It is the 7th of February and we're up to 7 wines rated 90+ or "Best Buy" from our portfolio, so we're staying on track.

Today we'll look at two wines from De Waal. This is a great, old estate, founded in 1682, and has been a De Waal family concern since 1864. DeWaal is an iconic producer of Pinotage, the uniquely south African grape, including the very limtied release "Top of the Hill" Pinotage, made from the oldest Pinotage vines in the world.

But, as a show of their diversity, we're going to focus on two other wines:

Signal Rock, 2007. 90 in June 2010 Wine Enthusiast Magazine. A red blend described by the magazine thus: "Aromas of cigarbox, black fruit and spice are followed by blackberry, plum and pepper on the palate. Clean flavors, balanced tannins and minerality, and an overall easy-to-drink character recommend the blend. Pair with roasted meats, stews."

The DeWaal Young Vines Sauvignon Blanc received a "Best Buy" from Wine Enthusiast in December 2010 with the following review: "This is a fresh and easy to drink white that's perfect for pairing with salads or citrus-based grilled fish. Medium weight with prominent tart flavors of lemony citrus and green berries, and the finish offers a hint of fresh hay."

The next wines in our 28 wines of February celebration are from Cederberg. This is one of the most unique wineries in the world, isolated among natural areas high in the Cederberg Wilderness, they produce wines of intensity and distinctiveness.

One of the most distinctive wines is Bukettraube (Boo-kah-trah-buh). There are very few producers of this native Austrian grape, and the Cederberg Bukettraube has been described thus:
"much like a Muscat or Gewürtztraminer, but even juicier and less acidic.  This wine also has an absolutely to-die-for nose: take a deep whiff, and it’s all peaches and honeysuckle.  And not in that wine-speakey “I detect notes of peach”-kind of way.  This fruit knocks you over and kisses you hard on the mouth, connoisseur or not.  Fantastic."

Now for a couple of Cederberg's 90+ rated wines:

Chenin Blanc – 90 Wine & Spirits Magazine, February 2011. "Sea air is the most prevalent scent in this wine – a subtle saline aroma that gets you salivating. There's kiwi-berry fruit marked by herbal verbena notes, the wine's viscosity aerated by high acidity. It has potential to age for at least 5 years, but would be delicious now with beet and goat cheese salad."

Cederberg Cabernet Sauvignon – 91 Wine Enthusiast Magazine Feb 2011."Cocoa dusted black raspberry, black currant and plum aromas up front transition to flavors of blackberry and fudgy brownie. Creamy and full in the mouth with medium tannins and a velvety texture. Approachable now, but pair with a good steak or fatty game like shoulder lamb chops for balance."

In February 2010 we had our first wine selected for the New York Times Wine Club, and our first wine sale. One year later, we celebrate February by highlighting the 28 wines in our portfolio that have received a 90+ or “Best Buy” rating in the last year – one per day (or sometimes two/day if I get too busy).

Yep, 28 wines in our little portfolio of South African wines (and they’re all sustainably made, to boot!).

So, let’s start with the A’s.

Ataraxia is Kevin Grant’s winery. Most of you know Kevin even if you’ve never heard of him. He was the winemaker at Hamilton Russell winery as they were establishing themselves as one of the premier wineries in South Africa. Stepping out on his own a few years ago, he has had an instant impact with 3 wines that have garnered consistent rave reviews – Sauvignon Blanc, Serenity red blend, and, of course, Chardonnay. Let’s take a quick look:

Serenity – A red wine blended of grapes that are unidentified, the march 2011 issue of Wine Enthusiast gave it a 91 rating and the following review:
A gorgeous and elegant compositionally undisclosed red blend from winemaker Kevin Grant, this has all the finesse and complexity of a great wine. Bright and inviting with juicy red plum, blueberry, and wild raspberry aromas and flavors laced with hints of smoky, woody spice and minerality. Silky in the mouth with fine tannins and a long, nuanced finish.

Chardonnay – Made in the much desired style of the cooler coastal areas of South Africa, Kevin continues to show the world how great South African Chardonnay can be. The January 2011 Wine & Spirits Magazine gave it a 91 rating and the following review:
“Sourced primarily from sandstone and clay-rich shale parcels in the Hemel-en-Aard and Elgin valleys, this richly textured Chardonnay offers flavors of baked apple and peach, fragrant with notes of cut grass and elderflower. The acidity carries the wine’s girth, making it feel firm as it lasts on savory barrel spice. A perfect companion to sea scallops sautéed in sheep’s milk butter.’

Sauvignon Blanc – Arguably the shiniest star of the trio of Ataraxia wines, this wine has received multiple 90+ ratings over the years and has been described by the Wine Spectator as “Superdelicious.”

http://www.ataraxiawines.com/