Panel chairman's choice: June 2010
Panel chairman's choice
Looking for a personal recommendation? Christian Eedes discusses some of the wines that stood out for him during this month's blind tastings.
VALUE PINOTAGE
★ ★ ★ three stars
Landskroon 2007
CELLAR PRICE: R40
Complex nose showing black cherry, tobacco and oak spice. The palate is medium to full bodied with succulent sweet fruit, firm tannins and fresh acidity. Spent 10 months in barrel, 3% new French, 7% new Hungarian, rest second- and third-fill. Fantastic everyday drinking.
CE's score: 17/20
INVESTMENT PINOTAGE
★ ★ ★ ✩ three and a half stars
Southern Right 2009
CELLAR PRICE: R150
Red and black cherry as well as fynbos on the nose. The palate is extremely well balanced with juicy fruit, good tannic grip and fresh acidity. The finish is long and dry. From the Walker Bay winery that has leading industry figure Anthony Hamilton Russell as co-owner.
CE's score: 17/20
INVESTMENT PINOTAGE
★ ★ ★ three stars
Spier Private Collection 2007
CELLAR PRICE: R148
Prominent oak and some earthy, meaty notes on the nose. The palate is rich and full, with concentrated dark fruit, mouth-coating tannins and fresh acidity. Some might shy away on account of how heavily extracted the wine is, but it can't be said to be unbalanced. The product of ambitious winemaking.
CE's score: 17/20
INVESTMENT PINOTAGE Blend
★ ★ ★ ✩ three and a half stars
Emineo Liber II JLS 2007
CELLAR PRICE: R245.83
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Pinotage. Dark fruit and attractive oak spice on the nose. Good fruit expression, firm but fine tannins, fresh acidity. Made by Thys Louw of Diemersdal and Nico van der Merwe of Saxenburg on behalf of patent and trademark attorney Otto Gerntholtz.
CE's score: 17/20
