Please join Winemag.co.za for an informative seated tasting of some the top performing wines in the Prescient Chardonnay Report 2017. The tasting will be presented by Winemag.co.za editor Christian Eedes plus Nico Grobler of Eikendal and Rianie Strydom of Dabar. Wines included in the line-up: Dabar 2016 Delaire Graff Banghoek Reserve 2016 Eikendal 2016 Evidence […]
The seventh annual Chardonnay Report sponsored by multinational financial services company Prescient is now out. There were 91 entries from 63 producers and these were tasted blind (labels out of sight) by a three-person panel, scoring done according to the 100-point quality scale. Wines to rate 90 or higher were as follows: 95 Delaire Graff […]
Winemag.co.za is pleased to announce the second Cape White Blend Report, the focus being wines with a significant Chenin Blanc component, specifically greater than 15% but less than 85%. Wines must be certified as South African and can be either wooded or unwooded. Wines will be tasted blind by a three-person panel consisting of Christian […]
To mark the upcoming launch of Series C 2015 from Vilafonté, a blind tasting was convened which would see it included in a line-up next to nine of its more notable peers. Vilafonté is of, course, the Paarl property jointly owned by Warwick’s Mike Ratcliffe and eminent US wine personalities Phil Freese and Zelma Long. […]
The Tangram White 2016 is Durbanville Hill’s first commercial release of a Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blend and it’s smart. Consisting of 88% Sauvignon Blanc and 12% Semillon, maturation lasted 10 months in 300-, 500- and 600-litre barrels, a combination of new and used. The nose shows blackcurrant, white peach and naartjie while the palate is rich […]
Yesterday Allée Bleue launched The Black Series, a collection of ultra-premium, single-variety wines many bottled in magnums. These include a Banghoek Chardonnay 2014 matured for 11 months in 100% new barrels and then a further 17 months in fifth fill – a “late bottled vintage” take on the variety according to winemaker Van Zyl Du […]
The Raptor Post Red 2016 from Fable Mountain Vineyards is a great little find – a blend of 50% Grenache, 39% Syrah and 11% Mourvèdre, it provides terrific quality relative to its price of R100 a bottle. Fermentation was spontaneous, a small portion whole bunch and maturation lasted 12 months in older 500-litre barrels. The […]
Amazing Grace Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 (or La Petite Vigne The Daniel Collection Amazing Grace Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 to give it its full name) is made by Kevin Swart, also a partner in Black Elephant Vintners, as a tribute to his late father Daniel Johannes Swart. Fruit for the 2014 is from Swart’s Franschhoek farm, two […]
Here are three more examples from the small collection of late 19th century labels bought by Hennie Taljaard from an American dealer – I discussed two from Constantia a few weeks back (see here). One of those mentioned Pontac, a black grape variety (and more, a rare red-juiced variety, known in France as Teinturier) that […]
Wine magazine was published from October 1993 until September 2011 & now lives on in digital form as Winemag.co.za. We cover everything to do with SA fine wine.
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