You can’t please all the punters, all the time as Adi Badenhorst found out when the label for his Secateurs Chenin Blanc 2010 was rubbished by Simon Hoggart in the Spectator this week. The real, as opposed to Wine Spectator, that is. Si shared a married mistress with UK labour politician David Blunkett and his seeing eye dog, so he is a definite UK arbiter of taste.

The wine is hailed as “scrumptious… Chenin Blanc is the grape in Vouvray, but you would be hard put to find a French wine as rich, succulent and velvety, and at the crazy price of £8.95. I served this to a wine-loving American friend, and half the bottle had disappeared down her throat before she managed to exclaim, ‘that was delicious!’”
But the label is another matter, called “ghastly” Si opines “Labels matter. Rolling countryside or ancient Dutch farmhouse a.s.a.p., please.” And clichés, too.

Sagies en Teer
Meanwhile, back on Kalmoesfontein, the wooden vat containing the wine is labeled “sagies en teer” – soft and tar, Mr. Hoggart – or soft and tender everyone else [see comment]. Adi remarks “no one round here can pronounce secateurs.”
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Hi Lingo
Well spotted. I was being ironic with my translation of teer as “tar” as the UK wine press often accuses SA wines of being possessed of a smoky character. Your point is well made though and undoubtedly what Adi meant.
Ek dink die woord is eintlik saggies?
Ten sy daar ‘n ander betekenis is tot die woord sagies?
A more accurate translation of “teer” is “tender”, as in “tenderness.” Therefore “saggies en teer” translates as “quietly and with tenderness.”
(Ok, enough of the Afrikaans lessons already!!
)
lingo
February 1, 2011 at 1:35 pmafrikaans is beast best taken with gloves.
teer- tar or teer- soft.
I will venture to guess the second option was the intended one unless you bought a exceptionally toasted barrel…..