Lautus Savvy Red
82/100
How we scoreVerdict
Editorial VerdictGenuine red-blend fruit and usable tannin without the jammy trap. The middle is a little thin, and the dry berry finish is medium-short — still one of the more vinous NA reds under twenty dollars.
Verified facts
Evidence: Producer documented · 4 sources
- Sourced ABV <0.5% Bottle
- Sourced Classification Dealcoholized Producer documentation
- Sourced Method Spinning cone Producer documentation
- Sourced Origin Western Cape / Olifants River Valley (Vredendal), South Africa Producer documentation
At a glance
- Flavor profile
- Blackberry
- Plum
- Oak
- Spice
- Red berry
- Structure
- Dry
- Moderate acidity
- Moderate tannin
- Light body
- Medium finish
- Still
Tasting notes
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Nose
Blackberry and plum up front, with a light oak note that keeps the fruit from smelling sweet or jammy.
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Palate
Juicy red and black fruit over fine tannin, with a thread of subtle spice. Dry enough that sweetness never takes the lead — fruit stays controlled rather than sticky.
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Finish
Medium-short: dry berry and light oak land cleanly, then a soft fade sooner than a heavier Cape red would allow.
The wine
The finish is where Savvy Red shows its limit. Dry berry and a little oak land cleanly, then the glass goes quiet sooner than a full-strength Shiraz–Cabernet pour would allow. Medium-short is fair. It is not a collapse into sweetness — just a shorter line.
Before that fade, the wine earns its keep. Blackberry and plum on the nose, oak light enough to frame rather than perfume. The sip is juicy red and black fruit with fine tannin and a thread of spice — dry enough that fruit stays controlled instead of jammy. Mouthfeel is supple and light-to-medium; the mid-palate thins a touch, which is the honest cost of the missing alcohol weight. The tannin is the reason to keep pouring it with food.
Chill it lightly or pour at cool room temperature. It reads as a lighter red blend, not grape juice: tannin present, fruit in proportion, oak as structure rather than dessert. Depth of a heavy Cape red is not here. Usable grip and dry berry are, and that is enough for the table.
How to drink it
Cool room temperature or a short chill, in a standard red-wine glass.
How it was made
Classification Dealcoholized
Evidence status Producer documented
Reg Holder ferments the wine with standard practices, then removes alcohol about two weeks before bottling via spinning-cone technology (US About + FAQs). Blend order stated as Shiraz / Pinotage / Tempranillo / Cabernet Sauvignon from the winemaker’s family farm in Vredendal.
Product record history
Sourced changes and open disagreements. Prior claims stay on the record when sources conflict.
Product record history
- Reviewed and published.
- Abv — Sourced check for abv.
- Production_type — Sourced check for production_type.
- Dealcoholization_method — Sourced check for dealcoholization_method.
- Sugar — Sourced check for sugar.
- Calories — Sourced check for calories.
Sources
Product facts are only as strong as their sources. Editorial tasting notes are opinion.
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Front label on producer packshot: CONTAINS LESS THAN 0.5% ALCOHOL BY VOLUME; also DE-ALCOHOLISED WINE / SAVVY RED.
Verified facts -
Verified facts
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Verified facts
Additional citations & background
Keep tasting
Other Sauvignon Blanc
82/100
How we score