02 October 2023

Bellingham celebrates outstanding achievements in the 2023 Tim Atkin Report

Submitted by: Kimberley Taljaard
Bellingham celebrates outstanding achievements in the 2023 Tim Atkin Report

With the release of the highly esteemed 2023 Tim Atkin Report, a definitive benchmark in the world of South African wines, the Bellingham team is thrilled to unveil their long list of worthy awards and accolades.

The Bellingham Founders Series achieved an impressive, 94-point score for the 2020 Pod Red Blend and 93 Points for the Freda White Blend 2022 – wines which both embody elegance and finesse. Looking to the Bernard Series, Red Winemaker, Richard Duckitt’s experience is clearly evident in both the Bush Vine Pinotage 2020, scoring 93 points and the Maverick SMV earning a laudable score of 92. Duckitt is a quietly confident, yet highly awarded winemaker, who prides himself on precision and freshness with a focus on incredible sites and terroir-driven wines.

The Bernard Series drew equal recognition for its white wines with winemaker Ricardo Cloete's 2022 Old Vine Chenin Blanc Limited Release 2022 scoring 93 points and the Hand-Picked Viognier 91 points respectively. The Old Vine Chenin Blanc continues its impressive run having achieved ‘Chenin Blanc Top 10’ status, and 95 points in Decanter 2023. A true testament to Cloete’s aptitude. This award further signifies Bellingham’s legacy of being one of the first wineries in South Africa to produce an Old Vine wine. 

Richard Duckitt, Bellingham Red Winemaker, summarised their results:

“Bellingham is immensely proud of these exceptional scores. These accolades stand as a testament to the unwavering pursuit of excellence and continued hard work of the cellar team. We look forward to sharing these wines with fellow enthusiasts who appreciate the artistry that goes into each, and every bottle.” Renowned for its unwavering commitment to exceptional winemaking, Bellingham creates wines with an unmistakable sense of place, and a touch of the unexpected. 

Bellingham Scores

  • 2020 Bellingham Founders Series Pod Coastal 94
  • 2022 Bellingham Founders Series Freda Coastal 93
  • 2020 Bellingham The Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage Coastal 93
  • 2020 Bellingham The Bernard Series Maverick SMV           Voor Paardeberg 92
  • 2022 Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc Limited Release Coastal 93
  • 2022 Bellingham The Bernard Series Hand-Picked Viognier Coastal 91
Published in Food & Beverages