ppm SO2 added at bottling. Potpourri, a hint of herbs, peach and apple on the nose. The palate is less overtly oxidative than previous vintages – pure fruit, fresh acidity and lightly grippy in texture. Alc: 12.5 %.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

El Bandito Mangaliza Harslevelü 2024
Price: R390
Grapes from a Paardeberg vineyard planted in 1971 on granite. Herbs, peach, apple and a slight waxy note on the nose. The palate has good weight and texture, well integrated acidity and a deeply savoury finish. A wine with a lovely tangy quality to it. Alc: 11%.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

El Bandito Hallelujah Chicken Run Viognier 2024
Price: R390
Grapes from a vineyard planted in 2001 on granite on the outskirts of Malmesbury. The nose shows honeysuckle, fynbos and peach while the palate is light-bodied with a pleasing tension about it – clean, fresh and pithy. Alc: 12%.

CE’s rating: 90/100.

Bandits Kloof Daisy’s Pond Grenache Blanc 2022
Price: R730
Grapes from own vineyards planted in 2018. Long lees ageing and no sulphur added. Hay, citrus, peach, earth and hard-to-describe nutty quality on the nose. Dense fruit, moderate acidity and a savoury finish – full of character. Alc: 12%.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Baby Bandito Stay Brave 2024
Price: R195
Grapes from a vineyard planted in 1981 on granite. Two weeks of skin contact. Pretty aromatics of soft citrus, orange, potpourri and a hint of white pepper. Lovely fruit expression, bright acidity and a gently savoury finish. Balanced and relatively understated – not too tannic at all. Alc: 11.5%. Alc: 11.5%.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

El Bandito Skin Chenin Blanc 2024
Price: R390
Grapes from a Paardeberg vineyard planted in 1972 on granite. Complex aromatics of hay, lime, lemon, peach, fynbos, and tea. The palate is light-bodied yet detailed. Energetic with a persistent, finish – super-dry but not astringent. Alc: 11.5%.

CE’s rating: 96/100.

El Bandito Sweet Cheeks Muscat d’Alexandrie 2024
Price: R390
Grapes from a Paardeberg vineyard supposedly planted in 1952 on granite. Skin contact lasting two weeks. The nose shows floral perfume as well as a grape-like quality while the palate is juicy and fresh with a lightly salty finish. Cheerful if a bit simple. Alc: 10.5%.

CE’s rating: 89/100.

Baby Bandito Chin Up Cinsaut 2024
Price: R195
Co-fermented with 10% Tannat. Red cherry and a hint of earth on the nose while the palate is light with zippy acidity and very fine, powdery tannins. Entirely smashable. Alc: 11.5%.

CE’s rating: 89/100.

Baby Bandito Follow Your Dreams Carignan 2024
Price: R195
100% whole-bunch fermented. Enticing aromatics of pomegranate, cherry, raspberry, fynbos and white pepper. Light bodied yet intensely flavoured with racy acidity and fine tannins. Layered and long. Alc: 12.5%.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

El Bandito The Dark Side Syrah 2024
Price: R390
Grapes from a Paardeberg vineyard planted in 2001 on granite. 100% whole-bunch fermented. Red berries, rose, fynbos and white pepper. Great fruit purity, zesty acidity and lightly grippy tannins. Ethereal if the variety can ever be that – has a lovely lightness of being about it. Alc: 12.5%.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

El Bandito Queen of Spades Tinta Amarela 2024
Price: R390
Grapes from a vineyard planted in 1999 on granite. 100% whole-bunch fermented. Exotic aromatics of red and black berries, wilted rose, spice and earth. Good fruit depth and moderate acidity before a dry finish – neither too luscious nor astringent. Alc: 12.5%.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

El Bandito Monkey Gone to Heaven Mourvèdre 2024
Price: R390
Grapes from an Abbotsdale vineyard planted in 2001. 100% whole-bunch fermented. The nose shows lavender, fynbos, red and black berries plus a hint of earth. Medium bodied with pure fruit, zesty acidity and powdery tannins, the finish nicely dry. Alc: 12.5%.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

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