The second three dozen Pinotages were tasted blind this morning and will be available at the Pendock Wine Gallery this afternoon from 5-7pm for tasting by everyone. Last week the Russian Consul General arrived and bought several bottles as he’s a fan of SA reds. Par for the course, really. What a pity the French Consul didn’t follow the Russian lead as  the red served last night at the Bastille Day bash at Kelvin Grove, a 2009 vintage SA red, was over the hill shown below. A bit like the Euro Zone.

On the subject of money, last week the cheapest wine from Eagle’s Cliff (a 2014 vintage) was rewarded with the highest score. This week the natural order was restored and L’Avenir, the priciest wine in the line-up at R300 a bottle, was best rated. L’Avenir is French owned so it was sorely missed in Newlands last night. Still the cheese and pate was great although the manners of some guests was shocking, pushing around the cheese table with more alacrity than you get in a Springbok scrum. But then there was a UCT professor present (a groupie of Francois Le Vaillant which explains his invitation), so perhaps it was to be expected. Academics being past masters at securing snacks at cocktail parties.

L’Avenir Single Block Pinotage 2013 price R300.00 score 15.90
Signal Gun Tin Hill Pinotage 2014 price R63.00 score 15.80
Altydgedacht Pinotage 2014 price R115.00 score 15.50
De Waal Top of the Hill Pinotage 2012 price R290.00 score 15.50
Slanghoek Private Selection Pinotage 2014 price R40.00 score 15.40
Lemoenfontein White Pinotage 2014 price R60.00 score 15.20

Of course the L’Avenir wouldn’t have featured in Robin von Holdt’s copycat best value awards as Robin seemingly doesn’t think there’s value in SA wines above R100, judging by the price limit he has installed at his competition. Which makes it a total cheek to charge a hefty entry fee to be judged by a panel chaired by an employee of Vinimark. How does that work, Robin? It’s totally batty. There is no entry fee for the RECM Best Value Awards.

Waving the RECM Best Value wand and the deals are

Signal Gun Tin Hill Pinotage 2014 price R63.00 value R290.00 score 15.80
Slanghoek Private Selection Pinotage 2014 price R40.00 value R165.00 score 15.40
Lemoenfontein White Pinotage 2014 price R60.00 value R160.00 score 15.20
Red Chair – Bean There Pinotage 2012 price R37.00 value R85.00 score 15.00
Three Peaks Pinotage 2013 price R45.00 value R96.00 score 15.10
Van Loveren African Java Pinotage 2015 price R47.00 value R96.00 score 15.10