November 2008

PLATTER 5-Stars announced

Perhaps the most exciting wine of the 33 wines tasted at the Platter 2009 launch last week, was Signal Hill's Clos d'Orange. An amazing full-flavoured, richly-textured but Rhône-like Shiraz from a double plot in Lincoln street, Oranjezicht, Cape Town. Only 2 barrels (600 bottles) were produced, with the 2006 5-Star wine being only the second vintage released. All 12000 ungrafted, individually-staked vines are worked by hand and grown organically in a carbon neutral environment. The wine certainly has a personal feel compared to many 'constructed wines' in todays market. Not only was it well liked by Platter, but it also received a 91/100 from Steve Tanzer. Please order promptly if you are interested in this rarity. R4380/6!

The Platter wine of the year, Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon received the most 'Yes' votes from the Platter judges out of the 80 odd wines that were reviewed blind. It is a truly profound wine with a magnificent, classical structure for long term cellaring. Kanonkop was also awarded Winery of the year, being commended on its world class wines made in a classical style and in significant volumes.

A few of the wines are either sold out or yet to be released. Please indicate if you are interested in those denoted with a NA and I can alert you of their future release.

November 2008

Dear Wine Lover

WARWICK TRILOGY 2006

Over the last few years, the Warwick Trilogy has become one of SA's most successful and demanded wines. Each new vintage seems to out-do the previous and the 2006 tempts  to be the best vintage yet. 2006 in general is proving to be an exciting Cape Vintage with good acidity and structure, similar to style of the 2001s. The impressive Trilogy 2005 scored 93/100 from Wine Spectator and was also awarded the 'over-all winner' title at the Councours Wine Awards in Holland. The accolades for the previous vintages speak for themselves.

The 2006 is sleek and pure- fruited with ultra-fine, soft tannins. It shows a polished style with excellent balance and length; the high portion of Cabernet Franc offers extra finesse.  The blend comprises of 65% Cabernet, 24% Cabernet Franc and 11% Merlot. It needs a few years to show its full worth and will gain depth through to 2014. Stock is limited.

TORBRECK WINES

"Torbreck, under the leadership of owner/winemaker David Powell, remains a Barossa Valley benchmark as well as one of the world’s greatest wine estates." Wine Advocate.

Torbreck's visitor centre and winery comprises of a small garden tasting room and slab of concrete aligned with a few stainless steel tanks. Their focus is rather to impress with their massively complex and powerful wines from old-vines Rhone varieties. And how impressive they are; each cuvee  displays masses of concentrated fruit and intensity making them not for the faint-hearted. Not excessively extracted however, they still exhibit balance and elegance with the ability to mature up to 3 decades.

The new vintages are yet to be rated, but Torbreck  remains one of the most highly regarded in the world (making them quite limited)!

The Steading is Shiraz/Grenache/Mataro made from old vines planted at the turn of the century. Described as the more Burgundian of the wines. 2001-2005 in the WA rated between 92-93/100.

The Struie is 100% Syrah from 46-110 year cooler vineyards in the Eden and Barossa. 2001-2005 received between 92-96 points from the WA.

Descendant is a full-bodied styled shiraz with a dash of Viogner receiving 97/100 from the WA. Its a single-vineyard wine with a long future ahead.

The Pict (92-95 in previous vintages) is 100% Mataro (Mourvedre), again full-bodied but more in the southern-French rustic style. 

Les Amis is 100% 100-year-old Grenache with previous vintages being described as a 'masquerade as Pegau Cuvee de Capo (Chateauneuf du Pape) on human growth hormone" from Jay Miller of the WA. Previous vintages receive between 96-99/100!

The Run Rig receives nothing less than 99/100 for the last 4 vintages, being consistently one of the most highly awarded wines in the world by Wine Advocate! It is benchmark and iconic old-vine Barosan Syrah resembling the fragrant and taughtly-structured wines of the Northern Rhone.

TASTINGS

Spain and Portugal remain the two most exciting wine-producing countries in the world today. Old vines are being rejuvenated to produce a blend of powerful modern and elegant traditional styles. We will taste wines from Toro, Rioja, Priorat and the Douro. The single vineyards icons from Sierra Cantabria  include Numanthia, El Puntido and Amancio. Nieport's Batuta will also be on show as one of Portugal's finest wines. CT 26th and JHB 27th November

Burgundy 2006 shows all the elegance and class of a traditional Burgundian vintage. We taste from village through to Grand Cru of the producers; Liger-Belair (Vosne Romanee), Drouhin (Beaune), Dampt (Chablis), Florent de Merode (Corton), Voillot (Volnay) and Lequin-Colin (Santenay). CT 3rd and JHB 6th December.

Tastings in JHB are held at Culinary Productions (199 Oxford Road, Dunkeld), whilst in CT at the Cellar in Observatory. They all begin at 18:30 and end at 20:00

October 2008

Dear Wine Lover

The Sauvignon Blanc season got into full swing last week with the release of the Tops at Spar / WINE magazine Top 10. Whilst the exemplary 2007 Sauvignons will provide much pleasure over the next few years, 2008 seems a  more forward-drinking vintage. The Top 10 certainly show an array of styles from steely/grassy through to more oily/fruity styles, even though most are produced in 'cooler' regions. This week we offer two Sauvignons from Winemaker David Niewoudt of Cederberg who doesn't seem to be putting a foot wrong at the moment. The Cape Atlantic also provides exceptional, bargain quaffing over the summer.

