The 2002 was being pimped by my local wine shop, so I succumbed to their hardsell and bought one...and then bought five more at $10/each. My note on 2002 is here.

The 2003 is not quite as impressive, but still very nice: more acidity, basically, and an oakier aftertaste. Kind of reminds me of an oakier Mersault. I'd give it an 84-85...still great for the price.

There was anarticle about Boschendal on Wine Spectator on line recently.

Are there many SA producers of Chardonnay available in the UK?

I know down here there are only two and they are average to say the least. The Chenin's seem a little better but they again are a rarity.

Are there any other SA producers of Chardonnay you would recommend CB?

Jeremy, unfortunately I can't really answer your question...this is one of my first South African wines! I had some pricy Stellenbosch a couple years ago at a party but was not too impressed. However, my local wine shop has a lot of South Africans and the prices are definitely appealing. So maybe I try a few of them in the 7-10 pound range ($13-18). If any are noteworthy, I'll post.

- Thanks , that would be much appreciated.

I've heard Vergelegen can make some reasonable, inexpensive Chardonnays, but I've never tried them... Anyway, I think SA's best white still is SB.

I always thought it was Chenin Blanc. Any notes Mars?

Well, we don't see much S. African Chenin Blanc here either, so I can't say I've tried the best ones... I had Villiera and Morgenhof CBs and found them ok. I know you'll be a tougher taster for SBs, but I liked Steenberg, Neil Ellis and Mulderbosch SBs - very good QPR. They are good, but still not as good as NZ SB yet.

As for style, you get the mineral notes as well as the fruits, and they have some New World and some Old World nuances. I was just worried about rumors of some wineries illegally adding flavourings to wine, but I don't know what happened afterwards regarding this story. Did you have bad experiences with SA SB?

Being from NZ, we simply just don't get them. What we have seen lately is some from Argentina, and increase in Sancerre and Pouilly etc....