Miles Mossop Chapters Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa 75cl

Miles Mossop grew up around wine, the son of Tony Mossop, a respected authority on the South African trade, and graduated top of his class in viticulture and oenology at Stellenbosch. He spent close to two decades as winemaker at Tokara before going fully independent in 2018 to focus on the label he had run alongside it since 2004. His wines have a quiet confidence, made by someone with a clear idea of what he wants.

The Chapters range is his more accessible, terroir-led line, made to show the character of Stellenbosch without a premium price. This bottling is pure Sauvignon Blanc, built for freshness and food rather than showy tropical fruit, in a restrained, cooler-climate register that leans more towards the Loire than the tropics.

The 2023 is a young, current-release vintage from a region that gives Sauvignon Blanc real drive and cut. It is a wine to enjoy in its bright, energetic youth rather than to lay down.

Expect aromas of citrus and green fruit, greengage and a touch of fresh herb, then a crisp, dry palate with a clean, gently mineral finish. It is refreshing without being sharp or aggressively grassy, the kind of white that empties the bottle over a long lunch.

If you like a Loire Sauvignon or a cooler Marlborough style, this Cape version sits comfortably alongside them, and offers a lot of winemaking pedigree for the money. Serve it well chilled with grilled seafood, green salads, or a round of fresh goat’s cheese.