The best wine in SA?

I nearly choked on my post toasties this morning when I read “Dear” Angela Lloyd on the subject of whether SA has a best wine or not on Moneyweb Toady, of all organs (surely Today? ed.). The story was advertorial for RMB WineX which explains a lot as no commercial venture would pay good money for such inane insights. After a lot of waffle, Angie proclaims “shiraz or syrah can surely emerge as producer of South Africa’s best red wine. My belief is echoed by Atkin, who, in the above-mentioned report, said: “Syrah is emerging as South Africa’s champion red grape”. Atkin being a small UK MW invoked by wine nerds seriously lacking self confidence and ability to taste to back up their arguments. The saggy bottom green tracksuit brigade of retired grannies and earnest soccer moms rating highly here.

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So what a relief to have lunch today at Society Bistro with Les Sweidan from the High Road who demonstrated that the best reds in SA are Cabernet Sauvignon based blends from Stellenbosch. “I wanted to make the best red in SA. I thought about Shiraz and decided it was too one dimensional.”

Well said Les and his sentiments are echoed by his 2012 vintage Directors Reserve blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot which is pure St. Julien. And when I say verdot, I’m not talking saggy bottom track suits either. This is as good as SA reds get and if you don’t have R2300 to buy a bottle of Cape Winemarketers Guild Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2012, do your wallet a favour and substitute this. In a blind tasting even Dear Angela would struggle to tell them apart. Especially over a takeaway tub of Woolies lasagna!