October 24, 2024
Cult South Afrcian Chenin from rising star Sakkie Mouton
“This wine is not only one of Sakkie’s finest whites bottled to date, but also one of the most delicious and mouthwatering whites I have drunk all year.” -Greg Sherwood MW
Today we are deviating from our usual selection of more traditional fine wines to bring you something unique and culty.. This wine has one of the most playful names we've come across recently, but don't let the label fool you—this isn't just another bottle from your local natural wine shop; it's the real deal.
Originally from Vredendal, Sakkie Mouton grew up along South Africa's west coast before studying winemaking at Elsenburg College, graduating in 2014. At just 27, Sakkie founded his own winery, focusing on small-batch, natural wines that reflect the unique coastal terroir. His debut wine, Revenge of the Crayfish, quickly earned acclaim for its purity and minimal-intervention approach. Sakkie’s dedication to showcasing the rugged west coast’s character has made him a rising star in the South African wine scene. On its debut a few years ago, Greg Sherwood MW boldly declared that Sakkie Mouton was ‘One of the most exciting talents since Eben Sadie hit the wine scene”. Sherwood goes on to elaborate that:
“Finally his vision and dreams have met reality after making his maiden release white wine… which for me is one of the most profound Chenin Blancs produced in South Africa since Eben Sadie conjured up Skurfberg and Skerpioen in his old vine series.”
We tasted the Revenge of the Crayfish over the summer and were impressed by the wine and very happy this week when we could get an allocation. It’s a wine with a prominent nose that jumps out of the glass at you. What impressed us most about the wine was the texture, energy and drive which is a by-product of the extended time on the lees. After fermentation, the wine remained on its gross lees for eight months, with gentle bâtonnage. Following Alheit’s philosophy, old neutral oak is used to bring out the best of the Chenin whilst not dominating it.
Greg Sherwood MW scores it 97 points stating that the 2023 “is not only one of Sakkie’s finest whites bottled to date, but also one of the most delicious and mouthwatering whites I have drunk all year. My admiration for this young winemaker grows with every subsequent vintage release! Well done Sakkie”. A bold statement from one of the leading South African Masters of wine.
From what we’ve managed to find online, the 2023 only had a production of 133 cases and if counting in 12’s, that’s only 1596 bottles for the whole world making this incredibly rare. His first release was only 370 bottles which is even rarer!
We have a minuscule selection available on our website which are for sale on first come first served! Don’t miss your opportunity to try this cult wine.
"With every new vintage release from Sakkie Mouton, you just never know what to expect other than that the boundaries of quality, texture and complexity will once again be pushed a little further as he learns from every consecutive vintage put in bottle. Undoubtedly, the Revenge of the Crayfish Chenin Blanc from Koekenaap, which in 2018 was his first wine produced, is now in 2023 nearing a point where the vision for his individual Weskus terroir style is starting to be cemented into something quite substantial and lasting. I probably say it every vintage, but this 2023 for me represents the finest and most grown-up expression of the Crayfish cuvee produced to date.” - Greg Sherwood MW
Sakkie Mouton Revenge of the Crayfish 2023
97 Points | Greg Sherwood MW
Already in its sixth vintage, this new Revenge of the Crayfish Chenin Blanc 2023 once again pushes the boundaries of intensity, clarity, and purity of characterful Weskus Chenin Blanc fruit sourced from the unique Koekenaap coastal vineyards located about five kilometres from the cold Atlantic ocean on well drained Sandstone soils. This latest release shows a wonderfully complex aromatics of taut lime peel, freshly grated green apple, white blossom, apricot pip, fresh fennel leaf, and a subtle hint of under ripe green pears. The evolution of the Crayfish style is most evident in the way Sakkie has learnt to tame the Weskus briney maritime rock salt salinity and integrate it into a more complete, classy, layered expression while retaining plenty of liquid minerality and the kelpy, nori seaweed nuances. The larger format 500 litre oak barrels also seem to bring out the very best characteristics of the Chenin Blanc fruit, exposing a more glycerol, textured mid-palate packed full of pithy lime peel, white peaches, and savoury apple notes. This wine is not only one of Sakkie’s finest whites bottled to date, but also one of the most delicious and mouthwatering whites I have drunk all year. My admiration for this young winemaker grows with every subsequent vintage release! Well done Sakkie. Drink on release and over the next 8 to 10+ years.
94 Points | Tim Atkin MW
Revenge of the Crayfish has developed a cult following since its first vintage in 2018. Picked in two stages, this comes from a two-hectare parcel that was established in Koekenaap in 1997. South Africa's answer to a dry Savannières, it's an engagingly focused, almost austere Chenin Blanc with notes of aniseed, chalk and wet stones and an intense, palate-cleansing finish. 2024-30