Prestige 84 by Prestige Magazine South Africa

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Issue 84 – 5/2015

Africa’s Premier luxury Lifestyle Magazine

Vehicle specifications may vary for the South African market.

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A Daimler Brand

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contents

38.

Upfront Ed’s Letter – Page 6

Inside

18.

16.

110.

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Lifestyle – The latest luxury products – Page 8 “Come quickly! I am tasting stars!”– Dom Perignon reveals its P2 – Plénitude Deuxième – Vintage 1998 under an African sky – Page 18 Fear of Failure – There is no such thing as the fear of the unknown, explains Dr John Demartini. There is only the fear of what you imagine is about to happen – Page 28 State of the Art – Johannesburg was selected as one of four cities in the world to host Hennessy’s 250th anniversary art exhibition featuring world-renowned artists including Anton Corbijn, Charles Sandison and Pierrick Sorin – Page 32 Bella Ragazza – In 1928 an extraordinary entrepreneur founded a company that celebrated the sophisticated European woman – Luisa Spagnoli – Page 42 High Flyer – For business leaders to compete in today’s worldwide marketplace, they need more than savvy to stay ahead of the competition and as far as business jets are concerned, the Gulfstream G550 provides the perfect platform – Page 48

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48. 12.

52. Getting Away from it all

64.

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Plénitudes and Kings – The ebb and flow of nature’s whim has us profoundly at her mercy, in the things that we create and in the things we observe. Chris Buchanan went to Londolozi where there’s no escaping the absolute enigma that is our dear mother earth – Page 52 Mysteries of the Mekong – Gill McLaren travels part of the trans-boundary Mekong, to find a waterway as diverse as the countries through which it passes – Page 58 Like a Virgin – Often referred to as Sir James Goldsmith’s folly the rambling eco-estate of Cuixmala lies on the west coast of Mexico some 300km south of Puerto Vallarta – Page 64 Small Wonders – The properties and estates within the winelands are as diverse as the wines and the people who make them. Chris Buchanan paid a visit to Kleine Zalze outside Stellenbosch and found diversity in abundance – Page 70

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82.

86.

Getting Around

Making Acquaintance – Oceanco partners with designer Philippe Briand and his Vitruvius brand on a new 105-metre PYC-compliant yacht design – Page 86 L’il Mac – Vivien Natasen’s take on Maclaren’s “baby” supercar – Page 92 Jurassic Assault – Mercedes Benz cleverly chose to align its coupe-styled sports utility market attack on the latest iteration of the Spielberg Jurassic movie franchise – Jurassic World – Page 96 only 799 – Ferrari has revealed the F12tdf which pays homage to the Tour de France, the legendary endurance road race that Ferrari dominated in the 1950's and '60s – Page 104

Listening True Notes – Yamaha’s A-S3000 amplifier and CD-S3000 CD player are beautiful to listen to and to look at– Page 106 Prince of Denmark - Chris Buchanan shares a Bang & Olufsen experience in the lead up to the company’s most innovative loudspeaker, celebrating 90 years of excellence – Page 110

Final Say From the Publisher – Page 112

Food barn – Vivien Natasen lunches at the Food Barn in Noordhoek on a scenic trip around the Cape Peninsula – Page 74 A Map to Nowhere – Patrick Leclezio disputes the validity of some deeply held Scotch whisky dogma – Page 78 The spirit of the game – Blink and you’ll have to wait another four years. The All Blacks have done it again and made history by winning two Rugby World Cups in a row. Patrick Leclezio extracted some enjoyment from the tipple of those countries that made an impression – Page 82

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Food and Wine

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UPFRONT

ED'S Publisher Vivien Natasen +27 11 484 2833

in a nutshell…

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restige Magazine uses the pay-off line “In the Lap of Luxury” and our editorial focus has always been to showcase luxury products and services that originate on our shores and in the rest of the world. But how do we define luxury in the context of our editorial content and what might constitute luxury when placing one Champagne, car, villa, watch or service against another? A few words come to mind when evaluating the content between the pages of Prestige – craftsmanship, rarity, time and expense. Each of these on its own may not necessarily define a luxury product or service but a combination of two or more would get you closer to the definition of the term. Ford has been producing vehicles for over 100 years, Lamborghini for less than half of that but add rarity and craftsmanship and you have an immediate distinction. In fact many luxury products don’t have an age-old tradition in their making but make it up through a combination of the other three factors. The Oxford dictionary defines luxury as “A state of great comfort or elegance especially when involving great expense” or “An inessential, desirable item which is expensive or difficult to obtain” or “A pleasure obtained only rarely”. Words such as ‘inessential’ might surprise you and we have to ask the hard question whether luxury cars, watches, fashion and experiences, that come at great expense, are in fact essential in a world where so much wealth is in the hands of so few. A takeaway meal might be a luxury in some households so context is relevant but I’ll stay away from that for the moment. For me, the most important factor in the development of luxury is the vision and passion of the person or

people who founded the enterprise that produces the product. Behind every luxury brand there is a visionary who stuck by their idea and implemented it without compromise in standards and with an unwavering commitment to excellence. The monk Pierre Perignon who discovered the art of Champagne, was no businessman but a man of the cloth who wanted to enjoy the excitement from the bubbles in his new founded wine. His endeavours, now 350 years later are embodied in the pinnacle of the Champagne craft and we single out Dom Perignon as the ultimate in this class of wine. This is the essence of the entrepreneur – someone who realises a vision and works at perfecting it as a service to their customer and hopefully evolving it into something iconic and maybe luxurious. If the motivation is money, fame or notoriety, the barriers that these goals place in the path of success will become a hindrance. If the motivation is excellence first, the likelihood of a successful brand with longevity will be far greater. You’ll come across Dom Perignon in this issue of Prestige, as well as Londolozi, McLaren, Ferrari, Cuixmala Villa, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Bang & Olufsen and Luisa Spagnoli among others. There were visionaries behind each of these brands, some more recognisable than others but they all had one thing in common – excellence and quality. Inessential and difficult to obtain, maybe, but for those fortunate enough to own and experience the products we are proud to feature, there is an acknowledgment of quality, innovation, craftsmanship and time honoured tradition – you’re dealing with an icon and in some cases you’re buying a piece of history!

CHRIS

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Editor Chris Buchanan chris@prestigemag.co.za Layout and Art Direction Daniel Jonathan info@danieljonathan.co.za Advertising Sales Carly Natasen carly@prestigemag.co.za Operations and Circulation Farhana Suder farhana.suder@neoafrica.com Digital Chris Buchanan chris@prestigemag.co.za Contributors Patrick Leclezio, Gillian McLaren Printing Typo 011 402 3468 Subscriptions: To subscribe please go to www. prestigemag.co.za click on the Subscribe tab and submit the form. An invoice with banking details will be sent to you. Your first issue of Prestige will be despatched as soon as payment is made. Costs: 6 Issues = R350 per annum excl VAT, other countries are subject to a postage surcharge and will be calculated accordingly. PUBLISHED BY Neo Publishing (Pty) Ltd Tel +27 11 484 2833. Fax +27 11 484 2899 All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or any of its clients. Information has been included in good faith and is believed to be correct at the time of going to print. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information and reports in this magazine, the publisher does not accept any responsibility, whatsoever, for any errors or omissions, or for any effects resulting therefrom. No part of this publication may be used, or reproduced in any form, without the written permission of the publisher. All copyright for material apearing in this magazine belongs to Neo Publishing and/or the individual contributors. © 2014

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high performance Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 40 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

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Rolex 2015 performance.

olex has introduced a new black and 18 ct Everose gold version of its Nautical Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master, fitted exclusively with the innovative Oysterflex bracelet developed and patented by Rolex. This technical bracelet combines in a singular way the robustness and reliability of a metal bracelet with the flexibility, comfort and aesthetics of an elastomer strap. At its core lies a superelastic metal blade overmoulded with high-performance black elastomer. This new Yacht-Master is offered in two sizes: 40 mm and a new 37 mm diameter. Its Oyster case in 18 ct Everose gold includes a rotatable bezel fitted with a new Cerachrom insert in black ceramic with polished raised numerals on a matt background. This finish underscores the similar contrast between the polished 18 ct Everose gold watch case and the matt black of the Oysterflex bracelet, dial and Cerachrom insert. PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

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CASE TYPE Oyster (monobloc middle case, screwdown case back and winding crown) DIAMETER 40 mm MATERIAL 18 ct Everose gold, polished finish BEZEL Bidirectional rotatable 60-minute graduated bezel with matt black Cerachrom insert in ceramic, polished raised numerals and graduations

CASE BACK Screw-down with Rolex fluting WINDING CROWN Screw-down, Triplock triple waterproofness system CROWN GUARD Integral part of the middle case CRYSTAL Scratch-resistant sapphire Cyclops lens over the date, double anti-reflective coating

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WATERPROOFNESS 100 metres (330 feet)

JEWELLING 31 rubies

MOVEMENT CALIBRE 3135, Manufacture Rolex Mechanical movement with bidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor

POWER RESERVE Approximately 48 hours

PRECISION Officially certified Swiss chronometer (COSC) FUNCTIONS Centre hour, minute and seconds hands Instantaneous date at 3 oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock with rapid-setting Stop-seconds for precise time setting OSCILLATOR Frequency: 28,800 beats/hour (4 Hz) Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring Breguet overcoil Large balance wheel with variable inertia High-precision regulating via four gold Microstella nuts Traversing balance bridge

DIAL COLOUR Black, matt finish HOUR MARKERS Highly legible Chromalight appliques (longlasting luminescence) in 18 ct pink gold HANDS 18 ct pink gold, Chromalight BRACELET TYPE Oysterflex MATERIAL Flexible metal blades overmoulded with high-performance elastomer CLASP Oysterlock folding safety clasp in 18 ct Everose gold

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a perfect

ten Timepieces to celebrate design, precision, technical excellence and artistic innovation.

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The Meeting The meeting between Parmigiani Fleurier and Bugatti took place in 2001. At this time, the prestigious Molsheim-based firm was seeking to build a strong association with a watch company that fulfilled very precise criteria. It needed a brand with a propensity for technical excellence, but also artistic flair, a heightened awareness of design and the elegance of forms. This brand would also need its own independent manufacture, giving it the kind of manufacturing freedom conducive to boundless creative potential. Bugatti linked its destiny with Parmigiani Fleurier, as the brand met and exceeded all its expectations. The partnership was formalised in 2004. Since then, the Fleurier-based manufacture has striven to create timepieces for the Bugatti collection which are far more than a watch stamped with a car marque logo; they are cars reborn in watch form.

