BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast

licious now, but should hold together nicely for another
couple of years. Vineyard Brands. —L.B.
abv: 13% Price: $19
88
Steenberg 2010 Private Cellar Series
Sauvignon Blanc (Coastal Region). Tart
and fresh, with lovely aromas of grass, green plum
and asparagus. Glimmers of stony minerality flash on
the palate, with lime pith and plum skin flavors driving
through to the mouthwatering finish. Brisk and slightly
pricky texture. Maritime Wine Trading Collective.
—L.B.
abv: 14% Price: $16
88
Thelema 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (Stellenbosch).
There’s a detectible fynbos character
to the herbal edge of this wine, mingling with the white
peach and gooseberry fruit aromas and flavors. A clementine
citrus edge remains through the long finish.
Cape Classics. —L.B.
abv: 13.5% Price: $20
86
Glen Erskine 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (Elgin).
A good value selection, with green notes
of bell pepper, asparagus and lime on the nose and in
the mouth. Lightweight, with good lift and a herbal
character that lingers on the finish. The Triton Collection.
—L.B.
abv: 14% Price: $12
86
Morgenhof 2010 Fantail Sauvignon Blanc
(Stellenbosch). Solid and straightforward,
this refreshing and vibrant Sauv Blanc is light and approachable,
with aromas and flavors of lemon, sweet
grass and pineapple core throughout. A crowd-pleasing
selection for entertaining. Terry Seitz. —L.B.
abv: 11.5% Price: $19
85
Thelema 2010 Sutherland Sauvignon
Blanc (Elgin). A bit muted and shy on the
nose, with faint accents of fresh grass, sweet citrus and
just-ripe gooseberry. The palate offers a pithy-citrus flavor,
adding a touch of bitterness to the clean close. Cape
Classics. —L.B.
abv: 13.5% Price: $15
CHARDONNAY
92
Hamilton Russell 2010 Chardonnay
(Hemel en Aarde). Hamilton Russell just
knows how to do Chard right, striking superb balance
and finesse in a wine that’s drinkable now but can age
for another five-plus years. Baked apple, barely-ripe
honeydew, lemon custard and a touch of beeswax dance
in the bouquet and transition seamlessly into the softlytoasted
palate. A beautiful seam of acidity threads it all
together and lifts the lengthy finish. Vineyard Brands.
—L.B.
abv: 13% Price: $32
91
Buitenverwachting 2010 Chardonnay
(Constantia). Rich, ripe and full aromas of
baked apple and melon are laced with spicy accents of
cinnamon, ginger and vanilla bean. Medium weight but
well-balanced in the mouth; bright acidity and minerality
tie everything together on the palate. A lime flavor
lingers on the long close, followed finally by a touch
36 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | MONTH 2012
of spice. Drink now–2015. Cape Classics. Editors’
Choice. —L.B.
abv: 13.5% Price: $20
91
Rustenberg 2010 Chardonnay (Stellenbosch).
A stunning Chard that shows the
greatness of the vintage in the wine’s superb balance between
ripe fruit flavors of pear and melon and vibrant
acidity. Soft floral accents add depth to the nose, while
well-integrated oak flavors infuse the palate and spice
up the long finish. Delicious now, but shows promise
for some aging. Cape Classics. Editors’ Choice. —L.B.
abv: 14.5% Price: $20
91
Rustenberg 2009 Five Soldiers Chardonnay
(Stellenbosch). Named after five stone
pine trees that stand over the vineyards, this small-production
Chard is lush and toasty, offering great weight
and richness followed by a long, nutty finish. Notes
of red apple skin and peach are accented by hints of
white clover and honeysuckle that unfold with time in
the glass. Brisk lime-flavored acidity lifts the mouth and
provides freshness to the palate. Cape Classics. —L.B.
abv: 13% Price: $38
91
Vins d’Orrance 2010 Cuvée Anaïs Chardonnay
(Western Cape). Named for the
winemaker’s youngest daughter, this ripe and sweet selection
boasts intense oak-driven aromas of butter and
creamy vanilla that mingle well with the honeydew, pear
and peach notes. Thankfully, there’s good cut to the
round mouthfeel, as zesty orange-flavored acidity keeps
the finish fresh and long. Drink now–2014. Broadbent
Selections, Inc. —L.B.
abv: 13% Price: $33
90
Hartenberg 2009 Chardonnay (Stellenbosch).
