1995 vintage guide for Red South Africa

South Africa 1995: Drink soon

A low-yielding vintage produced good-quality, well-structured wines

4/5

Weather Conditions

The second successive hot and dry year in South Africa , with low yields and small berries for dense, chunky fruit and often grunty alcohols, good for keeping; generally friendlier tannins than previous year.

Best Appellations

Walker Bay, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl (& Wellington) Durbanville, Constantia.

Best Producers

Stellenbosch: Hartenberg (Shiraz & Merlot); Saxenburg PC (Shiraz); Cordoba (Bordeaux blend, Crescendo); Le Bonheur (Bordeaux blend, Prima & Cab.); Alto (Cab. & “Rouge” blend); Glen Carlou (Bordeaux blend, Grande Classique); Kanonkop (Bordeaux blend, Paul Sauer & Pinotage); Vriesenhof (Cab.); Grangehurst (Cab.S & Cab. Merlot & Pinotage) Kaapzicht (Cab.); Thelema (Cab.S & Merlot); Rozendal (Bordeaux blend); Simonsig (Bordeaux blend, Tiara & Frans Malan Res.); Saxenburg PC (Cab. & Pinotage & Merlot & Shiraz); Fleur du Cap (Merlot); Jordan (Merlot); Meerlust (Bordeaux blend, Rubicon) Warwick (Merlot & Pinotage & Bordeaux blend Trilogy & Cab. Franc); Uiterwyk (Pinotage); Stellenzicht (Merlot & Shiraz & Syrah); Morgenhof (Cab. Merlot & Merlot); Neil Ellis (Cab. Merlot); Vergenoegd (Estate blend,Res); Brampton (Cab); De Trafford (Cab.); Overgaauw (Merlot); Verglegen (Merlot); Beyerskloof (Pinotage); Blaauwklippen (Shiraz); Jacobsdal (Pinotage); L’Avenir (Cab. & Pinotage).

Paarl: KWV Cathedral Cellar * (Cab. & Bordeaux blend, & Merlot); Fairview (Cab. & Pinotage Cyrul Back & Shiraz); Villiera (Bordeaux blend, Cru Monro); Simonsvlei (Shiraz); Plaisir de Merle (Cab.); Laborie (Pinotage).

Franschhoek: Bellingham (Merlot & Pinotage & Shiraz & Cab. Franc); Moreson (Merlot); Haute Provence (Cab.).

Wellington (Paarl): Veenwouden (Bordeaux blend, Classic & Merlot).

Walker Bay: Hamilton Russell Vineyards (Pinot Noir); Southern Right (Pinotage).

Durbanville: Altydgedacht (Pinotage).

Constantia: Buitenverwachting (Bordeaux blend, Christine).