Tsogo Sun celebrates World Champagne Day

Delighting in a glass, or two, of champagne on the 23^rd October 2015, is compulsory! World Champagne Day is the perfect ‘excuse’ for indulging in an evening of romance or celebration. The best news of all is you don’t have to rent a limousine en route to a fine French restaurant to impress your loved one – you can find all the ingredients of an evening to remember at the Southern Sun Hyde ParkSandton, who is joining the rest of the globe in the World Champagne Day celebrations.

Tsogo Sun Group Sommelier Miguel Chan pouring Louis Roederer Vintage Rose 2010

There is no other drink that captures the romance and joy of a single moment as when the seal of a bottle of authentic champagne is broken. The cork pops, the bubbles fizz and the wine bursts out of the bottle with passion. The importance of the bubbles which has romanced many champagne lovers for centuries should not be underestimated – in fact scientists proved that there are millions of bubbles per flute of bubbly and these delightful pockets of air contributes to the look, taste, aroma and mouth feel of champagne. So it is completely natural to experience sensory overload when taking a sip of your champagne.

Champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne. At Tsogo Sun you can enjoy the real thing from the historic province of Champagne, in the northeast of France, and you can tantalise your taste buds for a fraction of the normal cost associated with the finest French champagnes.

Miguel Chan presenting Veuve Clicquot Rich 

Tsogo Sun now offers the opportunity to enjoy the finest champagnes available at the best price value in South Africa.  Harnessing the Group's considerable purchasing power, Tsogo Sun has negotiated the very best prices you'll find for champagne at any hotel, restaurant or retail store in South Africa. Enjoy Dom Perignon, Veuve Cliquot or Moët & Chandon at various Tsogo Sun properties including the Southern Sun Hyde Park Sandton, 54 on Bath, Beverly Hills, InterContinental OR Tambo, InterContinentalJohannesburg Sandton Towers, the Palazzo, Sandton Sun and Suncoast Towers.

You'll also find your favourite champagne, including Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial starting at R680 and Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Yellow Label starting at R765, at selected Tsogo Sun hotels nationwide, including Southern Sun Hyde Park Sandton, Southern SunMontecasino, Southern Sun The Cullinan, Southern Sun Waterfront CapeTown,  Southern Sun Cape Sun, Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani, Southern Sun Gold Reef City, Southern Sun Emnotweni, Southern Sun Newlands, Southern Sun O.R. Tambo International Airport, Southern Sun Pietermaritzburg, Southern Sun Pretoria, Southern Sun Bloemfontein and SunSquare Montecasino.

Whether it is a specific celebration or just because you adore champagne – treat yourself to the only one true Champagne, from the beautiful region near Paris – now conveniently available at selected Tsogo Sun properties!

Tsogo Sun proudly encompasses over 90 hotels and 14 casinos and entertainment destinations in South Africa, Africa, the Seychelles and Abu Dhabi.

For more information visit tsogosun.com, follow on Twitter and Instagram @TsogoSun or Facebook /TsogoSun

Ends

About Tsogo Sun

Tsogo Sun is the leading hotels, gaming and entertainment company in South Africa, providing a variety of hospitality and exciting entertainment and leisure experiences. Combining an established heritage with a professional and energised approach, the group proudly encompasses 14 casinos and over 90 hotels in South Africa, Africa, the Seychelles and Abu Dhabi.

The company’s hospitality interests offer a wide distribution of hotels in Africa, providing world-class accommodation across all markets, including elegant, individually branded luxury hotels and well-known trusted market leaders in the premier through budget segments, including Southern Sun Hotels, Garden Court, SunSquare, StayEasy and SUN1 hotels.

The exciting urban and resort casino portfolio includes the most popular entertainment destinations, strategically located throughout South Africa. In the Gauteng province, Tsogo Sun owns the group’s flagship property, Montecasino in Fourways, which features, amongst other attractions, the award-winning Teatro; Gold Reef City Casino and Theme Park in Southern Johannesburg; and Silverstar Casino to the West in Krugersdorp. Additional properties are owned and operated in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, including the jewel on Durban’s Golden Mile, Suncoast Casino, Hotels and Entertainment.

