KWV niche red recognised as one of top Other Red Wines in SA

The global wine community is showing increased interest in South African wines, and local and international markets are showing “a growing awareness of the winemaking and viticultural revolution that is unfolding in the Cape”. This is according to British Master of Wine, and international wine commentator, Tim Atkin, who reveals his observations of SA wine, and subsequent scores, in his latest 2017 South Africa Special Report,.

Paarl-based wine producer, KWV, is proud to be included in this report with its brands well represented, showcasing some of this year’s highest scores to match.

Atkin, who visits the South African winelands annually to review the local wine landscape and its offerings, tasted more than 1 700 local wines this year, to have an accurate view of the state of SA wine.

Of these wines roughly 8% were awarded 95/100 or more on his score sheet. KWV is honoured to note that its KWV The Mentors Petit Verdot 2015 not only received this top-tier rating from Atkin, but that this Master of Wine also considers it as one of his ‘Other Red Wines’ of the year.

 This category includes all wines that aren’t from a single, dominant category like Shiraz, Pinot Noir or the Bordeaux varieties.

KWV The Mentors Petit Verdot 2015 takes the lead in this producer’s ‘Medals of Excellence’ tally, with its KWV The Mentors Grenache Blanc 2011 and KWV The Mentors Semillon 2011 both in close range, scoring an outstanding 94/100. The producer’s leaderboard is completed by no less than 13 other wines included in the 90+ rating group. This includes high praise for its KWV Laborie MCC Blanc de Blancs 2011 and KWV Cathedral Cellar Chardonnay 2016, amongst others.

Wim Truter, winemaker at KWV, says that apart from these scores reflecting the aging potential built into the KWV’s wines, it also illustrates the consistency consumers have come to expect of this entrenched South African producer. “This year’s report emulates KWV’s previous performance, which also showed remarkable quality across a wide spectrum of vintages, wine types and varieties. KWV’s old Semillons are particularly noteworthy, and I am glad that this is something that Atkin touches on in his report.” 

Like the young 30-somethings that Atkin refers to in its report, Truter and his winemaking team is an energetic group of youthful winemakers driven to make idiosyncratic wines that reflect KWV’s history as one of SA’s leading wine brands – which is appropriate, considering that Atkin considers this energy “the thing that strikes most people about the South African wine industry”.

Herewith the full list of KWV wines that scored 90-points or higher:

 Shop for these wines at www.kwvonlineshop.co.za.