	GHOST CORNER SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008 One of the favourites of the line-up was the new release from David Niewoudt, Ghost Corner. Its made from a 2 hectare vineyard next to Black Oyster Catcher in Elim and gets trucked for 8 hours up to the Cederberg for vinification. Its steely with herbaceous, pepper and asparagus notes. Cool and crisp with incredible intensity and power. 12.5% alcohol and beautifully balanced. Expect it to develop over the next few years. 4 STARS WINE TOP 10 Award R750/6
	CAPE ATLANTIC SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008 A blend of the younger vines from Cederberg and Elim. It also shows a 12% alcohol and a marvellous natural acidity. Made reductively, its alive with delicious tropical fruit flavours as well as hints of grass and fresh herbs. Drink over the next two seasons! 4 STARS WINE R225/6

September 2008

Dear Wine Lover

Wine Cellar is proud to be the new importer of Maison Joseph Drouhin, one of Burgundy's finest family-run houses, founded in 1880. We have tasted many 2006s at the Cellar and at the Michael Fridjhon Wine Experience and are excited to receive our first shipment in mid November. We offer you the opportunity to purchase pre-shipment in order to secure part of the rarer wines as well as save 10-15% on the retail price.

Whilst there is a wave of producers in Burgundy (and elsewhere) to opt for riper fruit, toasty new oak and robust tannins, Joseph Drouhin continues to be one of the most elegant and pure-fruited negociants. 73 hectares of prime Burgundy are owned by the Drouhin family, with the rest bought in for the lower-priced wines. Having the Masion family-run with passionate Veroniqe Drouhin in charge of the oenology, certainly adds a personal feel to the wines.  "Elegant and refined" is how Wine Spectator describes the house, allowing each vineyard to express its own specific terroir. Biodynamic and organic practices, low yields and hand picking are just some of the techniques used for the traditional style. Veronique's siblings take charge of the running of the business affairs allowing the house to be handled more like a Domaine than a negociant, producing 90 different wines.

Burgundy 2006? After one of the finest vintages in history, 2006 is classical with crisp whites and pure fruited reds for the medium term. Wine Spectator gives the vintage a 90-93 rating for whites and 87-90 for reds. CEO Frederic Drouhin says "2006 is a very seductive and aromatic vintage, with intensity of fruitiness.."

August 2008

Dear Wine Lover

Eben Sadie often explains how the Cape has more in common with a Mediterranean climate than any other where blends over single-cultivar wines are traditionally produced. If one looks at Europe, regions such as Bordeaux, the Languedoc and Tuscany all perform well with red and white blends. In contrast, continental climes such as Alsace, Burgundy and the Mosel all produce single varietals. Even the Rhône  depicts this theory quite neatly with the Rhône valley narrowing away from the coast towards the North where single cultivars such as Shiraz and Marsanne become prominent. 

This week sees the exciting release of the new vintages of the Sadie Family wines. Not only do we have the sought after Palladius and Columella to offer but also the newest release; Mrs Kirsten's Old Vines which is now the most expensive white wine in SA. For many, Eben Sadie is regarded South Africa's leading winemaker. His wines have rather quickly gained cult status around the world; numerous Platter 5 stars, receiving the Decanter trophy for best Rhône blend in the world and scoring 95/100 in Wine Spectator for the Columella 2005 clearly shows this. One can say that his wines move away from current South African winemaking style where varietals, new oak and fruit-over-texture is given emphasis.

Rather, Eben focuses on South Africa's strengths; Old-vine Chenin-Blanc, a Mediterranean climate as well as pockets of Granitic and Slate soils. Hand-sorting of each berry is done to ensure the highest possible quality and lengthy lees contact is given to add texture. The savouriness in the wines reminds one of wines of Portugal, Spain and Southern France. Though ripe, they have the structure and intensity for long term aging.

August 2008

Dear Wine Lover

Ever since Bruwer Raats tasted his first bottle of Cheval Blanc, there has been Cabernet Franc running through his veins. This low-key and fickle grape makes up the majority of one of the finest wines in the world, a St Emilion "1st Growth" - Chateau Cheval Blanc. It tends to crop high and produce acidic, leafy wines if not handled correctly. Bruwer's first vintage Cabernet Franc, 2001, is however not tasting so and since he has been producing world-class wines from the grape. This was confirmed in Johannesburg and Cape Town with our Cheval Blanc Raats vertical tastings of 2001 through to 2005. Not a competition, but more a comparative of similarly styled wines. The Cheval Blanc's were of course phenomenal, benchmark wines that will require a few decades aging to show off their best. But when the tasting members were asked for just one vote, Raats was only narrowly pipped by the mighty Bordeaux and everyone raved about their freshness, youth and elegance. And of course the fact they cost up to 50 times less. Bruwer's enduring and meticulous vineyard and cellar work is certainly paying off.

Three questions needed to be answered. Should Cabernet Franc not be blended? The Cheval Blanc did have a roundness from the 40% Merlot component adding a plush plum mid-palate. Possibly something to look into?

Can SA wines stand-up to the finest wines in the world? Certainly proven in this instance. Whilst SA can never make Bordeaux, its great to see what producers like Raats can achieve in a relatively short time period.  

And with 5 consecutive vintages of fine Bordeaux on the table, what of climate change? There was certainly huge vintage variation and the 2003 disgusted some for its obvious ripe character from the warmest vintage ever. The 2005 was of course sublime, the 2002 quite typically impure from a wet vintage and the 2001/2004 were classically styled from the cool vintages. That said, 5 consecutive vintages and 5 great wines - unlike yesteryear.

We are also able to offer the Cheval Blanc's from the tasting. 2001 (WS92 RP93) R4150, 2002 (WS92 RP90) R3400, 2003 (WS96 RP89) R4150, 2004 (WS94 RP90) R3800, 2005 (WS97 RP96) R13500.

