13/05/2026
Symposium
Thursday 14th May, 2026
6.00pm at Otherness
Back in 2019, I was judging at the Marananga Wine Show.
As expected, richness of fruit and generosity of flavour characterised most of the Shiraz class. In my memory, one wine stood out, not because it was bigger or because it wore a mantle of more assertive oak, but because it was particularly finessed. Balanced. Almost Cornas-like in its delivery of dark, graphity aromatics and flavour.
Tasted blind, the group of judges expressed surprise at the ‘reveal’ that such a newcomer had blitzed the field.
The wine, made by Belinda Van Eyssen was The Cutting 2017 Shiraz.
I have made a point of following Belinda and Daniel’s wines during the last six years and have admired and enjoyed each of the wines they have released.
Having spoken with Belinda, and tasted with her, she is quick to acknowledge the influence of her ancestral home in South Africa.
Tomorrow night, Belinda will not only show her range of wines but will also pour a couple of seminal South African wines. I will also contribute one of my favourite wines from anywhere in the world, made by Eben Sadie in Swartland.
There are still a few seats available. I’m so looking forward to this one!
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