Cape Town Wine

Posts Tagged ‘Le Riche’

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

Two Cape Winemakers Guild Auction wines receive the high five from Platter’s Wine Guide

Two rare wines crafted exclusively for the 2010 Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction, have been given the “high five” by the 2011 Platter’s South African Wine Guide.

Cape Winemakers Guild Auction

This year’s Guild Platter 5-star wines, Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Auction Reserve 2007 and the acclaimed white blend, Steenberg Vineyards The Magus 2009, are amongst the 19 Platter 5-star wines crafted by members of the Cape Winemakers Guild listed in the 2011 guide.

Etienne le Riche, legendary Cabernet Sauvignon specialist and founder member of the Cape Winemakers Guild, hand selected the grapes personally from one of his prime vineyard sites for his 5-star wine which spent 24 months in new French Oak barrels. He describes the wine as vibrant with fresh, ripe cherry fruitiness and well integrated classic spiciness. The “classy” palate is full and rich, supported by a firm yet fine tannin structure ending in a long finish. This wine fetched on average R3 500 a case of six at the Guild auction.

John Loubser’s renowned white blend of Sauvignon blanc and Semillon was fermented separately in old French oak barrels to capture maximum fruit whilst lees contact for eight weeks enhanced the mouth-feel. Wild and herbaceous with piercing mineral notes, this wine is a true reflection of cool terroir and will age wonderfully with careful cellaring. Its full, vibrant palate with hints of passion fruit and tangerine is elegantly balanced by subtle smokiness. Steenberg Vineyards The Magus 2009 went under the hammer at an average price of R1 400 a case of six at the Guild Auction.

Herewith the full list of 19 5-star wines made by Guild members featured in the 2011 Platter’s South African Wine Guide:

Etienne Le Riche

Cabernet Sauvignon
· Boekenhoutskloof 2008 (Winemaker: Marc Kent)
· Kanonkop 2007 (Winemaker: Abrie Beeslaar)
· Le Riche CWG Auction Reserve 2007 (Winemaker: Etienne le Riche)
Grenache
· Neil Ellis Vineyard Selections 2008 (Winemaker: Neil Ellis)
Pinotage
· Beyerskloof Diesel 2008 (Winemaker: Beyers Truter)
Shiraz
· De Trafford 2008 (Red Wine of the Year) (Winemaker: David Trafford)
· Haskell Pillars 2008 (Winemaker: Rianie Strydom)
· Rijk’s Private Cellar 2005 (Winemaker: Pierre Wahl)
Red Blends
· Ernie Els Signature 2007 (Winemaker: Louis Strydom)
· Graham Beck Ad Honorem 2007 (Winemaker: Pieter Ferreira)
· Hartenberg The Mackenzie 2007 (Winemaker: Carl Schultz)
· Spier Frans K. Smit 2006 (Winemaker: Frans Smit)
Sauvignon Blanc
· Graham Beck Pheasants’ Run 2010 (Winemaker: Pieter Ferreira)
Chardonnay
· Groot Constantia Gouverneurs 2009 (Winemaker: Boela Gerber)
White Blends
· Cape Point Isliedh 2009 (Winemaker: Duncan Savage)
· Steenberg Magna Carta 2009 (Winemaker: John Loubser)
· Steenberg CWG Auction Reserve The Magus 2009 (Winemaker: John Loubser)
Méthode Cap Classique
· Villiera Monro Brut 2005 (Winemaker: Jeff Grier)
Port
· Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2008 (Winemaker: Carel Nel)

The Cape Winemakers Guild comprises some of South Africa’s most respected winemakers with the single minded vision to elevate the standing of the South African wine industry amongst the world’s best through their ongoing dedication to the production of world-class, quality wines.

For the comprehensive list of all of the 5 star wines visit wine.co.za.

Tags: 2011 Platters South African Wine Guide, Beyerskloof, Boekenhoutskloof, Boplaas, Cape Point Vineyards, De Trafford, Ernie Els, Graham Beck, Groot Constantia, Hartenberg, Haskell, Le Riche, Neil Ellis Vineyard, South Africa, Spier, Steenberg, Villiera, wine

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Monday, September 6th, 2010

South African wine farms the first in the world to feature on Google Street View

Another benefit of South Africa hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup was the launch in June, of Google Street View for maps.google.co.za. Using 360 degree street-level images taken by the Google cars and trikes, Street View allows users to view and navigate through South African streets, gardens and past historic buildings. Says Julie Taylor, Communications Manager for Google South Africa:

Rustenberg Manor House

The local launches of Google Maps and Street View reflect Google’s investment in South Africa, as well as our commitment to making the Internet more useful and relevant to South Africans. Street View also shows South Africa’s heritage to the world, ranging from the iconic winelands to the Kruger National Park.

A world first is that Cape winelands images are featured on Street View. Right now it is possible to visit via Street View: Bouchard Finlayson, De Rust Estate, De Wetshof, Fairview, Jordan Wines, Klein Constantia, Meerlust, Morgenster, Rustenberg, Vilafonte Vineyards and Warwick Wine Estate.

South African wine connoisseur, Juliet Cullinan, commenting on Street View and the growing importance of digital technology within South Africa’s wine industry, says:

Wine-lovers all over the world can now visit the estates of some of our leading wine domains using Street View, plan their own wine routes and buy online. As the world’s first vineyards to be placed on Street View, South African wineries will receive great exposure and can take advantage of this new technology in innovative ways, whilst expanding tourism and their global and local customer base.