Tsogo Sun Citizenship is the group’s corporate citizenship strategy which encompasses three areas of focus. This includes Corporate Social Investment, whereby the group promotes the development of learners through three academies which offer holistic, full-year programmes centred around sport, art and education; Entrepreneur Development which focuses on skills-based entrepreneurial development through its Tsogo Sun Book a Guesthouse and Supplier Development programmes; and Environmental Education, committed to initiatives that reduce the impact the business has on the environment.

Tsogo Sun (“TSH”) is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.  The key shareholders of Tsogo Sun are Hosken Consolidated Investments Limited (“HCI”), a JSE listed investment holding company.

Tsogo Sun Gaming supports the National Responsible Gambling Programme. Winners know when to stop.  Only persons over the age of 18 are permitted to gamble. National Problem Gambling counselling toll-free helpline: 0800 006 008 FREE.

For more information go to tsogosun.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @TsogoSun or like us on Facebook

Tsogo Sun biggest buyer at prestigious South African wine auctions for second consecutive year

Miguel Chan with Ravi Nadassen

For the second consecutive year Tsogo Sun has taken top honours for total wines purchased by a single bidder at the prestigious Nederburg and Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) Auctions.

Tsogo Sun contributed 10.4% to total wine sales at the Nederburg Auction and their spend of over R2 million at the CWG Auction reflects an 18.35% contribution to sales.

The Tsogo Sun delegation (Miguel Chan, Tsogo Sun group sommelier; Georgio Meletiou, Western Cape regional sommelier; operation directors John van Rooyen and Ravi Nadasen; and Garry Reed, SouthernSun The Cullinan general manager) purchased a range of predominantly red wines at the Nederburg Auction with a significant spend of R496 000 for 1704 bottles of the Nederburg Private Bin R181 Merlot 2006. “Merlot is our best selling and most popular red varietal, and we have selected an exceptional and rare wine, made exclusively for the auction, to showcase on our wine lists at less than R 490 per bottle”, said Miguel Chan.

At the CWG Auction Tsogo Sun secured full exclusivity of the world class Saronsberg Die Erf Tulbagh Shiraz 2013 and the Paul Cluver Estate Auction Reserve Pinot Noir 2013 with their purchase of 180 bottles of each. 

Tsogo Sun guests can expect to experience the following wineries’ best wines on the “South Africa’s Finest Wines” page of the wine list by December: Ataraxia, Beyerskloof, Boplaas, Bouchard Finlayson, Cape Point Vineyards, Cederberg, De Grendel, De Trafford, De Wetshof, ErnieEls, Graham Beck, Groot Constantia, Hartenberg, Jordan, Kanonkop, KenForrester, Kleine Zalze, Le Riche, Louis Nel, Meerlust, Mullineux & LeeuFamily, Neil Ellis, Rijk’s, Stellenrust, Strydom Family, Tokara and Vriesenhof.

“Our overall selection this year is part of our long-term strategy and investment into a collection of the finest and most sought after South African wines”, said Chan.

Tsogo Sun’s purchases were led by the group’s strategy to set auction wine prices on their wine lists very competitively close to retail prices, to ensure they are accessible and appealing to a wide audience of wine lovers. “Our performance at both auctions is a strong reflection of Tsogo Sun’s ongoing commitment to the food and beverage component of our business. We have handpicked an outstanding selection of wines at the best possible prices to enhance the dining experience for our guests”, commented Ravi Nadasen.

To further enhance this dining experience, Tsogo Sun sommeliers offer guests a personalized service to select the right auction wine pairing for their meals. The group is also focused on training staff in their various properties and restaurants to offer this bespoke, knowledgeable service.

The auction wines will be available on the wine lists of selected Tsogo Sun hotels and destination restaurants nationwide. In Gauteng this includes Southern Sun Hyde Park Sandton, 54 on Bath, SandtonSun, Riffs at Garden Court Sandton City, InterContinental Sandton Towers, Intercontinental OR Tambo Airport, Southern Sun OR Tambo Airport, and at five Montecasino outlets, namely The Palazzo, Southern Sun Montecasino and Aarya atSunSquare Montecasino, along with two new restaurants, Jenda and Café Cru, and Gold Reef City. In the Western Cape, the wines will be available at SouthernSun The Cullinan, Southern Sun Waterfront and Southern Sun Cape Sun, and in Durban at the Beverly Hills, Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani and The Grill Jichana.

