With no less than 10 wines receiving Medals of Excellence (90+) in the highly respected Tim Atkin SA Special Report this year, Creation Wines can justifiably be proud. To add to this achievement, two Creation wines are among Tim’s Wines of the Year: the Creation Glenn’s Chardonnay 2022 and the Creation Art of Chardonnay 2022 both boast a whopping 96 points.
A British Master of Wine, Tim Atkin is a distinguished wine journalist and an expert on South African wines. His report, now in its 11th edition, is regarded as one of the most authoritative overviews of quality South African wines and his comments about the industry are encouraging indeed.
The Creation team with Tim Atkin MW during his visit early this year.
While Creation’s signature Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines are among the top achievers, the fact that their Syrah, Old–Vine Chenin Blanc and Roussanne–Grenache blend also received Medals of Excellence, underscores the estate’s wine expertise across a wider spectrum.
In praise of the 2022 Creation Glenn’s Chardonnay (96 points), Tim says it’s the sort of wine that wouldn’t look out of place in a line-up of Chablis Grands Crus. “Notes of oyster shell and white pepper segue into a pithy, focused, stony palate. The 50% new wood is expertly judged, complementing the texture of the palate.”
Remarking on the 2022 Creation Art of Chardonnay (96 points), he says: “Gorgeous stuff. Savoury, waxy, leesy and layered, it has deftly integrated 30% new wood, hints of hazelnut and aniseed, chiselled minerality and pithy, palate-cleansing precision.”
The 2022 Creation Art of Pinot Noir (94 points) is described as follows: “Firm, savoury and structured, with some extra grip and perfume from 70% whole bunches . . . 33% new wood, bramble, plum and black cherry fruit and a taut, age worthy finish.”
JC Martin in the Art of Chardonnay single-site vineyard.
Creation Creative Director Carolyn Martin expressed the team’s delight at the excellent ratings, saying that they are thrilled to be a part of the vibrant South African wine scene as described by Atkin. “In his report Tim mentions simplicity as one of the features he likes best in South African wines. He calls it ‘a sense of place’ and this is of course exactly what we at Creation strive to reflect in our wines. And which, thanks to our dedication to sustainability, I believe we achieve.”
The 10 wines scoring 90+ points are:
2022 Creation Glenn’s Chardonnay 96
2022 Creation The Art of Chardonnay 96
2022 Creation Emma’s Pinot Noir 94
2022 Creation The Art of Pinot Noir 94
2022 Creation Chardonnay Reserve 93
2022 Creation Old-Vine Chenin Blanc 93
2021 Creation Syrah Reserve 93
2022 Creation Roussanne, Grenache 92
2022 Creation Pinot Noir Reserve 92
2022 Creation Chardonnay 91
The Tim Atkin ratings follow in the wake of Creation featuring among the top four global wineries at the 2023 World’s Best Vineyards (WBV) awards. It’s also the fourth time that Creation has been listed as the number 1 estate in South Africa and on the African continent. The stated aim of the WBV list is to raise the profile of wine tourism and to encourage visitors from all over the world to explore the world’s best wineries.
Tim Atkin MW, Carolyn Martin, Creative Director and Co-Owner Creation Wines, Andrew Reed, Managing Director Wine at William Reed at the 2023 World’s Best Vineyards ceremony.