{"id":43322,"date":"2013-05-26T01:10:13","date_gmt":"2013-05-25T23:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=43322"},"modified":"2013-05-26T01:11:54","modified_gmt":"2013-05-25T23:11:54","slug":"sa-wine-drinkers-should-thank-winemakers-for-their-affordable-and-quality-wines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/sa-wine-drinkers-should-thank-winemakers-for-their-affordable-and-quality-wines\/","title":{"rendered":"SA wine drinkers should thank winemakers for their affordable and quality wines!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Welcoming the guests attending the Christian Eedes Cabernet Sauvignon Report 2013 at Burrata on Thursday, sponsor Sanlam Private Investments CEO Dani\u00ebl Kriel said that South African wine drinkers should thank our winemakers for producing such good quality wines at affordable prices.\u00a0It was the second year in which the Christian Eedes Cabernet Sauvignon Report was presented.<\/p>\n

Kriel said he had done a Google search about Cabernet Sauvignon, and to his surprise found that Wikipedia did not mention South Africa in its first paragraph. \u00a0He learnt about the wide range of terroirs and climates in which the grape variety is grown, from Canada down to the 15\u00b0 latitude in Argentina. \u00a0South Africa is only referred to in the New World wines section, and then only Stellenbosch and Constantia are mentioned. \u00a0He referred to the markets being in terrible chaos on Thursday, and he was happy to escape the office to not see what was happening on his computer screen. \u00a0Having recently been to New York, and paying $89 for a reasonable Californian, he said that we should be grateful for the affordable and good quality wines which our winemakers produce. \u00a0He justified the investment by Sanlam Private \"\"<\/a>Investment in The Christian Eedes Cabernet Sauvignon Report in that their clients love wine and have a passion for them, as do the leaders of businesses!<\/p>\n

Christian Eedes thanked the wine writers present for spreading the word about his 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Report, allowing him to renew the relationship with his sponsor. \u00a0Using the same judges Roland Peens of Wine Cellar and James Pietersen of Balducci’s, sixty Cabernet Sauvignons were evaluated. \u00a0He announced that Wade Bales\u00a0has put together a special Cabernet Sauvignon Top 10 pack, based on Eedes’ Report results. Bales could not tell me how much he will charge for the special pack.<\/p>\n

In introducing the Top 10 list, Eedes said that the 5 point scale had been used for the ratings (instead of the 100 score which he has recently moved to for his wine evaluations), and that within a star band, the estates are listed alphabetically on his Top 10 list. The panel had found the local Cabernet Sauvignons, the second most planted varietal locally, ‘on the whole, very impressive in quality…characterised by richness and weight<\/em>‘. \u00a0He added that while Cabernet Sauvignon ages well mainly due to its high level of tannins, wine drinkers are placing less value on this characteristic. ‘Winemakers seem to be going to great lengths to emphasise fruit and the resulting wines are tending to be ever riper, sweeter and more alcoholic. \u00a0The best examples display fruit concentration but retain shape and form’<\/em>. \u00a0The panel had found some ‘clumsy addition of tartaric acidity<\/em>‘, done to add freshness, but it resulted in sourness in some instances.<\/p>\n

The Christian Eedes Cabernet Sauvignon Report 2013 Top 10 list is as follows:<\/p>\n

* \u00a0\"\"<\/a> 5 stars: \u00a0 La Bri 2009 (Irene Waller was the proud recipient), and Le Riche Reserve 2010.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 4,5 stars: \u00a0 Graham Beck The Coffeestone Cabernet 2011, Guardian Peak Lapa 2010, Rickety Bridge Paulina’s Reserve 2010, Rudera 2011, Springfield M\u00e9thode Ancienne 2006, Thelema 2009, and Waterford 2009.<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 4 stars: \u00a0 Rust en Vrede 2010.<\/p>\n

Burrata served a selection of tasty canap\u00e9s, including porcini and cheese sticks; sirloin and \"\"<\/a>radicchio crostini; fried crumbed smoked mozzarella, short rib and red pepper risotto balls; and toasted brioche with chorizo, green olive and mint pur\u00e9e. \u00a0The restaurant had been cleared of all its table and chairs, to allow the top ten Cabernet Sauvignons to be set up for tasting after the announcement of the top achievers.<\/p>\n

It was a treat to catch up with a small select group of ten winemakers, and share their news. \u00a0Erika Obermeyer was still excited about her recent trip on the Queen Mary 2 from Durban to Cape Town, spending one day giving lectures to the cruise guests. Irene Waller was excited for Franschhoek (she heads up the local Vignerons association) that two of the top 10 Cabernet Sauvignons are from the wine valley, which is receiving increasing recognition.<\/p>\n

Disclosure:<\/strong> We received a bottle of Graham Beck The Coffeestone Cabernet 2011 as part of the media pack.<\/p>\n

The Christian Eedes Cabernet Sauvignon Report<\/strong>, www.whatidranklastnight.co.za <\/a>Twitter: @ChristianEedes \u00a0www.sanlamprivateinvestments.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n

Burrata,<\/strong> The Old Biscuit Mill, 373 Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town. <\/span>Tel (021) 447-6505. <\/span>www.burrata.co.za <\/a>Twitter: @BurrataSA \u00a0 Monday – Saturday, Lunch and Dinner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: \u00a0www.whalecottage.com<\/a> Twitter: WhaleCottage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcoming the guests attending the Christian Eedes Cabernet Sauvignon Report 2013 at Burrata on Thursday, sponsor Sanlam Private Investments CEO Dani\u00ebl Kriel said that South African wine drinkers should thank our winemakers for producing such good quality wines at affordable prices.\u00a0It was the second year in which the Christian Eedes Cabernet Sauvignon Report was presented. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[3,124,20,21,19],"tags":[6006,9534,425,32378,14431,32391,19173,6998,287,15893,19175,17602,15892,2316,19174,808,14560,15895,15891,4914,34,15884,4640,32376,19172,403,9634,408,32373,3055,5433],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t