Top scores for Paul Clüver Family Wines from Tim Atkin
Besides the life, bloom and zest that spring brings to the environment, this time of year also sees the results of the annual Tim Atkin Special Report on South African wine where the country’s wines are judged by the eponymous British Master of Wine. Tim Atkin’s opinions on wine are highly regarded and internationally recognised, and this year it was an honour to see two Paul Clüver wines achieve a remarkable score of 96 pts.
This top rating went to Paul Clüver Seven Flags Pinot Noir 2021 and the Paul Clüver Noble Late Harvest Riesling 2021, marking them among the highest-rated wines in his 2024 Special Report on South African wine.
What’s more, these were highlighted as among his Wines of the Year in the Pinot Noir and Sweet Wines categories respectively.
Also notable is the 95-point rating for the soon-to-be-released Paul Clüver Clüver Prieur Martin Colline du Matin Chardonnay 2019, which was listed as one of Tim Atkin’s Chardonnay's of the Year. This wine is the result of a collaboration between Paul Clüver Jnr, winemaker Andries Burger, and Martin Prieur, co-owner of Domaine Jacques Prieur in Meursault, Burgundy. The vineyard, specially planted on the Paul Clüver Estate for this wine, reflects the longstanding friendship and shared vision of Clüver, Burger, and Prieur. (The Colline du Matin Chardonnay wine will be released later this year, so do keep an eye on our digital channels as volumes are limited.)
Another standout Chardonnay from the estate, the Paul Clüver CWG Wagon Trail, achieved 93 points in the report. Overall, Paul Clüver Family Wines reinforced its status as one of the Cape’s leading producers, maintaining its Second Growth classification in Atkin’s rankings.
Other ratings for Paul Clüver Family Wines in Tim Atkin South Africa Special Report
- 2023 Paul Clüver Estate Chardonnay - 92 points
- 2023 Paul Clüver Estate Pinot Noir - 92 points
- 2024 Paul Clüver Estate Riesling - 92 points
- 2023 Paul Clüver Village Chardonnay - 92 points
- 2024 Paul Clüver Sauvignon Blanc - 91 points
- 2023 Paul Clüver Village Pinot Noir - 91 points
These results affirm Paul Clüver Family Wines’ dedication to producing exceptional wines that reflect their unique terroir, consistently delivering excellence recognised by one of the industry’s most discerning critics.
Introducing BLOEM at Paul Clüver Family Wines
AND FOR SOME TASTY NEWS: We have joined forces with iconic Cape chef and local food personality Bertus Basson whose team will from 23 October be managing the new restaurant on our farm called BLOEM at Paul Clüver Family Wines.
BLOEM will be run and managed by Carla Burger from the Bertus Basson team who takes the reins as business partner and restaurateur. Carla has worked for Bertus’s team for six years, presenting her cheffing skills at various of Basson’s famed eateries including Overture, Eike, Spek en Bone and CHORUS.
Carla is a talented cook focussing on seasonal produce and inspired cooking with a light, fresh touch.
As to the name BLOEM, Bertus says this refers to a blossom in Dutch. “The name pays homage to the farm’s blossoming fruit orchards and you will notice the apple blossom in our logo,” he says. “But the blossom also refers to new beginnings and new life, as without blossoms, there will be no fruit.”
BLOEM will be open for breakfast and lunch from Tuesday to Sunday. Breakfast will be a hearty affair, and lunch will be served as plates to share. The whole family is welcome, with a kids’ play-area ensuring long, lazy afternoons of food and fun in a unique environment.
The wine list will offer the full range of Paul Clüver wines, as well as other wines selected Elgin producers.
Planting indigenous trees
A BURGEONING INDIGENOUS FOREST has been planted on the De Rust Farm in Elgin, home of Paul Clüver Family Wines in an initiative aimed at furthering natural and community sustainability. The more than 340 endemic tree species planted, including Yellowwood, Cape Chestnut and Wild Olive, is a combined endeavour between Paul Clüver Family, the Fairtree Foundation and irrigation specialists Agrico. Agrico is owned by the Andrag family who are related to the Clüvers through Getrude Clüver – née Andrag – the late mother of Dr Paul Clüver.
The Fairtree Foundation donated 140 trees, as well as R50 000 to the De Rust Futura Academy primary and secondary school situated on De Rust farm. This school was founded in 1957 by Getrude Clüver, mother of Dr Paul Clüver, to provide education for the children from local communities whose parents were working on the surrounding farms. Today the school has over 1 300 pupils from Grade 1 to Matric and besides providing education and meals for pupils, offers an array of extra-curricular activities.
The newly-planted indigenous trees are irrigated with equipment donated by Agrico.
Paul Clüver Jnr, managing director of Paul Clüver Family Wines, says the project is the culmination of an informal campfire discussion between himself, Walter Andrag of Agrico, Fairtree group chairman André Malan and Hendrik Pfaff from the Longmountain Trust in the importance of re-establishing indigenous ecosystems and the need for inter-generational sustainability of people and communities through education.
“Fairtree, an asset management company, had already established indigenous forests in the Eastern Cape, and on De Rust farm, we are continually removing alien vegetation and replacing it with indigenous flora,” says Clüver. “Over a bottle or two of Pinot Noir – Paul Clüver, of course - next to the fire under the Karoo skies, we decided to put thought into practice. Fairtree would donate the indigenous trees to complement those, my father, Dr Paul Clüver, had established as well as a capital sum for the De Rust Futura Academy. With my second-cousin Walter being in the irrigation business, he offered to lay down the watering system to get these beautiful trees off to a great start.
“And then we engaged some of the pupils of the De Rust Futura Academy to help with the planting – besides the donation from Fairtree, it is these children who as adults will one day benefit from an environment enriched by the splendours of an indigenous forest.”
