What I Drank Last Night

The general consensus is that South African Chardonnay is making a  comeback. But just how good is it? I put together a line-up of 50 high-profile, current-release wines  and then subjected them to a blind tasting. The top wines were as follows: FIVE STARS Ataraxia 2009 Hamilton Russell Vineyards 2009 Oak Valley Elgin 2010 Tokara [...]

Things you need to know about the 32nd edition of Platter’s South African Wine Guide: colour “Karoo sun yellow with type in Atlantic blue foil”. Over 7 000 wines from more than 900 producers tasted. 45 wines rated 5 Stars (see here). Pages: 620 – 12 more than 2011 and biggest ever. Suggested retail price: [...]

Yesterday a visit to the new Makro Montague Gardens, which opened on 26 October, replacing the 40 year old Milnerton store. I was there to visit wine buyer Carolyn Barton, who is immensely proud of her 75m of shelf facings devoted to wine. The business is owned by Massmart, a JSE listed company which as [...]

The winning wines in this year’s FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 Competition are as follows: Bergsig Woolworths [WHAT]? 2011 Woolworths price: R39.95 100% Breedekloof. Somewhat shy on the nose but the palate shows intense lime flavour and bright acidity while the palate is long and very dry. Made in a lean, racy style. Drink now [...]

South African Airways recently announced the winners of the airline’s 25th annual wine awards arising out of its onboard wine selection for 2012. The winners were: Méthode Cap Classique of the Year: Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel 2007 Port of the Year: KWV Dessert Cape Tawny N/V White Wine of the Year: Driehoek Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Red [...]

From the October issue of GQ: As a figure of popular culture, special agent James Bond captures the imagination in many ways: he’s debonair of dress, good at one-liners, irresistible to women, handy with any sort of weaponry, gets to drive the coolest cars and, of course, always vanquishes the villain. For wine geeks, there [...]

Marie Claire.com reports that Karl Lagerfeld, head designer of Chanel has designed the label for the 2009 vintage of Rauzan Ségla, the Bordeaux Second Growth (see here).  Rauzan Ségla is owned by the Wertheimer brothers, who are also the owners of  Chanel.

The 2012 edition of the Best Value Wine Guide sponsored by Ultra Liquors is now available. In order to be included in the book, wines must firstly sell for not more than R60 a bottle and then had to receive a rating of 2½ Stars or better on being tasted by a panel – there [...]

The Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group of South Africa (SBIG), organiser of the 2011 FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 Competition, has just revealed the 20 finalists in the countdown to the announcement of the overall winners. The competition, already in its fifth year and previously presented by Wine magazine, is for the first time sponsored FNB [...]

The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) was founded in 1969 and is one of the most prestigious of its kind in the world. 2011 results were announced yesterday with the following South African wines winning trophies: Kanu KCB Chenin Blanc 2007 Monis Wood Matured Muscadel 2004 (Fortified Wine – Worldwide) Savanha Naledi Pinotage 2009 [...]