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BUGATTI ANNIVERSARY – Three Editions to celebrate one decade To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the partnership Parmigiani Fleurier is unveiling three limited editions of the Bugatti timepiece. The brand has decided to take the iconic Bugatti 370 model, and its transverse tubular movement, as its basis. This watch, which marked the creation of the partnership in 2004, demonstrates the brand's cutting-edge creative spirit and the quest for technical excellence that underlies it. The Bugatti Mythe, the Bugatti Victoire and the Bugatti Révélation are the new versions of this Anniversary Limited Edition. Each of these three pieces sheds a different light on an aspect of the partnership or a particular facet of the automotive world that influenced its creation. The Bugatti Mythe is where industry meets the craftsmanship inherent in the automotive world; the Bugatti Révélation embodies the search to find a link between the Car and the Watch that has guided the entire partnership; lastly, the Bugatti Victoire conveys the notions of speed and power that have defined Bugatti cars since the company was founded.

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BUGATTI The company founder Ettore Bugatti, born and raised in Milan, Italy, succeeded in uniting this artistic approach with his technical innovations, thus creating the foundation of a design language that was to mould the Bugatti marque. The result has been a series of vehicles far ahead of their time, and which are today numbered amongst the most valuable classic cars in the world. The brand’s central philosophy of “Art, Forme, Technique” is a description of its mystique. Still based in Molsheim (Alsace, France) where the brand was founded more than 100 years ago, the maker of ultimate luxurious sports cars now belongs to the Volkswagen Group. As

a brand, Bugatti combines the artistic roots of its Italian founder with French savoir-vivre, and German engineering ingenuity. PARMIGIANI FLEURIER Parmigiani Fleurier – named after its founder Michel Parmigiani – was created in Val-de-Travers in 1996 and has based its values on authentic Haute Horlogerie ever since. Thanks to its completely independent watchmaking industrial centre, in just a few years, the brand has gained unique credibility in the world of modern watchmaking. Parmigiani Fleurier is built on strict devotion to the highest aesthetic and mechanical quality, and on its expertise in watchmaking and mastery of mechanical grand complications.

By remaining faithful to its founding values, such as the restoration of masterpieces of the watchmaker’s art, it is one of the few firms to preserve an image of authenticity in the eyes of the public. Being an independent company, Parmigiani Fleurier has been able to invent its own style. Whether they feature simple or grand complications, Parmigiani’s collections are instantly recognisable thanks to their unique stylistic motifs. An extensive range of men’s and women’s collections, all equipped with the 21 house calibres, are the basis of the brand’s success today. The Parmigiani Fleurier Manufacture strives on a daily basis to ensure that the brand’s watchmaking dreams become reality.

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make an

exception Ever since it was established in 1875, Audemars Piguet has proved the exception to the rule of womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s timepiece creations. The Manufacture from Le Brassus has been crafting complicated watches for women for over 130 years, combining engineering excellence with an understanding of aesthetics characterising each style changing era.

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hroughout those decades of change, it has created contemporary designs suited to the evolving nature of womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives. Audemars Piguet has always recognised that women require timepieces that are reliable, expertly crafted and beautiful to wear. PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

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This exceptional design not only highlights the traditional savoir-faire of Le Brassus, it displays how it is constantly refining its gem-setting and high jewellery techniques to create truly cutting-edge pieces PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

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2015: NEW EDITIONS Complexity is revealed in the Manufacture’s new women’s collections for 2015. Stylish, technical and with a strong feminine identity, the new Millenary line is powered by the 5201 hand-wound Manufacture movement, creating a luxury timepiece suited to the style of independent women today. That same attitude has been applied to the creation of this year’s Diamond Punk Haute Joaillerie – a stunning cuff watch set with over 8,000 diamonds. This exceptional design not only highlights the traditional savoir-faire of Le Brassus, it displays how it is constantly refining its gem-setting and high jewellery techniques to create truly cutting-edge pieces. The Manufacture’s creative use of materials also comes into play this year with the launch of a handsome new women’s two-tone Royal Oak, presented in steel and pink gold for the first time.

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"come quickly!

i am tasting

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the stars!"

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These are the words of monk Pierre Perignon in 1668, expressing his delight at the discovery of tiny bubbles in his wine, and the first Champagne.

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two entrees provided the contrasts and the challenges to the wine, coaxing the minerality and earth out of it through the bold flavours of guineafowl with ginger red curry, and the complexity of West Coast seabass with basil and artichoke puree and caper, and lemon and fennel Hollandaise. To understand the significance of the Dom Pérignon P2 – Plénitude Deuxième – Vintage 1998 is to understand the evolution of the vintage put into the following perspective: “Each evolution contributes to Dom Pérignon’s beautiful singularity. These privileged moments of succession are called “Plénitudes” – moments where the wine sings higher and stronger. From one Plénitude to the next, Dom Pérignon’s “Power of Creation” is affirmed in discreet perfection, as the intriguing drama of the vintages grows in the secret of the cellars. The Second Plénitude is the result of sixteen years of elaboration in the cellars: an extra time of maturation on the lees, with constant monitoring. In this window

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Chris Buchanan gathered under stars at Londolozi’s Pioneer Camp to taste another milestone in the history of Dom Perignon.

he milestone is Dom Pérignon P2 – Plénitude Deuxième – Vintage 1998, and its African reveal combined the energy and vibrance of the second Plénitude with the vast sky of stars that only the African bush can deliver. Londolozi executive chef Anna Ridgewell interpreted the menu to compliment and challenge this wine, displaying its creamy mousse, its earth tones and toying with its minerality and spice to bring out the best in the wine, the food and the relationship of the one with the other. We started with a langoustine, papaya and caviar tartare which held the Dom Pérignon P2 – Plénitude Deuxième – Vintage 1998 on equal footing, both complementing each other with fresh, clean tones, as it was with the dessert of a green tea sorbet. The

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of expression, the wine is majestic in its Dom Pérignon intensity. Here it expresses its scope, its expansion. This is Dom Pérignon P2 – Plénitude Deuxième – Vintage 1998, the Plénitude of energy. Dom Pérignon’s creation is centered upon its absolute dedication to vintage wines. Dom Pérignon wines come exclusively from one year and one year only – a true challenge for a unique interpretation of the seasons, and for reinvention. Dom Pérignon also

aspires for each of its vintages to have the potential to gradually transform, in a quest to find itself. Seemingly still in the obscurity of the cellars, in the long journey of its elaboration, the wine paradoxically takes on a decisive dynamic. It goes through a metamorphosis, a magnification. It keeps its original promise, yet expresses a new interpretation of classic codes. The energy of Dom Pérignon P2 – Plénitude Deuxième – Vintage 1998

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From one Plénitude to the next, Dom Pérignon’s “Power of Creation” is affirmed in discreet perfection, as the intriguing drama of the vintages grows in the secret of the cellars.

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this Second Plénitude, Dom Pérignon’s dark, mineral, iodine, spiced singularity vibrates higher and clearer than ever.” And then there’s the relationship between Londolozi and Dom Perignon, summarised by Pascal Asin Moët Hennessy Managing Director for Africa and Middle East. “At Dom Pérignon, we believe in the power of creation and we believe in Vintage only – only in exceptional years do we release a Dom Pérignon Vintage. Nature plays a significant role in the creation of our wines. Only the best grapes, from the best vineyards and from nature’s best years are used… and this celebration and deep respect for nature is where I see the powerful synergy between Londolozi and Dom Pérignon. “ International wine reviews of this Plénitude had the following to say: Wine Spectator 98 /100 "Offers precision and finely detailed form, powered by an expansive palate of flavor. Mouthwatering and persistent on the zesty finish." James Suckling 97/100 “This is a wine with some real tension between complexity and freshness that makes for incredibly engaging drinking.” Dom Pérignon P2 – Plénitude Deuxième – Vintage 1998 is available at selected liquor merchants in South Africa while stocks last.

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springs from seeming tranquility as the wine matures in the absolute calm and silence of the cellars. Seemingly still in its maturation, each bottle of Dom Pérignon is actually its own universe in which the life of the wine actively constructs itself, undergoing a metamorphosis, a constant evolution. In its Second Plénitude, invigorated by its additional years of elaboration in the cellars, Dom Pérignon P2 1998 brazenly transcends the potential of the vintage. The opposing and complementary elements of its assemblage resound for an increasingly sharp intensity. Its aromatic persistence progresses like a wave that stimulates the penetrating nature of the wine. In Dom Pérignon P2 – Plénitude Deuxième – Vintage 1998, the wine’s energy reaches its climax. Exalted in

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no claim

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bonus

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We’ve all had a run-in with insurance companies who often seem as though they look for excuses not to pay a claim rather than service the client. Chris Buchanan gets a look at insurance in the luxury market.

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t’s easy to get insurance for anything these days, just pick up the phone, speak to a consultant and you have direct insurance, no broker and no hassle. But that scenario really only serves the majority of customers efficiently who have moderate wealth and uncomplicated possessions. When it comes to supercars, private yachts or planes, or a R10m watch, you’re going to need someone on the end of the phone who understands the products you’re insuring and who can tailor a solution for your specific needs. According to Grant Mason of Silvercrest Brokers, the principles are same for the guy with four zeros worth of possessions and the person with seven zeros worth, but the nature of the insurance cover will change dramatically. He calls the type of brokerage a “niche, high value insurer” who understands that when you are inconvenienced and having to claim, you don’t just want a payout, you want a chauffeur service to drive you while your car is being repaired and global assist when your wallet is stolen in London, and these come a price. An example he cites is a person who might collect cars and have several supercars in the garage. Because he only drives one at a time, there’s no need to have comprehensive cover on all, just on the one you’re driving. “It’s all about frequency and severity. A supercar is low frequency but high severity, one incident and it hurts the insurer.” So, he says, only a few of the underwriters are prepared to accumulate a portfolio of luxury goods. Grant’s partner, Craig Toontas says underwriters and brokers stay away from it because they don’t understand the luxury sector. Both of these guys understand luxury because they are lovers and afficianados

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when they claim is a surprise”, says Grant. “Insurance is about three things – price, product and service, and the service you only see when there’s a claim.” Once again, you won’t want a call centre employee dealing with a claim, you want a specialist who knows how to restore normality as quickly as possible and understand the implications of severe loss or damage to an asset that’s upward of R3m. There are very few brokerages who dabble in this market – three leading ones according to Grant and Craig – and most supercar dealerships and luxury jewellers are familiar with and will put

of fast cars and fine possessions and they understand the people who put these possessions in their portfolios. This is where they say that there is still a place for a broker in the insurance sector, particularly in the luxury market. “The leather and stitching in a R7m RollsRoyce is a million rand alone”, so Grant says, it’s unlikely that a person manning a call centre phone of a direct insurer will understand that. He also says that the person who uses an insurer that might not understand the luxury market, ends up paying exorbitant premiums because there’s a lack of understanding of the frequency and severity principle. For Craig it’s about attending the luxury watch, car and yacht launches and being part of the one percent who understand the product, “if a client comes and says, I’m considering this purchase, we can give them a fairly accurate opinion of the product (from an insurance point of view) without bias”. It’s also a small world in the realm of luxury products and when a client approached them wanting to insure a certain supercar, they were able to caution them because they knew the car had problems and had been inured before with expensive consequences. They say it’s about trust which is their competitive advantage. The goal and vision of these two entrepreneurs is to make their brokerage synonymous with luxury through a referral network originating in supercar dealerships, luxury jewellers and yacht brokers. “The last thing anyone needs

you in touch with them all. In the end it’s all about priorities. Grant says there are clients who own a Ferrari but live in a one bedroomed flat, or people who own a R50m watch portfolio with no interest in cars, or who run a fleet of Scania trucks but drive a Hilux. Most important is that the luxury market is interesting and diverse and each client has done their homework and has an intimate knowledge of the product they’ve just spent a small fortune on. “The least we can do”, says Craig, “is to have the same knowledge about the luxury market and be honest with the client if we don’t.”

