Miguel Chan Top 10 CWG wines of 2011

Miguel Chan Top 10 CWG wines of 2011



What makes a Top 10 wines out of a line’s up of 58 wines from some of South Africa’s finest site and winemakers?

Excellent purity of fruit, freshness, gentle extraction, ripe tannins, subtle oaking , balanced, aptitude for longevity, and overall complexity comparable to some of the world’s benchmark was what I was seeking for.

All wines were tasted sighted.

1 – Paul Cluver Estate The Wagon Trail Elgin Chardonnay 2009 93 Points


By far the best white wine of this year’s CWG line up, this is a chiseled Burgundian profile with an impressive citrus burst, leesy richness well frame in a tight mineral core, precise and linear, athletic.

Though seductive now, will start reaching it’s full stride around 2016, if you are patient enough and have the proper cellaring facilities will peak around 2022, until 2024.

26 cases on offer

2 - Cape Point Vineyards Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2010 93Points


Could have been the white wine of this year too, was very close, nevertheless this Graves like Sauvignon with elusive black currant leaf, grapefruit and green lime, the inclusion of 10% Semillon, lends a fullness to the mid palate, with a spicy persistent farewell, now until 2011 – 2024.
46 cases on offer


3 – Flagstone Happy Hour 2009 92 Points



If there is one element that jumps out of this wine is the sandy mineral and sea breeze character, so typical of the Elim provenance of the 57% Sauvignon Blanc and 29% Semillon, with the Elgin Viognier component lending some green pineapple note and full texture, screamingly complex, now until 2024
60 cases on offer

4 – Saronsberg Die Erf Tulbagh Grenache Noir 2010 92 Points


Revelation of this year’s lines up and the red wine of this 2011 auction, opulent, Satsuma plums, cedar note, with leathery richness yet well offset by a precise sappy freshness, impressive, now until 2017
26 cases on offer


5 – Paul Cluver Estate CWG Elgin Pinot Noir 2010 92 Points


Fragrant, Morello cherries, Burgundian palate restraint, crunchy with a mid palate stuffing, an understated intellectual Pinot, that is starting to get together, yet have the stamina to developed even more complex note, and can be cellared until 2021
40 cases on offer


6 – Spier Stellenbosch Pinotage 2009 92 Points


Some might criticize the richness and opulence of this wine, yet it conceal it’s 15.87 % ABV very well, showing ripe plums, lavender floral note, eucalyptus, a rich style with broad mouth feels, yet lively and fresh, perfect now until 2019
42 cases on offer


7 – De Trafford Sijnn Swellendam Touriga Nacional 2009 92 Points


The Douro valley greatest variety, either fortified as in Port or still. Here in it’s local interpretation, this is an exciting red from the newly created ward of Malgas near the mouth of the Breede River.
Revealing pure blackberry, cassis, savoury seaweedy note, linear, best revisited around 2015, should drink well until 2019
64 cases on offer

8 – Boekenhoutskloof Swartland Syrah Auction Reserve 2009 92 Points


From organically grown grapes, this Northern Rhone profile, reveal a kind of Cote Rotie style, seductive feminine texture, slight floral note, fresh, excellent purity, from now until 2021
30 cases on offer

9 – Ernie Els CWG 2009 91 Points


Expert blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Shiraz and 10 % Merlot, complex blackcurrant note, ripe, graphite layers, silky tannins, lush, polished style, impressive purity, best from 2015 until 2019
70 cases on offer

10 – Le Riche Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Auction Reserve 2008 91Points


The only member to have produce an auction wine continuously since 1985, this is a classically style Cabernet with textbook blackcurrant, cassis and graphite mineral note, cedar wood complexity, fresh and savory, pure, as great as a Cabernet should be! Now until 2021
96 cases on offer