	Raats Cabernet Franc 2007 R1,620/6
The cooler vintage 2007 is very similar to the 2004, that after the 2005 Cheval Blanc, was the wine of the evening for many in Cape Town and Johannesburg. It is really fine on the nose with graphite, Asian spice and hints of bell pepper. Extremely pure and lifted on the palate with precision tannins and already-magnificent depth. Neat, balanced and long. Certainly a shame to drink now with the proven track record of the previous vintages. Expect it to open up from 2012 through to 2020. 13.5% alc
	Raats Chenin Blanc 2007 - R702/6 Wine Spectator 90 points.
In my view one of the top Chenin's in the country, moving away from the block-buster ripe botrytised style in search of elegance and finesse. From 36+ old Stellenbosch vines with only a quarter fermented and matured in 300 liter oak. It is elegant, pure and mineral requiring a few years to show its best. White pear and honey are coated by a steely acidity and textured finish. Drink 2010 through to 2017.

July 2008

Dear Wine Lover

Through numerous new-release tastings, competitions and hundreds of Platter guide samples, now's the time to asses our new 2006 reds. Growing conditions were moderately warm, dry and healthy. It was quite windy towards the crux of the harvest resulting in smaller berries with more concentrated flavours. This also contributed to a relatively disease-free vintage. After the lushes and ultra-ripe 2005s, the 2006 vintage offers more elegance and finesse. There are generally lower alcohols, less obvious ripe fruits, more minerality and better acidities. The top-flight 2006s are still full-bodied and rich however.  

"The fabulous 2006 vintage..." exclaims David Trafford, the boutique winemaker that arguably has been leading the most successful SA winery in the USA over the last decade. "At an early stage the wines looked very promising with good colour, intense flavours and lots of good quality tannins. These are big wines, but well balanced, elegant with a refreshing line of minerality starting to emerge". We have been working closely with the de Trafford wines from our beginning and have seen their tremendous ability to mature; i.e. get better with age! The de Traffords have also scooped various awards around the world; notably the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon trumped Chateau Latour 2003 (RP 100/100) in our taste-off last year at Wine Cellar. The 2005 Shiraz also gained the only 5 Star in the Shiraz category in last years Platter as well as received 94/100 from Wine Spectator. We have more 2005 Shiraz available at R2,370/6. See here for the Complete List of de Trafford wines available. These 2006s will be best in 5 years and drink well for another 5. The 2005 Elevation has also just been released; a minute blend of his best Cabernet, Merlot and Shiraz. It is a phenomenally intense and brooding wine that calls for a decade of maturation.

MORE CRAGGY RANGE AVAILABLE - Martinborough New Zealand

July 2008

Dear Wine Lover

Its always special offloading wine from our latest refrigerated container; like unpacking a treasure chest of new producers and vintages never before seen in SA. New to the cellar is the benchmark Mosel producer Dr Loosen, top-flight Piedmonts (including arguably the finest producer in Italy - GAJA) as well as various 2005s and 2006s from France. Most of our 2005 Bordeaux were sold as futures (or en-Primeur), but we have uncovered a few exceptional value wines with fabulous ratings; such as the two  Côtes de Castillions offered today. We taste the top wines of the perfect 2005 vintage in CT on 23/07 and JHB 16/08. All the new wines are listed on our website.

The sandier soils of the 'lesser' appellations in Bordeaux don't enjoy the ripening characteristics of gravelly Pauillac or clay-rich Pomerol. In cooler vintages these wines can thus sometimes be troublesome and lean. In 2005 however, everyone enjoyed perfect ripening conditions and there are fabulous wines throughout the region. The Côtes de Castillon (coat duh cass-TEE-yawn) is located just east of St-Émilion and south of Fronsac. The region is Merlot-based like its neighbours and produces great value wines with right bank characteristics. Wines of Castillon usually don't have the depth and elegance of  Pomerol but are more supple and affordable in comparison. We will be tasting these along with other great value French at Wine Cellar on the 16th and in Johannesburg on the 31st. See Tastings.

Chateau d'Aiguille Querre	R195 or R2,223/12
Really fragrant nose, smoky, tight and quite Pomerol-like. Lovely depth already, enticing and elegant (not Parkerised) with really fine tannins and a glycerol-like mouthfeel. These 2005s are so exciting! Parker 91/100 "A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, there are approximately 2,000 cases of this fabulous sleeper of the vintage. It exhibits a dark ruby/purple hue along with notes of blueberries, black raspberries, pain grille, and white chocolate. Full-bodied with superb richness, a layered texture, a multidimensional mouthfeel, and a finish that lasts nearly 40 seconds, it can easily compete with some of the vintages top crus. Consume it over the next decade"
Chateau Cap de Faugéres	R245 or R2,793/12
Slightly more austere than the Aiguille Qerre, built for a slightly longer term. As above, the plushness and depth of 2005 shines through.  Great Value as well. Parker 89/100 "A perennial value pick for smart consumers, Cap de Faugeres is fashioned by world-renowned oenologist, Michel Rolland. The 2005, which achieved 13.5% natural alcohol, is a forward concoction of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Its black/purple color is accompanied by sweet scents of incense, black tea, licorice, and subtle oak. Medium to full-bodied, opulent, and rich, it should drink well for a decade or more."

WARWICK - THE FIRST LADY 2006   There seems to be continuous controversy over blind versus sighted tasting.  Blind tasting offers a level playing field within a line-up and forgoes any preconceptions one may have. It doesn't however take into account the track record of the particular producer and possibility of how it may evolve in the future. A recent blind tasting I attended unveiled a wine that ticked all boxes as well today's increasingly more important factor - the wallet. The newly released Warwick First Lady 2006 demonstrates classy winemaking combined with accessibility at a price low enough to be drunk everyday. And there is no questioning the track record here, making it one of the most exciting new releases this year. We believe the Warwick First Lady offers tremendous value, especially in today's economic climate.   The First Lady is Cabernet Sauvignon–driven, made in a sophisticated yet fruity style honoring Norma Ratcliffe, SA's pioneering winemaker. It has the purity and finesse of the Warwick stable but is more accessible in it youth than the Wine Spectator heralded flagship Trilogy. The 40% Merlot adds a plush, supple edge, but there is little doubt it will mature well another 5 years. 18 months seasoned oak is well integrated and there is a lively freshness combined with ripe, dense Cabernet fruit. Here is a Warwick that shows the quality for a special special occasion, but is priced at more everyday standards.   WARWICK FIRST LADY 2006 R375/6   Whilst on new releases and blind tastings, I have tasted the new Quoin Rock Nicobar 2007 twice and was lucky enough to drink it with a prawn risotto on the weekend. I believe this is one of the finest SA whites I have ever tasted, differing from the norm of zingy, green and one-dimensional Sauvignon Blancs. Technically its a oak-matured Sauvignon Blanc, but offers far more dimension, depth and texture than the typical SA Sauvignon Blanc. It has an array of tropical fruits with mineral hints and masses of intensity. Completely balanced and extremely long, one doesn't really notice the oak much. Only a few barrels were produced by Carl van der Merwe making it highly limited and therefore we offer it in 3-bottle lots.   Old Mutual Trophy Show 2008 Trophy   QUOIN ROCK NICOBAR 2007 - R495/3

