Dear *|FNAME|*,

We’re welcoming the new year with our favourite summertime wines from SA’s most prominent natural wine producer: Testalonga, by Craig and Carla Hawkins. The 2022 Testalonga Baby Banditos are crunchy, bright, and delicious. Etched with the soul of the Swartland, these terroir-expressive wines offer awesome value at R170!

Keep on Punching 2022 is fresh and salty, made from old-vine Swartland Chenin Blanc planted in 1961. It’s perfectly summed up by Jancis Robinson: ‘Layer Jura with Savennières with uber-dry Mosel.’

The geekier Stay Brave 2022, also 100% Swartland Chenin, sees 10 days’ skin contact and has ‘lovely generosity of fruit’, says Christian Eedes. Its nervous energy and textured finish make it one of our go-to wines for a fish braai by the sea.

The 2022 Follow Your Dreams Carignan is filled with bright red fruit, dried fynbos and chalky tannins – it’s the perfect summertime red. And while you’re stocking up on the Baby Banditos, keep an eye out for a few available bottles of the 95-point El Bandito Cortez 2022 and the 94-point El Bandito Skin 2022.

If you’re in the mood for bubbly, don’t forget their mouth-watering pet-nats – I wish I was a Ninja 2022, from 100% Colombard, and the ‘serious yet playful’ I am the Ninja 2022, produced from Chenin Blanc. These sparkling wines are wonderfully refreshing with a dry, herbaceous finish.

‘My idea of terroir is simple: single grape, single soil,’ explains Craig. Testalonga’s grapes are organically farmed and the wines see no additives.

Reply to this email or visit our website to place your order online.

Vinous regards,

Tasting notes

Testalonga, Baby Bandito Keep on Punching Chenin Blanc 2022

‘From a 1961 vineyard on the back of the Piketberg. 60% matured in foudre and 40% in stainless-steel tank. Pear, peach, citrus and apple on the nose while the palate has good fruit density and texture and moderate acidity before a finish that is slightly bitter in the best way.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 92/100

Testalonga, Baby Bandito Stay Brave Chenin Blanc 2022

‘Kept on the skins for approximately 10 days. The nose has top notes of potpourri and ginger before citrus, peach and some earthiness. On the palate, lovely generosity of fruit, moderate acidity, the finish lightly grippy.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 92/100

Testalonga, Baby Bandito Follow Your Dreams Carignan 2022

‘Cranberry, raspberry, some fynbos and earth on the nose. Good fruit purity and punchy acidity before a savoury finish. Balanced, energetic and showing more refinement and interest than previously.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 92/100

Testalonga, El Bandito Cortez Chenin Blanc 2022

‘From a Paardeberg vineyard, this vintage seems particularly delicate and subtle. Airy aromatics of hay, pear, peach, citrus and floral perfume while the palate is pure and linear with zippy acidity and a pithy finish.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 95/100

Testalonga, El Bandito Skin Chenin Blanc 2022

Kept on the skins for 12 days. Complex aromatics of honey, potpourri, ginger and some waxy character as well as hints of peach, nectarine and dried herbs. The palate is dense and thick textured but equally possesses great freshness, the finish nicely dry.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 94/100

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