Press Release May 2005

Morgenster Wines Maintain Premium Position

Expert recognition and 90+ scores for Morgenster

In a recent comprehensive round-up of South African wines, Steve Tanzer, the respected American wine commentator, rated the wines of Morgenster very highly. Tanzer, who was Senior Editor and wine columnist for Food and Wine magazine and the wine columnist for Forbes, is now the editor of the influential "International Wine Cellar", published six times a year. This guide also has a strong internet membership presence, ensuring it reaches thousands of subscribers and fine wine lovers.

Tanzer, who visited a broad cross-section of the Cape's wineries in August 2004, was full of praise for our wines, admitting that he is "a great fan of the wines of South Africa." At the top end of our production, he praised the "satisfying, characterful wine that's midway between Old World and New in style. These are serious, structured wines that work well at the dinner table-the kinds of bottles that lovers of French and Italian wines will enjoy."

He went onto single out Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends, saying that "many of the most renowned Cape reds are classic Bordeaux blends." In the 100-point system that Tanzer employs, any wine at 90 points or higher is in the top echelons, and he awarded Morgenster - who specialise in Bordeaux blends - 90 points for the Lourens River Valley 2001 red blend and a remarkable 91+ points for the 2001 Morgenster, Morgenster blend.

Focussing on only these two premium red blends, both in the Bordeaux style, winemaker Marius Lategan and consultant Pierre Lurton of Chateau Cheval Blanc and recently Chateau Y'quem, ensure that the wines consistently achieve the levels of finesse and elegance that the property has proven it is capable of producing.

The second vintage of the Morgenster blend, namely the 2001 vintage is dominated by the two Cabernets, Sauvignon and franc and complimented by Merlot. This estate - vineyard selection is not bound to a fixed recipe and will always demonstrate the best from these prime Helderberg vineyards, planted to the Bordeaux varieties. The John Platter South African Wine Guide has given it four and a half out of five stars, saying this wine is "probably destined for Cape showcase greatness."

With four stars in Platter, the 2001 Lourens River Valley is barely behind the estate blend, this wine dominates with Merlot and structured by Cabernet Sauvignon and some Cabernet franc.

Morgenster are specialists, with 40ha planted to only red varieties, and a similar area planted to olives for the production of premium olive oil and olive products. From the start, their aim has been to be a Cape "first growth" and by all accounts they are succeeding.