Tsogo Sun’s portfolio includes over 90 hotels and 14 casino and entertainment destinations throughout South Africa, Africa, the Seychelles and Abu Dhabi. For further information, visit tsogosun.com , like on Facebook /TsogoSun or follow on Twitter @TsogoSun

ENDS

ISSUED BY TSOGO SUN HOLDINGS. FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT:

Priya Naidoo  | General Manager- Group Communications | Tel: 011 510 7583 | Fax: 011 510 7231 |Cell: 084 440 0022

About Tsogo Sun

Tsogo Sun is the leading hotels, gaming and entertainment company in South Africa, providing a variety of hospitality and exciting entertainment and leisure experiences. Combining an established heritage with a professional and energised approach, the group proudly encompasses 14 casinos and over 90 hotels in South Africa, Africa, and the Seychelles.

The company’s hospitality interests offer a wide distribution of hotels in Africa, providing world-class accommodation across all markets, including elegant, individually branded luxury hotels and well-known trusted market leaders in the premier through budget segments, including Southern Sun Hotels, Garden Court, SunSquare, StayEasy and SUN1 hotels.

The exciting urban and resort casino portfolio includes the most popular entertainment destinations, strategically located throughout South Africa. In the Gauteng province, Tsogo Sun owns the group’s flagship property, Montecasino in Fourways, which features, amongst other attractions, the award-winning Teatro; Gold Reef City Casino and Theme Park in Southern Johannesburg; and Silverstar Casino to the West in Krugersdorp. Additional properties are owned and operated in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, including the jewel on Durban’s Golden Mile, Suncoast Casino, Hotels and Entertainment.

Tsogo Sun’s philosophy of sustainability has seen the group structuring its support of the communities in which it operates into three main pillars of investment. This includes Corporate Social Investment, whereby the group promotes the development of learners through three academies which offer holistic, full-year programmes centred around sport, art and education; Enterprise Development which focuses on skills-based entrepreneurial development through its Tsogo Sun Book a Guesthouse and Supplier Development programme; and Environmental Management, committed to initiatives that reduce the impact the business has on the environment.

Tsogo Sun (“TSH”) is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.  The key shareholders of Tsogo Sun are HoskenConsolidated Investments Limited (“HCI”), a JSE listed investment holding company.

Tsogo Sun Gaming supports the National Responsible Gambling Programme. Winners know when to stop.  Only persons over the age of 18 are permitted to gamble. National Problem Gambling counselling toll-free helpline: 0800 006 008.

The Palazzo hotel presents an exclusive wine pairing evening, in conjunction with De Grendel

With their first vintage in 2004, De Grendel have established themselves as one of South Africa’s best Sauvignon and Merlot producer with an amazing consistency, at the helm is their cellar master Charles Hopkings, the “Gentle Giant”, however one of their best kept secret offerings is their MCC Brut which since their maiden vintage in 2007, have established De Grendel as the undisputed MCC producer of the Durbanville Ward, with a string of awards confirming their pedigree as one of Cape best new wave bottle fermented sparkling wine producer.

De Grendel MCC Brut is a fine showcase of subtlety between Chardonnay and Pinot, an extravagant wine in every sense of word, it is perfect anytime or whenever celebration calls.

Join us for the evening, where we will pair a once off four vintages (2013, 2012, 2010 and 2009) of their MCC’s never shown in Johannesburg before, with a 5 course dinner prepared by our Executive Chef Gerard Vingerling.

We will also showcase their new Op Die Berg Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Ceres Plateau, South Africa’s newest, high altitude, continental wine region.

We will end the dinner with three exclusive Nespresso Grand Cru coffee from single plantation of origin, namely a Lungo from Guatemala, Espresso from Brazil and Ristretto from India

The evening will be presented by Christelle van Niekerk and our Group Sommelier Miguel Chan.

Date:   Wednesday 4 November 2015

Time:  18h30 for 1900

Venue:  Rosa at the Palazzo

Price per person R525 inclusive

Full prepayment and booking essential | Limited seating

#TsogoWine

Tsogo Sun biggest buyer for the second consecutive year at Cape Winemakers Guild 2015

Record prices at 31^st Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction

Issued by: GC Communications, on behalf of Cape Winemakers Guild

South African wines triumphed at the 31^st Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction at Spier in the Stellenbosch Winelands over the weekend with new record prices for both red and white wines and the average price per case up by almost 10% on last year.

