Greg Sherwood, sherwood@cis.co.za
For all those Wine Anoraks out there with a deeper interest in South African Wine as
well the South African wine industry, here are some gossip "Bin Ends" for July
2000, that have been garnered from the media, trade and winemakers. Heres my July
Top 5:
Makers on the Move
.
Following the comings and goings of winemakers the world over is a tiring and near endless
task for the worlds wine trade. After all, it does help if you actually know who is
making the wine you are selling! While most of the movements in the Cape market are merely
musical chairs with little real significance, the same cannot be said of the departure of
Philip Constandius from Delheim. After 12 vintages, Philip will be moving to Neetlingshof
Estate, with his predecessor Schalk van der Westhuizen, taking over the reigns at Alto
Estate, after Hempies Du Toits earlier movement (as reported in Junes Top 5).
Recent wine making successes at Delheim have openly propelled Philip into the ranks of the
Cape wine elite, particularly in the minds of the wine public (even though he has surely
been held in this regard by the trade for several years already). The interest in his
vinous results at Neetlingshof Estate will be closely watched by wine industry critics,
who generally regard this Estate as an under-performing, slightly over-hyped winery.
Lets see if they can now deliver, with the help of Philip, more than just mediocre 3
star wines, ever poplar with the large busloads of German tourists that often descend upon
this Estate in the summer months. And now that they have won the Soccer World Cup 2006
Bid, they can at least try and compensate the hard-done South Africans by
buying lots of our wine!!!!
Catch them you while you can: Delheim 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon, Delheim 1998 Shiraz, and
Delheim 1998 Pinotage. All excellent value for money!
The new 1999 Shiraz and 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon, tasted with Philip Constandius at the
Juliet Cullinan Red Wine & Port Festival, are absolute stunners, with unbelievably
juicy fruit on the palate. Look out for them in the wine ratings later this year, as they
are sure to make Philips departure all the more unfortunate for Delheim. Read more
about the wines this Estate has to offer at: www.delheim.co.za
Chamonix, more than just a well-known French ski
resort!
The wines of Cape Chamonix Wine Farm of Franschhoek are flying high, with owners Chris and
Sonja Hellinger looking determined to create a name for their wines as prominent as Mont
Blanc itself. With past international awards actually just too numerous to mention, one
thing that is certain is the ability of their wines to attract the judges eyes (and
scores). Look out for their Chamonix 1997 Chardonnay Reserve, which out performed world
favourites to scoop one of only 16 gold medals awarded at the Chardonnay-Du-Monde 2000
Competition held recently in Burgundy. Furthermore, as the only South African gold medal
winner, Chamonix continues to fly the flag for South African premium wines in the world
wide quality stakes. If Chardonnay is not your vice, then pull the cork on a bottle of
their Loire style Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 1998 (Oak Matured), which is so poignantly
described in the John Platters South African Wine Guide 2000 as a
light-heavyweight, prize fighter of SA Sauvignon Blanc. For the above
competitions complete year 2000 results, visit: www.chardonnay-du-monde.com
Any future for SA wine futures?
Jeremy Walker, winemaker of the premium wines of Grangehurst Winery, and co-winemaker of
Hidden Valley Pinotage, has announced the release of his year 2000 wine futures to
investors. Having 17,000 cases of wine in stock, with only 5,500 from the 1997 vintage, is
not enough it seems, to force this winery to release wines they feel are not yet mature,
despite the obvious financial challenges this extra stock holding creates. Similar schemes
have been widespread among closed circles or within private wine partnerships and
consortiums, but this appears to be one of the first high profile, "advertised"
futures offerings in the Cape. The pressure mounting on Estates and wineries, large and
small, to move their wines stocks out as soon as possible, to ensure adequate cash flow,
naturally does not allow wine maturity, quality and complexity to be given deserved
consideration. This buy now, drink later scheme is highly commendable and is seen as the
only sure way to guarantee an ongoing supply of these limited release wines, barring
marrying the owners daughter! Could this be the commercial beginning of South
Africas very own en-primeur type wine trade? Further information on
Grangehursts Wine Futures can be obtained from the Stellenbosch based winery at: winery@grangehurst.co.za
Wines to look out for: Hidden Valley 1998 Pinotage (1997 was a 5-star stunner),
Grangehurst 1998 Pinotage, and Grangehurst 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot blend.
Another offering for the Joint-Venture Junkies.
Yes, thats right, joint-venture fever is about to hit the Cape. And why not? The
Americans have Opus 1, Piper Sonoma, Mumm Napa, Domaine Drouhin, Domaine Chandon, to
mention but a few; the Chileans have Miguel Torres and Domaine Paul Bruno; the
Argentinians have Piper, Proviar (Moet & Chandon); the Aussies have Domaine Chandon;
and the New Zealanders have Montana / Deutz. South Africans can now chalk up their own New
World / Old World Grande Marque wine with the launch of the serious reds of Rupert and
Rothschild Vignerons. Suitably based at the historic French Huguenot farmstead of
Fredericksburg in Franschhoek, the off-spring of Dr Anton Rupert and Baron Edmond de
Rothschild have conspired to bring us the 60/40 Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot
Classique 1998, and the 60/40 Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon Baron
Edmond 1998. Interestingly, the ventures aim is "not to produce a great
South African wine", nor, despite the French connection, "to emulate Pomerol or
the Left Bank." In the words of young winemaker Schalk-Willem Joubert, "our aim
is a wine of international quality, that will please discerning wine-lovers
worldwide." These releases are certainly classic wines with refined structure, big
mouthfeel and ample elegance. But then again, with Michel Rolland as their oenologist, and
almost unlimited financial resources at their disposal, this is what one would expect from
such a high profile international operation. See what all the industry hype is about at: www.fredericksburg.co.za
Thelema Wines Sold out at a liquor store near you!
Local and foreign visitors alike would be forgiven for wondering whether or not the harsh
realities of economics had perhaps caught up with Helshoogte cult winery, Thelema, in
Stellenbosch. After all, they are hardly ever open, and when, on the off-chance visitors
are allowed into the winery, the tastings usually consist of no more than one or two
whites from the latest vintage, and not a vin rouge in sight. The month of July did
however see the latest offerings from winemaker and part owner Gyles Webb released onto
the market, including his Cabernet Sauvignon 1997, Merlot 1997, Thelema Chardonnay 1999,
and the Sauvignon Blanc 2000. Problem is, by the time you finish reading this article, the
Sold Out signs will already be swinging in the cool False Bay breeze! Now, I
have heard many wineland tourists say that the only thing worse than a winery with
disapointingly poor quality wines on taste, is a winery with no wines on taste. Could the
time be right for Thelema to launch a second, more commercial label, from bought in
grapes, in a similar way to that of Rustenburgs Brampton label? I think just maybe.
Catch these South African cult wines in the UK while you can: Thelema Merlot 1996 (± £13.00), Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 (±
£16.00). They are well worth it!
Coming Soon: In preparation for the Thelema Chardonnay 1999 release, the Wine Anorak
takes a closer look at the block busting, 91 Parker point scoring, Chardonnay Reserve
1998, to see just exactly what it is about this wine that has the American wine critics
raving!