Panel chairman's choice: May 2010
Panel chairman's choice
Looking for a personal recommendation? Christian Eedes discusses the wines that particularly stood out for him during this month's blind tastings.
INVESTMENT CABERNET FRANC
★ ★ ★ three stars
Buitenverwachting 2006
CELLAR PRICE: R150
The second-ever vintage of a single-variety Cabernet Franc from the celebrated Constantia winery, the maiden 2005 having rated 5 Stars in Platter's 2009. The nose shows pencil shavings while the palate is medium bodied with red fruit and fine tannins. Pleasingly dry on the finish. Thirty months in new French oak. CE's score: 16/20.
INVESTMENT PINOT NOIR
★ ★ ★ three stars
Oak Valley 2008
CELLAR PRICE: R190
Some varietal perfume and attractive oak notes on the nose, while the palate shows dark cherry fruit, bright acidity and fine tannins. Nine months in 100% new French oak. A balanced, elegant wine from the property that won Best Environmental Practices at last year's Nedbank Green Wine Awards. CE's score: 16/20
VALUE CAPE RUBY
★ ★ ★ three stars
Boplaas Cape Ruby
CELLAR PRICE: R39
Blend of 60% Tinta Barocca, 25% Touriga Nacional and 15% Souzao. The over-riding impression on both nose and palate is one of luscious dark fruit. Though rich and generous, the wine is balanced by fresh acidity and has good tannic grip. Twelve months in 500-litre Portuguese oak barriques. CE's score: 16/20.
INVESTMENT CAPE RUBY
★ ★ ★ three stars
Muratie Cape Ruby
CELLAR PRICE: R75
Blend of Tinta Barocca, Tinta Francesca, Tinta Roriz and Souzao. The nose is somewhat shy but the palate is very intense and full-bodied with great depth of flavour. Though technically a Ruby Port, it bears a lot of stylistic resemblance to Vintage Port and should reward a good few years of bottle maturation. CE's score: 16/20.
Are Robertson and Two Oceans better than Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak and Hamilton Russell Vineyards? The first point I would make is that all wine ratings should be viewed as relative rather than absolute. On a different day, under different circumstances, I am sure the wines from Bouchard Finlayson and HRV would have performed better. Nevertheless, I can report that the Bouchard Finlayson 2009 was criticised for being over ripe and oaking too heavy handed; the HRV 2008 simple and lacking distinction and the HRV 2009 again simple, lacking fruit expression and oak dominated. You have to wonder why such prestigious producers are releasing so early as the wines in question will surely be better with some time in bottle but I suppose cash flow is all...
WINE magazine tastings are conducted blind (labels out of sight) and I have no doubt that the panel would have found lots more to like about the Bouchard Finlayson and HRV were they to taste them sighted!
As regards, prices for the Pinot Noir tasting report in the May issue, various inaccuracies occurred and I am advised that a correct version will appear on the website shortly. This error is regretted.
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How do you make your "panel chairman's choice"? My reason for asking is that you, for instance, have scored the R160 Crystallum Peter Max 2008 @ 18 points and the more expensive R190 Oak Valley 2008 @ only 16 points, yet the latter was chosen ahead of the former. I looooove that 2008 Oak Valley, by the way.
Also, I've said to many people who brushed off the Robertson and Two Oceans Pinots that they just need to taste them blind. At their prices I've been stocking up on them myself. A Mexican wave to those two producers!
However, I'm really surprised that your panel considered them better than the likes of HRV and BF Galpin Peak... I haven't tasted the 2009's of those latter two, but the 2008 HRV for instance is, to my palet, comfortably superior wine (to the Robertson & Two Oceans).
Where the HRV 2008 is listed at R275 in the magazine, the "Hamilton Russel (sic) Vineyards" 2009 is listed at R95 only. Is that a double typo? If not, please will you enlighten me on the massive price difference? "