MAY 2008

Dear Wine Lover

There is no substitute for class! And one does not need to quibble over the class of Thelema. It has been one of the forerunners in SA wine for the last 15 years and continues to produce benchmark, elegant wines year-in and year-out. After visiting the Sydney International Wine Show, Gyles Webb saw the need in SA for a high quality yet good value wine from the estate. A year or two later arrives the Mountain Red 2005 that derives all its fruit from the estate. For me (and many others I presume) it represents the best value red wine on the market today. We offer it at the cellar price of R55/bottle available in 6s or 12s.

Lastly, following competitions season, the results of the Decanter wine awards were released today, please see below for the Trophy and Gold winners. The highlights are likely the Buitenverwachting Christine 2003 and Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2004 that are perhaps the best vintages of each wine made yet!

Thelema Stock and Brokerage wines available at Wine Cellar

DECANTER WINE AWARDS 2008 - SA TROPHIES

DECANTER WINE AWARDS 2008 - SA GOLDS

To secure your order please phone Matthew (intern winemaker) or Roland on 021 448 4105 or reply to this email. Delivery to JHB or Durban is R75/12 and R100/24

Vinous Regards

Roland and the Wine Cellar Team

MAY 2008

Dear Wine Lover

The question generally comes up at every dinner party. What are the best wines in South Africa? Its easy to wrap-off the great names that have made consistently good wines post apartheid and the legends of the past. But I think the better question to ask is; What are the wines that South Africa should be making? As a part of the New World we have taken European wine models and applied them to our wine regions. Certainly there are great examples that emulate Bordeaux and the Loire, but what about something that's uniquely South African? What have we got in South Africa that will enable us to make the finest wines we can?

Firstly, we have a sunny Mediterranean climate. Why note produce Mediterranean cultivars well suited to the climate? Secondly, we have young vines, with the only old-vines being Chenin Blanc. Why not focus on old-vine Chenin Blanc? And lastly our best wines are generally blends, think Vergelegen, Cape Point, Kanonkop, Sadie Family. Why don't we make more blends? Focusing on the cultivar is a new world phenomena, but each variety can bring its own character and benefit to a blend as a whole.

One of the producers that is doing just this and making the new wave of uniquely SOUTH AFRICA wines, which style and character represents the future of South Africa's wines (for me at least!) is Black Rock. 

Alex Dale, co-founder of The Winery of Good Hope makes Black Rock wines from grapes grown in the Perdeberg and Swartland, He “seamlessly coaxes the best from each varietal to reflect the co-existence the vines enjoy with their rugged environment and the influences of the seasons, ensuring that there is no recognisable thumbprint, only the true essence of the region”. Don't expect these to bare a 'Christmas tree' of stickers, both are elegant, textured and fresh blends that are not entered into competitions and are tremendous with with food.

Also, this week a limited once-off offer of Icon antipodean wines. Please click on the links for more information and reviews!

MAY 2008

For a decade wine journalists around the world have written about the imminent Riesling revival. Two centuries ago Riesling was perched among the great wines of the world, but since, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc have been given more limelight. What is to revive though? Riesling has the ability to closely portray the conditions in which it is grown – it’s strongly terroir driven. Even to the extend that wine pundits start wondering if grapes can actually absorb the mineral content of the rocks in which they are grown. This is doubtful, but in a cooler region, Riesling reminds one of sucking pebbles with a piercing acidity and uncanny knack to age for decades. When young, it displays citrus and floral notes and older versions become oily-textured with hints of terpenes and honey.

What is just about to be the largest fine wine market in the world, the United States, has shown 30% growth of Riesling over the last year; the fastest of all whites. While this is mostly off dry, fruity and fresh wines from warmer regions, top cool-climate Rieslings are becoming ever more intrinsically valued. And the top ones (usually from old-vine single vineyards) cost a fraction of that of Grand Cru Burgundy or Bordeaux. We have two exciting Riesling producers on board and a recent tasting at Wine Cellar certainly showed that this revival is clearly on the way! Both producers offer the more classical style of wine.

WA - Wine Advocate (Robert Parker's journal) R/bottle indicated.

Maison Trimbach - Ribeauville, Alsace

Jean Trimbach started making wines in Alsace in 1626 and since these have been the benchmark of Alsatian wines. Today Hubert is at the helm continuing the tradition. With many Alsation wines pushing the level of ripeness (perhaps to impress the American market), Trimbach's wines are classical and elegant with great ageing potential. They achieve excellent balance with fine acidities and lightness more common to the Mosel. The vintages of 2002 and 2005 are profound and I particularly enjoyed the Rieslings for their slatey feel and fineness.

