Christian Eedes’ Cabernet Sauvignon Report is a highlight of my calendar – a great opportunity for me to taste through the cream of one of SA’s top categories. Tasted completely blind, it is probably the only wine competition where just three judges deliver a verdict, having very carefully tasted through a small number of entries. [...]

Michel Chapoutier, sometimes a controversial figure, reckons that the Languedoc-Roussillon could become one of the finest wine regions in France as climate change affects the more marginal regions, such as the Northern Rhône. His Languedoc-Roussillon property, Domaine Bila Haut, produces some of the best value wines on our portfolio and VIT is on par with [...]

After a week of holidays in France and the UK, the Bordeaux en-primeur campaign is back in full swing. Prices are consistently being set only slightly lower than 2011, except for the Pichons, which are down 20%. Pichon Comtesse Lalande is as dependable as ever, but Pichon Longueville Baron, which is usually denser and richer, [...]

The wines from the famous French appellations are becoming ever more expensive as the emerging markets start acquiring a taste for fine French wine. Less prestigious regions, unhindered by more stringent appellation laws, can, however, produce absolutely delicious wines at a fraction of the price. ‘This, dear readers, is the best sub-£10 wine I have [...]

The South African wine scene is in a fantastic place. Almost every week I find myself tasting a young, exciting wine with less extraction, less oak, less alcohol and less sweetness. Wines containing fewer additions of everything else other than grapes. Not only are these wines more balanced and far more drinkable, but there is [...]

We have been raving about the 2010 French vintage since tasting the Bordeaux wines out of cask in 2011. It was a top Bordeaux vintage and was superb in Burgundy. The real value of the vintage, however, lies in the Rhône Valley. Brothers Christophe and Sebastian Jaume have taken Domaine Grand Veneur, established in 1826, [...]

‘One of South Africa’s finest wines and should repay considerable cellaring. Go seek and marvel,’ says Neal Martin on the MR de Compostella. ‘The Compilation of Stars’ made by Mzo Mvemve and Bruwer Raats has become Wine Cellar’s most sought-after South African wine and our allocation is snapped up on release. It has topped the [...]

The Comte Liger Belair wines are among the finest in our entire portfolio. The domaine is situated in the famous town of Vosne-Romanée and the family owns some of the most hallowed vineyards on the planet. The domaine was sold in 1933, following two centuries of fine Burgundy tradition, and Louis Michel Liger Belair started [...]

Burgundy lovers are faced with a tough proposition: the world is becoming increasingly interested in the hallowed vineyards of Burgundy, and this is pushing up prices and tightening allocations. With the Rand 20% weaker than last year and a small 2012 crop, prices are sky-rocketing. 2011 Burgundy is a good, classic vintage however. ‘From an [...]

Chris and Andrea Mullineux have fast become the darlings of the SA wine industry. In just 4 vintages, Andrea has been invited into the Cape Winemakers Guild and, together with numerous 5* Platter ratings, their 2010 Syrah was nominated as ‘Red Wine of the Year’ in the Platter 2013 guide. The new releases are even more exciting! How these [...]

Each year Wine Cellar offers the latest vintage of Bordeaux en-primeur, or as futures. This age-old platform affords you access to almost all of Bordeaux’s top wines, at the best possible prices. We will be commencing with the 2012 campaign as the chateaux start releasing their prices in April. Read more on en-primeur here or email Roland@winecellar.co.za to join our en-primeur mailing list. Last [...]

Wine Cellar is proud to announce that we are now the official importer of two superb Champagne houses: Drappier and Jacquesson. Drappier is one of the finest boutique houses and was founded in 1808, whilst Jacquesson is regarded as the oldest independent Champagne house. Jacquesson Champagnes are technically all extra-Brut. Each year, the non-vintage is given a unique cuvée [...]

With a cooler ripening season and lower than average rainfall, the 2012 vintage provided conditions for optimal ripeness and excellent purity of fruit. The first of this highly anticipated vintage to hit the market is the Crystallum Peter Max Pinot Noir. And it’s an absolute humdinger! This is the first vintage containing 100% Hemel-en-Aarde (Ridge [...]

The wines of Terre Nere (‘Black Earth’) are some of the most popular Wine Cellar imports. Grown on the northern slopes of Mount Etna, they show the vibrant fruit of southern Italy, combined with the elegance and delicacy endowed by old vines, volcanic rock and high altitude. A DOC since 1968, the last decade has [...]

‘One of France’s most compelling wine producers,’ says Robert Parker about Domaine Vieille Julienne. These are traditionally made, extraordinarily concentrated Châteauneuf-du-Papes made from old-vine, biodynamically farmed sites. Minuscule yields without the use of SO2 during vinification and ageing in neutral wood contribute to bold but vivid, long-ageing wines from this unique terroir. But apart from [...]

The wines of Burgundy are arguably the world’s most sought-after. No other region is able to produce such ethereal, elegant and profound Chardonnay and Pinot Noir on such a large scale. The wines speak of their soils, growers and vintages, making them among the purist expressions of vitis vinifera and possibly the most difficult to [...]

Vilafonté has confirmed that the eagerly awaited 2010 vintage of Series C will be released on the 1st of March, 2013. To celebrate the release of the 2010, Wine Cellar and Vilafonté will be co-hosting a series of exclusive tastings across the country, giving you a chance to sample the new vintage ahead of the [...]

You may accuse us of being slightly ‘Swartland befok’ with our regular offers from the Swartland gang. But it is unquestionably the most dynamic and exciting wine region in South Africa and new wines are popping up every week. The latest ‘must-have’ wines are those made on Meerhof but under the Mount Abora label. Johan [...]

Good day Wine Lover Buy this wine it is delicious… Bryan MacRobert has been assisting Eben Sadie in the Swartland and Priorat for a number of years and the Tobais 2010 Red is his exceptional debut. Only three barrels of this delicious juice were made and we are so confident of this wine, we have [...]

After successful tastings in JHB and CT (see the video and write-up on WINE CELLAR PLUS), the classical house of Trimbach once again showed its class. Their unchanged history of producing bone-dry, moderate alcohol wines from their own, old vines consistently produces benchmark Alsace. Whilst the 2008s had razor-like acidity, the 2009s are far more [...]

‘Keermont Vineyards is a bright star on the horizon‘ says Neal Martin from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, awarding some of the highest scores ever for a South African winery. Tucked away high up in the Helderberg underneath de Trafford, the low yielding Keermont vines produce wines of sheer elegance and character. The Red Blend is [...]

At just 13% and 13.5% alcohol, the new pair of Mullineux single vineyards make a serious statement. Unlike most other ultra-premium SA wines that rely on extreme ripeness, new oak and in-your-face styling, this pair treats your palate to purity, finesse and delicacy. They also have a structure that will actually allow (and really require) [...]

As vintages go, 2007 was indeed not lauded as a red wine vintage. Inclement weather lead to mostly lighter, more approachable wines that will be quickly forgotten amongst the top vintages. The whites on the other hand are impressively mineral, rich and provide better balance than the leaner 2008s and fatter 2009s. To buy these [...]