Showing its prowess once again as a showcase of top South African wines the auction achieved total sales of R11 815 800 just short of the R11,9 million in 2014 despite smaller volumes with 264 fewer cases this year. 

A case of six bottles of Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2012 fetched the highest price ever paid for a red wine at the auction with a top bid of R12 200. White wine prices also soared with AABadenhorst Family Wines Graniet-Berg 2013 setting a new auction record of R7 000 for a case of six. Records tumbled from the very first wine to go under the hammer and the auction continued its winning streak with keen bidding until the very end. 

Tsogo Sun was the biggest buyer for the second consecutive year with total purchases of over R2 million. Other top buyers included The Butcher Shop and Grill, RestaurantMosaic, Rouseu Wijnen of Belgium, Singita and a number of private collectors.

“The auction results this year are testament to not only the quality of South African wines but also to the progress our wine industry has made. The perceived value of our auction wines as borne out in the high prices achieved again this year are a further endorsement of the excellent reviews the industry received after Cape Wine 2015,” says Andries Burger, Chairman of the Cape Winemakers Guild.

He pointed out that the Cape Winemakers Guild had a much broader focus than just its annual auction: “Through our auction events we have been able to plough back into the industry by raising over R1,6 million this year alone to support transformation and the development of talented young winemakers and viticulturists through the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust and our Protégé Programme.”

This year no less than six red wines fetched higher prices than last year’s record of R8 600 per case. Hartenberg CWG Auction Shiraz 2013 peaked at R11 000, Boekenhoutskloof SyrahAuction Reserve 2013 sold for R10 000, Etienne Le Riche Cabernet SauvignonAuction Reserve 2011 for R9 600, and Beyerskloof Traildust Pinotage 2013 and Rust en Vrede CWG Estate 2012 both on R9 200. Amongst the whites four beat last year’s record high including Ataraxia Under the Gavel Chardonnay 2014 at R6 400, the AA Badenhorst Family Wines “Geel-Kapel” Muscat de Frontignan 2013 at R6 000, and Jordan Chardonnay Auction Selection 2014 at R5 800.

The auction, conducted by Henré Hablutzel of Hofmeyr Mills Auctioneers for the 18^th consecutive year, attracted a total of 153 buyers comprising 131 local and 22 foreign buyers. In total 2 569 cases (6 x 750ml equivalent) were sold at an average price of R4 599 per case and an average price per bottle of R767.

The lineup of 55 wines included 34 red wines, 17 white wines, 3 Méthode Cap Classique and a dessert wine.

The bulk of the wines, 84%, was snatched up by local buyers with 16% bought by foreigners – 6% more than last year.Amongst the foreign buyers, the most bids came from Germany followed by Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands.

Over and above the main auction, a record amount of R231 500 was raised on the day in aid of the Cape Winemaker’s Guild Protégé Programme, a mentorship initiative for young, upcoming winemakers and viticulturists. This year’s special item sold at the Charity Auction, a one-of-a-kind 18-litre 2013 Members’ Reserve comprising a blend of top wines from all 46 members of the Guild, was purchased for R40 000.

For further information visit www.capewinemakersguild.com or contact the Guild Office on Tel: 021 852 0408 or email info@capewinemakersguild.com

CWG 2015 report - Whites & Sweet

CWG 2015 report

In August I tasted blind, through the complete range of this year Cape Winemakers Guild Auction wines, using MC 100 Points scoring method.

MCC Sparkling Wines

Graham Beck Wines CWG Pieter Ferreira Non Plus Ultra MCC Brut, Western Cape 2008

Color still youthful, pale straw, Chardonnay austerity, delicately ripe, lime, lemon and toasted almonds note, pure, structured and fresh, broad texture, plush with a nutty mid palate, Pinot fruit on texture, saline, smoky farewell, persistent.

Drink: 2018 until 2026+

480 bottles produced | 92 Points MC

Silverthorn Wines CWG John Loubser Big Dog MCC Brut 2010

Austere, unshowy, but wait for the palate, this is an exceptionally pure offering with bright citrus burst on the lean texture, need time to fill up, subtle notes of matchstick, requires patience.

