Click on the brand below to catch up on the latest news from our principals
ATARAXIA | FAIRVIEW | FALSE BAY | GOATS DO ROAM | MAN VINTNERS | SPICE ROUTE | STARKE-CONDÉ
"Matthew Jukes is to wine in the UK what Jamie Oliver is to food! Matthew attended Cape Wine 2008 and at the end of it all selected his 50 top South African wines from the over 300 producers who collectively presented 4000 wines to taste and assess.
We have two wines on Matthew’s Top 50 South African Wines list – the Ataraxia Sauvignon Blanc 2008 and the Ataraxia Chardonnay 2007!" Kevin Grant
Ataraxia sauvignon Blanc 2008 - “There is a vivacity and lift to this wine that sets it apart from the pack and would amaze the rest of the New World and surely send shivers down their spines, too!”
Ataraxia chardonnay 2007 - “The apparent lack of oak on this wine is incredible. I know that it is there, but the integration is so well-judged that it is in perfect balance. Ataraxia is one of the great white winemaking estates of South Africa”
|
ATARAXIA CHARDONNAY TRIUMPHS AT THE TRI-NATIONS 09 December 2008 While still celebrating the 5 star rating that the Platter’s Wine Guide 2009 awarded to the Ataraxia Chardonnay 2007, Kevin Grant was asked to head out to Sydney where the results of the 2008 Tri-Nations Wine Competition were to be announced on the 21st November 2008. The Ataraxia Chardonnay 2007 triumphed over 31 other top South African, Australian and New Zealand Chardonnays to walk away with the Chardonnay Trophy! In the face of competition from the likes of iconic labels such as Leeuwin Estate, Cullen, Vasse Felix from Australia and Kumeu River, Cloudy Bay, Neudorf, Villa Maria and Craggy Range from New Zealand, this was a real coup not only for Ataraxia but for South Africa. |
|
.jpg)
|
Ataraxia Chardonnay cracks 5 stars in Platters Wine Guide “This handcrafted wine was made from fruit personally sourced from extreme, radical and individual parcels scattered throughout the Cape winelands and a minimalist, non-interventionist winemaking approach was adopted. Although Chardonnay demands respect, attention to detail, a comprehensive understanding of the terroir where the grapes grow and an intuitive flair, the wine gives of itself so completely when you get everything right, that it’s hard not to become totally awed by it,” said winemaker Kevin Grant. Since the release of the 2005 vintage (4½ stars), followed by the 2006 vintage (4½ stars), Ataraxia’s Chardonnays have been in great demand both locally and abroad. International acclaim has followed, with Anthony Rose of The Independent penning, “…this finely crafted Cape Chardonnay from the uncompromising Kevin Grant … in an elegantly crafted cool climate style not a million miles from Puligny Montrachet.”(September 2008) Although the 2007 Ataraxia Chardonnay is now almost sold out, Kevin assures us that he has a beautiful 2008 vintage ready for release mid-December. |
|
Competition results from Europe
A number of the leading European wine competitions have recently announced their results. We do not enter a large number of competitions, nor do we enter a lot of different lines. However, recognition is always welcome and provides an indication of our comparitive quality. The results were announced this week and we are happy with the performance of our wines. We feel that it is important to share these results with you as they can prove a useful sales tool for your representatives.
DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS
Fairview Cyril Back ’06: Gold
Fairview Eenzaamheid Shiraz ’06: Gold
Fairview Jakkalsfontein Shiraz ’05: Silver
Fairview The Beacon Shiraz ’06: Silver
CONCOURS MONDIAL DE BRUXELLES
Fairview Jakkalsfontein Shiraz ’05: Gold
Fairview Oom Pagel Semillon ’07: Silver
Fairview Primo Pinotage ’07: Silver
INTERNATIONAL WINE CHALLENGE
Fairview Cyril Back ’06: Silver
Fairview Primo Pinotage ’07: Silver
Fairview Oom Pagel Semillon ’07: Silver
2009 Sauvignon Blanc released
Fairview's 2009 Sauvignon Blanc has now been released. Winemaker Anthony de Jager is very positive about this vintage, with the Sauvignon Blancs showing concentration and depth of fruit.