"The Trimbach family continues to render some of the world’s finest Riesling"; to uphold the principle that wine of Alsace (unless V.T.) should not taste sweet; to release wines only when they believe those wines say 'it’s time';" delivering Riesling of startling clarity and concentration that showcases its minerality and acidity." WA

Muscat Reserve	2006	R 130
The Muscat is an excellent seafood-partner with a superb acidity and lightness. It doesn't have the grapey notes one would expect from Muscat but leans more toward the Riesling model.
Pinot Gris Reserve Personnelle	2001	R 295
Forget what you may think about cheap Italian Pinot Grigio. This is a serious wine that shows the same complexity as Burgundy. It is extremely fresh and brooding with peach and nutty notes. It has a more textured palate than the Rieslings, so perhaps its better with food. Previous vintages have rated in the low 90s in the WA.
Riesling Cuvee Frederic Emile	2002	R 395
"The superbly-concentrated 2002 Riesling Frederic Emile is still a touch austere, but with strikingly refined complexity and sheer mineral mass. Broth-like carnal and chalky traits here put one in mind of Chablis. Here is a wine to strain through your teeth, and one possessed of vivacious, ripe acids, with lemon, grapefruit and faintly bitter black fruit notes over a foundation of chalk, leading to a long, juicy finish. Give this another year in your cellar and for it to be worth following for at least another decade thereafter." WA 92/100
Riesling Reserve	2005	R 200
'represents a quantum leap in quality from their basic bottling. Lime zest, apricot kernel, apple blossom, herbs and chalk dust in the nose lead to a brisk, invigorating palate of striking clarity and juiciness, extract-rich yet elegant, with its chalky, saline, completely dry-tasting finish (despite 8 grams residual sugar), persistently citric, but subtly suggestive of rich nut oils. At only 12.8 % alcohol, this delivers all the ripeness you need and more depth of flavor and sheer density than you have any right to expect at the price. Why can’t more growers achieve this sort of balance (or don’t they want to)?" WA 91/100

Weingut Willi Schaefer - Mosel, Germany

Jörg Pfützner, the Sommelier at Aubergine and Nummer eins Rieslings aficionado places Willi Schaefer on par with Egon Muller as one of the top producers in the Mosel. Only 2000 cases are made from the two vineyards. These 2006s show really well in their youth but have decades of life (20 to 40 years) ahead. Each are well balanced with their fresh acidities making their sweetness seem less apparent. They are also light in alcohol at around 7.5%. The Qba is the lightest, the Kabinett offers more richness and finally the Spatlese is really unctuous and intense.

24 APRIL 2008

Dear Wine Lover

We can't promise that this is our last offer of the glorious 2005 European vintage. Great vintages are traditionally rare and we believe your cellar should be stocked to the brim with the extraordinary 2005s! Whilst the 2005 Bordeaux and Burgundy are almost all sold, we have yet to offer the fine 2005 Rhônes that are being compared to the benchmark 1990s. Fine, dry weather resulted in big brooding wines with excellent balance and acidity. Whilst the top wines are highly sought-after world-wide, as in Bordeaux its worth purchasing the 'lesser' terroirs in great vintages. I tasted the 'Selection Parcellaire' (single vineyards) as well as many other 2005s in Tain l'Hermitage earlier this year and across the range these are the finest young Rhône I have ever tasted. The quality of Chapoutier's offerings is outstanding from the entry-level village Rhônes to the profound Hermitage. And all the vineyards are farmed biodynamically! Similarly to the Bordeaux and Burgundy, quantities of the pinnacle wines are extremely low, so please act with haste!

"With twenty vintages under his belt, Michel Chapoutier and his impressive winemaking staff go from strength to strength. These are among the world’s greatest wines, especially the single vineyard wines, many of which will last 50 or more years." Robert Parker Jr

And now for some even worse news; 2006 in the Rhône is looking a terrific vintage. While August in France was rather gloomy, September in the Rhône was brilliant, bright and sunny. As they say August makes the quantity and September the quality; there are fabulous 2006s available from the 'bottom-end'. Overall quality in the North and South is excellent in a sleeker, gleaming and more elegant style compared to the 2005s. We are also offering the fast selling Chapoutier Meysonniers Crozes-Hermitage (RP89 - R155) and Belleruche blanc (RP89 - R95) pre-shipment. Lastly, we have our first offering of the Occultum Lapidem, Cote de Rousillon Bila-Haut 2006 which is Chapoutier's new venture in the South. Fabulous fruit and intensity with a Mediterranean feel offer a real bargain and it's a Parker 91-93 - R130/bottle (Grenache, Carignan and Syrah blend).

BORDEAUX 2007: We will be releasing our views on the 2007 Bordeaux en-primeur campaign shortly; please let us know if you would like to be on our en-primeur email newsletter list.
 

ATARAXIA CHARDONNAY 2007: Tasted again last week, this is a truly wonderful Burgundian-style Chardonnay that will age gracefully over the next decade. Wine Spectator has recently given the 2006 92/100 and it tops the list of New-world and Italian Chardonnays in May. It's quoted as the 'Most promising newcomer' in the edition. R942/6

Below are 2005's (R/bottle) that are in the process of being hauled from the Rhône and will arrive in our cellar late June. Ordering now will secure a part of this small allocation as well as save you 10-15% on the retail price!

16 APRIL 2006

We are fortunate to have access to a selection of the pinnacle of estate-bottled wines from Piedmont and these include some of the excellent Barolos from the 2004 vintage. If you are unaware of the pedigree of this vintage, it was recently punted by Decanter and the Wine Advocate for its intense yet classical wines. Decanter named it as the best vintage of the last decade, comparable to the legendary 1990s or even the 1964s. Whilst there are many desirable wines on today's market, the 2004 Barolos are quoted as being "Must haves!". Because of the spectacular weather and late picking, most will be accessible from 2010 but will mature well through 2020.

Join us with our first import at these special pre-shipment prices.

