Wine Enthusiast scores two South African wines highly

Carl Schultz

Hartenberg Estate's Chardonnay 2009 (90 points) received the following review. "Rich and round but not overdone, with a nice brightness to the apple, clementine and white peach aromas and flavour."

Recommended with delicate, yet flavoursome dishes such as creamy lemon risotto, refreshing sashimi or rich, crispy fish cakes to bring out its luscious flavours, it sells at the cellar door for R78 per bottle.

Constantia pleases

With a rating of 91 points for the Constantia Glen Five 2008 and 90 points for the approachable Constantia Glen Three 2008, both wines are included in the magazine's Excellent category.

Constantia Glen Five 2008

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Constantia Glen Three 2008

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Wine Enthusiast describes the newly released Glen Five 2008 as a stunning Bordeaux-style blend that opens with ripe aromas of black fruits laced with a serious liquorice and spice streak that shows staying power: "The seductive mouth feel boasts a slightly creamy texture with mouth filling tannins. The palate is loaded with mulled boysenberry. Hints of tobacco, mocha and sweet spice all linger on the long close."

Glen Three 2008 is described as "a great value", noting that this Merlot-dominant blend, with splashes of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc exudes ripe aromas and flavours of rich dark fruit and berries jazzed up with layers of cigar tobacco, leather, savoury herbs and tree bark. "Concentrated and mouth filling, with a velvety texture, it's a well-balanced wine with fine, but persistent tannins and a lengthy finish."

Glen Five 2008 and Glen Three 2008 sell at the cellar door for R245 and R150 a bottle respectively.