Tag Archives: Iona

Iona on top of the world after great show at Decanter Awards

THE ACHIEVEMENT of Iona with the 2021 Chardonnay in their Elgin Highlands range at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (UK) was impressive, to say the least. Of all the Chardonnays entered in the competition, it was one of only 16 rated 97+ on the judges’ 100-point scale and one of only three honoured among the ‘Best in Show’ (Top

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South Africa’s Iona and Le Riche among very best at Decanter WWA

IONA Chardonnay 2021 of the Elgin Highlands and the 2020 Reserve Cab from Le Riche in the Helderberg vineyards of Stellenbosch were the panels’ favourite South African wines at the 2023 Decanter Awards in London. A record-breaking 18 250 entries were received from 57 countries, assessed by 236 judges including 53 Masters of Wine and 16 Master Sommeliers. After weeks of

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Elgin 3:1 Hemel-en-Aarde – SA Pinot Noir Report 2022

SA Pinot Noir Report NO DOUBT some of the folks up and down the Hemel-en-Aarde between Hermanus and Caledon were a little twitchy after the results of South Africa’s 2022 Mosaic Top 5 Pinot Noir Wine Awards went public. Only one of the winners was from that area of the country most renowned for this variety. Many of the entries

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2022 Elgin winelands checklist: where to go, what to go for

HARD TO BELIEVE that 20 years ago this wine route was still struggling to get off the ground, so to speak. Whereas today, not only is Elgin home to some of the country’s top cellars but numerous wineries in Stellenbosch and elsewhere use grapes from the area and proudly proclaim as much on their labels. Many of the wine-tasting venues

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Impressive Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 offers a bit of this, a bit of that

  CHENIN BLANC might be the most-planted wine grape variety in South Africa, but Sauvignon Blanc is the country’s top-selling variety… A success story for sure, and most cellars are confident about putting their wines on show for scrutiny by the critics. There were 149 submissions from 96 producers vying for a place in the 2020 Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10,

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Stark-Condé, Zevenwacht and Mulderbosch among standout Sauvignons

WHAT to take away from Winemag’s 2020 Prescient Report on South African Sauvignon Blanc… For starters, editor Christian Eedes and fellow tasting panel members Roland Peens as well as James Pietersen of Cape Town merchant/cellarer Wine Cellar are among those who generally regard the Bordeaux-style blends and Wooded Sauvignons as generally superior to unwooded Sauvignon. “Whereas unwooded Sauvignon often succeeds

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It can be very good, but… Top SA Pinot Noir as contentious as ever

DE GRENDEL, Iona, Kershaw, Lothian, Shannon… The Top 10 in Winemag’s 2020 Prescient Pinot Noir Report include a number of vintages from South African cellars with a history of good reviews in this category, most of them WO Elgin. On the other hand, most of the notables absent from the report, let alone the Top 10, are associated with appellations in

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Top 20 wines of Elgin over the past 10 years – 2019 Classification

THERE ARE numerous wines made from grapes grown in Elgin and trucked to cellars in other parts of the Cape winelands. The following are 100% Elgin, those with the very best track records from the top cellars in the area according to the SA Wine & Cellar Classification. • For the full Elgin Wine Classification, click here. • For wine-tasting

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SA Pinot Report includes some good reviews but leaves a hollow feeling

THE FOLKS at Creation on Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge must have mixed feelings about the award for Best Wine Overall in Winemag’s 2018 ‘Tonnellerie-Saint-Martin Pinot Noir Report’. A score of 93 points (out of 100) equates to an “outstanding” wine in the opinion of panellists Christian Eedes (chair), Roland Peens and James Pietersen (both of Cape Town retailer Wine Cellar), all respected judges.

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Classified! Elgin checklist for wine lovers seeking gems of the district

ELGIN’S strong suits are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, in that order. This district of the SA winelands is also home to some interesting white blends, Riesling, Shiraz and then some. Not all of the producers open their doors to the wine-loving public all of the time, with some only offering tastings and sales at their cellar doors on

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White Hot Wine Awards point to frustrating quest for the ‘perfect’ blend

WHAT TO make of Winemag.co.za’s 2016 Riscura White Hot Wine Awards? Of the 35 entries from nearly as many of the Cape wine cellars blending Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, none scored lower than 86/100 (very good) despite some being criticised as clumsy, “planky”. That 15 scored 90-plus out of 100 (excellent to outstanding) was a solid endorsement of the quality and interest value

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Winters Drift calls it a day despite growing respect for wines of Elgin

IN WHAT AMOUNTS to a closing-down sale running until the end of March, the prices of everything at the Winters Drift shop next to the Elgin railway station east of Grabouw were slashed by 35% following a decision of the powers that be to cull the brand and to replace the vineyards with orchards – apples and pears. Apparently the wine side

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Iona confirming Elgin’s propensity for producing excellent Chardonnay

IT’S ONE OF THOSE wine route destinations off the beaten track that’s worth seeking out for the wines but also for the location – above the basin and south of where most of the other Elgin cellars are to be found, close to the sea, and dramatic in terms of the scenery, the weather and the family behind it all. The

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DeMorgenzon Chenin does it again – this time at the Six Nations Wine Challenge

ONCE AGAIN South Africa has excelled at the Six Nations Wine Challenge in Sydney, Australia. At the 2015 edition of the competition, up against Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Chile and Argentina, Cape cellars achieved four trophies and dominated the classes Chardonnay, White Blends and varieties including Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. The Challenge was won by New Zealand, with Australia second and

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Much to look forward to in Elgin on weekend of 2 & 3 May – but take nothing for granted

SOMETHING(S) to bear in mind if planning a trip to the Cool Wine & Country Festival in Elgin between 9am and 5pm on 2 & 3 May that involves a weekend pass costing R100 pp: Not every Elgin wine will be on show – non-participants include Richard Kershaw, Spioenkop and Sutherland (of Thelema), plus a number of other producers who

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South Africa’s top Pinot Noir ratings in 2013 and the best Pinot Noir at under R150 a bottle – the experts’ choice

TOP SA PINOT NOIR in 2013… The following wines achieved outstanding reviews from top panels judging ‘blind’: TOP SOUTH AFRICAN PINOT NOIR RATINGS IN 2013 Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak 2011 – 4½ Stars in Platter’s Guide Chamonix Reserve 2011 – Trophy at Classic Wine Trophy Competition Chamonix Reserve 2012 – Double Gold Medal at Six Nations Wine Challenge, 4½ Stars in Platter’s

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South Africa’s top Pinot Noir in 2012 – the experts’ choice

THE STAND-OUT Pinot Noir from South Africa, the best reviews from around the world – and as per usual there’s only a very select group of cellars in the Cape that can muster something very special from this ‘heartbreak’ grape: Bouchard Finlayson Tete de Cuvee Galpin Peak 2009 – gold medal at Five Nations Challenge Chamonix Reserve 2010 – trophy at Decanter

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