WHO HASN’T seen one of those wine bottle stickers denoting a Tim Atkin rating or award! The assessments by this British Master of Wine are conducted with full knowledge of whose wine it is and where it comes from, what vintage it is and how it was made – they are not ‘blind’ tastings, labels out of sight, and sometimes
Read moreVERY BRAVE, some might say, to hold a festival on THAT day, April fools day. Nevertheless, Saturday 1 April should be a glorious time for the Noordhoek Crush at the local Farm Village. Apparently the weather will be ‘perfect’ for sampling some of over 80 wines from more than 20 producers representing various parts of the Cape winelands – and
Read moreDAYS IN ADVANCE of launching the 2022 edition of their book and presenting awards for their choice of Wines and Wineries of the Year, the publishers of Platter’s South African Wine Guide teased followers by divulging the names of their 5 Star laureates – 234 of them, each considered to be ‘Superlative, a South African classic’. However, also disclosed on
Read moreA RECORD number of 163 bidders registered for the 2020 Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction hosted by Bonhams of London, with 82 from South Africa and 81 from across the globe. 65% of sales went to South African buyers, the balance going to collectors and merchants in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Hong Kong, the USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore
Read moreFOR THE MOST PART, the results of Strauss & Co’s ‘Rhône-themed’ fine wine online auction conducted in collaboration with the merchants Wine Cellar and sommelier Higgo Jacobs from 6 to 14 April 2020 were to be expected. But how impressive was the demand for that youngster from Donovan Rall, and could that old Zandvliet really still be alive and well?
Read more‘CONTROVERSIAL!’ The critic concedes as much. Whereas the results of panel tastings conducted ‘blind’ (labels out of sight) might be more objective and fair, Tim Atkin’s reviews are sighted, sometimes with the producers present. His rankings reflect his personal favourites. Nevertheless, as a British Master of Wine, one of the UK’s most respected wine writers, show judges and a regular
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
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