Piedmont is certainly a region that is split between the New and Old School. The New-style producers are 100% de-stalking their fruit, using small new French oak, shortening macerations and picking later to a produce richer, riper style. Although this produces an earlier-drinking wine, Barolo is a wine of patience! A tasting last year of the late father of traditional Barolo, Bartolo Mascarello, showed how difficult they are to appreciate in their youth, but the 1982 and 1985 both started dancing in the glass with masses of elegance and complexity. In contrast, the New-style producers were starting to fade at 10 years. Fine mature Barolo can be likened to Burgundy; medium bodied with layers of sweet fruit complexity and a fine acidity. From our previous Italian tasting we have selected Corino, Clerico and Marengo who are certainly more of the traditional ilk, with the Corino being slightly more fruit forward.

The wines offered will be shipped in June 2008. Prices are quoted in Rand per bottle with respective Wine Advocate ratings (5% discount per 12-btl case). Payment is due with your order.

Also, we have a few spots available at each of our 4 upcoming tastings. Tonight we will sample 4 great producers of Riesling; Trimbach, Schlumberger, Dr Loosen and Willi Schaeffer!

And lastly, click here to read a review of our most exciting tasting of the year. Mouton-Rothschild in the 80's! We are offering the Mouton-Rothschild 1985 (R3,950) and Leoville Poyferre 1982 (R3,200), the two 'bargains' of the tasting.

DOMENICO CLERICO

GIOVANNI CORINO

MARCO MARENGO

09 April 2008

This week we offer small quantities of two benchmark antipodean wineries as well as another parcel of Ingwe bargains! Australia and New Zealand may have an image for sweet bold new world wines, and many are, however small pockets in the cooler areas are producing exciting wines that are more French in style and offer fabulous elegance and longevity.

Voyager Estate, Margaret River

Tom Stevenson's Wine Report 2008 places Voyager as one of the top ten wine producers in Australia. And along with Leeuwin Estate and Moss Wood, Voyager is a leader in the Margaret River area. Interestingly it was a visit to the Cape in the early 90's that lead the owner to produce wines as well as build the only Cape Dutch style house in the area. He even imported the building materials! The viticulturalist, Steve Jones, has a minimal or no-input philosophy  and recognizes the quality of the Margaret River terroir where Chardonnay and Cabernet are king. The climate is similar to that of Bordeaux, with cold winters and a relatively warm dry ripening system.

Craggy Range,  Martinborough

Steve Smith MW and Rod Easthope (MW student and ex-Rustenberg winemaker) are the men at the helm of one of the top wineries in New Zealand. Only kicking off in 2001, it has had a fast rise to the top with their Le Sol Syrah winning last years Tri-nations challenge.

AND we have more Ingwe wines available. We sold 350 cases of these absolute bargains last year, so please send your order through promptly as there are only 80 cases of these.

To secure your order or enquire about a tasting please phone Christelle or Roland on 021 448 4105 or reply to this email.

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02 April 2008

Dear Wine Lover

Another exciting tasting at Wine Cellar unveiled the new vintages of some of our most prized wines. Marcus Eguren of Serria Cantabria is renowned as one of Spain's leading wine makers and innovators. He was one of the drivers in the revival of the Toro region that is gaining ground as one of the top appellations in Spain. With pre-phylloxera 140 year-old tinta de toro vines, a clone of tempranillo, the wines are some of the most concentrated yet elegant on the planet. So successful is the Numanthia Toro project that luxury giant LVMH bought it earlier this year. Apart from their luxury fashion brands, LVMH also owns Krug, Yquem, Cloudy Bay and Dom Perignon; showing how highly regarded Numanthia is. We are therefore unlikely to receive the prices and allocations of Numanthia post 2006 (which we bought en-primeur). We tip the Numanthia 2005 a vintage to savour and an absolute must for any serious collector.

2004 in Spain was exceptional due to the consistent and dry summer; but all of our top wines are long gone (except the San Vicente and El Puntido). 2005 was lauded as being even better (most of Europe in 2005 is a dream) with a very dry summer and long ripening season. We find the wines to be generally more tannic and less refined as the stunning 2004s however. Expect the top wines to need a few years to settle and then a few decades to mature. The Rioja's again were great value from the entry-level Cosecha (R80) through to the Coleccion Privada (R300) at the top end. For a complete list of our Spanish wines, click here.

Also new this week is a revived brokerage page where we offer vintage South African wine from our stock as well as our clients. Over 300 local wines are on offer.

TORO

RIOJA

18 March 2008

Dear Wine Lover

No matter the state of the world-wide economy, fine wine from the Old-world is finite and has never seen such strong demand. 2005 Bordeaux and Burgundy has brought a new era in the world of fine wine especially with increased interest from the East; more serious buyers are entering the market pool each year. In our quest to offer the finest wines from Europe in South Africa, Wine Cellar has acquired the agency of Liger Belair, one of Burgundy's hottest new stars holding the famous monopole La Romanée. Bouchard Père et Fils have been selling La Romanée and the wine made from the other Liger-Belair vineyards under their own label for nearly 30 years now. The contract has ended and young Michel Liger Belair has taken control of the 0.84ha vineyard bordering Romanée Conti (within the same Clos, separated only by a small grassy pathway to the North!)

"The wines are already clearly delineated by taste according to vineyard and vintage - and positively vibrate with seriousness of intent. They are sturdy and will take time to show their worth and are likely to improve with every year's experience. But it is a significant compliment that Aubert de Villaine of the hallowed Domaine de la Romanée-Conti has nothing but praise for his young neighbour." Jancis Robinson MW Financial Times

The family's vineyard holdings were once prodigious. The Domaine was created in 1815 by Louis Liger-Belair, one of Napoleon's generals, who with his son Louis-Charles managed to amass 40 hectares of tip top vineyard, including sole ownership of La Tâche. But with little interest from the father, Comte Liger Belair, vineyards were sold-off. Whilst Michel's siblings opted for the money, it took immense passion from son Michel Liger Belair to get the Domaine back on track. Michel uses biodynamic practices and is one of only a handful of producers who owns his own horse for ploughing. Minimal intervention  in the vineyard and cellar is used of course.