Drink: 2019 – 2028+

Chardonnay 60% - Pinot Noir 40%

366 bottles produced | 92 Points MC

Villiera CWG Jeff Grier Meteor MCC, Stellenbosch 2008

Blend dominated by Chardonnay, showing citrus, lime and orange note, ripe profile with good purity, fine development and depth, resulting from 5 years on lees , bready, flinty, chalky complexity, plush, honeyed, rich style with generous dosage of 7g/l, yet structured, fresh, elegant, persistent length

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier

Drink: 2015 - 2021

780 bottles produced | 91 Points MC

  

White Blends and Other’s

AA Badenhorst Family Wines CWG Adi Badenhorst Graniet-Berg 2013

Clear, pale straw, oxidative style, yet clean, good purity, apple, peach and citrus, touch of floral camomile note, profiling reminds me of a cross between Spanish and Portuguese white, structured and rich with phenolic broadness, generous mouth feels, alcohol noticeable though, full style.

Drink: 2015 - 2022

75% Swartland Roussanne & 25% Voor Paardeberg Grenache Blanc

300 bottles produced | 90 Points MC

Cape Point Vineyards CWG Duncan Savage Auction White 2014

Pale straw with yellow reflections, delicately pure, spicy grassy Semillon character dominant, lemon, cling peach, does not have the intensity of previous vintages, reflective of 2014, lean profile with fresh and elegant juicy note, saline.

Sauvignon Blanc 51% - Semillon 49%

Drink: 2015 - 2021

360 bottles produced | 91 Points MC

Lanner Hill CWG Nicky Versfeld Darling Semillon Double Barrel White 2014

Pale green, oxidative style with fragrant peach, papaya, unusual cheesecake and yoghurt notes, subtle citrus, tangerine, touch of oak, spicy musk, juicy, plush and generous, structured and rich, full style with substantial fruit.

Drink: 2015 - 2018

480 bottles produced | 92 Points MC

Mullineux CWG Andrea Mullineux ‘The Gris’ Swartland Semillon 2014

Pale green, Old World profile, subtle citrus, unusually Chablis like, perfume, complex gravelly note, lead pencil and wet sea shells, nutty mid palate, structured, need time to fill up

Drink: 2015 - 2020

498 bottles produced | 90 Points MC

Sijnn CWG David Trafford !Uri, Malgas 2014

Southern Rhone profiling with seductive fragrant ripe Viognier evident, stone fruit, dried pears, orange, papaya and lemon, floral Muscat note, musk, sweet oak, good purity, graphite, light smoke, juicy and generous texture, unusually tannic, (not phenolic ) for a white wine, mealy.

Drink: 2015 - 2018

Viognier 55% - Chenin Blanc 35% - Roussanne 10%

282 bottles produced | 88 Points MC

Chardonnay

Ataraxia CWG Kevin Grant Under The Gavel Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge Chardonnay 2014

Pale straw, unshowy, subtle and pure, confident style, perfect oaking, savory lemon and orange peel notes, structured bright freshness, lots of energy, racy, linear, saline texture, precise and crystalline, tight, need time, perfect showcase.

Drink: 2019 – 2021+

366 bottles produced | 93 Points MC

Bouchard Finlayson CWG Peter Finlayson Auction Reserve Estate Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Chardonnay 2012

Good purity of fruit, citrus and orange segments, flinty, smoky, matchstick, kind of Meursault like aromatics, fresh and elegant texture, subtle oaking, at peak now, persistent length

Drink: 2015 - 2016

1140 bottles produced | 91 Points MC

Jordan CWG Gary Jordan Stellenbosch Chardonnay Auction Selection 2014

Straw, oxidative, good purity and appley, lots of citrus and ripe apples, peaches and apricot, broad texture and rich, honeyed mid palate. Seductive now.

Drink: 2015 – 2017+

924 bottles produced | 89 Points MC

Paul Cluver CWG Andries Burger The Wagon Trail Elgin Chardonnay 2014

Pale bright, crystalline, delicately fragrant, ripe tangerine and citrus notes, touch of oak, racy lots of energy, juicy and engaging, generous offerings, structured broad and spicy, flinty, persistent length

Drink: 2015 - 2024

540 bottles produced | 93 Points MC

Waterford Estate CWG Kevin Arnold Stellenbosch Chardonnay Auction Selection 2011

Pale straw, advanced color, Burgundian, leaning towards Meursault profiling, lifted, very ripe, touch of botrytis, citrus, lemony, peach and apricot, hazelnut, floral, jasmine, oaky, grilled nuts, flinty, fresh, elegant, spicy, long, peaking now.