You can find out more about the production of the 2009 vintage on Fairview's blog at http://blog.fairview.co.za
False Bay Chenin Blanc excels at UK’s Sommelier Wine Awards 2009
Only South African wine to win a ‘By the Glass’ accolade
A fusion of New World and classic winemaking styles, False Bay Chenin Blanc, which stems from a humble bush vine vineyard in the Swartland region, soared to international acclaim as overall winner in its category at the 2009 Sommelier Wine Awards - Britain’s only competition dedicated to the restaurant and broader on-consumption trade.
The boldly flavoured yet elegant 2008 vintage took top honours in the House White Wine (under £5) category by clinching a ‘Gold List’ medal as well as a prestigious ‘By the Glass’ award – the only South African wine to be awarded this sought-after accolade.
The False Bay Chenin Blanc 2008 is also making strides in Canada where it has been chosen as the Top Scoring White Grape (in the ‘other white grape’ category), from 12 different countries, to be showcased at the 2009 Port of Wines Festival in October this year.
Now in its third year, the Sommelier Wine Awards has gained a reputation as a definitive competition aimed solely at the needs of the on-consumption trade and showcases a stellar collection of wines that are available in the United Kingdom exclusively to restaurants, hotels and bars.
The 2009 contest saw 1000 international entries of which 300 wines were shortlisted and re-tasted to make up the 100-strong Gold List. In addition, all gold medallists were tasted with food after which a mere 11 wines were selected as a ‘By the Glass’ winner. The competition also rewarded six truly outstanding wines with the highest honour of being a ‘Critics Choice’ wine.
This year’s judging panel included prominent sommeliers and on-consumption trade buyers who reviewed each wine for its food-friendliness, versatility, character and value for money.
Revealing a wine of real individuality at a more everyday price, the False Bay Chenin Blanc 2008 was crafted by winemaker Werner Engelbrecht, a traditionalist-by-heart and proprietor of the fine range of wines produced at the new Waterkloof Cellar in the Helderberg Winelands. The estate produces four European style wine collections: the flagship Waterkloof range; the elegantly expressive Circumstance range; the showy, more fruit-forward Peacock Ridge range, and the False Bay range for everyday wine enjoyment.
While assisting a young local viticulturist with the classification of vineyards for a co-operative winery, Werner discovered a seemingly neglected bush vine vineyard on the foot of the Paardeberg, a sprawling granite outcrop surrounded by wheat fields and vines, which lies between Paarl and Malmesbury, a mere hour away from Stellenbosch.
“It is not the sort of vineyard that will win prizes for appearance. Yet, what makes this vineyard so special is the fact that fine and distinctive adventures in terroir are to be found, rather than ultra-ripe, super extracted fruit,” explains Werner.
The decomposed granite characteristics of the Paardeberg Mountain deliver a terroir driven wine of structural finesse and minerality, with the unique features and quality of this particular site captured in the wine.
Following time-honoured traditional winemaking techniques the grapes were de-stemmed before going into the separator and the free run juice was separated from the skins immediately. In pursuit of a more individually styled wine, Werner relied on wild yeasts only and it took 12 weeks to complete the natural fermentation process. The wine was left on the secondary lees for another two months before bottling.
“The False Bay Chenin Blanc 2008 is a sublime melange of a fresh and fruity and a more serious and richer, age-worthy style Chenin blanc,” shares Werner.
Glowing with a straw yellow tinge, this medium-bodied Chenin Blanc features aromas of apricots, raisins and Fynbos on the nose and greets the palate with a kiss of pear and a signature drizzle of honey that lingers to an elegant, clean finish. It is a versatile wine well suited to partner lobster, seafood, risotto or roast chicken.
Recent scores and awards
The 2008 Goats do Roam white was recently awarded 88 points in the infulential US publication Wine Spectator and was recognised for its great value for money.
At the same time, the 2007 vintage of the company's flagship, Goat-Roti, was awarded a gold medal at the 2009 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
Wine Enthusiast Magazine, June 2009:
Cabernet Sauvignon | “BEST BUY: 88 points”
“Bright plum and berry aromas are backed by cedar and smoke in this elegant Cabernet.
Tobacco and spicy pepper balance juicy fruit flavours to create an appealing, New World style red.
Pair with bigger dishes – think steak, grilled lamb, stews.”
Chenin Blanc | “BEST BUY: 85 points”
“Fresh melon, tropical fruit, citrus and spice aromas are the hallmark of this friendly Chenin.
Tangy approachable fruit flavours and a long finish add to the appeal.
Pair with everything from lobster salad to grilled chicken.”
