Dear Member

Ernest Hemingway once remarked that wine is the most civilised thing in the world. This is a sentiment that Diners Club supports through various collaborations within the wine industry aimed at adding value to its members.

For the past 29 years, Diners Club has been selecting and rewarding the finest of South African winemakers. The Diners Club Winemaker of the Year is regarded as South Africa's most prestigious wine competition, with past winners including some of the finest winemakers this country has produced. Nine years ago, the equally prestigious Young Winemaker of the Year Award was introduced. The Young Winemaker of the Year Award encourages young winemakers to express their individuality and develop their skills, in so doing adding to the future quality of South African wines.

The Diners Club Winemaker of the Year competition has always been unique in that it is judged on one wine type, variety or style each year. 2009 sees Cabernet Sauvignon featured for the third time. Similarly, the category for the Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year also alternates between red wine and white wine year on year. 2009 was earmarked to find the winning Dry White Wine.

We are proud to announce this year’s winners:

2009 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year:
Coenie Snyman for his 2007 Rust en Vrede Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting Notes:
Almost opaque, blue/black core with bright, youthful purple rim. Ripe black currant and mulberry aromas come spilling from the glass followed by dark cherry, plum and fine oak. Deep and rich in the mouth with layers of black fruit flavours sympathetically balanced by some cedary oak. Intensity develops with time in the mouth where soft, dry tannins begin to show they are there in a supporting role. Youthful fruit penetrates everywhere with time. Long, fruit filled finish with spicy note at the end. Enormous potential to develop over the next six to eight years and then some. A decidedly civilized young cabernet with a great future.


Fltr: Linda Manzini (MD, Diners Club SA), Coenie Snyman, Jane Ledger (Regional Manager - Western Cape, Diners Club SA)

2009 Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year:
Clayton Reabow of Môreson for his “Premium Chardonnay” 2007

Tasting Notes:
Pale yet bright yellow and still very youthful on the eye. Nose is subtle and complex. Leads with stone fruits and green lime. Slight dusting of sweet oak. Fine and elegant yet substantial in the mouth where flavours of nectarine and grapefruit inter work with understated touch of oak. Clean, fragrant finish. Develops interest with every sip. Delightful wine now and into the near future.


Fltr: Linda Manzini (MD, Diners Club SA), Clayton Reabow, Jane Ledger (Regional Manager - Western Cape, Diners Club SA)


TAKE HOME AN AWARD WINNER OR TWO

Taste the winners – and a selection of the top finalists – from this year’s Diners Club Winemaker of the Year Awards.

Wade Bales, managing director of the Diners Club Wine Society has secured the top three finalists’ wines in each category for your enjoyment. One wine in each category is the winning wine. As we know you’ll want to enjoy them more than once, there are two bottles of each in this selection.

Only R1 440 (12 x 750ml)
Price includes VAT and excludes delivery

2009 DINERS CLUB WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:

RUST EN VREDE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007
Deep and rich in the mouth with layer of black fruit flavours balanced by some cedary oak. The intensity develops with time in the mouth where soft, dry tannins begin to show. Signs of youthful fruit come to the fore with time followed by a long, fruit-filled finish with spicy notes at the end.

KLEIN ZALZE FAMILY RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006
On the nose, this wine shows well-integrated berry fruit with cedar wood aromas. These follow through to the palate, where an alluring combination of blackberries, chocolate and liquorice flavours deliver a lingering aftertaste. This can be matured for a further 8 to 10 years in the bottle.

WATERKLOOF CIRCUMSTANCE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008
Dense, dark berries with hint of dried herbs. Juicy fruit on palate is underlined with fine tannin structure on finish.

2009 DINERS CLUB YOUNG WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

MÔRESON PREMIUM CHARDONNAY 2007
Packed with classic Chardonnay fruit this lively white entices with layers of chestnuts, vanilla and underlying grapefruit and lemon zest. A lengthy barrel-maturation on gross lees has allowed for maximum oak and fruit integration, providing a firm palate that gives backbone to concentrated fruit and the richness of the wine. This wine will develop exceptionally in the bottle.

NEWTON JOHNSON CHARDONNAY 2008
A toasty nose and full-bodied palate are just the openers to this delicious wine’s mineral freshness and long clean finish. Platter awarded this four-and-half stars and it received a silver medal at the 2009 Decanter Awards.

DANIE DE WET LIMESTONE HILL CHARDONNAY 2009
Fresh green apples combined with delicate citrus aromas on the nose follow through on the palate with a long tangy finish of delicious full round ripe peaches green apples and nutty, citrus flavours.

LIMITED STOCK! ORDER TODAY:

Place your order with our SECURE ONLINE ORDERING
Or simply contact the Diners Club Concierge Service on 0861 DINERS (346377)

Delivery charges:
Cape Town: R49,
Main centres across SA: R65,
Rural areas across SA: R75,
Export: R130
SURVEY

At Diners Club, we strive to bring our members opportunities and experiences selected specifically with their needs in mind. Please take a few minutes to complete the accompanying survey, so that we may continue to enhance your lifestyle experience. All completed surveys received will go into a draw where you stand the chance to WIN one of 10 Winemaker Selection Packages.

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