It’s about attending the luxury watch, car and yacht launches and being part of the one percent who understand the product.

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of failure There is no such thing as the fear of the unknown,

explains Dr John Demartini. There is only the fear of what you imagine is about to happen. Fears are content specific. Here he offers expert advice on how to overcome your fear of failure

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f you set up a one-sided fantasy about success, that is, you imagine it is going to bring you only pleasurable and positive outcomes without also dealing with the essential disciplines and challenges and complementary opposite aspects, you’re going to set yourself up for an accompanying fear of failure or fear of not obtaining or losing this dopamine driven fantasy. So the more you fantasise about your success, the more you’ll breed your nightmare, or the fear of failure to go with it. Ungrounded fantasies breed nightmares or fears, just like ungrounded elations breed depressions. So to migitate your fear, ground yourself in what your success will bring. Because with success comes new sets of challenges, responsibilities, pains and pleasures. If you have an objective goal that is even and balanced between the benefits and challenges that go with it, you will have less of a fear of failure because you will have your strategy in place with a set of contingencies. So the more you plan your goal, the more you know all the responsibilities, accountabilities and challenges you are going to face, and the more realistic and congruent your goal, the less fantasy you will have and the less fear of failure you will feel. Let me give you an example. Thirty-two years ago I was in New York City about to stand up in front of 5,000 people and give a presentation. I was one of six speakers, so there were six of us sitting in a line about to go up and speak each for 20 minutes. There was another speaker behind me who was really nervous. His whole dream, his life’s goal was to do that particular speech. His father had done it years ago and he’d always wanted to be on that particular stage. It was bigger than life for him. Waling up onto that stage and talking was his ultimate goal, there was nothing greater than this. So his fear of failing up in front of those people was strong. He was so anxious because he had made this speech such a grand, important thing. He made this so high on his list of goals that his anxiety was also extremely high. By contrast, I saw it as just another of one of my many speeches or speaking engagements that I had done and intended to continue doing. To me it was inspiring to have the opportunity to present there, but it was not my ultimate end all. I loved presenting on that stage, but I was less attached to the outcome as he was and was more

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focused on my message that served, than how I would be judged. I saw it as another stepping stone – one of thousands that I envisioned. So my anxiety was much less because I didn’t make it as highly important. I certainly prepared and delivered an inspiring presentation and loved the audience but my long-term vision was much larger than that particular event. So, because he made it was such a huge deal for him, it and his performance became a phobia and it showed in his presentation. Whereas I had some butterflies, but standing up and speaking at that particular event wasn’t the biggest thing in the world for me. I had much bigger goals than that that I envisioned and saw it as simply another career step to be grateful for. So, if you set a goal that is in line with your highest values, it becomes more spontaneous, and you become more objective and plan more strategically and become more prepared for the pros and the cons and the ups and the downs, the

positives and negatives, the risks of pursuing and achieving your goal, and you are therefore more grounded in your expectations. You know the responsibilities it takes to get the goal – you’ve softened the fantasy and you’ve softened the nightmare at the same time. But if you set a goal that is not aligned with your highest values, you will probably not be as prepared or balanced and you will automatically be more vulnerable to setting a grandiose fantasy and have an accompanying fear of failure. The content of your mind when the phobia emerges is an assumption that there are going to be more negatives than positives, more pains than pleasures, more challenges than supports if you fail. You can’t fear the unknown, but you can have fear of what you imagine is about to occur. And that fantasy of what you imagine will occur if you succeed is very specific and your intuition knows there are two sides to the equation of success and the goal will also have drawbacks to balance the benefits, Making it wise to get your more objective, executive center

in your brain in line with real strategically set goals. The fear of failure occurs when you assume that what you think is about to happen is going to bring about more drawbacks than benefits, more negatives than positives. You will not have this fear unless you also simultaneously have the assumption of the reciprocal fantasy would occur if you didn’t fail, and if you succeeded, that is, you’d have more pleasures than drawbacks, more positives than negatives, more gains than losses. You have to have a fantasy of success in order to create the fear of failure. That’s why setting a more balanced goal is most important and strategising the details and responsible action steps so you are more grounded in your objectives, is the key to greater achievement. Dr. John Demartini is a human behaviour specialist, educator, author and the founder of the Demartini Institute.

www.drdemartini.com

w w w.aegirper formanceyachts.co.za | info@aegirper formanceyachts.co.za frederic@neoaegir.co.za +27 (0)21 554 1743 | john: 072 683 2660 | frederic: 072 244 1982 Head office: Cape Town â&#x20AC;&#x201C; South Africa | Service points: France & Italy

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art

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state of the

art

Johannesburg was selected as one of four cities in the world to host Hennessyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 250th anniversary art exhibition featuring worldrenowned artists including Anton Corbijn, Charles Sandison and Pierrick Sorin.

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he Hennessy 250 Tour was specially curated and conceived as an unprecedented, hybrid cultural event, this major travelling exhibition is dedicated to those who have made Hennessy what it is today. PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

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The Hennessy family were early patrons of the arts and have always been close to artists themselves Curated by Hervé Mikaeloff and featuring internationally renowned artists, photographers, filmmakers and designers including Charles Sandison, Anton Corbijn and Xavier Veilhan, the exhibition touched down in four legendary locations around the world throughout 2015, including Guangzhou in China, Moscow in Russia and New York in USA. Circa Gallery in Johannesburg was selected to represent the African leg of the tour and – in addition to the worldrenowned artists – also featured the work of South African artist Dineo Bopape.

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The Hennessy family were early patrons of the arts and have always been close to artists themselves – from collaborating with the greatest artists of time to the icons of contemporary pop culture and designers of the 21st century. It’s for this reason that The Hennessy 250 Tour set out to give a 360° creative and artistic perspective on the legendary cognac brand’s past, present and future – mainly by using a trove of archival materials, portraits, and films that recount the Hennessy family’s rendezvous with important moments in history and its global adventure. In addition, art curator Mikaeloff is no stranger to the Maison Hennessy, having orchestrated the 2007 “Beauté du Siècle” exhibition in celebration of the 100th birthday of Kilian Hennessy, a direct descendant of founder Richard Hennessy. Says Mikaeloff, “It was a natural progression for me to curate The Hennessy 250 Tour, considering the relationship I’ve held with the Maison over the years. I also carefully selected each artist as they, too, capture and celebrate the spirit of Hennessy.”

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Celebrated visual artist Charles Sandison is just one of Mikaeloff’s specially selected artists. His “Infinitas” installation is inspired by written archives from the Hennessy Maison, and speaks of the tale of the two families – Hennessy (the founding family) and Fillioux (the Master Blender family) – who created the DNA of the brand and who have been driving it forward for 250 years. Interestingly, the multi-generational legacy of the two families is not only unique to Hennessy but also to the wider cognac world. Illustrious photographer and filmmaker Anton Corbijn – known for his collaboration with music legends such as U2 and Depeche Mode – reveal the real soul of the Maison with his powerful portrait series: it features, amongst others, photographs of the winegrower, a cooper, the calligrapher and an agent for Hennessy in Africa. Corbijn succeeds in powerfully and masterfully capturing the personality and energy of those who have driven the DNA of Hennessy forward over the years.

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It’s a symbolic and sensory interpretation of the secrets shared between the members of the Comité de Dégustation (The Tasting Committee) – the seven men who meet daily at 11am to taste and select eaux-de-vie

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Then there’s also “The Secret of Legacy”, an installation by multimedia artist Tony Oursler. It’s a symbolic and sensory interpretation of the secrets shared between the members of the Comité de Dégustation (The Tasting Committee) – the seven men who meet daily at 11am to taste and select eaux-de-vie (spirit before it’s blended and matured into cognac) that will ensure the quality and consistency of the Hennessy family of cognacs is continued for generations to come. The panoramic stage is the one highlight South Africans will truly look forward to. This interactive platform, created by renowned designer Constance Guisset, speaks to Hennessy’s legacy of skilfully adapting to the different cultures and continents it has encountered over its 250-year legacy. It’s here where visitors can catch local artist Dineo Bopape’s video installation that poetically reflects Hennessy’s 150-year-old relationship with Africa. Another highlight of The Hennessy 250 Tour is the Hennessy Time Barrel. This creative interactive installation upholds the Hennessy legacy of transmission from one generation to the next – just as the Maison preserves its eaux-de-vie for future generations. Visitors of the Hennessy 250 Tour Time Barrel installation at Circa Gallery were invited to send a digital text or video message to the future. This 21st century time capsule will preserve these messages left in 2015 in a barrel in Hennessy’s historic cellars in Cognac, and will remain sealed in the Time Barrel until it will be opened half a century from now, on the occasion of Hennessy’s next anniversary celebration in 2065.

Property

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pure

gold

Da’Realty, the investment subsidiary of the one hundred and six year old conglomerate, Darvesh, is setting a brand new standard within the luxury sector of the property market with the launch of 'AURUM' – a R750 million high-end luxurious residential property development in Bantry Bay, Cape Town, South Africa.

