Hartenberg Wine Estate has raked in no less than six
90+ ratings including the highest scoring South African Merlot in the
influential eRobertParker.com affiliated to Wine Advocate in the USA.
Impressed by the ability of Hartenberg winemaker Carl
Shultz to work with what is described as a "deceptively tricky variety”,
wine commentator Neal Martin says in his report on South African wines:
"here we find some scintillating Merlot varietals that really set the bar
in South Africa ".
Martin refers to the top scoring South African Merlot,
the Loam Hill Merlot 2009 made exclusively for the Cape Winemakers Guild
Auction, as "just a superb Merlot to cherish," awarding it 93 points,
followed by a score of 91 points for the Hartenberg Estate Merlot 2009.
Highly complimentary of Hartenberg’s white wines,
Martin describes them as “impressive Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay wines
crowed by a fantastic Riesling".
With scores of 91 points for both the Hartenberg
Estate Riesling 2010 and The Eleanor Chardonnay 2008, Martin pronounces the
wines respectively as "excellent" and "sophisticated". Not
to be outdone, the Hartenberg Estate Chardonnay 2009 and Sauvignon Blanc 2011
both cracked 90 points.
For Carl who celebrates his 20th harvest at Hartenberg
Estate this year, these accolades are a finite measure of quality. By
harnessing the very best from Hartenberg’s terroir and micro climates and
ageing his wines in the estate’s impressive underground maturation cellar, the
wines are able to reach their full potential prior to release.
