London - The annual, much anticipated, 2017 South Africa Special Report, which details the observations and impressions of SA wine by British Master of Wine (MW) Tim Atkin, were released at Wines of South Africa’s (WOSA) Intrepid Tasting in London. With over 1 700 local wines tasted by this internationally renowned taster, Bellingham Wines is proud to announce that eight of its wines received scores of 90-points of more - termed “Medals of Excellence”.
Bellingham’s flagship range, The Bernard Series, dominated these top scores, with nearly every wine bottled under this label receiving a rating of 90 / 100 or more. From this group, Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2016 received the highest score, 93/100, defined as a wine that is extremely well made and of excellent style and distinction.
For Niel Groenewald, Cellarmaster at Bellingham, the performance of Bellingham’s The Bernard Series is an apt reflection of the determination and maverick spirit of Bellingham’s founder, Bernard Podlashuk, who was never quite satisfied to be just ordinary. Says Groenewald: “The objective of Bellingham The Bernard Series is to showcase the best from our cellar, these wines are made in small quantities and are a true expression of the individualistic character of a specific variety, from a specific vintage. It is heartening to note that a Master of Wine agrees that these wines are of outstanding quality.”
Adding to the cellar’s reputation for producing top quality wines across all its labels, Bellingham’s terroir-focused series, The Homestead Range, received a 90/100 score for The Bellingham Homestead Pinotage 2015.
In his report, Atkin said that he was extremely impressed with the quality of wines he tasted in 2017. “The 2015 vintage, as we know was spectacular, but in the right hands, the much more challenging 2016 harvest has yielded much better wines than I anticipated,” he writes.
Adding weight to the claim that interest in South Africa’s wine industry is growing in global markets, Atkin says: “The South African wine scene has never been more exciting or more diverse… Both at home and overseas, there is a growing awareness of the winemaking and viticultural revolution that is unfolding in the Cape. Consumers worldwide are becoming increasingly passionate about South African wines.”
The full ratings for Bellingham Wines are indicated below:
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Bellingham Homestead Chardonnay 2016
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89
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Bellingham Homestead Chenin Blanc 2016
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89
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Bellingham Homestead Pinotage 2015
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90
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Bellingham Homestead Sauvignon Blanc 2017
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87
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Bellingham Homestead Shiraz 2015
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89
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Bellingham The Bernard Series Basket Press Syrah 2015
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91
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Bellingham The Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage 2015
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92
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Bellingham The Bernard Series Grenache Blanc 2016
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91
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Bellingham The Bernard Series Hand Picked Viognier 2016
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89
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Bellingham The Bernard Series MMM 2015
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91
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Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2016
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93
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Bellingham The Bernard Series Small Barrel SMV 2014
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91
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Bellingham The Bernard Series Whole Bunch Roussanne 2017
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90
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