I am occasionally asked: what is the most exciting New World country on the scene at the moment. New Zealand? Argentina? Chile? England? OK…maybe not the last one. The aforementioned all contribute their clutch of outstanding wines…even England. But if I have to give a single answer then I would reply: “South Africa.” Trust me when I say that I would not believe if someone had predicted I would answer as such several years ago… If I were to single out one wine that exemplifies what South Africa can achieve in 2012, then unquestionably it would be Chris Alheit’s stunning debut: Cartology. Everything from the philosophical, terroir-driven winemaker to the vines to the profound wine and even the packaging, attest to the pinnacles that can be reached
