We took, wine maker, Brad Paton’s word for it, when he said Meifort 2018 was phenomenal, but we couldn’t resist a taste, so we had a couple of bottles sent over, and sure enough, it is superb. The 2014 vintage won the Old Mutual Wine Trophy for the best Bordeaux blend in South Africa. That’s not the best value Bordeaux blend, but the best Bordeaux blend.  Brad now has full control over the winemaking process and what was already home to some of the best quality price to value ratio wines in the world is now even better.

Tasting the quality back in October, we jumped the pre-arrival gun this year, and shipped a pallet, along with all we could pick up of the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, another wine that Brad is extremely excited about, and rightly so. It’s the equivalent of the best £18 bottles from Marlborough, but with its wonderful Constantia character.

It’s only 50 cases that we’ve got right here and now, so we’re letting you know first, as a previous taker of Meifort. This vintage is slightly fleshier and more immediately charming and approachable that the 2017 was, and despite being so young. Super aromas, herbaceous, blackcurrant, autumn leaves, wood and lifted aromatics. Decant it and the aromatics broaden and the wine softens. It still comfortably sits among Bordeaux blend at £20 and over.