Drink: 2015 – 2018+

480 bottles produced | 91 Points MC

Chenin Blanc

Miles Mossop CWG Saskia-Jo Swartland Chenin Blanc 2014

Bright pale straw, expressive and ripe, grassy, citrus, peach, mint and fennel, subtle, kind of Burgundy meet Loire in profile, some pyrazines, structured, bright and racy yet plush, spicy.

Drink: 2015 – 2020

85% Chenin Blanc – 15% Clairette Blanche

540 bottles produced | 92 Points MC

Mullineux CWG Andrea Mullineux Trifecta Swartland Chenin Blanc 2013

Pale straw, oxidative, Manzanilla note, confident style, ripe apples, juicy yet lean structure, nutty, white hazelnuts, racy energy, savory, textured and broad, layered, complete, salivating saline, long length.

Drink: 2015 - 2021

420 bottles produced | 93 Points MC

Sauvignon Blanc

Bartho Eksteen CWG Vloekskoot Bo Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Sauvignon Blanc Wooded 2014

Fragrant peach notes, ripe and generous, toasty oak, touch of musk spice, judicious profile straddling between New Zealand’s pyrazine style with France flinty character and South African opulence, the structure is crisp and lean, racy, linear, nuttiness derived from the oak maturation, racy freshness, persistent length.

Drink: 2015 - 2026

450 bottles produced | 93 Points MC

De Grendel CWG Charles Hopkins Coastal Region Wooded Sauvignon Blanc 2015

Fragrant, ripe, pure expressive style, delicate with kelp notes, subtle touch of oak, structured mouth feels with pithy grapefruit, elegant, racy and spicy, orange tang

Drink: 2015 - 2018

306 bottles produced | 92 Points MC

Louis Nel CWG “A Thousand Kisses Deep” Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2015

Pale green reflections, crystalline, pure, delicate, green apple note, spicy pears, saline, good energy.

Drink: 2015 - 2016

480 bottles produced | 90 Points MC

Nitida CWG Bernhard Veller Durbanville Sauvignon Blanc Barrel Twenty Eight 2014

Expressive, pure, ripe Sauvignon with fine combination of stone fruit and pungent pyrazine, kind of New Zealand’s style grassiness, nettles, green kiwi, passion fruit and citrus, juicy, plush savory texture with a spicy farewell, saline, faintest touch of oak, persistent length.

Drink: 2015 - 2019

300 bottles produced | 91 Points MC

Sweet

AA Badenhorst Family Wines CWG Adi Badenhorst ‘Geel-Kapel” Swartland Muscat de Frontignan 2013

Since I was tasting the line up blind, it was obvious this advance color offering with it’s hazy and cloudy gold hue was an unstable and not clean wine.

Oxidative, stemmy with beer yeast note, kind of IPA style craft beer, notes of orange peel, floral, rose buds, musk, high alcohol evident, lean, yeasty and nutty on texture, tannic, phenolic, flat, individual style, this is a highly controversial wine, IMHO, not worthy being on the auction, considering the very high standards of sound winemaking that have generally prevails over the last 3 decades.

By offering a wine like this the CWG have potentially open a back door, for possible mediocrity in the future!  Simply put, cloudy and unstable wine, does not have it’s place at that level of precision.

I have looked at every possible angle, I just can’t place this wine anywhere, there is simply no benchmark anywhere in the world that it can relate to.

I am all for naturalness in wine, more especially from a viticultural perspective but when one is paying an average price of R 352 per bottle over the last 11 years, this is a gamble, not worthy of investing in!

This kind of offering is dangerous and does not do justice to Swartland as a region, guys have to be careful, not to cast doubt in consumer’s mind.

Generous 79 for those who thinks it’s acceptable to drink funky wine, but a solid 59 points for its unstable faulty conditions.

360 bottles produced | 59 / 79 Points MC

Boplaas CWG Carel Nel Ouma Cloete Calitzdorp Viognier Straw Wine 2013

Advanced color, gold yellow, with touches of botrytis, raisin, dried peach and apricot, sweet but not cloying, honeyed, cashmere texture, elegant, could do with brighter acidity, fine effort nevertheless, it will age because of the relatively high residuals.

Drink: 2015 – 2030+

798 bottles produced | 89 Points MC