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URUM, the first of many of the jewels planned under Da’Realty's umbrella is located on the Atlantic Seaboard. The exclusive suburb of Bantry Bay, which is strategically situated within close proximity to the Cape Town CBD, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and surrounds, offers excellent wind shelter from the Cape Town south easter, spectacular views over the Atlantic Ocean and has long been the place of choice for affluent property investors; local and foreign alike. The two sites for the Aurum Bantry Bay development were previously the homes of the iconic Ambassador Hotel and Ambassador Suites which neighbour each other on opposite sides of Victoria Road.

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founding Partner of Make Architects & Interior Studio, are the appointed prime architects on the Aurum project, commissioned with the mandate to incorporate and translate the brand fundamentals into the development. All units have been spaciously designed with modern, open-plan, single-level layouts. Both the Luxury Suites and Presidential Suites will boast opulent 500+ and 700+ square meter signature penthouse units respectively, fitted with exclusive designer detailing by renowned Italian luxury brands Fendi Casa, Armani Casa and Armani Dada, the first of its kind in the South African developer offering - setting a new benchmark in designer luxury. Stylish interiors crafted around a neutral colour palette, combined with the highest quality imported materials and state of the art Bang & Olufsen

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Aurum is an exclusive dual location development nestled at the foot of the northern slope of Lion's Head , and perched over the breathtaking Bantry Bay coastline. The two sites are set to be transformed into: The Aurum Luxury Suites, comprising of 15 luxury suites on the mountain side of the road and 8 exclusive suites, with direct lift access to one unit per floor, making up the Aurum Presidential Suites located on the ocean side of Victoria Road. Daâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Realty's exclusive corporate design guidelines are based on the incorporation of natural elements like water, sun, light and earth into the conceptualisation and design of the Aurum development. The metallic element gold derives its chemical symbol Au from the Latin word Aurum meaning 'Shining Dawn". Denis Fabian of Fabian Architects and Lauren Bolus Kuschke, the

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The metallic element gold derives its chemical symbol Au from the Latin word Aurum meaning 'Shining Dawn".

www.darealty.com/aurum. PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

class and elegance." Mr. Ahsan Hassan Darvesh draws on his extensive experience and career background of over 13 years as Director of 'Elegant Industries', a Darvesh subsidiary, which designs and supplies luxury brands such as Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Tom

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audio visual sound systems are but a few of the many luxurious features of the development. Each suite will also have ample underground parking. Da'Realty President, Mr. Ahsan Hassan Darvesh explains; “Aurum is here to offer to connoisseurs true luxury which speaks of understated

Ford and Christian Dior with state of the art architectural in-store counters. He further adds; “Da'Realty is focused on its vision of creating a true luxury residential brand with the highest standard of elegance across South Africa - offering the owners and investors of their developments maximized returns on all levels". Chrystalla Mammous, Da'Realty General Manager for Marketing, says, “The current climate in the residential property market indicates that there is a demand for quality luxury investment options in Cape Town and along the Seaboard. Da'Realty envisions bringing a superior product to market. The recent depreciation of the Rand against foreign currencies also makes this period particularly favourable for foreign investors to secure their piece of Cape Town's idyllic coastal paradise, which remains competitively priced in relation to other prime city markets around the world. The Atlantic Seaboard property market has consistently performed well even in strained economic conditions. There are few areas where capital growth returns are as sound. This particular calibre of product, in a desired scenic location such as Bantry Bay, along with Da’Realty's commitment to deliver premium luxury residential product makes for a very successful formula".

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bella

Ragazza 42

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In 1928 an extraordinary entrepreneur founded a company that celebrated the sophisticated European woman â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Luisa Spagnoli.

our generations later and Luisa Spagnoli remains in family hands and a Spagnoli woman, Nicoletta, is back at the helm offering fashion that suits any body shape and that women over the world can relate to. Testimony to this effort is a design worn by the Duchess of Cambridge and the luxurious lifestyle epitomised by this Italian brand. Now, a triumph of delightful temptations, the Luisa Spagnoli Spring/Summer collection bursts with colour and femininity. The palette of colours ranges from soft and pastel hues to all the shades of green, as well as intense shades such as electric blue and turquoise. Apart from colours, precious details such as lace and quality materials can all be found throughout the collection. Luisa Spagnoli interprets the tastes of contemporary women, colouring the everyday life with versatile garments that can be easily mixed. In addition, the special treatments featured on textiles such as pique patterns, perforated lace and lurex interlacing create sophisticated effects.

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With matching tunics and loose shirts in fluid fabrics, this collection is also made up of multiple facets, fashioning various key items, including day fashion trousers: flared, slim-fit, ankle pants, wide and calf-length model, as well as the popular Palazzo perforated pants on a scalloped basis, revealing a hippie chic inspiration. Known as the star of casual wear, denim items such as skinny or boyfriend jeans, shirts and jackets finished off with coloured stones and raw cut edges are also available. Furthermore, the items in soft Nappa leather or suede, convey a striking personality, just like the jackets with lasered embroideries or the sexy dresses with trapezium-shaped, 70s style cuts in tobacco and orange. A greater role is played by spring outerwear items which are ideal for the increasingly variable summer weather. Ample room is given to lightweight down jackets, coloured trench coats and husky jackets softened by feminine touches including ribbons and jewel buttons to name a few.

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For those of you who love a timeless class style, Luisa Spagnoli’s accessories include, belts, soft pashmina scarves in linen, as well as à la "Breakfast from Tiffany" hats.

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The Luisa Spagnoli SS range of bags and accessories includes, trunks, spacious shopping bags in soft coloured or laminated Nappa leather; shoulder strap bags in leather, with either a reptile effect or laser-perforated. Exotic contaminations are used in necklaces and bracelets with semi-precious stones, reconstituted turquoise, jade and bamboo coral, India-inspired agates and quartzes. For those of you who love a timeless class style, Luisa Spagnoliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accessories include, belts, soft pashmina scarves in linen, as well as Ă la "Breakfast from Tiffany" hats. When it comes to modern yet timeless fashion, Luisa Spagnoli has just about any garment to suit the everyday Luisa girl. Luisa Spagnoli is available exclusively at their flagship stores in the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town and Hyde Park Corner, Johannesburg as well as a selected range of items at Isabella Charlotte Boutique in Franschhoek.

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high

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flyer

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For business leaders to compete in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worldwide marketplace, they need more than savvy to stay ahead of the competition and as far as business jets are concerned, the Gulfstream G550 provides the perfect platform.

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he 550 is the upgrade of the Gulfstream V, already a benchmark of the space. With improved cabin space, better endurance, shorter take-off distance and longer legs, it is worthy of being the new leader of the segment, which is evident in the more than 450 units sold worldwide since launch. The Gulfstream G550 business jet can provide the advantage through its award-winning combination of speed, reliability, flexibility and unparalleled Gulfstream service and support.

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The cabin is infused with 100 percent fresh air and maintains a low cabin altitude, easing the impact of travel and helping passengers stay healthy and refreshed. The large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550 can fly at altitudes up to 51,000 feet/15,545 metres and at speeds up to Mach 0.885. It can travel 6,750 nautical miles/12,501 kilometres with eight passengers and four crew members at Mach 0.80. Powered by two Rolls-Royce BR710 engines, the aircraft links cities across continents, flying nonstop from Cape Town to Moscow, Singapore or Sao Paulo, and from Johannesburg to London, Hong Kong or Perth, among other destinations. The cabin on the G550 also makes the difference. With 14 Gulfstream signature oval windows that allow natural light to pour into the cabin, the interior provides a restful, serene environment. The cabin is infused with 100 percent fresh air and maintains a low cabin altitude, easing the impact of travel and helping passengers stay healthy and refreshed. Gulfstream offers 12 interior layout options with standardised seating,

furnishings and plumbing which seem to be generally accepted by most clients, however, configurations can be customised by customers needing a more unique layout. Passenger options include additional cabin entertainment flat-screen monitors, Nespresso machines for the galleys, Inmarsat SwiftBroadband or Ku-band Satellite communications broadband multilink data communications and a solid pocket door for privacy in the optional aft stateroom, should the client elect such. The full-sized galley can be located in the front or rear of the aircraft, making it the only business jet in its class to offer that option. In-flight connectivity is also a must and comes standard on the G550. In addition to the G550â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s speed, reliability and flexibility, it is backed by Gulfstream Product Support comprising top-ranked maintenance, repair and overhaul services worldwide. It is the largest company-owned product support network in business aviation,

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with more than 4,000 professionals and a round-the-clock Customer Contact Center. In concert with business-aviation services companies such as Jet Aviation and ExecuJet, Gulfstream has 30 factory-authorised service centres and authorised warranty facilities on six continents. The Rolls-Royce BR700-710 turbofans installed on the 550 produce 635 lb. more takeoff thrust than they did for the GV. In addition, the thrustto-weight ratio of the aircraft results in shorter takeoff field lengths – a further welcome improvement over the previous model. The G550 needs less than 6,000 ft/1,800m of runway assuming sea level standard-day conditions. In the cockpit, most clients choose the synthetic vision (SVS) for the PFDs, the enhanced navigation system providing WAAS/SBAS/LPV approach and circling approach guidance, plus electronic charts, along with Honeywell’s Runway Awareness Advisory System (RAS) and flight crew emergency vision assurance system (EVAS). The G550 cockpit is installed with a triple-redundant flight management system. The innovative Head-Up Display (HUD) projects flight data to a transparent screen in the pilot’s forward field of vision. No wonder pilots dream of flying this aircraft. In the event of obscured visibility, the Enhanced Vision System (EVS) leverages infrared imaging technology to display what the human eye cannot see. The EVS captures clearer images of runway markings, taxiways and surrounding terrain, and then overlays those images onto the flight deck screens or the head-up display. The G550 is one of the strongest performers in the large-cabin class, and users say reliability tops their list of five favourite features. The G550 has been the brands most popular model in the past fifty years. The G550 has proven itself to be a valuable international business tool, and its popularity spans the world with more than 500 aircraft in service. Thanks to its reach, top-notch performance capabilities and vast support network, the G550 is the aircraft of choice.

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and kings

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The ebb and flow of natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s whim has us profoundly at her mercy, in the things that we create and in the things we observe. Chris Buchanan went to Londolozi where thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no escaping the absolute enigma that is our dear mother earth.