Tasting the La Romanée was an experience itself. Even in the cold under-ground cellar, the aroma flirting from the Riedel glass was warming and absorbing. So small is the production, the remnants of my tasting glass were deposited safely back into barrel! You know you have tasted one of the finest wines in Burgundy when you have said your good-byes, are are driving back towards Beaune, and you can still taste the layers of wonderfully sweet fruit. For any wine enthusiast or collector, these are not to be missed and will likely sell on allocation for the future.

2006 Burgundy.

Yes, 2005 was a phenomenal vintage. In most parts of France the wine almost made itself! 2006 however is a vintage that highlights the good growers and the bad growers. If one didn't pay attention to vineyard management, wines can be a little dilute and simple. Its certainly more classic, but there is fabulous mixed berry fruit and certainly no shortage of ripeness. Similar perhaps to the 1996's, that have taken a decade to show their true form. Michel believes his 2006s to be better than his 2005s. Burgundy more so than in Bordeaux, one buys the producer, then the vineyard and finally the vintage.

5 March 2008

Dear Wine Lover

The airwaves have started buzzing with the release of the Bordeaux 2005s onto the world markets. Wine Spectator has just published a retasting, judging no less than eight 100/100 point wines! The vintage is described as being comparable to or better than 1982 and 1989 that have produced the best modern-day Bordeaux. James Suckling also mentions how accessible some of the wines are in their youth and how in 1983, the 1982's had a similar impression. Decanter has also announced 25 Decanter awards (18.5+/20) after their extensive retasting of the vintage.  This is by far the most awards ever given at any tasting by Decanter! The Wine Advocate is likely to have the 2005's re-rated after Parkers en-premier visit next month.

I tasted many of the 2005's and 2006's in Bordeaux a few weeks back and the hype is certainly warranted. There is no doubt that the 2005's are notably ripe and tannic, yet they have the elegance and class of benchmark Bordeaux. 2006 is not to be over-looked either, with similar ripeness in more classic and leaner skeleton. Some chateaux such as Mouton Rothschile made better wines in 2006. These are still available en-premier; please enquire for a list. Wine Cellar will be tasting the the first batch of 2005's next week (11th in JHB and 12th in Cape Town) with our reviews out on our next newsletter. The best part of all is that the 2005's were purchased before the Rand depreciated, thus offering the lowest possible price for the best vintage ever! See the list on our website.

There are a few notable releases of the 2008 Platter 5 Star wines. These quantities are extremely low, so please act quick!

28 February 2008

Dear Wine Lover

Two great evenings in Johannesburg and Cape Town with fine food allowed three world-leading wine-makers to show off their slate-driven wines. Getting these eccentric characters and their wine in the same place at the same time proved difficult but certainly well worth it. Why slate soils though? Slate soils have very little fertility and tend to make concentrated wines that are long-lived. This was certainly demonstrated and Wine Cellar offers the best of these fine wines as a pre-shipment offer arriving June 2008. Due to small allocations and global demand for these fine wines, these are likely to sell out pre-shipment.

Ernst Loosen in the Mosel and Dirk van Niepoort both have hundreds of years to tradition and old vineyards to craft terroir-driven wines. Without having that available in South Africa, Eben Sadie wanted to produce wines with tradition and old vines and thus turned to Priorat in 2000. Vineyards in all three areas are based on slate soils up to 120 years in age. All three wine-styles don't follow the mainstream of the area, with vineyard specific vinificaiton, less new oak, less extraction and fresher styles. They all have great longevity and maximum drinkability.

Dr Loosen - Mosel, Germany

Ernst Loosen is one of the few producers that vinifies each specific Riesling vineyard individually along all the predicate levels from Kabinett through to Trockenbeerenauslese. This makes for confusing purchasing if one doesn't know the system; grapes are vinified according to their ripeness, offering varying levels of sweetness and richness.

2006 was a warm, riper year with a high prevalence of botrytis. Sugar levels vary from around 50g/l in the Kabinett to 160g/l in the BA but they are all balanced by firm acidities. These have wonderful aging potential (shown on the evening by the 1981 Wehlener Sonnenuhr), as much as 40 years for the Auslese.

van Niepoort - Douro, Portugal

Our 2004's sold out quickly and with the great 2005 European vintage, demand across the world is massive. These are perhaps the most terroir-driven of all the wines with 85 identified grape varieties inter-planted with the Douro vineyards! Cuvee's are based on certain varieties, but the slate soil, vineyard age and style in the winery are of greater importance. The varieties in the reds are predominantly Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barocca and Tinta Roriz whilst the whites are mostly Cortega and Rabigato. Emphasis is based on freshness and whilst still being ripe, there is a great fineness and minerality.

Sadie Family - Priorat, Spain

Eben Sadies Dits del Terra, or Finger of the Earth in Catalan. All instruments and technology has been thrown out the winery in focusing on the terroir expression on the grape. Little new oak is used and the wines tend toward the 13.5% level as apposed to the common 16% level in Priorat.

20 February 2008

Dear Wine Lover

The Pavane is a single vineyard Syrah from Winemaker Chris Williams of the illustrious Meerlust Estate. Under the Foundry label, Chris keeps quantities at a hobby level. Fruit is sourced from various vineyards in the Cape, but his best Shiraz comes from one single vineyard in the Helderberg. Pavane is a classical composition by Gabriel Fauré from 1887 that is particularly resonating to Chris. Faure is also incidentally the family name of the vineyard owners from which the wine is made. We offer the 2004 single vineyard  Pavane Syrah exclusive to Wine Cellar that was first offered pre-release back in 2005. Only 3 barrels of this fine cuvee were made, so please act quickly to secure your allocation.

