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SOUTH AFRICA
– NEW VARIETIES –
‘Innovation is a way
of life,’ say Creation
co-owners
Jean-Claude (JC)
and Carolyn Martin
of voluptuous power and elegance,’ says viticulturist/
winemaker Clarise Sciocatti-Langeveldt.
High up on the much cooler Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge,
Creation Wines has a great reputation for Pinot Noir and
Chardonnay, but co-owners Carolyn and Jean-Claude
Martin planted Viognier in 2003 and Roussanne in 2015,
always with a white blend in mind. With their Viognier-
Roussanne 2020 scoring 88 points, it will be exciting to
see what Grenache Blanc (planted in 2018) and Marsanne
(coming soon) contribute. ‘While the white blends of the
southern Rhone have exquisite aromatics, they can fall flat
with low acidity and high alcohol levels. Being in a cooler
climate with a long ripening window, we intend to capture
the beautiful aromatics and keep the natural acidity and
lower alcohols.’
Twee Jonge Gezellen (TJG) in Tulbagh is best known
for its Krone brand of Cap Classique sparkling wines.
However, when the team started dreaming of bringing
back the TJG brand with a premium white and red wine,
the hot summers and rocky soils of the farm steered them
towards planting Grenache Noir and Syrah for the red
(a 92-point rating for the Grenache Noir 2019, sourced
from Piekenierskloof, promising great things for when
WINTER 2021 GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE 113