Puzzled by wine with legs or can't tell your retsina from your raka? Send any tipple-related questions to Neil Pendock at travelmag@sundaytimes.co.za

Q: I plan to attend the Cape Winemakers Guild Auction on Saturday, October 1. Your pick of the wines on offer? - Alf Brown, Gardens

AI had the privilege of blind-tasting the entire auction offering at Nitida Cellars' Cassia Restaurant earlier this month.

Of the 52 wines on auction, my two favourite whites were the Cape Point Vineyards barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2010 from Duncan Savage and the 2010 Auction Reserve Chardonnay from Jordan. Of the chenin blancs, Teddy Hall and Rijk's are worth a look at if you like the flavours of overripe oranges.

Among the reds, I thought two cabernet sauvignons stood out: Etienne le Riche's 2008 and one from the splendid 2009 vintage with a most unusual name Turtles All the Way Down by Louis Nel. The 2008 vintage of Kanonkop's iconic Paul Sauer bordeaux-style blend is on form, while a touriga naçional 2009 from David Trafford is positively Portuguese and a 2010 grenache from Saronsberg is totally out of their usual gutsy house style.

Ethereal and bright, could this be a change of direction for Dewaldt Heyns?