Tim Atkin South Africa Special Report 2019
By Christian Eedes, 3 September 2019
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The seventh annual South Africa Special Report by Tim Atkin MW has just been launched. Major achievers were as follows:
- Winemakers of the Year: Eben Sadie and Paul Jordaan of The Sadie Family Wines
- Young Winemaker of the Year: Bernhard Bredell of Scions of Sinai
- Grower of the Year: James Downes of Shannon Vineyards
- Co-operative of the Year: Windmeul Kelder
- Winemaking Legend: Gyles Webb of Thelema Mountain Vineyards
- Best Cellar Door Experience: Creation
- Overall White Wine of the Year: 2018 Sadie Family ’Te Voetpad, Swartland
- Overall Red Wine of the Year: 2017 Boschkloof Epilogue Syrah, Stellenbosch
- Overall Rosé of the Year: 2019 Holder Dorper Elmie Rosé, Stellenbosch
- Overall Sparkling Wine of the Year: 2014 Graham Beck Cuvée Clive, Western Cape
- Overall Sweet Wine of the Year: 2016 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance, Constantia
- Overall Fortified Wine of the Year: 2017 De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve, Calitzdorp
- Red Wine Discovery of the Year: 2018 AA Badenhorst Ringmuur Cinsault, Swartland
- White Wine Discovery of the Year: 2018 Wolf and Woman Chenin Blanc, Swartland
Of the 2 118 wines tasted, 161 rated 95-plus on the 100-point quality scale. These were:
WHITE
99
Sadie Family ‘T Voetpad 2018
98
Alheit Vineyards Magnetic North 2018
Alheit Vineyards Radio Lazarus 2018
Sadie Family Mev Kirsten 2018
Sadie Family Skurfberg 2018
97
Alheit Vineyards Huilkrans 2018
David & Nadia Hoë-Steen Chenin Blanc 2018
Sadie Family Kokerboom 2018
Sadie Family Skerpioen 2018
96
AA Badenhorst Klip Klop Steen 2018
Alheit Vineyards La Colline Vineyard Semillon 2018
Alheit Vineyards Nautical Dawn 2018
Boschendal Appellation Series Elgin Chardonnay 2017
Cape Point Isliedh 2018
Creation Art of Chardonnay 2018
DeMorgenzon Chardonnay Reserve 2018
Lionel Smit Series One #1 White 2017
Leeu Passant Chardonnay 2017
Opstal Estate Carl Everson Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2018
Paul Cluver Seven Flags Chardonnay 2018
Rall Ava Chenin Blanc 2018
Restless River Ava Marie Chardonnay 2018
Reyneke Reserve White 2017
Sadie Family Palladius 2017
Thorne & Daughters Rocking Horse 2018
Uva Mira Chardonnay 2017
Wolf and Woman Wines Chenin Blanc 2018
95
AA Badenhorst Sout van die Aarde 2018
Alheit Vineyards Cartology 2018
Anthonij Rupert Cape of Good Hope Serruria Chardonnay 2017
Ataraxia Chardonnay 2018
Bartho Eksteen Houtskool 2017
Beaumont Hope Marguerite Chenin Blanc 2018
BLANKbottle Aasvoël 2018
BLANKbottle Epileptic Inspiration 2018
Bloemendal Suider Terras 2016
Botanica The Mary Delany Collection Chenin Blanc 2018
City on a Hill White 2018
Constantia Glen Two 2018
Crystallum Clay Shales Chardonnay 2018
David & Nadia Aristargos 2018
David & Nadia Plat’bos Chenin Blanc 2018
David & Nadia Skaliekop Chenin Blanc 2018
DeMorgenzon Chenin Blanc Reserve 2018
Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay 2018
Hartenberg The Eleanor Chardonnay 2017
JC Wickens Swerwer Chenin Blanc 2018
Kaapzicht The 1947 Chenin Blanc 2018
Klein Constantia Block 382 Sauvignon Blanc 2018
La Vierge Apogée Chardonnay 2017
Lammershoek Mysteries Die Oranje 2017
Lismore Barrel-Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Lismore Chardonnay Reserve 2018
Lismore Viognier Reserve 2018
Lourens Family Wines Lindi Carien 2018
Metzer Family Maritime Chenin Blanc 2018
Miles Mossop Saskia 2016
Mont Blois Kweekkamp Chardonnay 2018
Mulderbosch Single Vineyard Block W Chenin Blanc 2018
Mullineux CWG Semillon Gris 2018
Olifantsberg Grenache Blanc 2018
Opstal The Barber Semillon 2018
Raats Family Eden High Density Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2018
Rall White 2018
Scions of Sinai Granietsteen 2018
Spioenkop Riesling 2018
Spioenkop Sarah Raal Chenin Blanc 2018
Stellenrust Artisons The Mothership Chenin Blanc 2018
Thorne & Daughters Paper Kite 2018
Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2016
Trizanne Signature Wines Sondagskloof Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Van Loggerenberg Kameraderie Chenin Blanc 2018
Vergelegen GVB White 2016
Waterkloof Circle of Life White 2016
Wildeberg White 2018
RED
99
Boschkloof Epilogue Syrah 2017
98
Porseleinberg Syrah 2017
Sadie Family Columella 2017
Shannon Black 2015
97
Delaire Graff Laurence Graff Reserve 2015
Keet First Verse 2015
Lismore Syrah Reserve 2018
Terracura Wines Trinity Syrah 2017
Thelema Rabelais 2015
Waterford Estate The Jem 2014
96
Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2017
Boekenhoutskloof The Journeyman 2017
Boschkloof CWG Epilogue Syrah 2017
Creation Art of Pinot Noir 2018
Crystallum Bona Fide Pinot Noir 2018
David & Nadia Elpidios 2017
Glenelly Essence 2010
Glenelly Lady May 2014
