Buying guide: White blends
Key findings: This category includes some of the most exciting wines currently emerging from South Africa, but is inordinately difficult to judge, requiring panel members to move from Bordeauxstyle blends that are typically tight and focused to Mediterranean-style wines that are rich and broad to everything in between.
The problem is compounded by the fact that there can be few categories where wines are made across such a wide span of price-points. Included in the line-up are generic dry and off-dry wines positioned at entry-level through to carefully imagined wines from some of South Africa’s best winemakers which consequently carry ultra-premium price tags. The entry-level stuff is often clean and tidy, the more ambitious wines sometimes idiosyncratic and not obvious.
What cannot be tolerated however is the number of wines which compromise end-of-harvest left-overs, tank-ends chucked together with little care resulting in wines of very little distinction. White blends could become a great selling proposition for South Africa but need to be made with serious intent. “It might be fashionable to make wines in an oxidative style, but plain oxidised is not acceptable,” as panellist and Diemersdal winemaker Thys Louw observed.
The feeling among the panel was that Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blends were the strongest sub-class overall, if only just. It was speculated that this was due partly to the generally high quality of the two component grape varieties and partly to more precise technique on the part of winemakers.
A special plea was also made for wines containing a portion of Gewürztraminer, these wines typically very aromatic on the nose with some sweetness on the palate. “These sort of wines might not be hugely fashionable at the moment but they have their place, pairing well with fusion food for instance,” said James Pietersen, panellist and beverage manager for Cape Town restaurants Balducci’s and Belthazar.
★ ★ ★ ★
Flagstone CWG Happy Hour
2009* (Constellation Wines SA)
AUCTION WINE: R200
Alc 14.11% RS 2g/ TA 7g/ pH 3.36
Sauv, Sem, Viog. Green melon and a
subtle herbaceous note on the nose. The
palate is rich but balanced with good
fruit expression and tangy acidity. Intense
paprika flavour. Drink now – 2014.
CE 18 | CA 18 | TL 17.5 | MW 17.5 | JP 18
★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Viljoensdrift
Driftwood Dry White NV*
CELLAR PRICE: R19.50
Alc 12.5% RS 3.88g/TA 6.01g/pH 3.54
Sauv, Sem. Lime and some gravel-road
dustiness on the nose. Palate shows clean,
pure fruit and a good line of acidity. Wellbalanced,
understated wine. Drink now.
CE 16.5 | CA 16 | TL 16.5 | MW 17 | JP 18
Bloemendal
BloemenBlanc 2010*
CELLAR PRICE: R45
Alc 15% RS 2.39g/ TA 5.6g/ pH 3.48
Sauv, Sem. Apricot and gooseberries on
the nose. The palate is rich, ripe and
smooth-textured with gentle acidity. Range
of flavour from green through to tropical
fruit. Drink now – 2012.
CE 19 | CA 17 | TL 16.5 | MW 17 | JP 16
Zevenwacht
The Tin Mine 2009*
CELLAR PRICE: R50
Alc 14.32% RS 4g/ TA 6.1g/ pH 3.28
Chard, Viog, Rouss, Chenin. Touch of
honey on otherwise shy nose. The palate
is rich and sweet-fruited with flavours of
peach and apricot. Bright acidity lends
balance. Drink now – 2012.
CE 16 | CA 17 | TL 17 | MW 17 | JP 17.5
Painted Wolf Lekanyane
Cape Blend 2009*
CELLAR PRICE: R75
Alc 14.36% RS 5g/ TA 6.3g/ pH 3.27
Chenin, Viog, Verd. Hint of honey on
otherwise shy nose. Complex palate showing
yellow fruit, honey, spice and some
nuttiness. Rich and full but balanced by
good acidity. Drink now – 2012.
CE 16.5 | CA 17 | TL 17.5 | MW 16.5 | JP 17.5
Nativo White 2009*
(The Hughes Family Wines)
APROXIMATE RETAIL PRICE: R84
Alc 14.5% RS 5g/ TA 6.3g/ pH 3.2
Chenin, Viog, Verd. Peach and some
nuttiness on the nose. The palate is rich
and viscous with layers of flavour. Bright
acidity lends balance. Drink now – 2012.
CE 17 | CA 18.5 | TL 17.5 | MW 18 | JP 17.5
Sumaridge Maritimus 2009
CELLAR PRICE: R110
Alc 13.8% RS 2.7g/ TA 7.2g/ pH 3.08
Sauv, Chard, Sem. Oak and some leesy
character on the nose. Juicy fruit and
bright acidity on the palate. Oak still
needs to marry. Drink 2011 – 2014.
