Wine Cellar Insiders' March 2024 Bottle size: 750ml

Black Elephant Vintners, Three Men in a Tub Red Blend 2020 – R 100
'This is your new favourite every day drinking wine. With a funky label sporting literally three men in a tub with a rubber duck, the wine in the bottle is smashable but not lacking complexity. Violets, blackcurrant leaf and crunchy red berries wrapped in black pepper and tea spices leads to bright red and black fruit on the palate and a deliciously dry finish.' – Lauren Segers, September 2023

Anselmo Mendes, Muros Antigos Escolha 2022 – R 170
‘The 2022 Muros Antigos Escolha is a blend of 40% Loureiro, 40% Avesso and 20% Alvarinho, unoaked and coming in at 11.9% alcohol. This is a fresh and lively blend that shows great in its youth. It lacks the prestige of some of the other offerings in this report, but that also means you can get a lot for a little. (It's an even better value in Portugal.) It's perky and relatively expressive, and it has the acidic backbone to allow it to age a reasonable time. I wouldn't hold it too long, though, even with the winery's good reputation for aging, as its exuberance is a major part of its appeal today. This will likely be at its best when very young. It drinks great now. 2023-2029’ – Mark Squires, Wine Advocate, 88/100

Remhoogte, Free to be Syrah 2021 – R 225
‘Opaque Ruby. Crushed black olive, blackcurrant, cloves and violets. Sweet fruited entry offset by a coated acidity and supple tannins that bring length.’ – Winemaker

Testalonga, El Bandito I Wish I was a Ninja 2023 – R 246
'The label speaks to when and how to drink this zippy pet nat - Paul Jordaan in the pool with a glass of wine. This 100% Colombar is a cracker for summer with lemon, lime acidity and a saline finish. Pure white florals and stone fruit refresh your palate and leave you thirsty for more.' – Lauren Segers, November 2023

Niepoort, Drink Me Tinto 20212 – R 210
This vintage has not been rated; see 2019 vintage:
'Mid purple crimson with vibrant purple rim. But the colour is not as vibrant as the fruit, which soars from the glass, in sweet black fruit aromas especially blackcurrant and cassis but with the wildness of elderberry. Dark-red fruits too, mulberry and raspberry. There’s a dark, rocky, almost dusty, overlay that I associate with the Douro though the wine is labelled as a wine of Portugal. Deep and rich-fruited on the palate, generous and yet so lively and fresh, with what might be a little bit of extra sweet spice from the oak. Dry and fine tannins balance all the zesty fruit. Still pretty firm. Drink Me is so apt for this wine but at the moment I’d broach it with food. A great all-rounder. It may not be a wine for long ageing but I think this will be even better with another 6 months in bottle.' – Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, 16+/20

Pink Valley, Rosé 2022 – R 150
‘Four years in the making, this is a new rosé from Pink Valley that's "anti-candy floss and residual sugar", according to Schalk-Willem Joubert. Based on Sangiovese with 27% Grenache, it's a grown up pink, with sour cherry and rosehip flavours and lots of underlying grip and energy. 2023-25’ – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2023, 90/100