Savage Wines

When I sat down at Savage Wines, Duncan Savage was fresh back from the previous day’s Vintners Surf competition (Savage one of the Cape’s most accomplished riders of the wave). I almost did not make it to his Cape Town winery after my driver marooned the car on a ledge amidst a wild storm, but not even that would stop me tasting Savage’s 2021s for the simple fact that they represent some of South Africa’s best wines. The tall and rangy winemaker welcomed me at his small facility dominated by oak foudres. Having started out relatively recently, he invests every penny into his winery, someone who lives to farm land and turn grapes into wine (and surf). As such, he can ill-afford to just go out and splash money on new land. At present, 80% of these vineyards are leased with Savage almost obsessively managing the vines himself. When he started out there were just two labels, a White and Red. Savage has separated out plots in locales such as Piekenierskloof and Malgas, in order for the White and Red to become more varietally focused. For example, since the 2018 vintage, the Red is 100% Syrah from Stellenbosch and not a blend of several varieties from different places. This also has allowed him to expand his portfolio with several limited site-specific cuvées that are highly sought after. He eulogised the Karibib vineyard, where he is developing a plot at the top of the slope, a steep part between 28° and 40°, not good for Savage who later confesses that whilst he can ride the tallest wave, he’s not good with heights. In fact, the steepness means that he is planting the vines on stakes in an echalas training system. He also has a new, one hectare south/southwest facing parcel that he is considering eventually blending into the Red, though no decision has been made yet. His 2021s are exceptionally fine, bona fide world class wines that are a thrill-a-minute. Though his single vineyards derive from various terroirs and grape varieties, sometimes with variegated maturation periods, there is reassuring consistency without one weak link between them. They are imbued with a sense of transparency and elegance, yet they certainly do not short-change drinkers in terms of depth of flavour or structure. All you have to remember is their rather obtuse names that are only written on the back labels and cryptic symbolism. The centrepiece remains the White and Red, both wonderful wines that thrive in the 2021 season. If you have not tasted Duncan Savage’s wines, I advise addressing that as soon as possible.

From Growing Up ‘n Getting Wiser: South Africa in 2022 (Sep 2022) by Neal Martin

Reviews
Wines
Sort by default

2021 White

Release Price: $47

Color: White

00

Subscriber Access Only

or Sign Up

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer vitae aliquam odio. Aliquam purus diam, tempor et consectetur vitae, eleifend ac quam. Proin nec mauris ac odio iaculis semper. Integer posuere pharetra aliquet. Nullam tincidunt sagittis est in maximus. Donec sem orci, vulputate ac quam non, consectetur fermentum diam. In dignissim magna id orci dignissim convallis. Integer sit amet placerat dui. Aliquam pharetra ornare nulla at vulputate. Sed dictum, mi eget fringilla lacinia, nisl tortor condimentum mi, vitae ultrices quam diam ac neque. Donec hendrerit vulputate felis, fringilla varius massa.

- By Author Name on Month Date, Year

Read More

2021 Never Been Asked To Dance

Release Price: $50

Color: White

00

Subscriber Access Only

or Sign Up

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer vitae aliquam odio. Aliquam purus diam, tempor et consectetur vitae, eleifend ac quam. Proin nec mauris ac odio iaculis semper. Integer posuere pharetra aliquet. Nullam tincidunt sagittis est in maximus. Donec sem orci, vulputate ac quam non, consectetur fermentum diam. In dignissim magna id orci dignissim convallis. Integer sit amet placerat dui. Aliquam pharetra ornare nulla at vulputate. Sed dictum, mi eget fringilla lacinia, nisl tortor condimentum mi, vitae ultrices quam diam ac neque. Donec hendrerit vulputate felis, fringilla varius massa.

- By Author Name on Month Date, Year

Read More

2021 Follow The Line

Release Price: $50

Color: Red

00

Subscriber Access Only

or Sign Up

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer vitae aliquam odio. Aliquam purus diam, tempor et consectetur vitae, eleifend ac quam. Proin nec mauris ac odio iaculis semper. Integer posuere pharetra aliquet. Nullam tincidunt sagittis est in maximus. Donec sem orci, vulputate ac quam non, consectetur fermentum diam. In dignissim magna id orci dignissim convallis. Integer sit amet placerat dui. Aliquam pharetra ornare nulla at vulputate. Sed dictum, mi eget fringilla lacinia, nisl tortor condimentum mi, vitae ultrices quam diam ac neque. Donec hendrerit vulputate felis, fringilla varius massa.

