This week, British Master of Wine Tim Atkin published the thirteenth issue of his annual South Africa Special Report, describing it as ‘an indispensable guide to one of the most exciting wine scenes on the planet’. We encourage you to download it for £20 here.
Atkin reviewed more than 2,000 wines from 397 producers, and we’re delighted to report that three Creation wines are included among his Wines of the Year, scoring 95 points or more (the equivalent of a Gold Medal or a Platter’s Five Star Award).
Our Art of Chardonnay 2024 was awarded a rating of 96 points, with the following description: ‘JC Martin is something of a Chardonnay specialist, who always seems to know how to get the best out of the variety. The Art is the pinnacle of his production, sourced from a single block planted in 2003 with clones 95, 96 and 76. Toasty, stony an intense, it has wonderful focus and precision, fine 30% new wood, layers of oatmeal, lime and waxed lemon and a mineral-etched finish.’
Glenn’s Chardonnay 2024 received 95 points, with Atkin noting: ‘Glenn Martin, son of JC and Carolyn, makes a very impressive Chardonnay under his own label. Indeed, it’s now sold at the same price as his father’s The Art bottling and uses grapes from the same block. Wild yeast fermented, it’s appealingly savoury and textured, with layers of beeswax, saffron and baking spices and a core of stony, refreshing acidity.’
The Art of Pinot Noir 2024 also received a 95-point rating, and this tasting note: ‘Like The Art of Chardonnay, this top-of-the-range Pinot Noir uses raw material from a single block on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Structured, serious and intense, it’s a wine made by a man who has drunk a lot of Burgundy in his life: savoury, layered and black fruited, with a thread of acidity and clove spice from 50% whole clusters.’
In addition to the above, Creation received ‘outstanding’ 90+ ratings for nine other wine, as follows:
94 – Creation Emma’s Pinot Noir 2024
Not to be outdone by her brother Glenn, Emma Martin has her own wine at Creation, too, although it’s a Pinot Noir rather than a Chardonnay. Showcasing the 115 clone, it comes from a block next to Crystallum’s Cuvée Cinema parcel, showing impressive grip and concentration, plum and black cherry fruit, fine 30% new oak and the concentration to develop further in bottle. 2026-31
93 – Creation Ridge Chardonnay 2024
This mid-tier Chardonnay hails from two blocks on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge and is beautifully layered and expressive. Lemon zest, clementine and nectarine favours are embellished by perfumed 30% new wood and some crème fraîche from full malolactic.
91 – Creation Chardonnay 2024
Made to a consistent style in commendably large volumes, this crowd-pleasing Chardonnay combines grapes from the Overberg and the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Fermented in 10% new oak, it’s layered, fresh and concentrated with appealing pear, peach and lemon butter flavours and a patina of vanilla spice.
91 – Creation Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Viognier 2024
Creation is best known for the wines it makes from Burgundian varieties, but JC Martin has a sure touch with so-called Mediterranean grapes too. Concrete egg and old wood fermented and aged, it’s a food-friendly assemblage of Roussanne, 44% Grenache Blanc and 3% Viognier with good zip and texture, pear, apricot and lemongrass flavours and an appealing bitter twist.
91 – Creation Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon 2024
A wine that’s often overlooked by connoisseurs, but sells well in Creation’s excellent restaurant, this is a well-judged, lightly wooded blend of Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon. Herbal and sappy, it has an appealing palate of grapefruit and elderflower and a salty finish.
91 – Creation Pinot Noir 2024
Creation’s Pinot Noir is the biggest bottling of the grape in the Hemel-en-Aarde region. Sourced from the Ridge and the Overberg, it’s a youthful, well-structured quaffer with some tobacco leaf notes from 20% whole bunches, savoury tannins, patisserie sweetness from 10% new wood and flavours of plum, red cherry and forest floor.
91 – Creation Ridge Grenache 2024
New to the range at Creation, although the vines are now 20 years’ old, this Grenache is intense and deeply coloured, showing plenty of concentration and depth, flavours of plum, red cherry and bramble, negligible oak and a firm spine of tannin.
91 – Creation Ridge Pinot Noir 2024
Ridge is based on the 115 clone, with the remaining 20% made up of 667, 777 and 459. A little shy and reductive when I tasted it, it has some mint and fennel on the nose and a palate of plum and black cherry supported by toasty 30% new wood. Give it another year or two.
90 – Creation Elation Brut Nature Rosé CC 2020
Now the house bubbly at La Colombe, which is not a bad place to be poured, this is a Pinot Noir-dominated Cap Classique with 5% Chardonnay. Produced without added dosage, it’s pithy, tangy, fresh and bone dry with citrus and wild strawberry fruit and a racy finish.