This week British Master of Wine Tim Atkin launched the 12th edition of his annual South Africa Special Report, which aims ‘to give an informed outsider’s take’ on the country’s best wines.
‘At 332 pages and more than 110,000 words, it’s by far my most comprehensive overview of the world’s seventh-largest producer,’ said Atkin, who tasted a total of 2,259 wines from 427 producers. He concluded: ‘South Africa is incontrovertibly producing the greatest wines in its history.’
We’re delighted that eight of our wines received outstanding 90+ point ratings, with Atkin including both Creation The Art of Pinot Noir 2023 and Creation Glenn’s Chardonnay 2023 among his Wines of the Year, each scoring 95 points.
In the report, which can be downloaded for £20 here, Atkin lauds evidence of greater precision in South Africa’s vineyards, a growing accent on soil and vine health, and ongoing research into different grapes, clones, rootstocks, trellising systems, cover crops and other methods to cope with climate extremes. ‘These are all things that we take extremely seriously at Creation,’ says co-founder and cellarmaster Jean-Claude Martin. ‘Working with virus-free material since inception, farming sustainably to preserve our delicate ecosystem, and using science to keep understanding nature better – we believe this approach will continue to give us a distinct advantage in terms of vine health and therefore grape and ultimately wine quality.’
Here are Atkin’s ratings and notes for our top-performing wines:
95 – Creation The Art of Pinot Noir 2023
‘We have much more rain in Switzerland,’ jokes Jean-Claude Martin about the wet 2023 vintage in South Africa. ‘I quite enjoyed it.’ He’s certainly made a very good bottling of The Art, skilfully integrating 50% whole bunches and 33% new oak. Sappy, dense, mineral and well-structured, it’s a meaty, brooding red with lovely oak, black cherry, plum and fynbos flavours and plenty of supporting tannins and acidity.
95 – Creation Glenn’s Chardonnay 2023
Named after Glenn, Jean-Claude and Carolyn Martin’s son, who has now followed his parents into the business, this shows that the boy has talent. Savoury and wild yeast fermented, it has lovely tension and focus, scented 30% new oak, piercing acidity and lime and tangerine flavours. Very smart indeed.
94 – Creation The Art of Chardonnay 2023
The Art is made with grapes from Creation’s oldest Chardonnay block and is an age-worthy white that can seem austere and shuttered in its youth. Sweetly wooded in 30% new barrels, with notes of toast and nutmeg to prove it, this is a smoky, compact, layered wine showing patisserie and smoked lemon flavours and a chiselled finish.
93 – Creation Emma’s Pinot Noir 2023
Just as Glenn Martin has a Chardonnay named after him, so his sister Emma has a Pinot Noir. Sourced from a west-facing block planted with the 115 clone, this is an intense, well-structured red that will reward patience. Lashings of toasty, smoky oak frame a palate of damson, black cherry and wild herbs, structured tannins and inky concentration.
92 – Creation Pinot Noir Reserve 2023
The Reserve Pinot Noir block is now sixteen years old – time flies, folks – and runs to 2.5 hectares. Picked before the problematic rains in 2023, this has aromas of gingerbread and vanilla spice, plum and summer berry fruit flavours, svelte tannins and a refreshing finish.
92 – Creation Syrah Reserve 2022
Creation’s Reserve Syrah is very much a cool climate style, but that doesn’t mean it lacks colour or concentration. Curated in 25% new oak, with 50% whole bunches adding structure and a stemmy top note, this has layers of blackberry and tapenade and a sheen of aromatic wood spices.
92 – Creation Roussanne/Grenache Blanc/Viognier 2023
Entirely fermented in concrete eggs, this is a more or less equal blend of Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Viognier from the Vrede farm in the Overberg. Jasmine and ginger aromas lead you gently into a palate of pear, citrus and sweet spices and a sappy, stony, refreshing finish.
91 – Creation Chardonnay Reserve 2023
Creation’s Reserve Chardonnay comes from the Vrede farm, just beyond the limit of the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Assertively wooded in 30% new oak, it has lots of texture from full malolactic, melon, citrus, buttered croissant and orange zest flavours and a fresh finish.
For additional information on these exceptional wines, or to purchase them, please click here.