Old Vines White Blend
SOUTBOS 2024
R425 per bottle
SOUTBOS is a super elegant and complex white blend of West Coast Chenin Blanc and Colombar.
Bold citrus-toned nose with lemon and grapefruit, showing unmistakable elements of briny, sea air and kelp. That same citrus tang, zestiness and vivacity are apparent on the palate, as is that saline note of kelp or sea bamboo. Initial vibrance and animation undergoes a sea change, morphing into a smooth, supple and polished mouthful – almost creamy, courtesy of lees. Ineffably poised, balanced and harmonious with a seamless elegance and texture that goes on for days.
Structured and rewarding, nothing is overplayed: the blend remains Chenin Blanc and Colombar, with the latter in ascendancy, unlike 2023. The fruit ripeness is countered by lively, fresh acidity and lees lends length while the subtle maritime notes add an extra dimension. Well-knit and cohesive, this wine will age particularly well.
COMPOSITION
75% Colombar / 25% Chenin Blanc
SOIL
Decomposed sandstone, sand
ORIGIN
West Coast (Vredendal)
ANALYSIS
Alc 12% | RS 1.0 g/L | TA 6.3 g/L | pH 3.4 g/L
ACCOLADES
96 | Greg Sherwood MW
4.5* | Platter's Wine Guide
TECHNICAL SHEET
SOUTBOS 2024 — Frequently Asked Questions
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1. What is Naudé SOUTBOS 2024?
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SOUTBOS 2024 is a premium old-vine white blend from Naudé Wines — 75% Colombard and 25% Chenin Blanc, sourced from certified old-vine vineyards near Vredendal on South Africa's West Coast. The name comes from the Afrikaans word for saltbush, the coastal shrub that grows in the same salty, wind-swept terrain as the vines. It's bone dry, 12% alcohol, and scored 96 points from Master of Wine Greg Sherwood.
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2. What grape varieties are used in Naudé SOUTBOS 2024?
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Soutbos 2024 is a blend of 75% Colombard and 25% Chenin Blanc, both sourced from certified old vine vineyards on the West Coast near Vredendal. The Colombard vines were planted in 1983 and the Chenin Blanc in 1988, giving both varieties decades of root depth and character. The Colombard leads the 2024 blend — a shift from the 2023 vintage — reflecting Ian's approach of letting each harvest find its own natural balance rather than following a fixed formula.
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3. What does Naudé SOUTBOS 2024 taste like?
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Expect a bold citrus nose — lemon, grapefruit, a touch of guava — layered with white peach and orchard fruit from the Chenin Blanc. The palate moves from bright and zesty to smooth and creamy thanks to lees ageing, finishing with a distinctive saline, sea-air note that's become the wine's signature.
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4. Why does Naudé SOUTBOS 2024 have a distinctive saline and maritime character?
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The vines grow in decomposed sandstone and sandy soils roughly 30km from the cold Atlantic, and that proximity shapes everything: cool sea breezes slow ripening and preserve acidity, while salt-laden marine air and mineral-rich coastal soils contribute the wine's saline, kelp-like character. It's not a winemaking technique — it's simply where the grapes are grown.
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5. Is it dry, and can it age?
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Yes to both. At 1.0 g/L residual sugar it's firmly bone dry, and with 6.3 g/L acidity and low 12% alcohol, it has the structure to age gracefully for 15+ years — while still being very drinkable now.
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6. How does it compare to Sauvignon Blanc or a typical Chenin Blanc?
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It's fresher and more citrus-driven than a typical single-varietal Chenin Blanc, and rounder and more textured than a classic Sauvignon Blanc, thanks to the Colombard's bright acidity balanced against Chenin's depth and lees-driven creaminess. If you like Sauvignon Blanc's freshness but want more texture, this is a natural next bottle.
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7. What food pairs well with it?
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Seafood is the standout match — oysters especially, along with grilled linefish, mussels, prawns, and sushi. It also works well with soft cheeses, charcuterie, and lighter chicken dishes with lemon or herbs.
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8. How is Naudé SOUTBOS 2024 produced?
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Soutbos 2024 is made with the same commitment to minimal intervention that defines all Naudé Wines — a process that begins in the vineyard and ends with as little interference as possible in the cellar.
The grapes are hand-picked into small baskets to protect the fruit, then immediately transported to the cellar where they are whole-bunch pressed — a gentle technique that extracts clean, pure juice without harsh tannins or unwanted extraction. Rather than inoculating with commercial yeasts, Ian relies on natural fermentation, which begins spontaneously after approximately three days as the wild yeasts present on the grape skins and in the cellar do their work. This slower, more unpredictable process produces greater complexity and a more authentic expression of the vineyard than commercially driven fermentation ever could.
After fermentation, the wine is kept on its lees — the spent yeast cells — for as long as possible. This extended lees contact is what gives Soutbos 2024 its characteristic creamy texture, added roundness and length on the palate. Beyond a small addition of sulphites for stability, nothing is added to the wine. No fining agents, no flavour enhancers, no technical corrections. Just fruit, time, and restraint.
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9. Where can I buy it?
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Soutbos 2024 is available online in our online shop.