WINE MAGAZINE RATINGS - March 2009
MAN Vintners Chardonnay 2007 : 4 Stars
“Hint of citrus on the nose. The palate is medium bodied with flavours of orange pith and some biscuit-like character. Fresh acidity. Drink now or over the next 2 years.”
MAN Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - 3 ½ Stars
“#1 out of 10: BEST VALUE Cabernet Sauvignon – Top 10 Wine on Price”
Press release - Added 29 January 2009
MAN Shiraz 2007: TOP 100 BEST BUY of 2008
MAN Vintners Shiraz 2007 is Number 34!
MAN Vintners Shiraz 2007 has been listed in the Wine Enthusiast magazine (USA) as one of the TOP 100 BEST BUYS of 2008, coming in at position 34 – the first red wine from South Africa on the list.
The Wine Enthusiast described the “Best Buy” Shiraz 2007 as follows: “a luscious, savory character is the backbone of this Shiraz – spicy red fruit and a touch of vanilla oak on the nose lead it. The flavours of balsamic vinegar, black pepper and plum add to the sexy style of the wine.” This 89 point score follows on a “87 points Best Buy” score for the MAN Vintners Shiraz 2006.
The “sexy style” of this wine results from grapes sourced from the mainly bush-vine, dry-land vineyards of the Perdeberg region in Agter-Paarl. With a splash of Viognier added in during fermentation, and a 30% American oak (20% of the barrels were new) component, the MAN Vintners Shiraz 2007 is a modern-styled Shiraz priced for everyday consumption. It retails for around $8.99 in the USA and R40 in South Africa.
Recent reviews - added 20 January 2009
Wine Magazine March 2009 - MAN Vintners Chardonnay 2007 : 4 STARS
“Hint of citrus on the nose. The palate is medium bodied with flavours of orange pith and some biscuit-like character. Fresh acidity. Drink now or over the next 2 years.”
Wine Spectator Daily Wine Pick – Chenin Blanc 2008
Chenin Blanc 2008 | 87 points
" Fresh, with lively honeysuckle, heather, blanched almond and mineral notes followed by a refreshing finish. Drink now."
- James Molesworth, Jan 17, 2009
Wine Spectator Daily Wine Pick - Shiraz 2007
Shiraz 2007 | 86 points
"Soft but pure, with a good beam of plum fruit backed by hints of cocoa and tobacco ".
- James Molesworth, Dec 25, 2008
Wine Enthusiast TOP 100 BEST BUYS OF 2008: Number 34 – Shiraz 2007
Shiraz 2007 | 89 Points
“A luscious, savory character is the backbone of this Shiraz – spicy red fruit and a touch of vanilla oak on the nose lead it. The flavours of balsamic vinegar, black pepper and plum add to the sexy style of the wine.”
- Wine Enthusiast Jan 2009
Press release - 3 December 2008
MAN, this is GOOD VALUE! “Sexy” MAN Shiraz 2007 gets 89 Points.
MAN Vintners Shiraz 2007 has been scored “Best Buy: 89 points” by the Wine Enthusiast magazine, and the Platter’s Guide 2009 ratings have been released…
MAN Vintners continues its recession-busting run of good value awards with a score of 89 points for the MAN Vintners Shiraz 2007 in the Wine Enthusiast magazine (December 15, 2009 issue). The Wine Enthusiast described the “Best Buy” Shiraz 2007 as follows: “a luscious, savory character is the backbone of this Shiraz – spicy red fruit and a touch of vanilla oak on the nose lead it. The flavours of balsamic vinegar, black pepper and plum add to the sexy style of the wine.” This 89 point score follows on a “87 points Best Buy” score for the MAN Vintners Shiraz 2006.
The “sexy style” of this wine results from grapes sourced from the mainly bush-vine, dry-land vineyards of the Perdeberg region in Agter-Paarl. With a splash of Viognier added in during fermentation, and a 30% American oak (20% of the barrels were new) component, the MAN Vintners Shiraz 2007 is a modern-styled Shiraz priced for everyday consumption. It retails for around $8.99 in the USA and R40 in South Africa.
The MAN Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 was also rated “Best Buy: 87 points” by the Wine Enthusiast magazine in its November 2008 issue, being described as “… start[ing] alluringly with rich aromas of cigar, dark berry, a touch of red cherry and black pepper. The flavors of dark berry and tobacco spice are balanced and layered, buoyed by a backbone of minerality and lengthened with elegant tannins.”
