RECM tastings achieve critical mass

Best value wines at our weekly RECM blind tastings qualify for 100 free gold RECM Best Value stickers and producers can buy more for qualifying stock. After ten tastings, we’re up to 100,000 stickers, which is a whole swimming pool full of wine and great marketing for RECM as the bottles disappear into private cellars and restaurant stocks.

It’s not only wines that qualify, as producers of olive oil can confirm. So in addition to those militaristic Platter shields – of dubious value as they’re awarded to wines tasted with the labels in full view – to Michelangelo medals and Veritas vanities, SA consumers now have a useful recommendation, fairly given. For its not necessarily the highest scoring wines we award but those that offer best value in relation to the competition. Which does not mean the cheapest wines at all but rather those offering superior quality for the price.

RECM BV WINE GUIDE_OUTLINES sticker

For those on expense accounts, here are our ten top scoring wines:

Bouchard Finlayson Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Mulderbosch Steen on Hout Chenin Blanc 2012
Kaapzicht Chardonnay 2009
Ken Forrester Roussanne 2012
Muratie Laurens Campher Blended White 2013
Opstal Syrah/Viognier Blush 2014
Groote Post Merlot 2012
Alvi’s Drift Pinotage 2012
Zonnebloem Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Limited Edition
Rickety Bridge Shiraz 2011

Stellenbosch dominates with four entries. Worcester has one, as does Franschhoek, Hemel en Aarde, Breedekloof and Darling while Zonnebloem is the only wine from a large commercial producer (Distell). Buying all ten will set you back R1350.00 or R135 a bottle whereas the top ten RECM best value wines come in at R620 or less than half the price of the gravy train selection. True value indeed

If you would like to receive the monthly RECM best value report, please send your email address to [email protected].