Rich and round but not overdone,
with a nice brightness to the apple, clementine and
white peach aromas and flavors. Balanced and well-integrated,
with all of the components working together
in harmony. Closes on a brisk citrus-rind finish. Drink
now–2014. Terry Seitz. —L.B.
abv: 13.5% Price: $32
89
Thelema 2009 Sutherland Chardonnay
(Elgin). Forward aromas of sweet spice
and baked apple lead the nose, while secondary hints
of cobbler and vanilla cream follow. The palate is lush
and ripe, but it’s kept in check by a streak of acidity that
braces up the nutty finish. Rich, balanced and accessible.
Cape Classics. —L.B.
abv: 13.5% Price: $15
84
Fairvalley 2009 Chardonnay (Western
Cape). Flashy aromas of toast and butter
mingle with tropical fruit aromas and flavors. There’s
a touch of warmth on the nose, and the mouthfeel is
round and fleshy. Drink now. World Premiere Wines
LLC. —L.B.
abv: 13.8% Price: $11
VIOGNIER
88
Spice Route 2010 Viognier (Swartland).
Delicate sweet-pea and white-flower aromas
marry into forward fruit notes of fresh pear and hard
apricot. A mineral streak weaves through the lush palate,
and a peach pit nuttiness lingers into the finish. Accessible
and enjoyable now. Vineyard Brands. —L.B.
abv: 14% Price: $23
88
Spice Route 2009 Viognier (Swartland).
Decadent scents of buttered brioche, honeydew
and crushed yellow flowers lead the nose, while flavors
of grilled yellow peaches and orange oil flood the palate.
The mouthfeel is round and full, but countered by
medium acidity and a slightly bitter note on the close.
Vineyard Brands. —L.B.
abv: 14.5% Price: $22
86
Radford Dale 2009 Viognier (Stellenbosch).
Flashy notes of wood-grilled apple,
brioche and apricot fill the nose. The mouth is round
and the palate spicy, as flavors of ginger and cedar
dominate the stone fruit. World Premiere Wines LLC.
—L.B.
abv: 13% Price: $25
MOSCATO
86
Jam Jar 2011 Moscato (Western Cape).
Soft floral hints add depth to the otherwise
straightforward ripe peach and white gummy bear aromas.
There’s a good balance in the mouth, with a nice
acidic lift and slightly bitter edge to cut the sweetness
on the finish and close with the faintest hint of astringency.
Cape Classics. —L.B.
abv: 10% Price: $12
84
Makulu NV Sustainable Agriculture Perlè
Moscato (Western Cape). A spritzy and effervescent
selection, the carbonation helps to lift the inherent
sweet fruit aromas and flavors of guava, peach
and mushy pear. An ideal choice for a warm summer
day by the pool, served very cold. Prestige Wine Group.
Best Buy. —L.B.
abv: 6.5% Price: $7
84
Two Oceans 2011 Moscato (Western
Cape). Sweet but not overdone, with attractive
aromas of lychee, peach and rose water. Medium
weight, with a fruity but somewhat thin finish. Drink
now. Aveniù Brands, Inc. —L.B.
abv: 7.5% Price: $10
83
Chaza NV Moscato (Western Cape).
Sweet aromas and flavors of peach and lychee
are accented by a hint of fresh rose petals. A soft spritz
in the mouth cleans up the finish. Drink now. Prestige
Wine Group. Best Buy. —L.B.
abv: 6.5% Price: $5
WHITE BLENDS
92
Bizoe 2010 Henrietta Semillon-Sauvignon
Blanc (Western Cape). This beautiful
Semillon-dominant blend that shows great finesse,
depth and power. Rich and opulent in every way, notes
of baked red apple, lemon verbena, honey-drizzled
peach and sweet orange oil flood the nose and mouth,
while additional flavors of hazelnut cream, fig bread
and soft sweet spice carry into the long finish. Round,
but with enough acidic lift to keep it from being flab-