‘The List’ is a peculiar concept. At any given time we have about six. To-do-lists, wine-wish-lists, long-term-lists (i.e. ‘Get more Sadie') and then a master-list to order the lesser-lists. Not to mention the impending New Years resolution-list.
Either jotted down on a stray piece of paper, a diary or phone; we even have a few lists bookmarked in our browser. ‘The List’ offers a sense of purpose, accomplishment (when ticked off) and even though you know you won’t get to it all, something to aspire to.
Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines is a list that we eagerly await each year - thankful not to be tasked with it, eager to contribute given the chance. This year, Hamilton Russell’s 2015 Chardonnay was ranked 11th and as the only South African wine listed, it represents a grand achievement. Made even grander by the fact that a white wine has attained such lofty heights, not only speaking to what Hamilton Russell is doing (and succeeding at) in a bigger sense, but also how the terroir of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley compares to that of Burgundy and the Napa Valley.
This is not Hamilton Russell Vineyards' first time on the list. The world-renowned, Hemel-en-Aarde producers of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay have made it, by our count, for the 6th time this year.
They were included for the first time in 2009, then again in 2012, twice more in 2013 and one more time in 2014 for good measure. Interestingly the Wine Spectator score for each wine listed during those years remained at what seemed to be a plateau of 93 Wine Spectator points (not a plateau to be scoffed at). Throughout the years however, they've made the inexorable climb up the ranks. The 2007 Pinot Noir in 2009 was ranked 52nd; the 2010 Chardonnay was ranked 32nd in 2012; while the 2012 Chardonnay was ranked ever higher, 19th in 2013. (Sister brand, the Ashbourne Sandstone 2008, was also included in that year.) Making the 2015 Chardonnay the first vintage to break the mould in attaining what the other vintages seem to have been alluding to.
As only twelve other South African Producers have ever been named on this list (Warwick, Kanonkop, Klein Constantia, Sadie Family Wines, Mulderbosch, De Trafford, Neil Ellis, Rust en Vrede, A.A.Badenhorst, Ataraxia, Fairview and DeMorgenzon)* Hamilton Russell’s inclusion merely adds to the allure and exclusivity of these wines. Though the Top 100 Wines list is usually released with a strict warning not be used as a shopping list, as most coveted vintages are usually already sold out by publication and unattainable to most. Today (and until stocks last), this warning does not apply to YOU. We’ve been able to secure 24 double-packs containing the elusive 2015 Chardonnay and its most recent counterpart, the 2016 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay. If you’re not planning on ticking these off your list, we’ll tick them off ours.
*Based on the Top 100 lists from 2000 onwards.