Hartenberg Gravel Hill Shiraz 2015
Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage 2017
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2016
KWV The Mentors Carmenère 2017
Leeu Passant Dry Red 2017
Miles Mossop CWG Maximilian 2014
Mullineux Iron Syrah 2017
Newton Johnson Seadragon Pinot Noir 2018
Newton Johnson Windansea Pinot Noir 2018
Raats Family MR de Compostella 2017
Rall Ava Syrah 2018
Sadie Family Treinspoor 2018
Savage Red 2017
Sijnn Red 2016
Stark-Condé Oude Nektar 2016
Storm Wines Vrede Pinot Noir 2018
Vilafonté Series C 2016
95
AA Badenhorst Ringmuur Cinsault 2018
Alto MPHS 2015
Arendsig Inspirational Batch 8 Pinotage 2018
BLANKbottle Little William 2018
Catherine Marshall Finite Elements Pinot Noir 2018
Crystallum Cuvée Cinéma Pinot Noir 2018
De Toren Fusion V 2016
De Trafford Merlot 2014
Delaire Graff The Banghoek Blend 2016
Delheim Vera Cruz Estate Pinotage 2016
DeMorgenzon CWG Gravitas 2017
DeMorgenzon Syrah Reserve 2017
Eikendal Infused by Earth Cabernet Franc 2017
Gabriëlskloof The Landscape Series Syrah on Sandstone 2017
Hartenberg The Stork Shiraz 2015
Jordan Sophia 2015
Kershaw Syrah Deconstructed Lake District Cartref SH22 2017
KWV The Mentors Petit Verdot 2017
Leeuwenkuil Heritage Syrah 2017
Longridge Maandans 2017
Miles Mossop Max 2016
Mullineux Granite Syrah 2017
Mullineux Schist Syrah Roundstone 2017
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir 2018
Overgaauw Estate Tria Corda 2015
Paul Cluver Seven Flags Pinot Noir 2018
Rall Cinsault 2018
Restless River Main Road & Dignity Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Reyneke Reserve Red 2016
Rupert & Rothschild Baron Edmond 2015
Savage Thief in the Night 2018
Scions of Sinai Swanesang 2018
Shannon Mount Bullet Merlot 2016
Stark-Condé Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Storm Wines Ignis Pinot Noir 2018
Van Loggerenberg Breton Cabernet Franc 2018
Warwick Cabernet Franc 2016
Waterford Library Collection Cabernet Franc 2016
Waterford Library Collection SP Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Waterford Library Collection Spring Shiraz 2017
SPARKLING
96
Graham Beck Cuvée Clive MCC 2014
Silverthorn Jewel Box MCC 2015
95
Boschendal Jean Le Long Prestige Cuvée MCC 2009
Le Lude Magnum Vintage Cuvée Magnum MCC 2013
SWEET
98
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2016
97
Mullineux Straw Wine 2018
96
Paul Cluver Noble Late Harvest Riesling 2017
95
Boekenhoutskloof Noble Late Harvest 2016
Savage Straw Wine 2018
FORTIFIED
96
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2017
95
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2017
To buy the report, click here.
A tasting of the 95-plus point wines takes place on Friday, 13 September at the Westin Hotel in Cape Town. To book your ticket, click here.
Ken | 11 September 2019
What points were awarded to the Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvigion 2015?
Christian Eedes | 11 September 2019
Hi Ken, 94/100.
Kwispedoor | 11 September 2019
“Back to the Cab 2015 and having recently tasted it sighted, I tend to agree with Peens. Matured for 24 months in 225-litre French oak barrels, 50% new, it has an alcohol of 14.5% and I have to say I was expecting a bit of a bruiser. It’s not, however. The nose is just gorgeous with red currant and cassis to go with hints of fynbos and flowers, tea leaf and cigar box. The palate is a revelation – surprisingly medium bodied and possessing lovely energy. With pure fruit, fresh acidity and fine tannins, it really is a most seamless, elegant offering and recalls all the great Kanonkops over the decades. My rating: 96/100.”
David Fowkes | 10 September 2019
I wondered why winemag.co.za didn’t feature in the list of useful sites at the end of the Tim Atkin report. I guessed the author didn’t visit the site, but here he is. Is the list just out of date?
Tim Atkin | 3 September 2019
Better still, Mike, come to the tasting in Cape Town on the 13th and make up your own mind.
Dion Martin | 4 September 2019
Dear Tim
Will all the Sadie, Eben, David and Nadia wines be available for tasting?
Tim Atkin | 5 September 2019
Yes they will.
Mike | 3 September 2019
Would love to get Winemag’s opinion on Tim’s report. Christian, what would you rate as the Top 20 or so South African wines that you’ve experienced during the past year? Which would you include among the Top 20 cellars in the Cape?
Christian Eedes | 4 September 2019
Hi Mike, My top 25 wines of the year will be published in December – I like to use all 12 calendar months before drawing up that list. 🙂
As for the subject of the top 20 cellars in the country, it’s well-trodden ground (I’m sure you will recall last year’s survey in this regard: https://winemag.co.za/tim-james-the-top-20-south-african-wineries/) and it tends to generate more heat than light.