The latest Platter’s Guide to South Africa Wine (2009) was recently released and MAN Vintners wines have again showed themselves to be recession busters for savvy consumers looking for real wines at real prices.
The entire range received either 3 stars or 3 and a ½ stars, with the Shiraz 2007, Pinotage 2007 and Sauvignon Blanc 2008 gaining the smiley face “exceptionally drinkable and well priced” rating, and the rest of the range all getting tick marks for “good value”.
With a showing on page 13 of the guide in the “Wines of the Year: Exceptionally Drinkable and Well Priced” (i.e. runners up to the Superquaffer of the Year), the MAN Vintners Sauvignon Blanc 2008 is an awesome value Sauvignon Blanc made in a tropical/herbaceous style for soft summer drinking.
More gold for Spice Route in Europe - 15 May 2009
In results recently annouced Spice Route picked up gold medals for its 2006 Flagship Syrah and 2007 Chakalaka at the the Decanter World Wine Awards and Concours Mondial respectively. In addition, a number of silver medals were also achieved.
DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS
Spice Route Flagship Syrah ’06: Gold
Spice Route Chakalaka ’07: Silver
Spice Route Malabar ’05: Silver
CONCOURS MONDIAL DE BRUXELLES
Spice Route Chakalaka ’07: Gold
Spice Route Malabar ’05: Silver
INTERNATIONAL WINE CHALLENGE
Spice Route Flagship Syrah’06: Silver
Spice Route Pinotage ’07: Silver
Spice Route scores in Wine Spectator
2005 Malabar - 92 points
Exotic and flashy, but well-integrated, with lush, velvety-textured fig, hoisin sauce, melted licorice, macerated currant and blackberry fruit woven with intriguing incense and mesquite notes. The finish is long and smoldering. Syrah, Petit Sirah and Grenache. Drink now through 2011.—J.M.
2006 Flagship Syrah - 92 points
Deep, with melted fig, hoisin sauce, freshly ground espresso, aged tobacco and loam notes carried by broad but well-integrated tannins. Still has plenty of muscle. Drink now through 2011.—J.M.
2007 Chakalaka - 91 points
Very pure, with mouthwatering sanguine notes piercing through the deliciously ripe blackberry, blueberry and raspberry fruit. The long, silky finish lets incense and mineral notes play out. Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan. Drink now through 2010.—J.M.
|
CHAKALAKA SIZZLES IN DECANTER - 04 February 2009 It came as no surprise to Back and his team when the Chakalaka received a prestigious Five Star rating in the February issue of Decanter Magazine, one of the UK’s leading wine publications. This is the highest rating that Decanter awards and is recognition of the quality and style that The Spice Route Winery is developing. Charl du Plessis is the winemaker at this pioneering winery in the Swartland and describes Chakalaka as a richly flavoured South African blend that will uplift and inspire in any situation. “On my trips to the UK market I have been able to see the respect that Decanter has amongst the trade and therefore this is a great compliment not only for the 2007 Chakalaka, but also for the hard work that we have been putting in at Spice Route. We don’t really push hard for medals and recognition, but it is always great when some comes along,” said du Plessis. |
 |
WINE MAGAZINE RATINGS - April 2009
Stark-Condé Three Pines Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - 4 Stars
“Brooding nose. Rich and full on the palate with ripe fruit and relatively soft tannins. Modern style.”
“Why we like it: Gold Medal Winner at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2008, this wine is rich and gull on the palate with sweet, ripe-fruit and well-judged oak. Production was extremely limited – our bottle was number 4875 out of 5472. 22 months in French oak, 70% new.”
THREE PINES EXCEL IN 2009 PLATTERS WINE GUIDE
Three Pines Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - 4 ½ Stars
"Range previously listed as “Twin Peak”. From single vineyard, highest elevation on home-farm. Hedgerow fruit with cassis, gives wild edge, adds to individuality of 06; refined tannins accessible, reflect careful handling: unfined/filtered, as all reds. 22 months French oak, 70% new. TWS Gold."
Three Pines Jonkershoek Syrah 2006 - 4 ½ Stars
"Concentrated plush dark fruit in 06, ably matched to serious oaking, building it for longer haul, as befits wine of this class. Meaty, smoky notes point to complexity, depth. Amenable, but infanticide – allow time. Fruit ex-single vineyard."