The scope for improving the online presence of wineries is huge as Richard Cheary of Afrozaar explained:

There are so many ways wine farms can utilise geo products, including the creation of virtual wine route tours, incorporating video and interviews; mobile applications, comprising travel directions and preloaded tourist information; and online bookings with specific requests.

Soon to be added to Street View are Ataraxia Wines, Boekenhoutskloof Winery, Constantia Glen, Glen Carlou, Groote Post, Hamilton Russell, Iona Wines, Journey’s End, Kaapzicht, Le Riche, Mont Du Toit, Mooiplaas, Ormonde Vineyard, Raka, Rickety Bridge, Robertson Winery, Saronsberg, Strandveld, Thelema Mountain Vineyards, Vergelegen, Villiera and Weltevrede.

Using Google Street View
In areas where Street View is available, you can see the images on Google Maps (on a PC or Internet-enabled mobile) by zooming into the lowest level, or by dragging the orange “Pegman” icon on the left-hand side of the map onto a blue highlighted street.

Google has gone to lengths to safeguard privacy while allowing all South African users to benefit from this feature. Street View only contains imagery that is already visible from public roads and features technology that blurs both faces and licence plates. In addition, any user can easily flag images for removal that he or she considers inappropriate by clicking on “Report a problem”. South Africa is the first country in Africa to get Street View imagery in Maps. Street View first launched in 2007 and is currently available in 23 countries and 100 metropolitan areas worldwide, including large areas of the US, Australia, Japan, France, Italy and Spain.

To learn more about Street View, visit www.google.co.za/streetview

Tags: Afrozaar, Atraxia Wines, Australia, Boekenhoutskloof, Bouchard Finlayson, Constantia Glen, De Rust Estate, De Wetshof, Fairview, France, Glen Carlou, Google Street View, Groote Post, Hamilton Russell, Iona Wines, Italy, Japan, Jordan wines, Journeys End, Julie Taylor, Juliet Cullinan, Kaapzicht, Klein Constantia, Kruger National Park, Le Riche, Meerlust, Mont Du Toit, Mooiplaas, Morgenster, Ormonde Vineyards, Rake, Richard Cheary, Rickety Bridge, Robertson Winery, Rustenberg, Saronsberg, South Africa, Spain, Strandveld, Thelema Mountain Vineyards, US, Vergelegen, Vilafonte, Villiera, Warwick Wine Estate, Weltevrede, wine

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Friday, April 16th, 2010

Tim James announces the Top 20 South African wineries

Writing on the independant wine blog Grape, Tim James wine writer and judge, compiled with the help of other Cape Town wine professionals a list of South Africa’s top wineries.

The last time that such a poll was undertaken was in 2006. Reviewing the results Tim points out several aspects such as the fact that the top five wineries were in a league of their own; that ten of the Top 20 wineries were not even mentioned in the 2001 poll and that four wineries are complete newcomers to the poll.

From a perspective of production areas the winning wineries represent only one of the five South African wine regions, Coastal Region, and within that only the wine districts of Cape Point, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Swartland. The Overberg and Walker Bay districts where Paul Cluver, Hamilton-Russell Vineyards and Bouchard Finlayson are found do not fall into a particular region.

Parameters were set for the judging so that each winery had to have had at least three vintages of marketed wines.

In order of votes received the wineries are:

Boekenhoutskloof

Kanonkop and Sadie Family Wines which tied.

Cape Point Vineyards

Vergelegen

Hamilton-Russell Vineyards

Paul Cluver

Rustenberg

De Trafford, Meerlust and Thelema which tied

Bouchard Finlayson

Jordan and Tokara which tied.

Hartenberg

Le Riche, Neil Ellis and Steenberg which all tied.

Chamonix and Morgenster which tied.

On the voting panel were wine writers Tim Atkin, Michael Fridjhon, Joanne Gibson, Edo Heyns, Tim James, Angela Lloyd, Melvyn Minnaar, Fiona McDonald, Christine Rudman, Cathy van Zyl, Philip van Zyl.

Retailers: Carrie Adams, Carolyn Barton, Ingrid Motteux, Roland Peens, James Pietersen, Caroline Rillema

Sommeliers and others who took part were Miguel Chan, Neil Grant, Higgo Jacobs, Cathy Marston, Andre Morgenthal, Joerg Pfuetzner, Kent Scheermeyer and Jonathan Steyn.

For the complete article visit www.grape.co.za

Tags: Angela Lloyd, Boekenhoutskloof, Bouchard Finlayson, Cape Point Vineyards, Cape Town, Cathy van Zyl, Chamonix, Christine Rudman, De Trafford, Edo Heyns, Fiona McDonald, Hamilton-", Hamilton-Russell Vineyards, Hartenberg, Joanne Gibson, Jordan, Kanonkop, Le Riche, Meerlust, Melvyn Minnaar, Michael Fridjohn, Morgenster, Neil Ellis, Paul Cluver, Philip van Zyl, Rustenberg, Sadie Family Wines, South Africa, Steenberg Vineyards, Thelema, Tim Atkin, Tim James, Tokara, Vergelegen, wine

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