- By Author Name on Month Date, Year

Read More

2021 Thief In The Night

Release Price: $50

Color: Red

00

Subscriber Access Only

or Sign Up

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer vitae aliquam odio. Aliquam purus diam, tempor et consectetur vitae, eleifend ac quam. Proin nec mauris ac odio iaculis semper. Integer posuere pharetra aliquet. Nullam tincidunt sagittis est in maximus. Donec sem orci, vulputate ac quam non, consectetur fermentum diam. In dignissim magna id orci dignissim convallis. Integer sit amet placerat dui. Aliquam pharetra ornare nulla at vulputate. Sed dictum, mi eget fringilla lacinia, nisl tortor condimentum mi, vitae ultrices quam diam ac neque. Donec hendrerit vulputate felis, fringilla varius massa.

- By Author Name on Month Date, Year

Read More

2021 Are We There Yet

Release Price: $50

Color: Red

00

Subscriber Access Only

or Sign Up

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer vitae aliquam odio. Aliquam purus diam, tempor et consectetur vitae, eleifend ac quam. Proin nec mauris ac odio iaculis semper. Integer posuere pharetra aliquet. Nullam tincidunt sagittis est in maximus. Donec sem orci, vulputate ac quam non, consectetur fermentum diam. In dignissim magna id orci dignissim convallis. Integer sit amet placerat dui. Aliquam pharetra ornare nulla at vulputate. Sed dictum, mi eget fringilla lacinia, nisl tortor condimentum mi, vitae ultrices quam diam ac neque. Donec hendrerit vulputate felis, fringilla varius massa.

- By Author Name on Month Date, Year

Read More

2021 Girl Next Door

Release Price: $62

Color: Red

00

Subscriber Access Only

or Sign Up

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer vitae aliquam odio. Aliquam purus diam, tempor et consectetur vitae, eleifend ac quam. Proin nec mauris ac odio iaculis semper. Integer posuere pharetra aliquet. Nullam tincidunt sagittis est in maximus. Donec sem orci, vulputate ac quam non, consectetur fermentum diam. In dignissim magna id orci dignissim convallis. Integer sit amet placerat dui. Aliquam pharetra ornare nulla at vulputate. Sed dictum, mi eget fringilla lacinia, nisl tortor condimentum mi, vitae ultrices quam diam ac neque. Donec hendrerit vulputate felis, fringilla varius massa.

- By Author Name on Month Date, Year

Read More

2020 Red

Release Price: $53

Color: Red

00

Subscriber Access Only

or Sign Up

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer vitae aliquam odio. Aliquam purus diam, tempor et consectetur vitae, eleifend ac quam. Proin nec mauris ac odio iaculis semper. Integer posuere pharetra aliquet. Nullam tincidunt sagittis est in maximus. Donec sem orci, vulputate ac quam non, consectetur fermentum diam. In dignissim magna id orci dignissim convallis. Integer sit amet placerat dui. Aliquam pharetra ornare nulla at vulputate. Sed dictum, mi eget fringilla lacinia, nisl tortor condimentum mi, vitae ultrices quam diam ac neque. Donec hendrerit vulputate felis, fringilla varius massa.

- By Author Name on Month Date, Year

Read More

2021 Not Tonight Josephine

Release Price: $62

Color: Sweet White

00

Subscriber Access Only

or Sign Up

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer vitae aliquam odio. Aliquam purus diam, tempor et consectetur vitae, eleifend ac quam. Proin nec mauris ac odio iaculis semper. Integer posuere pharetra aliquet. Nullam tincidunt sagittis est in maximus. Donec sem orci, vulputate ac quam non, consectetur fermentum diam. In dignissim magna id orci dignissim convallis. Integer sit amet placerat dui. Aliquam pharetra ornare nulla at vulputate. Sed dictum, mi eget fringilla lacinia, nisl tortor condimentum mi, vitae ultrices quam diam ac neque. Donec hendrerit vulputate felis, fringilla varius massa.

- By Author Name on Month Date, Year

Read More