Assertive yet approachable, never frivolous. That is Matthew Copeland’s philosophy for his Lifestyle range — wines of real character and expression that are designed to be uplifting and comforting in equal measure, crafted with the same care and attention that defines everything he does, but with an immediacy and generosity that makes them the perfect companion for any occasion. The Copeland story began when Matthew rescued the wines he had crafted at the Vondeling estate, releasing them under his own label rather than let exceptional South African fruit go to waste. Consistency and character are the watchwords — and the 2024 Shiraz delivers both in abundance.

The fruit comes from family-farmed vineyards in the Voor-Paardeberg region of Paarl — one of the Cape’s most exciting and increasingly celebrated wine areas, where the combination of warm days, cool nights, and the distinctive soils of the Paardeberg mountain produce Shiraz of a quite particular depth and vibrancy. Hand-picked in the cool early morning hours to preserve the integrity and freshness of the fruit, the bunches are carefully destemmed to eliminate any green matter before a partial crushing that enhances both fruit purity and depth of colour. Gentle pump-overs and moderate fermentation temperatures build a plush, pliable palate, and the wine is then matured in seasoned 500-litre French oak barrels — no new oak, so that the natural purity of the fruit remains the focal point throughout.

The 2024 is a Shiraz of immediate and generous appeal: that regal purple colour — flashes of red and hues of blue — that is so characteristic of the variety, with aromas of sweet black cherry, a hint of blueberry, and sultry smoky nuances that lift from the glass and carry through to the palate with depth and resonance. A highly versatile red wine that offers pleasure in every sip. At £16.99, it is Matthew Copeland at his most generous and approachable.