THE 2017 vintages of D’Aria’s Songbird and De Grendel’s Koetshuis are particularly impressive wines in the 2018 FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10, with both already multiple award winners before the latest rounds of applause: the Songbird also won at South Africa’s National Wine Challenge and earned silverware at the International Wine Challenge (UK); the Koetshuis also won gold at the Trophy
Read moreTHE ANNOUNCEMENT of the Absa Top 10 for 2018 served to reiterate a number of truths and trends: ‘old’ vines make for good wines; the more experience you have with the variety and the vineyards, the higher the likelihood of greatness in the bottle; while the benchmarks remain steadfast, those contesting the premier league have grown in number and location;
Read moreGROOT CONSTANTIA was declared top achiever at the 2018 Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards, with winemaker Boela Gerber’s Natural Sweet Grand Constance 2015 and port-styled Cape Ruby 2016 the most successful of eight wines whose combined scores lifted the trophy. It’s been another good year by way of reviews for this dessert wine from South Africa’s oldest producer: Best in
Read moreCELLARS up and down the length of the Breede River Valley had a good year in the 2017 edition of South Africa’s Ultra Value Wine Challenge convened by BuyBetterWine.com – not that they had it all their own way. The top contestants were as follows: MOST SUCCESSFUL ENTRANTS Alvi’s Drift Private Cellar – Worcester Arabella Wines – Ashton De Wet Cellar – Worcester DGB –
Read moreTHE 2017 ABSA Top 10 Pinotage competition culminated with the presentation of trophies to winning wine producers at Cavalli estate outside Somerset West. The event commemorated 21 years of the Pinotage Association’s competition that contributes to setting benchmarks as regards South Africa’s most successful ‘indigenous’ variety. There were 147 entries and the laureates were applauded as fine ambassadors of Wine
Read moreIF THERE WAS a trophy presented at the Veritas Awards for best value-for-money offered by the highest-scoring wines, the winner in 2016 would probably have been Boschendal for The Pavillion Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, expected to sell for R55 a bottle from the cellar on the outskirts of Franschhoek and under R50 in the supermarkets. Its main rivals for the title would have
Read moreENTRIES in the Perold Cape Blend Competition are required to have Pinotage as a leading component – a minimum of 30% but no more than 70%. According to Pinotage Association chairman Beyers Truter: “When the Absa Perold Cape Blend competition was initiated in 2011, the aim was to promote a category that would yield bold, vibrant wines truly representative of South
Read moreTHE PINOTAGE Association made much of Kanonkop’s and Rijk’s achievements at the 2016 Absa Top 10 awards where they both won trophies for the 11th time in the 20-year history of the event – iconic track records for sure, albeit that the Kanonkop 2010 was ‘sold out’ ex-cellar and the Rijk’s Reserve 2013 had yet to be released at the time of writing. However, two
Read more“PINOTAGE has the heart of a lion and the tongue of a woman; after drinking a certain quantity you can talk forever and fight like the devil!” – Anonymous. More memorable wine quotes here. The Top 10 Pinotage in terms of South African wines with the best track records over the past 10 years (2006 – 2015) are the following: Beyerskloof
Read moreTHERE IS PLENTY on offer in the way of good South African Sauvignon Blanc at under R100 a bottle – including quite a number of wines with good track records over the past 10 years. At under R50 a bottle, Merwida has been building a good repution, and for a few more greenbacks you can get some of the Top 20
Read moreTHE HONOUR for most trophies won by a producer at the Absa Top 10 Pinotage competition since it began 19 years back (1997) is shared by Kanonkop of Stellenbosch and Rijk’s of Tulbagh at 10 each. However during the last 10 years of the shoot-out (2006 to 2015), the judges on the Top 10 tasting panels have awarded seven to Rijk’s, six to Windmeul
Read moreTOP SA CABS in 2013… The following wines achieved outstanding reviews from the judges at blind-tastings around the world during the past 12 months: TOP SOUTH AFRICAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON RATINGS IN 2013 Boekenhoutskloof 2011 – 5 Stars in Platter’s Guide Cederberg Five Generations 2011 – 5 Stars in Platter’s Guide, Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards Delaire Graff Reserve 2009 – Trophy at
Read moreAPPLAUDED as the top-performing cellars at the 2013 Veritas Awards according to the type and number of medals won were: KWV, Nederburg, Boplaas, De Grendel and Flagstone. Also singled out for special mention were: Delaire Graff, Eagles’ Nest, Graham Beck, Kanonkop, Rustenberg, Simonsig, Spier, Tokara and Windmeul. Among the newcomers of note? Rivendell near Bot River (good Sauvignon Blanc) and Kleinhoekkloof near Ashton (standout Merlot). For the
Read moreWHITE BLENDS from South Africa that have been highly recommended this year by one or more of the expert tasting panels around the world AND which cost less than R80 a bottle – with prices given ex-cellar, or approximate retail if the winery is closed to the public: ALTYDGEDACHT The Ollo 2011 – R75 ALVI’S DRIFT Chardonnay Viognier 2011 – R34 BON
Read moreGREAT BUYS for the festive season… Red blends that have been highly recommended this year by one or more of the expert tasting panels around the world AND which cost no more than R70 a bottle – with prices given ex-cellar, or approximate retail if the public can’t buy directly from the producer: BERNHEIM Classique 2008 – R70 BONNIEVALE CELLAR Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2011
Read moreSOUTH AFRICAN Merlot that has been highly recommended this year by one or more of the expert tasting panels around the world AND which costs less than R100 a bottle – with prices given ex-cellar, or approximate retail if the cellar is closed to the public: ANURA Reserve 2009 – R95 BILTON 2008 – R89 BOLAND CELLAR Reserve No 1 2009 – R77 CLOS MALVERNE 2010 –
Read moreThe homestead at Vergelegen, Somerset West WHEN WINES are applauded by not one but a whole lot of top tasting panels around the world, you can be extra sure that there’s something extra special about them. See below for a select group of white wines that includes the 2008 white blend made by Andre van Rensburg at Anglo American’s Vergelegen
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