Wineblog

(as stolen from http://huntergatherervintner.blogspot.com/)

Allée Bleue Isabeau 2011
Allée Bleue Pinotage 2009
Alvi’s Drift AD Chardonnay 2011
Alvi’s Drift AD CVC 2011
Alvi’s Drift Viognier 2011
Anwilka 2009
Avontuur Estate Dominion Royale Shiraz Reserve 2009
Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2010
Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Brut Reserve 2007
Boplaas Cape Tawny Reserve Port 1997
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2009
Boschendal Grande Cuvée Brut 2007
Bosman Family Vineyards Erfenis 2010
Bosman Family Vineyards Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2010
Calitzdorp Cellar Cape Ruby 2010
Calitzdorp Cellar Touriga Naçional 2010
Cape Point Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2010
Capelands Estate Redstone 2010
Cederberg Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Cederberg Shiraz 2009 Dalla Cia Giorgio 2007|
David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Diemersdal MM Louw Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Doolhof Signatures of Doolhof Malbec 2010
Driehoek Shiraz 2010
Eenzaamheid Chenin Blanc 2011
Eikendal Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Elgin Heights Shiraz 2010
Elgin Vintners Shiraz 2008
Ernie Els Big Easy 2010
Ernie Els Proprietor’s Syrah 2010
Ernie Els Signature 2008
Glenwood Chardonnay Vigneron’s Selection 2010
Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve 2009
Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve White 2010
Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay 2011
Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir 2010
Jean Daneel Chenin Blanc 2010

Jordan Chardonnay 2010
Jordan Chenin Blanc 2011
Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay 2010
Jordan The Outlier Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Jordan The Real McCoy Riesling 2010

JP Bredell Wines Bredell’s Cape Vintage 2003
Kanu KCB Chenin Blanc 2009
Ken Forrester The FMC 2010
Klein Constantia Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2007
La Motte Pierneef Shiraz Viognier 2009
La Motte Shiraz 2009 Landau du Val Late Vintage Semillon Private Collection 2010
L’Avenir Grand Vin Pinotage 2009
Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2009
Lisha Nelson Cabernet Franc 2008 2008
Lomond Conebush Syrah 2008
Lomond Pincushion Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Lomond Pincushion Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Lomond Sugarbush Sauvigon Blanc 2010
Longridge Brut 2008
Longridge Chardonnay 2009
Longridge Merlot 2008
Louis Wines Louis Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Miles Mossop Max 2008
Mulderbosch Chardonnay Barrel Fermented 2008
Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc Steen op Hout 2010
Mvemve Raats De Compostella 2009
Neethlingshof The Owl Post Pinotage 2010
Nitida Club Select Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Oldenburg Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2009
Oldenburg Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2011
Overgaauw Tria Corda 2009
Paul Cluver Chardonnay 2010
Rickety Bridge The Foundation Stone 2010
Rietvallei Wine Estate Special Select Esteanna White 2011
Rustenberg Stellenbosch John X Merriman 2009
Saronsberg Provenance Rooi 2010
Saronsberg Provenance Shiraz 2010
Saronsberg Shiraz 2010
Saronsberg Viognier 2010
Saxenburg Private Collection Shiraz 2007
Shannon Vineyards Sanctuary Peak Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut 2007
Stark-Conde Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Sumaridge Chardonnay 2010
Super Single Vineyards Mount Sutherland Syrah 2009
Swartland Bushvine Pinotage 2010
Swartland Bushvine Shiraz 2010
Teddy Hall Dr Jan Cats Chenin Blanc Reserve 2010
Teddy Hall Hercules van Loon Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2008
The High Road Director’s Reserve 2009
Tierhoek Straw Wine 2007
Tokara Director’s Reserve Red 2008
Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2010
Van Loveren Christina van Loveren Shiraz 2010
Vilafonté Series M 2009
Vondeling Baldrick Shiraz 2011
Vondeling Sweet Carolyn 2007
Warwick Trilogy 2009
Wildekrans Osiris Chenin Blanc Barrel Selection 2010

by Edo Heyns

Yesterday the greenies had lunch at the pink hotel when the Nedbank Green Wine Awards were announced at the Mount Nelson in Cape Town. Johan Reyneke was awarded the prize for the best wine of the competition for the Reyneke Chenin Blanc 2010 and Paul Cluver took the honours for the best green farming practices.

