Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Monday 21 December 2009

2006 Bush Wine Chenin Straw Wine, Hazendal Estate


Another wine tasted at the Boutique Wineries tasting back in September. This time a well-made Chenin Blanc straw wine (vin de paille) from the Hazendal Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The grapes come from 30-year-old dry farmed vines planted in sandy soil. The winemaker is Ronell Wiid, who in 1999 was the first woman to win the prestigious Diners Club ‘Wine Maker of the Year’ award with the 1998 Hazendal Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon.

This golden coloured wine has attractive rich aromas of beeswax with ripe, luscious peach and apricot on the palate and fair length. Certainly an enjoyable glass of sweet wine, although it lacks a bit of complexity and acidity in the finish that would really lift it.

The 2006 Bushvine Straw Wine, Hazendal Estate is available in the UK from Connoisseur Estates for £12.99 for a 37.5cl bottle.

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