Also launched this week is the new edition of the John Platter South African Wine Guide. As ever, it has grown, and I’ll write a fuller report of some interesting points regarding our “wine bible” later. The team has also identified their wine of the year – the honours go to Vergelegen’s White 2005. This is a sauvignon blanc-semillon blend that spent 10 months in wood, half new. It’s a wine that is gathering a great track record and playing a large part in the growing “awareness” of white blends in South Africa, though of course we have always had these, especially in the cheap and cheerful categories.
I for one like this direction (of blended whites) since I find many sauvignons rather dull in their straight-forward freshness. At the same time, our producers are upping their game with chardonnay, being more judicious with wood and making very elegant wines. I think it’s well time for us to love chardies again (though many kept on loving them anyway).
I agree with you in terms of the white blend and your comment about sav blanc….far too forwardly fruity/zesty and unimaginative so to speak.
I agree even more about ‘chardies’ – has always been my white of choice!! i also enjoy the fact that even more unwooded chardonnays are improving in quality and complexity!although all that rich butterscotch, buttery, vanilla flavour of wooded chardie!
Interesting too that the Diners Club Winemaker of the Year, Gottfried Mocke of Chamonix, has Chardonnay at heart.
Here is an interesting article to read: http://www.winemag.co.za/content/online/wineries/singlepage.asp?in=985&id=people
Had the pleasure of drinking a good glass or two of the 2005 Vergelegen White last Friday night and it is a really classy wine, and even better in the company of food as one could expect.
Another great new white blend in the Mediterranean style is the Black Rock 2005 – dense fruit and great texture.