Cape Wine 2008 pays dividends(3)
31. Chamonix Pinot Noir Reserve, Franschoek, 2007, £11.99
“One of the most remarkable properties in the country (with three wines making the grade in my ‘long list’), this Pinot is every bit as alluring as the great wines from Otago and Mornington.”
32. FirstCape Limited Release Merlot, Western Cape, 2008, £5.99
“It’s hard enough to make inexpensive red wine at the best of times taste this good, but a Merlot? This is the Cape’s secret red weapon.“
33. Zorgvliet Silver Myn Cabernet Franc, Stellenbosch, 2006
“One of the great value reds on this list, performing miracles with another supposedly fussy grape. We need containers of this in the UK!”
34. Raats Cabernet Franc, Stellenbosch, 2007, £14.99
“I trembled with expectation when this wine was poured into my glass and then almost collapsed in joy when it gave me everything I was hoping for. Phew.”
35. Warwick Estate Trilogy, Stellenbosch, 2006, £18.99
“Trilogy is atoning down the hatches these days and this 2006 is firm and tense and in need of time. However, vigorous swirling reveals snippets of greatness to come. Just have patience.”
36. Vergelegen Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch, 2005, £13.99
“Staggering value and sizeable stock make this an omissible wine for both the enthusiastic restaurateur and avid collector.”
37. Rustenberg Peter Barlow, Stellenbosch, 2005, £23.50
“Rustenberg’s Flagship red can often seem brusque and uncommunicative in its youth, but this 2005 is positively magnetic and it radiates charm. This epic initial balance points towards a very long and successful life ahead.”
38. De Toren Fusion V, Stellenbosch, 2006, £23.00
“The bravest Fusion V ever, with lashings of tannin and gobs of structure. This is a brazen wine and it deserves to be feared and adored in equal measure. It will thrill you for years to come.”
39. Rust en Vrede Estate, Stellenbosch, 2004, £22.99
“With 30% Shiraz sneaking into this Cabernet/Merlot the complexity and bravado quotients is at an all time high here. One word - sensational.”
40. Vergelegen V, Somerset West, 2004, £49.99
“Still youthful and belligerent, 04V is a monolithic creation, but one that is up there with the world’s finest Cabernet blends.”
41. Eagle’s Nest Shiraz, Constantia, 2006, £13.91
“A shocker - great value, intense pepperiness, plum and damson fruit and all totally under control with genial tannins and calm alcohol - a result.”
42. Fairview Solitude/ Eenzaamheid Shiraz, Paarl, 2006, £16.99
“Solitude shows dramatic earthiness in place of honed fruit making it a less commercial proposition than many of Charles’s wines, but it is so much more intriguing for it.”
43. Boekenhoutskloof Syrah, Coastal Region, 2006, £25.00
“South Africa’s iconic Syrah might one day miss a beat, but I wouldn’t bet on it. 2006 is as good as it has ever been. A rare treat and a wine to cherish alongside your finest Crus.”
44. Luddite Shiraz, Stellenbosch, 2006, £19.00
“With lusty richness and handfuls of cocoa bean, mulberry and macerated cherry notes, this is a romper stomper of a Shiraz and one that wears its bulk and its bonhomie with style.”
45. Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards Syrah/ Mourv’edre, Tulbagh, 2005, £17.50
“One of the most enticing reds of the year, with just the perfect amount of Mourv’edre (13%) to darken and spice up the savoury Syrah.”
46. Spice Route Mourv’edre, Malmesbury, 2006, £9.99
“There are very few Mourvèdres outside of Provence that truly sing and this is one of them, with its dusty, damson and sloe fruit.”
47. Flagstone Writer’s Block Pinotage, Western Cape, 2006, £14.99
“The most expressive Writer’s Block ever has me gushing thank goodness. Seamless, hedgerow and boot polish notes bombard your palate and there isn’t a touch of unwanted earthiness in sight.”
48. L’Avenir Grand Vin Pinotage, Stellenbosch, 2006, £25.99
“With almost Barolo-like, enigmatic flair, this distinguished Pinotage stalks your taste buds one by one, converting every one in its path to its cause.”
49. Ken Forrester T Noble Late Harvest, Stellenbosch, 2007, £14.95
“It has so much class and breeding that it never once breaks into full on sweetie mode, preferring to hint and tempt with flashes of honey and tropical fruit and then moments of crunchy nut and brittle toffee - rapture!”
50. Paul Cluver Weisser Riesling Noble Late Harvest, Elgin, 2007, £9.99
“This is not only South Africa’s most celebrated sweet Riesling, it is also one of the world’s most beautifully balanced sweet wines.”