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here was one lion left gorging himself on the remains of the hippo. He was blind in one eye and had a face full of fresh and congealed hippo blood and every time his head emerged from the bowels of his prey he looked at us with disdain and continued eating. The other 13 lion of the pride had eaten enough and were making their way along a track in single file through their territory as lion are wont to do. Dave, our dark haired, 25 year-old, stereotypical game ranger placed the vehicle in their path so that they could walk past us within touching distance as they went about their business. They too had congealed hippo blood on their jowls and bloated stomachs from their indulgence on hippo meat and were watched by vultures that had gathered in the trees, hoping the last lion would leave and their turn at the kill would come. We followed the pride onto an open plain and watched as they slowly made their way up the gentle rise to a date with a herd of buffalo that were upwind of them and unaware of their

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most feared predator not 50 metres away. We thought the lion, already tumid and lethargic, would ignore the prospect of another feast and simply agree that the buffalo would have to wait until another day, but we were wrong. The minute the first lion caught sight of the herd, the rest of the pride fanned out and began a slow crouch in formation below the line of the long grass toward the calm and unsuspecting bovine, still upwind and moving as a herd down the hill toward their fate. All hell broke loose as the buffalo walked into the lion and the young males of the herd gathered on the front line to defend their women and children. They had an inkling that the cats were slow and fat so they ran at them like demons possessed, determined that no buffalo would die today. Two lion had worked their way around the flank of the herd and had separated two female buffalo and their calves from the safety of numbers. They began the chase but their tumescence gave the buffalo an edge and the young males stood their ground and put paid to an opportunistic but doomed attack by a greedy predator over an organised defence. We left the scene which had returned to relative calm with the predator lying in the long grass and the prey milling around with one eye on their enemy and the other on the green nutritious shoots that had PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

emerged with the spring rains. Another day and perhaps a different outcome, and we made our way through the soft rain on the lookout for another of the animals that share this land at Londolozi. It came in the form of a white rhino, solitary on a vast plain, alone and vulnerable. There’s no jumping on the radio to tell other parties of the whereabouts of this beast, their near extinction means only the anti-poaching unit and those fortunate enough to cross its path on a game drive will know where it’s hiding. He was a big fella and he carried the fate of his species with an almost sad demeanour, not even bothering to huff or puff or put on a show of dominance – just contemplation, silence and our absolute awe at a prehistoric animal that put its trust in us interlopers, hoping we were the ones shooting with cameras. As one is accustomed on a luxury safari in the Sabi Sand we saw the other two of the big five, elephant (very close up) and leopard (in the distance), as well as a pair of hyena, crocodile, giraffe, kudu, hippo (alive and well), bushbuck

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and impala. It was a short stay and the reveal of the Second Plénitude – Dom Pérignon P2 Vintage 1998 featured on page 18, was the main reason for the visit. But Dom Perignon had something else in store which would combine the open veld as the domain of the wild with the celebration of luxury in the First Plénitude - Dom Perignon Vintage 2005. We stood in a clearing, one of the original Londolozi Series II Landrovers was filled with ice, chilling bottles of the Vintage 2005 for its African reveal among Africa’s wildlife under an African sky. The surroundings we found ourselves in were unique, just as the conditions in the vineyard need to be for a vintage year to be realised and this is what Dom Perignon says about 2005: “Due to an unusually hot and dry season, 2005 was full of contrasts. August’s heatwave was tempered by September’s coolness and abundant rain. Outbreaks of Botrytis – grey rot – developed on the only Pinot Noir. Fortunately, this threat was balanced by the good weather that reappeared at the start of the harvest. Nevertheless, it takes much

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discernment to continue making the right decisions, to face the uncertain, and to preserve Dom Pérignon’s wine ideals. The first step above all is to allow the grapes to reach their optimal maturity – they must be filled with the potential of the vintage. When the Chardonnay harvest began on September 14, the decision was taken to wait three more days for the Pinot Noir. At the end there remains only a

limited volume, brilliant and full of July and August sunshine.” And so ended the day, drama in the bush, on the stage of a wildlife sanctuary, drama combining beautiful creatures with beautiful wine and reminding us that these things are fragile – they happen without plan, as nature wants them to happen with us as spectators, powerless to intervene and accepting of the outcome.

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www.londolozi.com

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Londolozi is situated on the Sand River in the very heart of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. This reserve in turn forms part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a vast and growing area, currently covering 6 million acres and incorporating the famous Kruger National Park. This rich, wild wonderland assures exceptional game drives and a true wilderness experience. Breeding herds of elephant and buffalo roam throughout the Londolozi area, while white rhino and lion concentrations are amongst the highest recorded on the African continent. However, it is the truly remarkable relationship which has developed over three decades between wild free ranging leopards and ranger and trackers which makes Londolozi world famous. There is no disputing that viewing the leopards of Londolozi is one of life’s truly treasured experiences. A Londolozi safari is about engaging all the senses and participating in the journey, so that you come away charged, enlightened and ready for the next adventure.

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mysteries of the mekong Melting snow on the Tibetan Plateau forms the source of the trans-boundary Mekong River that flows down via Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s YunNan Province, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia to Vietnam, out into the South China Sea. by: gillian mclaren

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From the spacious cabin of the Aqua Mekong cruise ship, I gaze out of the floor to ceiling windows, as she sails sedately from Saigon to Siem Reap, along a route full of thriving cities, rural communities, floating villages such as Kompong Luong, floating markets and almost fluorescent green rice paddies, Chinese style pagodas and Buddhist temples. An intimate cruise ship, the Aqua Mekong is ultra-luxurious and no detail is spared to ensure that passengers

ver 60 million people depend on the mighty Mekong and its tributaries for food, water, transport and daily activities. It is a working river, plied by sea-going vessels, heavily laden barges, container vessels, as well as small fishing craft.

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The people of the Mekong Delta rural communities that we visit do not see many foreigners, yet they are unfailingly warm, kind and very open.

are cared for individually. Dotted around the ship are arrangements of lotus flowers, with their petals turned back. When I admire them, I return to my cabin after dining to discover that some of these iconic flowers have been placed in a pretty vase for me, on my side table. When I rise early for a brisk walk around the top deck, or to exercise in the gym-with –a view, the barman on duty brings me freshly squeezed dragon fruit juice, which he knows is my favourite. After a shower in my neat bathroom - with its twin basins and generous jasmine-scented amenities – I laze in the ship’s library to read some of the novels set in Vietnam or Cambodia, or to peruse the diverse coffee table books on Vietnamese cuisine or décor, architecture or Mekong wildlife. Before I know it, a glass of Vietnamese coffee- made with ice and condensed milk - is placed by my side. Breakfast is served in the dining room, which has several small tables and a splendid view. Guests sit where PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

they please, either alone or by joining newly made friends. As with all the meals, both Asian and Western food is available, but I ask to be given only Vietnamese or Cambodian breakfasts, so I try all sorts of flavours and textures, each of which I think are delectable and far more interesting than most European fare. The food, styled by Consultant Chef David Thompson, is consistently excellent and we all eat with enthusiasm and eager chatting, especially after the shore excursions where we ride bicycles or walk to explore remote villages. Aqua Mekong is the only Cruiser in the area that has its own fleet of private tenders, to transport guests to shore, to interact with the local people and learn about their trades. With a guide to guest ratio of 1/10, expeditions remain intimate. Each village specialises in a different craft, so by the end of the cruise, we have watched silver making, pottery, silk production and weaving, as well as

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tipped Pagodas and try exotic fruits like durian and rambutan, as well as watch musicians play traditional instruments and sing time-honoured ballads. Our education about the Mekong River and culture of the countries we are sailing through continues onboard, where concise talks are given each evening in the lounge, as we sip cocktails and nibble on gourmet snacks. After dining, films like The Killing Fields, set in Cambodia and The Lover, set in 1920s Saigon are

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rice farming. The people of the Mekong Delta rural communities that we visit do not see many foreigners, yet they are unfailingly warm, kind and very open. We are greeted with smiles and a chorus of cheery hellos, especially from the adorable children who are as intrigued by us as we are of them. To my delight, we visit small local schools where the children willingly sing to us and then we sing to them! We meet village and temple elders, receive blessings from monks in wing-

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available in the shipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movie theatre, which has decadent lazy-boy type chairs. Some passengers choose a pampering Asian massage in the on-board Spa, a swim in the infinity pool or find a quiet spot to enjoy the reflections of moon and Northern hemisphere stars in the Mekong. Aqua Mekong is unashamedly opulent and could be called a

floating five-star boutique hotel. After stimulating excursions in the balmy humidity and heat of Southeast Asia, the air-conditioned spaces are a pleasing haven. The ship sails on. Greenish-brown water of the timeless Mekong bears coconuts, water hyacinth and driftwood past my cabin, as a Brahminy Kite hovers above a fish.

Aqua Mekong is unashamedly opulent and could be called a floating five-star boutique hotel.

Contact details Aqua Excursions Aqua Mekong www.aquaexpeditions.com/luxurycruise-ships/aqua-mekong

www.cathaypacific.com 011-064 1100 jnb_fares@cathaypacific.com

ABOUTAsia Travel:

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www.ABOUTasiatravel.com Pull quote: By the end of the cruise, we have watched silver making, pottery, silk production and weaving, as well as rice farming. Pull quote: After dining, films like The Killing Fields, set in Cambodia and The Lover, set in 1920s Saigon are available in the shipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movie theatre.

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Cathay Pacific

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like a

virgin

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Often referred to as Sir James Goldsmithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s folly the rambling eco-estate of Cuixmala lies on the west coast of Mexico some 300km south of Puerto Vallarta

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ir James, or Sir Jimmy as he was fondly known, would take his celebrity friends to his 2000 acre estate with its somewhat unusual yet appealing dwellings, and since his death in the late 1990s, his daughter, Alix Goldsmith Marcaccini, has continued the tradition, inviting the likes of Madonna, Mick Jagger, Simon Le Bon, Bill Gates, Tom Cruise, George Lucas and Heidi Klum and ex-husband Seal to some elaborate parties.

Travel

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These spacious suites have soaring ceilings and light filled rooms and exemplify the architecture and style of La Loma.

Architecture is the work of Robert Couturier and has been described as a dreamscape with the whimsical use of colour on the outside and the stark yet clean monochromatic white of the interiors cooling the environment off. It’s also believed that Sir Jimmy had a fear of the apocalyptic scenarios of global warming and nuclear catastrophe so some of the engineering in the buildings

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is said to be able to withstand absolute extremes in weather and tectonics, common on Mexico’s Virgin Coast. The Cuixmala suite is one of the great suites of the world. A huge space with 20 ft. soaring ceilings and large windows opening to breathtaking sea views. The suite offers multiple seating areas including one around an impressive fireplace. The bathroom has huge windows and offers both an ocean view shower and oversized tub. Outside is a private terrace with seating area and splash pool sized jacuzzi, the perfect spot for viewing the area’s sunsets off the west coast. Cuixmala continues to be maintained as a grand private estate but with Casa Cuixmala transformed into an ultra-luxury boutique hotel. The exotic setting and unparalleled level of privacy and personalised service make Casa Cuixmala a rarefied experience even for the most travelled guest. Within the main house of La Loma are three additional suites which are exquisitely decorated with art and antiques. These spacious suites have soaring ceilings and light filled rooms and exemplify the architecture and style of La Loma.

