HERMANUSPIETERSFONTEIN SOMETHING DIFFERENT

A friend and I were going out for dinner to the Ocean Basket. What would go well with a nice grilled sole? So I pulled out a bottle of Hermanuspietersfontein Sauvignon Blanc No 3 2006 from my extensive cellar. Too… Continue reading

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A FRIENDS LATE FATHER’S CELLAR REVEALS SOME SURPRISING ELECTIC GEMS AND OLD TREASURERS

When my old school mate Warren Wilensky asked me to have a look at his late father’s cellar he was very upset. His brothers had written it off saying that it was too old and the wines were past it.… Continue reading

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THELEMA STILL MAKING FINE, DISTINCTIVE WINE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

The Mint A few months back a friend of my mine pulled out a bottle of Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon 1995. It was earthy and sensuous with fine tannins and an even intensity and concentration on the… Continue reading

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SHANNON SUBLIME WINES FROM THE ELGIN VALLEY

Macushla Like may new discoveries of fine vineyards my road to Damascus as concerns Shannon came with their 2008 Mount Bullet. Five stars in John Platter the wine spoke for itself. Opulent, rich, perfumed and still… Continue reading

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KANONKOP AFFIRMS ITS STATUS AS A FIRST GROWTH RED WINE PRODUCER

The term first growth is a French term applied primarily in Bordeaux to its top niche producers. In South Africa, the term is not so clear. But certain top Cape producers such as  Rustenberg, Meerlust and Kanonkop qualify for the… Continue reading

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WINE CONCEPTS SUDDUCTIVE SAUVIGNON FESTIVAL LOTS OF GOOSBERRIES AND BLACK CURRENTS

  Iona Wine Concepts annual Sauvignon festival at the elegant Vineyard Hotel is always a treat. Wine Concepts, the local Cape Town wine retailers are an excellent source of quality wines in good condition and they… Continue reading

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MULLINEUX PART OF THE SWARTLAND WINE RENAISANCE

Mullineux Straw Much talk has been made of the search in SA for cooler wine regions. This search began with Hamilton Russell in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and then subsequently Elgin and the very Southern Cape Agulhas.… Continue reading

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THE 2013 CAPE WINEMAKERS GUILD SHOWCASED SOME REAL GEMS

Arriving at the 2013 Cape Winemakers Guild I had high expectations. Last year’s Guild offerings produced some real stunners. I was not disappointed. Listed below are some of the wines that really impressed me. There were so many fine wines… Continue reading

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HIGH CONSTANTIA COMPLEX, STYLISH WINES WITH AN OLD WORLD FEEL

My first contact with the fine High Constantia wines came when I bought a bottle of their sparkling Clos Andre MMC 2005. I was very impressed with this Champagne method wine full of toast and brioche and so I started… Continue reading

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Carolines Wine Review 2013 showed wines of a high quality with some real stunners

It is not easy to successfully sell imported wines in South Africa and Caroline Fines has for a long time been one of the few to pull off this feat. But her review on the 31 first of July at… Continue reading

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