IT’S VERY DIFFICULT to find a classified Cabernet Sauvignon in South Africa at under R100 a bottle these days – a wine of the quality that’s recognised with good reviews for several vintages over the past 10 years, let alone year after year. What you will find is a bunch of wines with interest value and some more than others –
Read moreWHEN BARGAIN-HUNTING for good South African Chardonnay at under R100 a bottle, generally speaking it pays to look at what’s coming out of the cellars up and down either side of the Breede River, from the top end of the Breedekloof just south of Wolseley, through Rawsonville and Worcester to Robertson and Bonnievale, where Fröhlich Family Wines are among the newcomers
Read moreTHE FIRST Ultra Value Wine Challenge for SA wines priced at under R100 a bottle was a curious affair with the judges scoring “almost 500” wines according to a 100-point scale involving both quality and price. Top value rating of 99 went to the Bordeaux-style red blend Dominique 2013 from Louisvale in Devon Valley, Stellenbosch – which at R75pb must be a case
Read moreAN EARLIER POST listed South African wines that were (a) below R100 a bottle, (b) highly rated during the 18 months to July 2015, and (c) likely to still be available for purchase. The response was a call to cut to the chase, to come up with the most easily affordable recommendations suitable for a very casual lunch or supper: what’s out
Read moreFINDING good wine on sale for less than R50 a bottle has become a big ask, and not only in terms of reds. It might be so that there’s far less rubbish being made these days, but at under R50 there’s plenty of plonk, pedestrian and boring stuff as well as simple fruity drinks that are more like cooldrinks than products of the vine.
Read moreSOUTH AFRICA’S best value red wines at under R70 a bottle from the cellar door as rated in 2014 & 2013, with the vintages that received two or more good reviews from expert tasting panels locally or internationally underscored. TOP SA CABERNET SAUVIGNON UNDER R70 A Few Good Men Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 (Riebeek Cellars) Brampton Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Cronier Estienne
Read moreSOUTH AFRICA’S best value white wines at under R50 a bottle from the cellar door as rated in 2014 & 2013, with vintages to have received two or more good reviews from expert tasting panels locally or internationally underscored. TOP SA CHARDONNAY UNDER R50 Boland Cellar Five Climates Chardonnay 2013 De Wet Chardonnay 2013 Durbanville Hills Chardonnay 2013 Franschhoek Cellar
Read moreTOP 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
Read moreAS IN MANY previous years, there were slim pickings when it came to the very top SA Merlot in 2013… Only the following wines achieved really outstanding reviews from the judges at blind-tastings in 2013: TOP SOUTH AFRICAN MERLOT RATINGS IN 2013 De Grendel 2010 – Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards Eagles’ Nest 2009 – Double Gold Medal at
Read moreTOP SA SHIRAZ in 2013… The following wines achieved outstanding reviews from the judges at blind-tastings around the world during the past 12 months: TOP SOUTH AFRICAN SHIRAZ RATINGS IN 2013 Asara 2010 – Gold Medal at Trophy Wine Show Boekenhoutskloof 2003 – 5 Stars in Christian Eedes Report Boekenhoutskloof 2011 – 4½ Stars in Platter’s Guide Boschendal Reserve Collection 2011 – Trophy at
Read moreTOP SA CABS in 2013… The following wines achieved outstanding reviews from the judges at blind-tastings around the world during the past 12 months: TOP SOUTH AFRICAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON RATINGS IN 2013 Boekenhoutskloof 2011 – 5 Stars in Platter’s Guide Cederberg Five Generations 2011 – 5 Stars in Platter’s Guide, Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards Delaire Graff Reserve 2009 – Trophy at
Read moreFAMILIAR AND not-so-familiar names among South Africa’s most successful sparkling wine producers in 2013… The following bubblies achieved outstanding reviews from the judges at blind-tastings around the world during the past 12 months: TOP SOUTH AFRICAN SPARKLING WINE RATINGS IN 2013 Ayama Blanc de Blanc 2008 – 4½ Stars in Classic Wine Magazine Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Brut Reserve 2008 – Double Gold
Read moreGRAHAM BECK, Kleine Zalze, Rijk’s, Sadie, Stellenrust and Windmeul top the list of contenders for South Africa’s champion Chenin Blanc producer for 2013… The following wines achieved outstanding reviews from the judges at blind-tastings around the world during the past 12 months: TOP SOUTH AFRICAN CHENIN BLANC RATINGS IN 2013 Beaumont Hope Marguerite 2012 – 5 Stars in Platter’s Guide
Read moreWHITE 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
Read moreSOUTH 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
Read moreSOUTH 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
Read moreGREAT 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
Read moreGREAT 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
Read moreSOUTH 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 –
Read moreSA 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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