Duncan Savage, alongside his assistant Banele Vakele, continues to push the boundaries of South African winemaking at his urban winery in Cape Town. With a recent expansion, Savage now has more space to meticulously craft his wines, which reflect his focus on purity, attention to detail, and expressing the true character of each vineyard. During his recent visit, renowned wine critic Neil Martin was deeply impressed with Savage’s 2023 releases, highlighting how his cryptically-named wines embody the heights South African wines can reach.
Savage emphasized the importance of precision in his approach, stating, “You need attention to detail. We are super-meticulous in the vineyards. The 2017, 2021 and 2023 vintages are styles that I like, with purity and linearity.” This commitment to quality is evident in every bottle.
2023 Highlights from Neil Martin’s Review
2022 Sauvignon Blanc Salt River – 90 Points
Only available in select markets, this Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from Stellenbosch and produced at Avondale Winery. Whole-bunch-pressed and aged in stainless steel and a touch of concrete egg, it features a complex nose of pear, red apple, and orange rind. The palate is well-balanced with Loire-inspired acidity and a tertiary finish, making it a wine worth seeking out.
2023 Never Been Asked to Dance – 93 Points
Sourced from Chenin Blanc vines planted in Paarl in 1956, this cuvée showcases a captivating bouquet of lemon curd, dried honey, and candle wax. The palate is balanced with keen acidity, lightly spiced and waxy in texture, evolving into notes of chamomile, peach skin, and a saline finish. Martin called it one of the best vintages of this cuvée he’s ever tasted.
2023 White Blend – 93 Points
This blend of 76% Sauvignon Blanc and 24% Sémillon, matured in 20% new oak, offers a complex bouquet with beeswax, wild mint, and fennel. The Sémillon beautifully complements the Sauvignon Blanc, and the palate is well-balanced with acidity and impressive weight. The pretty, floral finish makes this a standout wine from the vintage.
2023 Are We There Yet – 95 Points
A blend of 69% Touriga Naçional and 31% Shiraz, sourced from Malgas, this wine delivers fabulous dark berry fruit definition with a distinct Portuguese twist. Described by Martin as the most reduced cuvée in the range, it boasts amazing purity, medium-bodied weight, and a tender black pepper and graphite-tinged finish. A “supremely gifted wine” that stands as one of Savage’s best.
2023 Follow the Line – 92 Points
This cuvée is composed of 93% Cinsault and 7% Syrah from dry-farmed vines in Darling, grown on granitic soils. The bouquet offers earthy red berry fruit, tea leaf, and bay leaf, while the palate is smooth with notes of wilted rose petals and red fruit. Though leaner than other Cinsaults, it is still complex and will be irresistible over the next decade.
2023 Girl Next Door – 94 Points
Made from two Syrah vineyards, including a new parcel near Cape Point Vineyards, this cuvée includes around 50% whole cluster. It has a very perfumed nose with raspberry, wild strawberry, Dorset plum, and spice-box notes, evolving into more floral aromas over time. The medium-bodied palate is full of crunchy red berry fruit and fine backbone, leading to an impressively structured yet elegant, saline finish.
2023 Thief in the Night – 91 Points
This Grenache and Cinsault blend, sourced from a vineyard shared with Eben Sadie, shows a forward and generous bouquet of redcurrant, wild strawberry, and brown spice. The medium-bodied palate is marked by silky tannins, spiced with white pepper, and a gliding finish…
2022 Red Blend – 94 Points
Sourced from a wind-exposed site in Polkadraai on granitic soils, this blend spends two years aging—first in old 500-liter barrels and then in foudres and conical tanks. The bouquet expresses brambly red fruit and light tertiary scents, while the medium-bodied palate offers a pliant entry, with white pepper and fennel spices lifting the finish. A sophisticated, harmonious wine that stands out in the lineup.
Savage Wines continues to impress with Duncan Savage’s dedication to meticulous vineyard work and thoughtful winemaking. His 2023 vintage demonstrates the heights that South African wines can reach, balancing purity, complexity, and an unyielding sense of place. Each wine, whether it’s the refined Girl Next Door Syrah or the expressive Are We There Yet blend, reflects the evolution and potential of South African viticulture under Savage’s expert hand.
