Ridgeback Lion Hound Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa 75cl

The Lion Hound is Ridgeback’s easy going, everyday white, named for the Rhodesian Ridgeback that gives the estate its identity. It is the bottle the northern Paarl estate makes for uncomplicated pleasure, fresh, bright and made to be poured without ceremony.

Built around Sauvignon Blanc, the fruit is night harvested to hold on to its aromatics and fermented cool in stainless steel to keep everything crisp and clean. There is no oak here, just fruit and freshness. This is the estate’s most approachable white, the one for a warm afternoon rather than a serious dinner.

2023 was a fine year for South African whites, cooler and slower to ripen than usual, which suited aromatic, fresh styles perfectly. Paarl enjoyed even weather with no heat spikes, and that gentle ripening locked in the perfume and zip that a wine like this depends on. The result is bright and expressive.

A tropical rush of white peach, pineapple and orange blossom fills the nose, lifted by a note of green fig and a squeeze of citrus. The palate is zesty and mouth watering, dry and clean, with a crisp, refreshing finish. Drink it young and well chilled. Serve it with summer salads, grilled seafood, sushi or fresh goat’s cheese.

Every range needs a wine like this, the one you reach for without thinking on a sunny day. If you enjoy a zippy Cape or Loire Sauvignon Blanc, the Lion Hound delivers exactly that, with a little tropical Paarl generosity. A wine for lunch in the garden or a crowd of friends, and easy to pour with confidence.