WHITE GOLD FOR STARK-CONDÉ FIELD BLEND
This 2020 Estate White has not only won the South African Trophy for Best White Blend at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show but was also specifically named in the Decanter Awards — scoring a gold award and 95 points, as well as high praise from acclaimed international wine critic Jancis Robinson. Farmed organically from a single vineyard, chenin blanc, roussanne, verdelho, and viognier grapes are all picked at the same time and pressed and fermented together as a true “field blend” before being barrel fermented in mostly older, neutral oak. With its natural acidity and layers of floral aromas and smoke, look out for richer swathes of peach cream and tropical fruit on the palate. Pair with almost anything!
PLATINUM FOR CONSTANTIA GLEN’S FIVE
Constantia Glen wine estate’s flagship red did incredibly well at the most recent Decanter World Wine Awards in London, bringing home a platinum award and a whopping 97 points rating. Crafted from all five Bordeaux red grape varieties thriving in Constantia Glen’s micro-climate, and then matured in French oak for 18 months, expect a rich, textured wine with excellent freshness and depth.
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Fancy a medal winner in your wine glass? Look no further...
From winning the trophy for the best SA wine blend to a bourbon winning 23 golds, here are Wade Bales latest picks for your liquor cabinet
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WHITE GOLD FOR STARK-CONDÉ FIELD BLEND
This 2020 Estate White has not only won the South African Trophy for Best White Blend at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show but was also specifically named in the Decanter Awards — scoring a gold award and 95 points, as well as high praise from acclaimed international wine critic Jancis Robinson. Farmed organically from a single vineyard, chenin blanc, roussanne, verdelho, and viognier grapes are all picked at the same time and pressed and fermented together as a true “field blend” before being barrel fermented in mostly older, neutral oak. With its natural acidity and layers of floral aromas and smoke, look out for richer swathes of peach cream and tropical fruit on the palate. Pair with almost anything!
PLATINUM FOR CONSTANTIA GLEN’S FIVE
Constantia Glen wine estate’s flagship red did incredibly well at the most recent Decanter World Wine Awards in London, bringing home a platinum award and a whopping 97 points rating. Crafted from all five Bordeaux red grape varieties thriving in Constantia Glen’s micro-climate, and then matured in French oak for 18 months, expect a rich, textured wine with excellent freshness and depth.
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THE ULTIMATE GLENLIVET, 25 YEARS IN THE MAKING
With just 126 bottles having been produced, this limited-edition single malt Scotch whisky is as golden in colour as it is in character. From a single cask, the nose is fruity and floral with a hint of fresh pastries, candied citrus, and nutmeg. The palate is lively and ever-changing with herbaceous notes and liquorice leading to a long, spicy, and perfectly dry finish.
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WIDOW JANE BOURBON
Reviving the lost art of marrying the finest whiskeys, Widow Jane’s 10-Year-Old is a bourbon that’s as intense as it is inspired. Hand-assembled in Brooklyn using the richest and rarest straight bourbons, this limited-edition bourbon is non-chill filtered and proofed with limestone mineral water from the legendary Rosendale Mines of New York. The end result: aromas of freshly roasted nuts combine with vanilla and charred oak, leading to a palate of orange, maple, and almond. As it’s fetched almost as many gold awards as Michael Phelps, you’ll have to be almost as fast as him to get your hands on one of only 213 bottles produced. R1 495 per bottle.
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MAURITIAN TRADITIONAL RUM, ANYONE?
As part of its Rare Casks Series, Navigate World Whisky selected and blended together two Penny Blue single casks (one sherry, one cognac). Often described as the whisky drinker’s rum, Penny Blue’s exclusive rums are released without a dosage of sugar, leading to a naturally drier finish. In this case, expect a voluptuous and intense nose of ripe banana, allspice, dried orange zest, and baked apple. Ginger, vanilla, dark chocolate, and coffee bean flavours find their way onto the palate, where they linger. With only 213 bottles produced, each one retails for R1 895.
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ROSÉ GOLD FOR BOSCHENDAL
Boschendal’s Brut Rosé was awarded gold at one of the most notable wine competitions in the world, Mundus Vini’s 28th Grand International Wine Award. In fact, the Franschhoek winery emerged from the event with more than one top award, garnering golds for its Boschendal Nicolas 2017 and Boschendal 1685 Shiraz 2018 as well. With its delicate pale-pink colour and red-fruit aromas, it’s the brut rosé that you really want to pop open at your next celebration, though. A premium Cap Classique, pinotage, pinot noir, and chardonnay grapes are carefully blended then bottled. An additional 12 months on the lees allow for even more complexity, depth, and succulent fruit to complement its brisk sparkle and strawberry and cherry flavours.
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• From the September issue of Wanted 2021.