Comments for Wine Goggle

Comment on New Masters for Cape Wine Industry by Raymond Noppé

Raymond Noppé — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:21:09 +0000

Brilliant article – you just made me smile! Your take on the occasion sums up to the tee what the whole day was about. The world of wine should never be a dull affair – if more people had fun whilst learning about it and not feel intimidated by all the spitting and swirling, I’m sure we will have a lot more Cape Wine Masters. I never thought that my journey would inspire others like yourself, so thank you very much – it is an honour!

Bottoms up!!

Comment on Stellenbosch’s One Grape Question by Blake Carrington

Blake Carrington — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:33:35 +0000

What if it so happens that some ‘brands’ which are so-called mono-variety Shiraz wines for instance, are blends of wines made from Shiraz vines from two, three or more different clones, and likely on different rootstock and even more likely on different slopes and on different soils and most certainly selected from different barrels and back-blended with a tiny percentage of current vintage wines for freshness and fruit – this all on a standard-sized estate of between 50 and 100 ha. This is pure brand, as the proprietor seeks to differentiate his offer – granted if he or she is indeed clever enough. Yes, style as well, but perhaps this is when style and brand converge. Surly this holds true for Bordeaux as well. And more, what if ‘origin character’ is so diluted that in a blind tasting and especially in a blind-sided tasting a modern Stellenbosch Cab rides on the same saddle as a the finest modern Bordeaux wines. So varietal character reigns supreme, thanks to the modern Bordeaux consultant who created faceless, uniform wines from the Gironde to the Eerste River. Lastly, Stellenbosch Cab, or let’s say the finest Stellenbosch Cab examples are found in that rich belt towards Paarl which include Kanonkop and Le Bonheur. This is terroir Cab, the others need to catch up still, unfortunately and do so by making block-buster stuff. Impressive, but only for sniffing, spitting and perhaps bragging. The exception is Le Riche, which pioneered a particular style through brilliant winemaker Etienne.

Comment on Stellenbosch’s One Grape Question by Dermot Nolan MW

Dermot Nolan MW — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:21:33 +0000

Hmmm, maybe a red from Klein Constantia rather than a Stellenbosch? Even so, given the the preponderance of fine reds in Stellenbosch then Stellenbosch can lay claim to being the preeminent district in South Africa, although there can be a tendency to rest on laurels.
However, why are blends just brands? I accept that many blends, world-wide, tend to be in the branded style but, even allowing for the dilution of the blessed concept of terroir which blending guarantees, is it not true that many of the fine wines of Bordeaux show origin character every bit as much as varietal?
True, Mosel riesling, Northern Rhone syrah and Australian shiraz, Burgundian pinot noir and chardonnay are all the ultimate origin wines and are all, by and large, mono-varietal but I think “blends are irrelevant. Blends are brands, not styles” is by no means obvious at all, especially in the South African context.

Comment on Klipdrift and the Balls of the Lion by Goggy

Goggy — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:27:37 +0000

Well said Emile. And spare a thought for Lucas “Bols”

Comment on Wine and the Hidden Secret by Donald Paul

Donald Paul — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 07:01:00 +0000

Obviously pissed by the time she got to the end’
‘So let’s HERE it for alcohol.’ ? Shurely shome mishtake.

Comment on PR Words to Ban by Norman McFarlane

Norman McFarlane — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:55:14 +0000

Spot on Emile, spot on! I’d love to know just how much Internet bandwidth is consumed each day by PR-generated wine hyperbole.

Comment on Women Wine Judges Told to Cover the Bare Bits by hantus

hantus — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:33:09 +0000

Nou raak dit ‘n stywe storie

Comment on Women Wine Judges Told to Cover the Bare Bits by Bertus van Niekerk

Bertus van Niekerk — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:29:22 +0000

Fun piece, thanks Emile. Now please will you request Miss Locutt to open a Facebook page (at least) so winemakers can see who won’t be revealing the results of tastings in the near future?

Comment on Women Wine Judges Told to Cover the Bare Bits by Michael Olivier

Michael Olivier — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 07:22:27 +0000

Very amusing piece Emile – good for a giggle on a Thursday morning. You have a talent!

Comment on Classic Party with a few Gongs Included by Ronel

Ronel — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 06:47:27 +0000

Well done Arco!