South Africa — wine

Robertson WO

Breede River Valley ward inland from the Cape, producing Chardonnay and Shiraz of recognised quality on limestone-rich soils. Robertson's calcareous terroir delivers distinctive mineral character to both varieties; cool nights from mountain valleys moderate the hot Mediterranean days. The ward is also home to De Wetshof Estate, which proved South African Chardonnay could challenge Burgundy.

Year Rating Notes
2023 Good Robertson vintage; fresh Chardonnay and mineral Sauvignon Blanc
2022 Outstanding year; balanced heat and cool nights delivered precision
2021 Cooler vintage with excellent natural acidity across white varieties
2020 Warm and dry; Chardonnay showed impressive concentration
2019 Benchmark Robertson vintage; Bateleur achieved new heights of complexity
2018 Heat stress in January; careful canopy management saved quality
2017 Good conditions overall; consistent quality across Robertson white wines