IT WAS NO surprise to see DeMorgenzon, Spier and Stellenrust among the Top 10 in the Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Challenge 2017. All Classified wines, with Stellenrust also in the Top Wine SA Hall of Fame, and all multiple winners of the SA Chenin producer association’s Top 10 award. The only wine to place among the laureates in all four
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 moreTHE WINNERS of the 2016 Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge include five of the top wines in the SA Chenin Classification based on track records spanning the past 10 years. Of these beauties, two stand out as the country’s most successful Chenins on local and international podiums this year: DeMorgenzon Reserve 2015 and Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection 2015, with the KZ also
Read moreAT UNDER R50 a bottle, South Africa’s top Chenin Blancs in 2015 include several classified wines, namely Alvi’s Drift ADS from Worcester, Simonsig of Stellenbosch and Windmeul from Paarl. Stretch to R100 a bottle, and your options expand to encompass the Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection, one of the Top 10 Chenin Blancs in the country on the basis of great track
Read moreA CLASSIC Wine Trophy in the first quarter of the year, a trophy at the International Wine Challenge in London during the second quarter and then selection among the Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 in the third… It’s a wonder that the 2014 DeMorgenzon Reserve Chenin Blanc hadn’t already sold out by the time the Chenin Blanc Association’s latest awards
Read moreDEMORGENZON, Elgin Vintners, Lomond, Paul Cluver and Perdeberg were among the International Trophy winners at the 2015 Decanter World Wine Awards – DeMorgenzon (Stellenbosch) with their flagship white blend, Elgin Vintners with their Pinot Noir, Lomond with a Syrah, Paul Cluver (Elgin) with a Riesling for UK retailer Marks & Spencer and Perdeberg (Paarl) with a Chenin from their Dryland Collection. Overall, Paul Cluver was
Read moreTHE LATEST round of awards for SA white wines at the inaugural Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge again raises the issue of what South Africa hangs or should hang its hat on – in other words, what the industry’s strong suits or trump cards are. Certainly there’s a case to be made for Chenin, and if Chenin is to
Read moreTHE RESULTS of the 2013 Classic Wine Trophy competition are hardly surprising in terms of the class winners. Particularly not when it comes to the overall victor, with Chamonix scooping three of the 14 trophies awarded in various categories at the Taj Hotel in Cape Town just a few months after being named Winery of the Year in the 2013 edition of
Read moreJacques Kallis EARLIER THIS YEAR, shortly after former South African golf star David Frost sold his wine farm in Paarl it was announced that Protea cricketers Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher had teamed up with Rietvallei Wine Estate in Robertson to launch a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Sauvignon Blanc under The Innings label – good value wines, with the 2010 Cab at
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 moreSOUTH AFRICAN Shiraz that has been highly recommended this year by one or more of the expert tasting panels around the world AND which costs less than R80 a bottle – with prices given ex-cellar, or approximate retail if the winery is closed to the public: BRAMPTON 2009 – R55 CITRUSDAL CELLARS’ Six Hats 2010 – R50 CLOOF The Very Sexy 2009 – R75
Read moreGREAT BUYS for the festive season… Pinotage that has been highly recommended this year by one or more of the expert tasting panels around the world AND that costs less than R80 a bottle – with prices given ex-cellar, or approximate retail if the public can’t buy directly from the producer: ALLEE BLEUE Starlette 2011 – R42 BEYERSKLOOF 2011 – R55 BOLAND CELLAR Reserve No
Read moreSA CHENIN BLANC highly recommended this year by one or more of the expert tasting panels around the world AND which costs less than R50 a bottle – with prices given ex-cellar, or approximate retail if the cellar is closed to the public: ALVI’S DRIFT 2012 – R29 ARABELLA 2012 – R38 BON COURAGE Like Father Like Son 2012 – R29 BOSCHENDAL 2011 – R41
Read moreCAP CLASSIQUE sparkling wines highly recommended this year by one or more of the expert tasting panels around the world AND which cost less than R100 a bottle – with prices given ex-cellar, or approximate retail if the cellar is closed to the public. Fantastic for those festive season parties. BOSCHENDAL Le Grand Pavillon Brut Rosé NV – R99 DARLING CELLARS Blanc de
Read moreWindmeul Cellar, R44, Paarl THE 2012 VERITAS AWARDS include particularly impressive performances by KWV, Nederburg, Cederberg, Durbanville Hills, Marianne, Nuy, Rust en Vrede, Simonsig, Spier and Windmeul – all winning four or more gold or double gold medals at the South African National Wine Show Association’s major competition of the year. However for cash-strapped wine shoppers looking for bargains among
Read moreGREAT VALUE Shiraz – 10 SA wines that have received good reviews by one or more of the top tasting panels around the world during the past 18 months and which sell for under R65 a bottle. Prices given in South African rand, ex-cellar or approximate retail where cellars are closed to the public: At R22pb, Obikwa Shiraz 2011 (Distell)
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