CE 16 | CA 18 | TL 16.5 | MW 17.5 | JP 16.5
Nitida Coronata 2009*
CELLAR PRICE: R115
Alc 13.57% RS 2.1g/ TA 6g/ pH 3.4
Sauv, Sem. Complex nose showing fynbos,
gravel-road dustiness and some fragrance.
The palate is elegant with good balance
between fruit, acidity and oak. Pure and
focused. Drink now – 2014.
CE 19 | CA 18 | TL 16 | MW 17 | JP 15
Nitida Coronata
Integration 2009*
CELLAR PRICE: R115
Alc 13.85% RS 1.7g/ TA 5.8g/ pH 3.4
Sauv, Sem. A subtle herbal note and some
oak spice on the nose. The palate shows
good flavour concentration and a smooth
texture. Flavours of tangerine, green
melon and paprika. Long fi nish. Drink
now – 2014.
CE 17 | CA 16 | TL 18 | MW 17.5 | JP 16.5
Strandveld Adamastor 2009
CELLAR PRICE: R115
Alc 13.5% RS 2.1g/ TA 6.3g/ pH 3.39
Sem, Sauv. Forthcoming nose showing
aromas of fynbos and asparagus. The
palate shows juicy fruit and wonderfully
vibrant acidity. Flavours of citrus, green
apple and paprika. Drink now – 2014.
CE 17 | CA 18 | TL 16 | MW 17.5 | JP 15.5
★ ★ ★ ★
Simonsig Adelblanc Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon 2010* R34
Jason’s Hill Wooded White 2010 R35
Laibach The Ladybird White 2009* R63
Bellpost C’est La Vie 2009 ARP R72.50
Graham Beck Chalkboard 2009* R80
Alvi’s Drift CVC 2008* R88
Bellingham
Fair Maiden 2008 (DGB) ARP R89.99
Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve 2009*
(Constellation Wines SA)
Wine of the Month Club R129.95
Tullie Family Vineyards
The Yair 2009 R130
Nederburg Ingenuity 2009 R155
Sterhuis Astra 2008 R250
★ ★ ★ ✩
Balance Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2010*
(Overhex Wines International) R22
Zevenwacht Bouquet Blanc Muscat de
Frontignan Gewürztraminer 2010* R32
Weltevrede River’s Edge
Tricolore White 2009* R38
Vondeling Petit Blanc 2010* R49.90
Vondeling Babiana 2008* R78
The Berrio The Weathergirl 2009* R80
Trizanne Signature Wines
Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2009* R83.50
Virgin Earth Succulent 2008
(Du Plessis Family Wines) R85
Alvi’s Drift SVC 2009* R88
Spier Creative Block 2 2010* R89
La Ferme Derik Vivace 2009 R90
Ormonde Proprietor’s Blend 2009 R90
Bosman Family Vineyards
Adama 2010 R95
KWV The Mentors Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon 2009* R110
Zorgvliet Simoné 2009* R125
Backsberg Babylons Toren
White 2009* R131
Tokara Director’s Reserve 2008* R135
Lomond Snowbush 2007* ARP R137
Lomond Snowbush 2008* ARP R137
Lomond Snowbush 2009* ARP R137
Steenberg Woolworths Reserve Sauvignon
Blanc Semillon 2009 ARP R145
Hermanuspietersfontein
Die Bartho 2009* R150
Rall White 2009 ARP R160
Cape Point Vineyards Isliedh 2009 R250
The Sadie Family Palladius 2009 R411.31
★ ★ ★
Arniston Bay The Shore White 2010*
(the company of wine people) R23
Douglas Green Chenin Blanc Sauvignon
Blanc 2010* (DGB) ARP R29.99
Goede Hoop Domaine 2010* R30
Arniston Bay Chenin Blanc Chardonnay
2010* (the company of wine people) R31
Altydgedacht Chatelaine 2010* R35
Napier Lion Creek Sauvignon Blanc
Chenin Blanc 2010* R35
Slowine Chenin Blanc Sauvignon Blanc
2010* (Villiersdorp) R35
De Leuwn Jagt Nuance 2010*
(Seidelberg) R37.50
Vergenoegd
Runner Duck White 2010* R45
Jordan Chameleon Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay 2009* R46.50
Du Toitskloof
Reserve Chardonnay Viognier 2008 R51
Groot Constantia
Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2010 R59
Annex Kloof White 2008 R60
Pella The Vanilla 2009 R60
Amani Kimili
Chardonnay Viognier 2008 R70
Bouchard Finlayson
Blanc de Mer 2010 R70
Rustenberg WWT 2010* R70
Thelema Sutherland
Viognier Roussanne 2009* R80