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Casa Cuixmala is perched on a hill overlooking over two miles of private beach, an ideal spot for horseback riding, beach combing and home to the turtle protection program. At the bottom of a grand staircase is the oversised salt water pool which is located on a white sand beach. The beautiful tiled pool adjoins a beach palapa which is ideal for lounging and dining.

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The bungalows Casa Cuixmala are individual bungalows, spread out through lush tropical gardens with an amazing level of privacy. Each bungalow has an elaborate bathroom with an outdoor shower in a tropical garden, a spacious living area and a king bed. A large outside terrace with stunning ocean views has a day bed for lounging and daydreaming.

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At the bottom of a grand staircase is the oversised salt water pool which is located on wa white sand beach.

Cuixmala offers a myriad nature experiences which can be appreciated on foot, by mountain bike but perhaps best of all on horseback. The exotic setting of Cuixmala is further enhanced by herds of antelope and zebra which can be observed up close by our guests. The ideal beach experience takes place at Caleta Blanca, the calm private beach which offers kayaking, snorkelling, paddle boarding among other activities or just lounging on a picture perfect beach. Cuixmala also offers fishing, sailing, tennis, yoga, spa treatments and a wide range of eco adventures. Sir Jimmy established the Cuixmala Ecological Foundation which in turn was instrumental in establishing the vast Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere

Reserve. The work of protecting the environment has been carried on by his daughter Alix and her husband Goffredo. The Turtle Protection program has returned hundreds of thousands of baby turtles to the sea and has stabilized the once endangered sea turtle in the area. The protection of the mangroves provides a home for thousands of birds. More recently they have created bird sanctuaries on the islands in Chamela Bay in order to protect the sea birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nesting grounds. Cuixmala is also one of the few remaining habitats in North America for the Jaguar.

www.cuixmala.com

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wine

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wonders

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The properties and estates within the winelands are as diverse as the wines and the people who make them. Chris Buchanan paid a visit to Kleine Zalze outside Stellenbosch and found diversity in abundance.

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n the left as you drive through the Kleine Zalze gate is an immaculate golf course and up the hill on the right are vineyards that contribute to the fruit that makes a number of outstanding, award winning wines. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a juxtaposition of the farm and the lifestyle that this estate embraces through the vision of Kobus Basson some 20 year ago.

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I met assistant winemaker and vineyard manager Dirk van Zyl and sales manager Barry Kok at Michael Broughton’s Terroir restaurant on the property and on a day when the warmth of the restaurant kept the waves of a Cape cold front messing with the trees outside. It’s worth noting that while extensive replanting of the vines has taken place on the Kleine Zalze property, many of the grapes used in making the range, are sourced from different regions within blocks that are co-managed between the growers and Dirk. The MCC bubbly that we started with is a case in point with the Chardonnay

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(60%) from Robertson and the Pinot Noir (40%) from Stellenbosch vines. Then it was time for the Chenins starting with the Cellar Selection which I was told relied on a long, slow fermentation on the lees to extract the fruit although I was assured by Dirk that “it’s not just a fruit bomb”. The farm’s Chenin Blancs are off bush vines that have low yields but intense fruit and have carried away two significant accolades from Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show and the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. The 2014 Vineyard Selection took the Harold Eedes Trophy for best Chenin Blanc at Old Mutual and the Family Reserve 2013 Chenin won the Best White Wine at the Councours Mondial. Both wines were exceptional but I was treated to a glass of the 2007 Vineyard Collection Chenin PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

Terroirâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s menu is seasonal so check the website for the up-to-date menu but the chalk board at the restaurant is your best indication of the available produce. and the Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010. Terroirâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s menu is seasonal so check the website for the up-to-date menu but the chalk board at the restaurant is your best indication of the available produce that Michael Broughton and his team use to create a menu that has put this restaurant consistently in the top 10 of the Eat Out Awards since 2005.

Enough food and wine so a stroll through the lodge with its magnificent views over the vineyards and the golf course to settle the stomach and contemplate a magnificent day with the people of the Cape winelands who never cease to amaze me through their humble demeanour, despite great achievement and their generous hospitality.

Blanc with its golden honey colour and beautiful balance of tropical fruit, wood and acidity. Terroirâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature prawn risotto paired magnificently with the Chenin Blanc range and the venison three ways waited patiently for the Cellar Selection Pinotage 2013, the Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

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food

barn

find!

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Vivien Natasen lunches at the Food Barn

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relish any opportunity to take a drive along Chapman’s Peak drive. So whenever we are in the Cape for any reasonable period, taking a drive along the Peninsula is always on the cards. Now that the run has been made more enjoyable with a new favourite stop situated in Noordhoek, the Food Barn. Its owner, Franck Dangereux, has sought to provide a fine dining experience in a slightly more relaxed setting which presents a warm, inviting and comfortable ambience. Its French styled décor melds perfectly into the little village-like setting, not far from the bustle of Cape Town’s core trading and entertainment areas.

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food

The Food Barn has quickly developed a reputation for great food and is one of the gems of the Cape. With a reasonably extensive menu, carefully chosen and normally paired with wine, Dangereux definitely knows his stuff, as the offerings cater for many palates. Chatting with the family over lunch, it is clear that he has chosen this as a way of life. It is often said that when one loves their work then it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work anymore but instead fulfilment of purpose. The family resides on the farm on the property with their menagerie of animals, exuding a contentness that seems to elude many families. They have been developing the venue into a full destination for people seeking various types of rustic entertainment comprising the drive out from Cape Town city centre through the beautiful scenery with options in Noordhoek including horse riding on the beach. The food barn is part of a facility that provides a few hours of entertainment for anyone taking that break for a morning or afternoon jaunt out of the city.

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Back to the dining experience. We were treated to a full four course meal (paired with wine). Franck has a gift for exotic tastes melded beautifully into each course, carefully seeking to bring out the true flavours of the centrepiece of each dish. I loved the lamb and my wife thoroughly enjoyed the fish. We had the fortune of tasting most of the courses of people at the table and I must say, I didn’t find anything that I could fault. My advice is to leave room for desserts, you will regret it if you don’t savour some of the unique dessert offerings on his menu. If you are around Cape Town and can secure a booking at the Food Barn, make sure you make the time for a jaunt out to Noordhoek to sample this gem.

My advice is to leave room for desserts, you will regret it if you don’t savour some of the unique dessert offerings on his menu.

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whisky

a map to PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

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Patrick Leclezio disputes the validity of some deeply held Scotch whisky dogma.

n my last column I pondered the influence of stories – with their inherent ability to capture our attention – in the appeal and the success of single malt whisky. This phenomenon can be observed in the efforts of Scotch whisky to subtly propagate the romantic notion of terroir. We have been led to believe that single malts differ one from another partly because of the influence of the ground on which they stand – a premise that has specifically found voice in the classification of malts by geographic region, both officially and unofficially. The reasoning on which this is based is that whiskies from the same region, having been forged in similar environments, using similar ingredients, and stemming from the same traditions, share commonalities in style. The designation is considered of sufficient importance by the industry that it is typically printed on the label, second in prominence only to the name of whisky. In reality though the extent of its relevance to the average malt whisky drinker warrants some exploration. There are five official Scotch whisky regions, as prescribed by the Scotch Whisky Association, the industry’s governing body: the Lowlands, Islay, Cambeltown, the Highlands, and Speyside - the latter being geographically within the Highlands, but of sufficient distinction and of such abundance as to justify its own separate identity. In this regional paradigm particular styles and flavours are ascribed to each region and some more persistently manifest than others.

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Speyside: In very broad terms the better known malts from the region have become known for flavours evoking heather, flowers, fruits and spices. They’re sometimes lightly peated, but usually not. This is the cultural hub of Scotch whisky – and consequently the impression of a Speysider is one of elegance and refinement. The embodiment of its whisky, or rather this idea of a Speyside whisky, is Longmorn - the drinking of which invokes, for me at least, the strudel scene from Inglourious Basterds. Yes, it’s that delicious. Highlands: The Highlands is so vast and so sparse that it’s difficult even theoretically to conceive of the evolution of a unified style. There’s salt and peat, think Talisker, a rich overflow from Speyside in whiskies like Glengoyne and Dalmore, and spices, heather and grass here and there. They can be light (Glenmorangie), waxy (Clynelish), rich (Macallan), smoky (Ardmore) or nutty (the recent Wolfburn). Even close neighbours can be poles apart, consider Highland Park and Scapa for instance. The range is so broad, touching on just about everything on the Scotch palette, so as to render the Highlands meaningless as a flavour denoting region. Campbeltown: The whiskies here are known for being smoky, oily, and briny – they’re seafaring whiskies. The peninsula is the smallest of the regions, and whilst it once flourished, only three active distilleries now feature, the most well-known of which is the outstanding Springbank – which produces three different brands of whisky. I’m PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

This classification gives a certain poetic order to the malt universe but the supposed kinship is less than consistent. There is no pure terroir in whisky

Explore, experiment, and enjoy, by all means, but do so on the counsel of other reasoning. relatively familiar with the Springbank range, the 10YO in particular – and whilst it’s often difficult to distinguish one type of peating from another, Springbank’s has a maritime fog quality to it, if I can put it that way, that you don’t find in others. Then again perhaps I’m just falling prey to the story…

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This classification gives a certain poetic order to the malt universe but the supposed kinship is less than consistent. There is no pure terroir

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Islay: This famous, dare I say legendary, west coast island builds the strongest case for classification by regions. It has forged its reputation on the influence of peat, specifically the local peat which is redolent of medicinal seaweed – giving rise to robust whiskies with phenolic, pungent, smoky flavours. This regional character is consistent(-ish) and unmistakable. Its most highly peated exponent, with a standard peating level of 55ppm – enough to register on the Richter scale - is Ardbeg. I

particularly recommend the Uigeadail (if you can get it), a variant where this powerful peat component, whilst no less evident, has been beautifully balanced with some judicious sherry cask maturation, resulting in a magnificently layered, complex whisky that flits between hard flint and sweet velvet. Even here on Islay though there are reasons to question the model, with Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich producing unpeated (or lightly peated) contrarian whiskies. Lowlands: These malts are generally light, soft and floral, and, with notes of cereal and zest. The fresh and sweet Glenkinchie, from Diageo’s Classic Malts collection, is arguably the most recognised.

in whisky, as it would be understood in wine, except in the contribution of peat, and even there, as I’ve mentioned, it takes some distinguishing one from the other. Water is a ruse, its individuality is not even vaguely apparent. There are other direct factors – such as still shape and maturation – which play a far greater role in dictating flavour, and these are independent of region. Indirect factors, such as the traditional regional adherence to a style, still play a role but this has somewhat meandered, dissipated and migrated with time. So then, whilst whisky regions are a quaint concept, they have limited merit and should be considered a loose guide (at best!) rather than a fixed rule. Individual whiskies can and do vary significantly within regions, even the most harmonised regions. It can be comforting to the novice to have a gateway into the initially baffling array of malt whisky choices, but I’d suggest that this one is largely a false comfort. Next time you see Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky on a bottle don’t assume that it necessarily bears resemblance to that other Highlands whisky that you like so much. Explore, experiment, and enjoy, by all means, but do so on the counsel of other reasoning. May the dram be with you.

spirits

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The spirit of the game

Blink and you’ll have to wait another four years. The All Blacks have done it again and made history by winning two Rugby World Cups in a row. Patrick Leclezio extracted some enjoyment from the tipple of those countries that made an im[ression.

