SA Rocks

The 2009 edition of John Platter Wine Guide has been released and more importantly, the 5 star wines have been announced!

To see the list of winners click here

A record 33 wines were chosen for the highest accolade – an indication that the quality of South African is improving in leaps and bounds.

There are some usual suspects on the list but some notable newcomers in vilafonte, Eagles Nest and Sterhuis.

I am particularly excited at vilafonte’s inclusion in the 5 star lineup as it represents a successful partnership between South African winegrowers and American winemakers – global partnership at it’s best.

Get your hands on one of the winners as soon as you can because soon they will be sold out – if not already!

Cru Master

Popularity: 8% [?]

If you’re looking for good wine and a great deal then look no further than this awesome offer:

>> eWine’s One for One Offer <<

Now the reason I get excited about this offer is because not only is it rewarding financially but the wine is great too.

You can’t go wrong with the Hartenburg Cab Sav/Shiraz 2005 – for us South African’s it’s perfect for a fancy dinner party and even better for a braai with good friends.

Congrats to eWine for an innovative deal and to Hartenburg for embracing the idea.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Nederburg have done it again and walked away with yet another award for one of their wines.

The Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve 2006 has just won the Lexus Shiraz Challenge Award for 2008.

Now this win and the indeed the wine is significant in a number of ways, some of which I will list for you now:

- A big producer, producing award winning wines in large volumes (great, great news for the industry)
- The wine retails for only R50 – making it very accessible
- Romanian Oak was used in the aging process imparting “an aromatic character and cinnamon and clove flavours” – very interesting indeed.
- The largest proportion of the grapes for the wine came from eight-year-old vines in Philadelphia
(north of Durbanville, off the N7 en route to Malmesbury) – I have never even heard of this region before.

Well I’m off to the shops to find me a bottle so that I can report back on how good it is.

Well done to cellarmaster Razvan Macici and his team for completely transforming Nederburg into an award winning estate again.

All we need now is for those large volumes of wine to find their way onto the supermarket shelves of foreign lands to seriously lift the reputation of everyday drinking South African wine to the level it deserves.

Website : Nederburg

For more info on South African wines visit : The Cru

Read about Nederburg’s recent Old Mutual Trophy victory here

Popularity: 10% [?]

There are a number of wine farms in South Africa covering their harvest this year via video and blogging.

It’s a great way to show exactly what goes on behind the scenes of those magic bottles of wine – sometimes you learn a thing or two and other times, as a wino, you merely enjoy the entertainment!

Here are a few I’ve been following:

Warwick Wine Blog

Wine Films – Harvest 2008 Report

Vilafonte Wine Blog

Beyerskloof

Backsberg’s Blog

I think it’s a great idea and something every wine farm should be doing – it enables people who cannot get to the farms, to feel some sort of connection with the wine they are drinking.

Popularity: 7% [?]

It’s been rather hot here lately and perfect weather for some refreshing white wine.

I’m usually not a fan of Sauvignon Blanc but if this one doesn’t smack you in the face with flavour then I doubt anything will.

Cape Point Vineyards Stonehaven Sauvignon Blanc 2007

My immediate reaction is a powerful aroma of cut grass after rain. This note follows through on the palate alongside the fresh acidity of citrus fruits. There is also a distinct wet gravel type flavour which I love. Crisp, tasty, refreshing and balanced.

What I liked about this wine was the fact that the acidity and flavour were balanced – which means you get get all the flavour and refreshment without that overtly tangy/tart finish that is so often the case with Sauvignon Blanc!

For roughly R50 from Woolworths – it over delivers on the price/quality ratio.

Cru Master

Popularity: 1% [?]

The Cru’s “Wine of the Week” is a well priced cracker that means business:

Amehlo Red 2003

Wow – incredibly smooth and full of flavour. Deep black- red in colour. The nose is spicy – with voluptuous hints of red berries and tobacco. Sweet, black cherries and bitter tannins on the palate. Vanilla notes are unmistakable on a big finish!

The wine is made by Ingwe Winery and at R35 a bottle from eWine and other small little wine shops – it’s an absolute steal when examining price to quality ratio.

It’s perfect for summer braai’s – it’s so good that if you have a wedding coming up, buy this wine by the case load cause you wont get a better wine for the price. For some reason Ingwe sold off a whole lot of stock for next to nothing – it baffles me.

Anyway for another tip on the Ingwe Red 2003 (the older, more esteemed brother of the Amehlo Red) – check out The Cru’s “Wine of the Week”

SA Wine Rocks!

Cru Master

Popularity: 1% [?]

You, with a little bit of me and a brand spanking new The Cru (www.thecru.co.za) – well, we’re going to make South African wine rock!

It rocks already but come on – more people here in South Africa need to wake up, but the beer bottle down and drink more wine!

And once we all get it rocking here again – the world will soon follow suit!

So I urge you to take a look at The Cru and all the following wine blogs to get to grips with South African wine – there is a favourite bottle waiting for just around the corner!

The Pinotage Club

Serious About Wine

Wine Fly

Juno Maidens

Stormhoek

Vilafonte

Enjoy having a sniff around and when you find that great bottle of wine – tell your friends all about it – especially all those friends sitting overseas somewhere, they can help spread the word!

Cru Master

Popularity: 1% [?]

In a “state of the nation” type address – Michael Fridjhon gives us an insight into the state of South African wine, how far it’s come and it enormous potential.

Getting the best out of South African wine – International Herlad Tribune

“Taste a tender, apricot- and pear-scented chenin blanc, or a cherry- and mocha-nuanced pinotage. Follow that with a nectar-sweet muscat, heady with aromas recalling litchis and roses. Undeniably world-class wines, they are tangible evidence of the advances made in a very short time by South Africa’s wine industry” – M.Fridjhon

Sounds like tasty stuff to me – it’s about time the world concurred.

Cru Master

Popularity: 3% [?]

Distell have recently launched a new and exciting range of wines for summer.

“The four quality wine ranges come in revolutionary 100% recyclable and ultra-convenient new Prisma packs that make it easy for you to enjoy vintage wines and fun-loving blends anywhere and everywhere.”

“Over and above their planet-friendly appeal, these quality, pocket-pleasing wines are ideal for all your summer indoor and outdoor entertaining, and are the ultimate companion for hikes, picnics, camping and festivals.”

I tell you what, I like these designs – yes they bright and little different – but the wine industry needs a kick in the bum and above all needs to do all it can to attract more everyday wine drinkers.

So bravo to Distell for putting it out there and pushing the boundaries!

They are convenient and suit our everyday South African lifestyles.

Here’s how much you can pick up a pack for:

DROSTDY-HOF 1-litre Prisma wines: R25.99 – R27.99

VINOT 1-litre Prisma wines: R22.00 – R24.99

Chatta’ Box 1-litre Prisma wines: R 19.99

OBIKWA 1-litre Prisma wines: R 18.99

I’m going to give them a go this weekend in Arniston – will let you know how it goes.

Cru Master

Popularity: 1% [?]

If you’re looking for a great wine for under R50 – then look no further than the following wine:

Dornier Cocoa Hill Red 2005

A spicy, seafaring blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (64%), Shiraz (21%) and Merlot (15%).

On both the nose and palate, I got distinct cocoa powder notes – like when you open that can of cocoa powder in your mothers baking cupboard. I also got some lovely cherry and little bit of vanilla.

The wine is smooth and very easy to drink with a fresh balance of acidity – before you know it you’ll be opening a second bottle.

For R45 this wine really offers exceptional value – indicated by the 4 stars it received from Wine Magazine.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

(see an extended review of the wine here)

Cru Master

Popularity: 1% [?]