De Grendel Winifred Semillon Viognier
Chardonnay 2009* R85
Virgin Earth Succulent Semillon Viognier
2010 (Du Plessis Family Wines) R85
Benguela Cove
Chardonnay Semillon 2009 R86
Joostenberg Fairhead 2009* R88
Groot Constantia
Gouverneurs Reserve 2009 R113
TMV Woolworths Limited Release
Spectrum 2009* ARP
(Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards) R120
Sequillo White 2009 R128.25
Constantia Uitsig Constantia 2009* R140
Miles Mossop Saskia 2008 R145
Klein Constantia
Mme Marlbrook 2008 R146
AA Badenhorst Family White 2008 R210
★ ★ ✩
Versus Simply Wicked White 2010*
(the company of wine people) R19.19
Flamingo Bay Chenin Blanc Sauvignon
Blanc 2010* (Darling Cellars) R23
Bonnievale Cellar CCC* R23.50
Saint Vincent NV* (DGB) ARP R23.95
Kumala Zenith Chenin Blanc Chardonnay
2010* (Constellation Wines SA) R28
Boland Cellar Sixty 40 2010* R29
Kleine Rust White 2010*
(Stellenrust) R29
Bellingham Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay
2010* (DGB) ARP R29.95
Allée Bleue Starlette Blanc 2009* R30
Cloof The Daisy Darling 2010* R30
Arniston Bay Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
2010* (the company of wine people) R31
Kaapzicht Combination 2010* R32
Eikendal Blanc 2010* R33
Altydgedacht Blanc de Blanc 2010* R35
Theuniskraal
Semillon Chardonnay 2010 ARP R36
Flagstone Noon Gun 2010*
(Constellation Wines SA) R37
Welmoed Heyden’s Courage 2008*
(the company of wine people) R38
KWV Roodeberg White 2009 R48
Delheim Woolworths Chardonnay
Semillon 2009 ARP R49.95
La Ferme Derik Chénine 2009 R50
Push me to the Floor* (The Parlotones &
Hands on Wine) ARP R59.95
Welgegund Chiara* R65
Altydgedacht The Ollo 2010* R70
Lammershoek Roulette Blanc 2009 R75
La Ferme Derik Concerto 2009 R80 Darling Cellars
Lime Kilns Blended White 2009 R95
Naudé White 2008* (Adoro) ARP R95
Naudé White 2009* (Adoro) ARP R95
Black Rock White Blend 2008*
(The Winery of Good Hope) R115
Mullineux White 2009 R150
Steenberg
Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2008 R160
Ashbourne Sandstone 2006
(Hamilton Russell Vineyards) R200
Schalk Burger & Sons Myra 2007 R275
★ ★
Robertson Winery Chapel White NV R17.10
Balance Chenin Blanc Colombar 2010*
(Overhex Wines International) R20
Villiersdorp
Dam Good White 2010* R23.50
Landskroon Paul Hugo White 2010* R27
Waverley Hills
Semillon Chardonnay 2009* R35
Villiera Down to Earth Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon 2010 R36
Zevenwacht Zevenblanc Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon Nouvelle 2010* R36
Oak Lane Chenin Blanc Sauvignon Blanc
2010* (Beau Joubert) R40
Sterhuis Chenin Blanc Viognier 2010* R40
Groote Post
The Old Man’s Blend White 2010* R42
Hoopenburg Integer Chenin Blanc,
Viognier, Clairette Blanc 2008 R90
Black Rock White Blend 2009*
(The Winery of Good Hope) R115
Bizoe Henrietta 2009 R140
Ashbourne Sandstone 2007
(Hamilton Russell Vineyards) R200
★
Sixpence Chenin Blanc Semillon 2010*
(Opstal) R30
Long Mountain
Semillon Chardonnay 2010* ARP R36
Van Loveren Cramond Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay 2010* R37.16
Vendôme Sans Barrique 2009 R40
De Leuwen Jagt Cape White 2010*
(Seidelberg) R50
Mapoggo Sauvignon Blanc Chenin Blanc
Viognier 2009* (Druk my Niet) R59
Oak Valley OV
Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2008* R130
Two white blends tasted did not receive a Star rating.
PRICES: wines in each quality grouping
are listed in order of ascending price – all
ex-cellar unless otherwise stipulated.
ARP – Approximate retail price
* – Bottled under screwcap
AW – Auction Wine