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he combination of rugby and liquor (enjoyed responsibly people…), apart from being a time honoured tradition, presents you, me and all bibulous fans with a win-win scenario. The highs are higher – oh that victory buzz! – and the lows are higher - the pain of defeat is cushioned in a warm haze. This year in setting out to do it properly, I came up with a spirit pairing for most of the leading teams, so that I could enjoy the drink, the rugby, and a little slice of each country’s culture, all at the same time. In the future, never mind that we only managed the semifinals, I’m confident of some great memories, and of being able to look back on a tournament savoured to the fullest PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

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England After those feet in ancient times walked upon England’s mountains green they would have been grateful I’m sure for a cool, tall glass of Pimm’s – maybe on a pleasant pasture - to refresh and restore thereafter. There is no more quintessentially English drink. Garnished with strawberries to colour match the red rose on an England jersey, and entwined as it is with a setting of green English turf, there can be no better accompaniment to that country’s world cup campaign; although given that this was as brief as the Pimm’s-drinking English summer.

Argentina There’s a bizarre category of drinks known as bitters, and, whilst the constituent products differ substantially one from another they’re typically a witch’s brew of herbaceous ingredients. One of the world’s best-selling bitters is Fernet Branca, for which the brand largely has Argentina to thank. The Argies love this stuff, knocking back millions of litres per year – with coke or soda, or neat as a digestif. These guys are a bit dodgy with their application of the laws – give them a clueless French referee and they’ll make hay till the final whistle blows – but one has to admire how their game has progressed, and the passion with which they play it. When they got themselves to the semis I had to raise my glass of Fernet Branca to the West in salute.

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Australia “ I’ll have a Bundy mate”. Well, not exactly. I do want to make the effort for our Aussie cousins - and the fortuitous absence over here of their mainstay – the infamous Bundaberg Rum - is going to grease this wheel for me. I’m not averse to the mix-with-coke variety of rum to which Bundaberg belongs, but I’d much rather partake of something a bit finer. So I’ll join them in rum-drinking rugby kinship with a few fingers of Ron Zacapa, the sugar-cane honey derived, high-altitude matured, petate-attired Guatemalan favourite. Were they singing Waltzing Matilda in Spanish clutching their silver medals?

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Ireland The most underrated style of whiskey, like the most underrated team ahead of this tournament, comes from Ireland. Single pot still is Ireland’s traditional style, a full bodied whiskey made from both malted and unmalted barley that inexplicably lost popularity at one time, but that’s now back with a vengeance – much like their rugby. I answered Ireland’s call with Green Spot, an orchard-in-a-bottle exponent that’ll transform your rugby viewing a total sensory experience. The colour correspondence by the way is completely coincidental, but surprisingly pleasing, unlike their quarter final showing against Las Pumas.

France French rugby is a bit hit and miss, much like the drink I enjoyed during their matches. Pastis, an anise-flavoured (specifically using star anise as an ingredient), unmistakeably Mediterranean spirit, is one of France’s most popular drinks, particular in the south of the country – corresponding loosely to the area where rugby also predominates. It’s a cliché of French rugby that they either pitch up or they don’t. Similarly you either like the polarising anise flavour or you don’t. There’s a limited choice in SA but Ricard pastis, bedrock of the eponymous liquor giant Pernod Ricard, is generally available in local stores. It’s usually mixed with chilled water and ice, resulting in an iconically cloudy, superbly refreshing liquid – best enjoyed whilst watching French rugby…or at a street-side café in Marseille.

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South Africa Our flagbearing sports team and our signature spirit – it’s a union ordained by the sporting and spirituous gods. Rugby in this country is synonymous with brandy, particularly blended brandy, so I’ll signal my support accordingly – with one of the best blended brandies that I’ve yet had the opportunity to taste: the Carel Nel 15YO from Boplaas. The brandy hangovers after the semi-final loss to our old foe, I’m sure, were all the better and more tolerable with an intriguing local blended brandy. Here’s to 2019 and a hopefully better showing from our men in green and gold.

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yachting

Making

aquaintance

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Oceanco partners with designer Philippe Briand and his Vitruvius brand on a new 105-metre PYC-compliant yacht design.

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ean and green, project name Acquaintance is designed to be 20 percent more fuel efficient than other motor-yachts of her size. With a razor sharp elegance that only Briand can draw, her fine lines and sleek layout exude an overall feeling of purity and lightness despite her 4302 gross tons. Designed to accommodate 24 guests in extreme luxury, the main deck features a swimming pool with a translucent aft glass panel and glass floor enabling it to be viewed from the aft of the yacht as well as from the skylight in the ceiling of the spa deck below. The pool deck lounge area flows into the main deck salon. Enclosed by glass walls, the salon is showered in light and yields a 270-degree panoramic view. The 10 guest cabins are forward on the main deck and all benefit from large bay windows and sea views. Twin VIP staterooms will have a front facing views.

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A central staircase and elevator service the primary decks from the beach club to the top deck. The next deck up from the salon is the bridge deck with the captain’s domain forward and a guest upper salon aft. Here too, there is a 270-degree view. A recessed bar, permitting unblocked views from the salon, is located on the aft upper deck and is protected from the wind. Forward on this deck is a touch and go helicopter pad allowing for instant mobility for the guests, should the need arise. One deck above the bridge deck is the owners’ area. Here the owners enjoy total privacy. Their exclusive terrace, protected from the elements, has no external access so it is completely private and secure. From the aft facing bedroom suite there is a 180-degree panoramic view and forward is an observation lounge with much the same vantage point but facing the opposite direction. The top sundeck — accessible via the owner’s

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The design is essentially designed from only 10 basic lines – less design is beautiful! Or “less is more”… in this unique case.

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deck â&#x20AC;&#x201D; has a sun protected bar and whirlpool aft. The lowest guest deck on board features a beach club, cinema, gym and spa at sea level and sports a skylight from which one can view the underside of the swimming pool overhead on the main deck. A garage supports a limo tender up to 12-meters in length as well

as a myriad other water sports toys. Embarking and disembarking takes place amidships. When the beach club door is closed there is no exterior access to the yacht, ensuring security. Contemporary and clean, this yacht is modern without being minimal. It has everything a discerning yacht owner would want.

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PHILIPPHE BRIAND TALKS ABOUT VITRUVIUS ACQUAINTANCE AT MONACO YACHT SHOW 2015 OCEANCO PYC by Vitruvius “Purity is the essential” “To design a yacht is to grasp the essence of life on board: when we had the chance to be committed by Oceanco, to design one of the the first PYC projects being above 100m, we really aimed to deliver the best of the Vitruvius pedigree: All Vitruvius yachts have an outspoken DNA and are immediately recognisable, basically through the hull design, the shape of the superstructure along with exceptional seaworthiness and comfort abilities. For this particular project we also wanted the yacht to be: • Pure • PYC - 24 pax • Efficient • Transparent • Closer to the sea • White

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And we demonstrated these intentions by the design: She is pure. The design is essentially designed from only 10 basic lines – less design is beautiful! Or “less is more”....in this unique case. She is PYC. following the new rule for ships carrying 12 to 36 passengers. The 105m is designed to

The yacht caters to very diverse interests from water sports to quiet moments in the Spa, to glorious sunset drinks without ever losing the feeling of being on the sea. PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

welcome 24 pax and to provide a very luxurious art of life. Some details? • Owner state-room ideally located, area of 126.m2 with easy access to the sun deck and upper Deck • Owner totally private terrasse, no exterior access, perfectly wind protected • Unblocked 180° view from bed • Not forgetting about....the need of a large limousine of 12 m in the garage and a perfect disembarking , embarking platform and sas at midships • Her Gt is 4,302 gt. She will be efficient. The hull forms are predominant in the design and we may expect to create a yacht that is going to have a lower consumption than the standard yacht of this size thanks to the Vitruvius plumb line bow and fine entry of waterline. The bow has low windage as the windlass deck is enclosed. All that is combined with the state-of-the-art in-house technology of Oceanco to make this new yacht the most efficient of her time. The superstructure is transparent. Most of its walls are transparent glass and we paid a special attention to preserve an open view wherever one looks out of the superstructure: Some details? • Unblocked 270° view from main saloon and upper deck salon. Main

E/R ducts are moved forward •F rontal view form of the windows of the VIP cabins • Sea view from ALL cabins • Recessed bar in terrasse, unblocked view from salon Closer to the sea. Most larger yacht actually create barriers and usually separate the guests from the sea. On this yacht: • There are a lot of larger outdoor spaces and relax exterior • The beach club at sea is one of the main feature of the project, with large opening, skylight through swimming pool, screen on fore glass wall, direct communication to the main deck. • Spa , opening to a terrasse on sea Her colour is white everywhere....like “purity”. The 105m is a very special mega

yacht, she will procure her owners a beautiful experience. The yacht will very be smooth and exceptionally comfortable. The yacht caters to very diverse interests from water sports to quiet moments in the Spa, to glorious sunset drinks without ever losing the feeling of being on the sea. I have to say that we had an incredibly good cooperation with the design office of Oceanco. We met with very open minded and great professional people. This team is by far one of the most experienced technical teams in the field of mega motor yacht construction, we had feared to be “imposed” a lot of existing good solutions. This was not the case we worked with an open minded team, looking at the future and very keen to adopt and embrace innovation and ready for new challenges. Exactly the required qualities to build a future ready custom yacht”. - Philippe Briand, Vitruvius Yachts –

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motoring

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MAC Vivien Natasen’s take on Mclaren’s “baby” supercar.

