Category Archives: 2012

Lunching in Wellington? Schalk’s place well worth a try

WHERE TO LUNCH when wine-routing in Wellington? Especially if you’d like a good table at one of the cellars in the area? Until recently this has been quite a challenge, a really big ask. Then in stepped ‘Groot’ Schalk Burger of Welbedacht Estate on Oakdene Road in the foothills of the Groenberg Mountain. Converting his office into a wine tasting room

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SA ‘sporting’ wine route features golf, cricket and rugby

Jacques 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

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Nurok speaks of goodwill, tolerance and darn fine wine

A symbol of of religious tolerance and a delightful bottle of wine IT’S DIFFICULT to think of a more appropriate top wine to contemplate at this time of giving and goodwill around one of the most important dates on the Christian calendar… Recently launched after being awarded a rating of 5 Stars in the latest issue of Platter’s, the new

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Very best value SA white blends at under R80pb in 2012

WHITE 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

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Very best value SA Shiraz at under R80 a bottle in 2012

SOUTH 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

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Very best value SA Sauvignon at or below R50pb in 2012

SOUTH AFRICAN Sauvignon Blanc that has been highly recommended this year by one or more of the expert tasting panels around the world AND which costs no more than R50 a bottle – with prices given ex-cellar, or approximate retail if the public can’t buy directly from the producer: ARABELLA 2012 – R38 BERGSIG 2012 – R45 BOLAND CELLAR’S Flutterby 2012 – R25

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Very best value SA red blends at R70pb or less in 2012

GREAT BUYS for the festive season… Red blends that have been highly recommended this year by one or more of the expert tasting panels around the world AND which cost no more than R70 a bottle – with prices given ex-cellar, or approximate retail if the public can’t buy directly from the producer: BERNHEIM Classique 2008 – R70 BONNIEVALE CELLAR Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2011

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Very best value Pinotage at under R80 a bottle in 2012

GREAT 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

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Very best value SA Merlot at under R100 a bottle in 2012

SOUTH AFRICAN Merlot that has been highly recommended this year by one or more of the expert tasting panels around the world AND which costs less than R100 a bottle – with prices given ex-cellar, or approximate retail if the cellar is closed to the public: ANURA Reserve 2009 – R95 BILTON 2008 – R89 BOLAND CELLAR Reserve No 1 2009 – R77 CLOS MALVERNE 2010 –

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Very best value SA Chenin at under R50 a bottle in 2012

SA 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

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Very best value SA Chardonnay at under R80pb in 2012

GREAT BUYS for the festive season… Chardonnay from South Africa that has been highly recommended by one or more of the expert tasting panels around the world this year AND which costs less than R80 a bottle – with prices given ex-cellar, or approximate retail if the cellar is closed to the public: BERGSIG 2010 – R66 BOLAND CELLAR Reserve No 1 2010

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Very best value SA Cabernet under R100 a bottle in 2012

GREAT BUYS for the festive season… Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa that has been highly recommended this year by one or more of the expert tasting panels around the world AND which costs less than R100 a bottle – with prices given ex-cellar, or approximate retail if the cellar is closed to the public. BLUE CRANE 2010 – R80 BOLAND CELLAR Reserve No

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Very best value SA sparkling wines under R100 in 2012

CAP 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

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Wonderful whites: all the top-rated SA blends in 2012

WHITE BLENDS to rival the best in the world, the experts’ choice, top South African wines on the basis of authoritative reviews around the globe in 2012 – with Cape Point, Miles Mossop, Tokara and Vergelegen among the premier league regulars, plus some new names on the radar: AA Badenhorst 2010 – 5 Stars in Platter’s Guide Allée Bleue Isabeau 2011 – Top 100 SA

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South Africa’s top red blends in 2012 – experts’ choice

THE STAND-OUT red blends, the best reviews of the year from around the world – and mostly premium-priced, with only seven under R100 a bottle (highlighted below), 38 ranging between R100 and R200pb, 26 between R200 and R300pb, eight between R300 and R400pb, and eight ranging between R450 and R725 per bottle: AA Badenhorst 2009 – highly recommended in Platter’s Guide

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Super Shiraz – top ratings of SA wines worldwide in 2012

SYRAH, SHIRAZ, whatever you prefer to call it, here are the stand-out examples from South Africa in 2012, the top wines as reviewed by expert tasting panels around the world – and with more than a couple of accolades for Boschendal, Cederberg, Cirrus, Ernie Els, Fairview, Hartenberg, Mullineux and Saronsberg:   Allée Bleue 2010 – gold medal at International Wine & Spirit Competition

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Sensational Sauvignon Blanc – the best reviews in 2012

STAND-OUT Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa, the best reviews of the year from around the world for a wine’s that’s particularly popular when it comes to summertime entertainment, lunching and dining outdoors – and with more than a couple of top accolades for Buitenverwachting, Diemersdal, Kleine Zalze and Lomond: Bloemendal 2012 – double gold medal at Veritas Awards Boschendal Reserve Collection 2012 – gold

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Top Pinotage in 2012 – experts’ choice around the world

THE STAND-OUT Pinotage wines, the best reviews of the year when it comes to South Africa’s most successful ‘indigenous’ variety – with Rijk’s heading up a select group of multi award winners including Bellingham, Diemersdal, Durbanville Hills, Kaapzicht, Simonsig, Spier, the Swartland Winery and Windmeul: Allée Bleue 2009 – Top 100 SA Wine Challenge selection Altydgedacht 2011 – winner in Top 10 Pinotage Competition Bellingham

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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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South Africa’s top desserts in 2012 – best sweet wines

THE STAND-OUT desserts from South Africa this year, the best sweet wine reviews around the world – from the great unfortified Natural Sweets and Noble Lates led by Vin de Constance, Fleur du Cap, Edelkeur and Eminence to the fantastic-value fortified sweets led by Badsberg, Bon Courage, KWV, Nuy and Slanghoek: UNFORTIFIED DESSERT Boekenhoutskloof Noble Late Harvest 2009 – highly recommended in Platter’s Guide

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