At a recent tasting of benchmark 2001 Syrah at Belthazar, the Foundry Syrah was standout as the finest wine and was highly praised by the panel. All the big names were in the line-up including Graillot Crozes-Hermitage and Peter Lehman Stonewell Shiraz. What made the Foundry so exciting was its freshness and elegance, whilst others seemed baked, sweet and tired. It reminded one of the Rhone, but had the opulence and fruit of the new-world. There was also plenty of life ahead.

6 February

Dear Wine Lover

It’s not easy to find Constantia Glen. Even though the vineyards are clearly visible from the southern suburbs, there isn’t a tasting centre or even any signage. The clear potential of the farm and enthusiasm of the staff make the discovery well worth it however and perhaps the scarcity of signage is reflected in their wines too. The latest Sauvignon Blanc 2007 sold out quickly on release, though not before Wine Cellar was able to secure a small allocation.

The saddle that makes the neck of the Constantiaberg plays a vital role in the quality of wine attainable on the farm. Whilst the rest of Constantia is shaded by 5pm, Constantia Glen remains in sun until 7pm. This adds vital ripening hours for grapes high in pyrazines, such as Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet. It's a compound that can offer a ‘green’ character leading to impurity and even bitterness. Pyrazines can be destroyed by sunlight, making bunch exposure vital in these grapes. The Constantia Glen Sauvignon Blanc thus tends more to the Loire than Grassy Constantia or fruity Stellenbosch styles. The style is not suited to competition-winning either; the elegance and restraint makes it is appear lean even though it has  excellent concentration and poise. The 2006 is starting to open-up beautifully showing its potential development ahead.

Another massive quality-driver are the low temperatures Constantia enjoys during ripening. Data on the farm shows an average for January of just above 20 degrees and only 1 spike to 30 degrees. Though a cooler vintage, this is closer to the Bordeaux climate than that of Stellenbosch!

Good sun exposure, cooler temperatures and skilled vineyard work by Karl Lambour and his team have also produced some breakthrough reds in 2007. Each of the 5 Bordeaux varieties are planted on the farm, and barrel samples to be blended and released at a later stage, have the opulence and structure of young Bordeaux combined with polished fruit. This Constantia Glen red is certainly going to turn heads.

17th JANUARY

Dear Wine Lover

One doesn't often look to South African whites for long term enjoyment. Zingy Sauvignon Blanc and full-fruited Chardonnay tend to be at their best short-term. Old-vine Chenin Blanc and blends thereof perhaps offer the best alternative, with more texture and structure for maturation and hence better complexity over the medium term. Another class that is often overlooked for their cellaring potential is Chardonnay and especially those made in the more classical style from cooler areas. A recent sampling of the Hamilton Russell 2001 Chardonnay is the proof in the pudding. This wine offers the complexity and freshness of fine Burgundy compounded with New World fruit at 7 years of age. And it has time left in it yet.

Kevin Grant, who incidentally was the winemaker of the Hamilton Russell 2001, now produces his own world-class Chardonnay under Ataraxia. "To my mind Chardonnay is the complete white grape variety." . "Life without Chardonnay is like not being able to breathe!" says Kevin, a man that has been committed to Chardonnay for 15 years. His non-interventional and minimalist approach has produced one of the most prodigious Chardonnays Wine Cellar has ever tasted in the 2007 vintage. A wine we believe should be to laid down for a few years and enjoyed through to 2015. There isn't much of this internationally demanded wine available, so please don't hesitate to order.

Ataraxia - “It’s a term used to describe emotional tranquility,” Kevin Grant

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9th JANUARY

Dear Wine Lover

Jörg Pfützner, Sommelier at Aubergine Restaurant in Cape Town, has brought together three of the most exciting wine-minds of our time to discover the wonders of slate and the wine it can produce. Dirk Niepoort, Dr Ernst Loosen and Eben Sadie each have drawn on their specific terroir in three countries to produce world-leading wines. We will taste their respective wines with a 7 course dinner in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Wine Cellar will be offering the wines presented on the evening and, judging on how quickly the Niepoort 2004's sold out as well as global interest on super premium wines, these wines will be in huge demand!

Slate is a plate-like rock that is formed when clay, shale, siltstone and other sediments are subjected to pressure. It warms up quickly, retains heat well and drains well to supports roots for nutrient delivery. Fine wines are best grown on infertile soils such as slate, allowing for the vine to struggle through development and concentrate its nutrients and flavours into the berries.

Niepoort, Douro, Portugal

Wine Spectator maintains, "Niepoort is to vintage port as Krug is to Champagne"! Dirk Niepoort is the innovator of table wines from one of the most exciting wine regions in today's wine world. Traditional varieties are crafted from old vines planted on the slate slopes that form a world heritage site. From the great value Vertente, through to the Redoma and finally the Charme which is considered by many as the best wine from Portugal. The phenomenal 2005 vintage will be tasted as a preview of what's landing later this year. 

Dr Loosen, Mosel, Germany

Here is a 200 year wine making history from one of the Mosel's most impressive producers. Ernst Loosen has been nominated 'Decanter Man of the Year' as well as IWSC's 'White wine maker of the year' in previous years. He has mastered ungrafted vines in some of the world's most exciting vineyards such as Bernkasteler and Wehlener Sonnerheur. Fewer wines can closely match their terroir as these Rieslings can. We will taste from Kabinett to Beerenauslese quality that will be beautifully matched with food.

Dits del Terra, Priorat, Spain

Literally meaning 'fingers of the earth', Dits del Terra is a wine innovated by Eben Sadie of Columella (Swartland) fame. Priorat can be likened to Burgundy with its small vineyard parcels, though planted with mostly old vine Grenache and Carignan. The licorella slate in Priorat is perhaps their largest terroir proponent. The 2003 Dits del Terra was nominated as 'Foreign wine of the year' by world renowned judge, Michel Bettane and his Desseavue le Grand Tasting held in Paris in 2006.

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