On Friday veteran UK film director Ken Loach told the Guardian “sack film critics and get ordinary punters in.” He makes the valid point that “by and large [critics] reflect their own perception through their hostility. The answer, he said, is to sack the critics and get experienced people who know life.” SA wine critics had a bad month in May as not one of them invited to a pricey White Club tasting raised a warning flag about the potential for counterfeit wines being served. The scandal broke in Denmark and was given more oxygen by Jancis Robinson in the Financial Times, which could explain why she has been invited to speak at the Vinpro Open Day on January 22 next year. The event is sponsored by Nedbank and I do hope the bank will subsidize the hefty entrance fee charged this year that kept many interested parties away. Like yours truly.

Anyway, when it comes to wine surely the cheapest and most reliable way to critique it is to taste the stuff. Which is what happened at Ultra Mussels in May on Saturday. Each punter was given a ballot:

and the top six are:

Diemersdal Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Hillcrest Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Neil Ellis Groenekloof Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Darling Cellars Blanc de Blanc MCC 2012
De Grendel Sauvignon Blanc 2014
De Grendel MCC Brut 2012

With four out of the six wines Sauvignon Blanc, the Shrek cultivar is confirmed as the wine to drink with mussels. If there is none available, MCC works. Two hail from Darling and four from Durbanville and a great time was had by all.