A Trio of Brettanomyces, consumer need to be aware of.........

2006 Koelenbosch Stellenbosch Shiraz 59 Points
2006 Koelenbosch Stellenbosch Cape Blend 59 Points
2006 Koelenbosch Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 59 Points

This was quite an amazing tasting in a way that the 3 reds above all shows traces of Brettanomyces, although these wines are very good value at less than R 30 per bottle and hence will be the prime target of everyday wine drinkers, pensioners, and bistro's looking for a simple glass of wine with their meal, I still believe it is unfair on the consumers hard earn Rand they have to pay and drink wine with bacterial spoilage.

It's greatly time that South African wines having hints and traces of Brettanomyces should be exposed to the general public and HORECA buyers, because if South Africa want a strong wine drinking nation to emerge over the next 10 - 15 years, wines should be perfectly clean with no spoilage whatsoever, hence a zero tolerance policy towards Brettanomyces should prevail from all sector, very much like the Australian industry did 15 years ago, and they are reaping in the benefit with outstanding consumer support worldwide, it's greatly time that South African wineries plays the honest card and before bottling needs to ensure their wines are 100 % clean, if not please distilled the damn product and keep your wineries clinically clean at all time.

It is also rewarding that quite a few respected local wine publications are adopting a zero tolerance policy against brettanomyces, it's only very good for the future of wine enjoyment and education.

More to come on the subject of Brettanomyces as I have a few more wines tasted, which shows overt mousy and gamey character and quite a few at the high end of prices, in vino veritas.