US Critic Declares South African Wine Best Bang for your Buck

A wine critic for the Wall Street Journal has declared South African fine wine “the best bang for your buck” in the world.

Critic Will Lyons said, when asked about non-branded wines, he wouldn’t hesitate to recommend South African wines, writing that “the one country that consistently offers outstanding value is South Africa.” (He said for branded, commoditised wine he would suggest South America or Central America.)

Lyons said that while the “region of the moment” was undoubtedly the Swartland, with its vintners like Eben Sadie, “especially when it comes to Syrah-based Rhone varietals,” one shouldn’t overlook South African classics like its Bordeaux-style blends that come especially from Stellenbosch and the areas around the Simonsberg mountains.

[quote_center]”…the one country that consistently offers outstanding value is South Africa.”[/quote_center]

Estates that he mentioned worth watching are De Toren, Ernie Else, Jordan, Kanonkkop, Le Riche, Meerlust, Oldenburg, Rustenberg, Thelema, Vergelegen and Warwick.

“You can taste something distinctly South African in these wines,” Lyons wrote.

Lyons quoted importer Greg Sherwood of Hanford Wines in London saying “It’s great that there are a new bunch of young winemakers making a name for themselves, but let’s not lose perspective on the regions and wines which excelled in the past.”

He ended off his appraisal in the Journal by mentioning three wines worth drinking now: 2001 Meerlust Rubicon, 2009 Kanonkiop Paul Sauer and 2000 Vergelegen GVB Red.