There will be more on this in WineLand’s Greening Focus in February, but meanwhile it’s interesting to note that the competition introduced a first in South Africa (to my knowledge at least). The tasting panel consisted of only three members: Christian Eedes (chair), Cathy van Zyl MW and Francois Rautenbach, who is the wine manager at Singita Game Reserve.

The Veritas and Young Wine Show panels consist of seven members per wine category, Wine magazine usually made use of five, while the majority of the Platter’s wines are rated by a single taster responsible for a specific batch of brands. WineLand’s own Which Wine panel consists of four permanent members and a guest taster.

While larger panels are criticised because of the inevitable averaging effect, smaller panels’ results can easily be swayed by one panel member’s personal preference.

Let’s take Sauvignon Blanc – which has two definite flavour poles: green and tropical – as an example: A large panel is likely to have panellists that prefer either green or tropical wines, but dislikes the opposite. This could result in neither prominent green nor tropical wines standing out – even though both styles can yield outstanding wines.

On the other hand, a panel of three can deliver some pretty one-sided results if two tasters – the majority – prefer particularly green or tropical wines. I’ve served on panels – and these include ‘panels’ around the fire or dinner table – where there is a clear divide between those who like a specific wine and those who immediately look for a spittoon. A discussion usually follows and the median rating (or opinion) is mostly the consensus or outcome which doesn’t upset any panellists.

The debate about what is the optimal panel size is just as never-ending as the one about green or tropical Sauvies. I think five strikes a safe balance, just like hints of both tropical and green flavours gets my nod.

However, if the wine’s body is impressive, overtly green, as well as tropical flavour profiles, are easily forgiven. Similarly, a wine panel with the right tasters, would seldom get it wrong.

By Edo Heyns

A shift to a stylistically more diverse selection of wines was notable on the list of Top 20 Sauvignon Blancs, as announced by the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group (SBIG), who has taken over the competition from Wine Magazine.

A total of 169 wines were entered and 27 (16%) secured a rating of 4 stars and above (41 wines, or 18%, achieved 4 stars and above at the 2010 competition). Entries included wines made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes, as well as blends where Sauvignon Blanc represents a minimum of 85% of the blend.

The judging panel consisted of an equally diverse lot, with SBIG’s secretary Pieter de Waal making his first appearance as a judge in this competition, along with Christian Eedes (chairperson), restaurant beverage manager James Pietersen, winemaker Louis Nel and seasoned wine writer Angela Lloyd.

The Top 20 wines for 2011 are:

- Bergsig [WHAT]? Woolworths Sauvignon Blanc 2011

- Boschendal Reserve Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2011

- Clos Malverne Sauvignon Blanc 2011

- David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2011

- Delaire Coastal Cuvée 2011

- Delaire Coastal Cuvée 2010

- Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc 2011

- Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Sauvignon Blanc Limited Release 2011

- Franschhoek Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2011

- Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2010

- KWV Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2011

- Lutzville Cool Climate Sauvignon Blanc 2010

- Neethlingshof Sauvignon Blanc 2011

- Phizante Kraal Sauvignon Blanc 2011

- Quoin Rock The Nicobar 2009

- Rietvallei Classic Sauvignon Blanc 2011

- Soulo Sauvignon Blanc 2011

- Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc 2010

- Vergelegen Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2011

- Wade Bales Thys Louw Sauvignon Blanc 2011

 
Some of the significant absentees include De Grendel’s Koetshuis and Graham Beck’s Pheasant’s Run, which were previously both regulars on the Top 10 list. Not a single Constantia wine made the cut either. Thys Louw, who is increasingly gaining stature as a Sauvignon Blanc specialist made three of the Top 20 wines (Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Phizante Kraal Sauvignon Blanc 2011 and Wade Bales Thys Louw Sauvignon Blanc 2011), while Delaire – which is also raising its hand as a Sauvignon producer of note – is the only winery with two vintages in the Top 20.

With styles varying from green to fruity or wooded (Quoin Rock The Nicobar 2009), the Top 20 is probably the most diverse and interesting line-up in the five year history of the competition. With increasing competition from perhaps more intriguing Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc is clearly steering away from only the greener grass on the other side.