Aristargos, Swartland, 2025

A tightly coiled, finely structured Aristargos, leading with citrus and white fruits before revealing brittle golden fruit, green spice and the more aromatic influence of Roussanne and Marsanne. There is good density through the mid-palate, balanced by salinity, pithy freshness and a dry, fine-grained tannic finish. Less reductive than the 2024, this is an especially composed and precise expression. Chenin Blanc forms the base of the blend, accompanied by 12% Semillon and smaller proportions of Marsanne, Roussanne and 7% Colombard. Small components of the Chenin Blanc, Colombard and Semillon underwent gentle submerged-cap skin contact, building phenolic structure without excessive extraction. Twenty-five per cent was aged in concrete, with the remainder in neutral oak of 300 litres and above.