Duncan Savage: Why He’s One of South Africa’s Most Exciting Winemakers

South Africa has never been more exciting as a wine country — and if there’s one name that keeps coming up, it’s Duncan Savage.

Savage is one of the leading figures of the modern Cape wine movement: a winemaker known for precision, purity and personality. His wines aren’t about gimmicks or over-extraction — they’re about site, balance and drinkability. And that’s exactly why they’ve become some of the most sought-after bottles coming out of South Africa today.

From Cape Point to Cult Status

Duncan Savage first made his name as the winemaker at Cape Point Vineyards, where he helped redefine what cool-climate South African wines could be. In 2016, he took the leap and focused fully on his own label, Savage Wines — sourcing fruit from carefully chosen vineyard sites across the Western Cape.

The results speak for themselves. Savage was named Tim Atkin MW’s South Africa Winemaker of the Year, and his wines regularly score in the mid-to-high 90s from international critics. More importantly, they’re wines people actually want to drink — and then come back for.

What Makes Savage Wines Different?

At Love Wine, we’re drawn to producers who let vineyards do the talking. Savage Wines ticks every box:

• Minimal intervention, sensitive winemaking

• Carefully selected vineyard sites (coastal and inland)

• Freshness, tension and natural balance

• Wines that age beautifully but drink well young

These are not heavy, forced wines. They’re confident, expressive and quietly complex — the kind of bottles that reward a second glass.

The Savage Wines We Currently Have in Stock

Here’s a closer look at the Savage wines we’re highlighting right now.

Savage White Blend 2024

South Africa – Western Cape
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc & Sémillon
Awards: 97 points – Tim Atkin MW

This is the wine that made Savage’s reputation. A benchmark South African white that combines coastal freshness with real texture and depth.
Love Wine tasting notes: Citrus, lime and blackcurrant leaf, layered with subtle beeswax and leesy richness, finishing with a saline snap that keeps things fresh and precise.

Savage “Are We There Yet” 2023

South Africa – Malgas
Grapes: Touriga Nacional & Syrah
Awards: 95 points – Tim Atkin MW

A bold yet refined Cape red with real character. Perfumed, savoury and structured, this is modern South Africa at its best.
Love Wine tasting notes: Dark berries, plum and cracked pepper, with fynbos lift, savoury depth and food-friendly tannins.

Savage “Follow The Line” 2024

South Africa – Darling
Grapes: Predominantly Cinsault (with a touch of Syrah)
Awards: 96 points – Tim Atkin MW

One of the Cape’s most elegant reds. Light on its feet, but far from simple.
Love Wine tasting notes: Strawberry, raspberry, and rose, with herbs, white pepper, and bright acidity. Powdery tannins and a long, dry finish. Also brilliant served slightly chilled.

Savage Red 2023

South Africa – Stellenbosch
Grapes: Syrah
Awards: 96 points – Tim Atkin MW

A Syrah for people who love savoury complexity and balance over brute force.
Love Wine tasting notes: Tobacco leaf, incense and clove, layered with blackberry, plum and tapenade. Bold, expressive and beautifully controlled.

Why We Love Duncan Savage

For us, Savage Wines sit right in the sweet spot: serious enough for collectors, but approachable enough to enjoy on a Tuesday night. They’re wines with energy, precision and personality — exactly what we look for when choosing bottles for Love Wine.

If you’re curious about where South African wine is heading, Duncan Savage is a very good place to start.

Check his wines below and snap them up before they all go: