SA next big stars?

M

Mark N Wright

Location
Southport
Inspired by the Rhône Vs SA thread on here and a Burgundy thread on wineberserkers (I did think about replicating the later thread on here, but guess it has been done to death already), I wondered ‘who are the next big star/thing to come out of SA?

The likes of Savage, Minimalist and Blank bottle are already well known. Two I have seen but never tried are Tembela and Weather report.

Any thoughts?
 
One winery to watch is Draaiboek based in Hermanus . They make a really excellent Chardonnay but , at the moment , only in small quantities and although not cheap, it is excellent value for money . The 2021 vintage is especially outstanding and rated 96 pts by Greg Sherwood.
Another is Die Kat Se Snor which means the Cats Whiskers :) . A small project from the Creation winemaker .Good value Chardonnay, Cinsault and Pinot Noir.
Both actually sold by Ben Prior a small on line wine merchant based in St Ives . Vinosa wine .
 
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Article in today's FT by Jancis on some Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers in SA which might be worth reading. Probably behind a pay wall but the article was sent to my phone so I was able to read it free.
 
Interesting to see a Lelie Van Saron Chardonnay in that article, that and a Blankbottle Luuks I liked a lot earlier this year
I've a couple of Weather Report Sands Cabernet Franc I picked up from Swig recently to try too
 
Keith Prothero said:
One winery to watch is Draaiboek based in Hermanus . They make a really excellent Chardonnay but , at the moment , only in small quantities and although not cheap, it is excellent value for money . The 2021 vintage is especially outstanding and rated 96 pts by Greg Sherwood.
Another is Die Kat Se Snor which means the Cats Whiskers :) . A small project from the Creation winemaker .Good value Chardonnay, Cinsault and Pinot Noir.
Both actually sold by Ben Prior a small on line wine merchant based in St Ives . Vinosa wine .
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Thanks for this, Keith. First I've heard of Vinosa. A really really nice list, most of which I'd love to buy... And more winemakers to visit on our next trip to SA, next year.
 
I like what I have tried from Sakkie Mouton in Vredendal. Chris Prain's House Supply had a white blend in a recent offer and there is also a white at vinosa I think. I gather he is over at the end of the month for a London tasting at the SA High Commission along with Ian Naude and a few others so I look forward to trying more of his wines.

I was also impressed with the latest wines from Miles Mossop - clearly not a new name but he has dropped his Tokara role in past few years. TWS has his introdyction chenin at £12.50 which is just great for current weather conditions and they have magnums of the 2017 Max Stellenbosch BDX blend at £41 which is a steam. Tasted the 2018 with him last week which was being sold by that merchant at £60. He indicated that current TWS pricing is currently about as good as it will ever get,
 
Peter Webb said:
I like what I have tried from Sakkie Mouton in Vredendal. Chris Prain's House Supply had a white blend in a recent offer and there is also a white at vinosa I think. I gather he is over at the end of the month for a London tasting at the SA High Commission along with Ian Naude and a few others so I look forward to trying more of his wines.

I was also impressed with the latest wines from Miles Mossop - clearly not a new name but he has dropped his Tokara role in past few years. TWS has his introdyction chenin at £12.50 which is just great for current weather conditions and they have magnums of the 2017 Max Stellenbosch BDX blend at £41 which is a steam. Tasted the 2018 with him last week which was being sold by that merchant at £60. He indicated that current TWS pricing is currently about as good as it will ever get,
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I'll see you at the High Commission tasting. Looking forward to it tremendously.
 
Second the City on a hill recco above. i also really , really like Ambeloui MCC, they have been around for while, and are not really rising stars ( its the house fizz in Aubergine) but the wine is pretty special. Getting your hands on it, well that is a another matter entirely, the very small production gets scooped up quickly. My other favourite of this years visit was John Bouwer at Gedeelte wines, he is doing really interesting things with Flor. Well worth a visit and a taste.
 
I have bought a bottle of Starke-Conde Oude Nektar from them along with a few bits and bobs.
I would be very interested to hear back from this tasting, as there are a lot of producers I have no experience in, and am unsure on whether to buy with my limited budget*.

*Ltd budget doesn’t mean I can’t afford to buy the odd higher priced wines. It just means I have to be very selective .
 
Mark N Wright said:
I have bought a bottle of Starke-Conde Oude Nektar from them along with a few bits and bobs.
I would be very interested to hear back from this tasting, as there are a lot of producers I have no experience in, and am unsure on whether to buy with my limited budget*.

*Ltd budget doesn’t mean I can’t afford to buy the odd higher priced wines. It just means I have to be very selective .
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Why not come along?
 
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