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cLaren’s poor showing in the Formula 1 realm has not deterred any interest in the brand from a consumer perspective – which I assume loyalists, including me, would place the blame on their F1 woes at Honda’s doorstep. However, their introduction of a “sports series” with their first offering out of Woking being the 570s coupe is aimed (their claim) at the top end of the entry level supercars (very loosely defined) such as the Porsche GT3, Maserati etc. McLaren hopes the newer range will bring in the required economies of scale as a mainstream manufacturer that will ensure its long term sustainability, something that has eluded bespoke manufacturers in recessionary times. Although the existing pricing in South Africa is about R300 000 over the target segment, that’s before one starts ticking options boxes which can take the car into the R4m price range easily.

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In the flesh, the car looks smaller, but is well proportioned and truly looks the part of a supercar. It follows the lines and look-and-feel of the P1 more closely than the 650s or MP4-12C. Having driven and owned both the other models, I was extremely curious to see what the 570s had to offer. Performance from 0-100 kph is claimed at around 3.2 seconds, not far off from the bigger brethren which come in 60% more expensive than this car. McLaren will produce a lesser Sports Series model, assuming it will remain as the 540c, the entry level sports series which it unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show 2015, with presumably a spyder to follow over time. McLaren has claimed better everyday functionality of the vehicle, but that remains to be seen when we drive it. Interior finishes are good with similar layouts to what we have become used to from McLaren. Thankfully, the Sports Series retains the famous scissor doors, which have become synonymous with the brand. In

I think this car is amazing. It is well positioned, it draws its inspiration better than its bigger brothers from the iconic P1.

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fact, the experience gained through the various iterations has resulted in one of the best looking cars to emerge from the manufacturer. The 570s pushes 562 bhp using a new variant of the same 3.8 litre twin turbo in the 12C and 650s. It uses the same rear-mid engine layout

of the other siblings. It has a claimed consumption of 11.1 litres per 100 kilometres, though I suspect most owners will never achieve that as they revel in the engine roar from every traffic light. If you want to pin me to an overall final conclusion, I think this car is

amazing. It is well positioned, it draws its inspiration better than its bigger brothers from the iconic P1, especially that cute behind and with its performance not far off from its bigger siblings, I honestly think this car will even steal sales from its bigger brothers. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait for the spyderâ&#x20AC;Ś

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PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

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jurassic

assault Vivien Natasen drives the new Mercedes Benz GLE Coupe.

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ercedes Benz cleverly chose to align its coupe-styled sports utility market attack on the latest iteration of the Spielberg Jurassic movie franchise â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jurassic World â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with its rendition called the GLE Coupe. This says a lot of a vehicle that most people would presume is really a soft roader with its hardest work being climbing some pavements in the urban jungle and the occasional gravel road.

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The Mercedes Benz South Africa team was even cleverer by choosing to launch the vehicle in proper off-road conditions in the heart of the forests of Knysna. We were hosted at the beautiful Conrad hotel at the Pezula Resort before being shuttled across to the forest for a breakfast amongst the trees. The intervention had to be conducted in the most eco-friendly means possible, under the watchful eyes of the South Africa National Parks officials. The introduction of the vehicle was carefully orchestrated with a â&#x20AC;&#x153;tribe of nativesâ&#x20AC;? flitting through the forest as a pre-cursor to the actual vehicle reveal. The first launch vehicle was clad in a forest camouflage wrap.

On to the vehicles themselves. We were introduced to the range topping GLE 63s Coupe, the GLE 450 AMG Coupe and the entry-level oil burner the GLE 350d Coupe. Initial reaction was that Mercedes is now foraying into the hugely successful space dominated by the BMW X6. There is nothing actually wrong with that as the anomaly of a SUV styled coupe defied all predictions and has performed extremely well worldwide, so why not enter the space? The GLE 63s Coupe packs a huge punch with a growl to match, featuring the brand's massive 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine (Thankfully, this has not yet been changed to the 4 litre like

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The previous dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rain did enough to make some interesting muddy sections, which I was very thrilled to navigate through.

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in the C63 and the GT-S), pushing 430kW. The 63s boasts a claimed sprint to 100km/h in 4.2 seconds, and a claimed combined fuel consumption 11.9 litres per 100km. The GLE 450 AMG Coupe, powered by a 3.0-litre V6 petrol with a pair of turbochargers pushing 270kW and 520Nm with peak torque available from 1400rpm to 4000 rpm. The GLE 350d sports a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine with 190kW on tap. With the key technical bits out of the way, we were treated to taking the vehicles through reasonably tricky off road terrain in the forest. The previous dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rain did enough to make some interesting muddy sections, which I

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was very thrilled to navigate through – extremely glad that my co-driver was content to sit in the passenger seat for that leg. The technical wizardry deployed into this vehicle comprising adjustable height settings on the suspension along with clever 4Matic system. With some of the slippery downhill slopes the GLE Coupe (we were in the 450 AMG at that time) was perfectly capable. I can safely say that many of the GLE Coupe’s competitors would not have made it through some of the ruts and angles that the Mercedes successfully navigated as not many of the competitors in this segment possess the ride height adjustment. My overall conclusion is that the GLE Coupe could hold its own against

many proper off road vehicles even though many would not see much more than a puddle in the city. If you ever buy one, my advice is to get out onto the dirt roads and experience what the countryside has to offer and the GLE Coupe could make an ideal urban/rural chariot to tackle reasonably rugged terrain and still get the kids to school. Out on the open road (tarred), the other personality of the Coupes shine through. In the 450 AMG and the 63 versions there is a distinct Mercedes burble at low revs that becomes a roar when the right foot is pressed to the floor. All three vehicles, including the diesel, pick up speed quickly and feel solid even when the roads are a bit bumpy, taking everything in their stride. In the mighty 63, one does have

The 450 AMG has a very pleasing downchange grunt which I was also prone to making happen – always with a big grin on my face.

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a tendency to press the right pedal harder all the time just to feel that torque and stay on the peak curve. The 450 AMG has a very pleasing downchange grunt which I was also prone to making happen – always with a big grin on my face. Interior of the Coupe is pleasing. I did feel, in comparison to the latest offerings from the marque that a little more updates to the buttons and placement thereof could have been done. However, I guess the designers felt that a little more utilitarian feel was still necessary with the centre console looking similar to the older ML aesthetics. The vehicle appears more spacious than its competitors with decent boot space. A few people did complain about visibility through

smaller (steeply sloped) rear window, but as a regular user of similar vehicles, I didn’t really find that a bother. The options list is extensive though with my favourite being the 22 inch rims – not great for off-road ventures but they do dramatically fill the wheel arches. Overall conclusions on the GLE Coupe – If you have to justify buying one over the conventional SUV, then you shouldn’t have considered the coupe in the first place. The coupe is one of the better all-rounders in this segment than many of its competitors and it is a refreshing entrant into the space. My pick of the bunch is the GLE Coupe 450 AMG in terms of performance, ride, feel and price.

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in the bush

The Bentley Bentayga combines unparalleled luxury with effortless performance and everyday usability.

ith an allnew W12 powertrain, the Bentayga is claimed by Bentley to be the fastest, most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive SUV in the world. It offers a true Bentley driving experience and showcases innovative technology features.

Designed, engineered and handcrafted in Crewe, the Bentaygaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s styling is pure Bentley. Sculptural with an elegant, execution, it perfectly balances athleticism with confidence. From the four round LED headlamps and large matrix grille, to the distinctive power line and muscular haunches, the Bentley DNA is apparent throughout. The Bentley Bentayga keeps the luxury of the automotive cabin, with

PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

thanks to a combination of unparalleled attention to detail, go-anywhere ability and cutting-edge technology. With this extraordinary car we are looking forward to an exciting period of strong growth and sales success for Bentley. The Bentayga is the next step in our brand’s bold future.” The Bentayga made its full public debut at the IAA Frankfurt Show in September and customer deliveries commence in early 2016. PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

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with ultra-luxurious levels of power and torque. With 600 bhp / 447kW and 900 Nm delivering 0-100 km/h in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 301 kph, the Bentayga is one of the world’s most powerful and fastest SUVs. Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, comments: “The Bentayga is truly the Bentley of SUVs. It redefines luxury in the SUV sector and offers a genuine Bentley experience in any environment,

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unrivalled levels of precision. The detailing in metal, wood and leather – including meticulous tolerances between elements of trim – is the epitome of modern British luxury. This level of perfection is only achievable thanks to the exceptional craft and skill of Bentley’s colleagues in Crewe. An all-new twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 engine is at the heart of the new Bentayga. The 12-cylinder unit combines efficiency and refinement

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Ferrari has revealed the F12tdf which pays homage to the Tour de France, the legendary endurance road race that Ferrari dominated in the 1950 s and ‘60 s, particularly with the 1956 250 GT Berlinetta which won four consecutive editions.

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t was a race that rewarded cars that combined maximum performance with the driveability and ease of use that enabled the competitors to race for hundreds of kilometres a day over fast, tortuous roads and on circuits. The F12tdf is the ultimate expression of the concept of an extreme road car that is equally at home on the track, and just 799 will be built. The F12tdf is a concentration of technical innovations which involve all those areas central to Ferrari’s DNA: engine, aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics. The F12tdf’s performance is via the 780cv, 6262cc 65° naturally-aspirated V12 derived directly from the F12berlinetta’s multi-award-winning engine. The car’s exhilarating dynamic behaviour, specifically its lateral acceleration in corners, is due to an 8% increase in the ratio of the front tyres compared to the rear ones. The car’s natural tendency to oversteer as a result of the change in tyre sizes is compensated for by the innovative rear-wheel steering system – known as the Virtual Short Wheelbase, which is integrated with the other vehicle dynamic control systems – that guarantees the steering wheel response times and turn-in of a competition car while increasing stability at high speed. Cornering speeds are also higher thanks to the significant increase in downforce +87% - which has reached unprecedented levels for a front-engined V12 berlinetta. A radical redesign of the bodywork, interior, engine, transmission and running gear, along with the abundant use of carbon-fibre inside and out, has slashed 110 kg off the car’s overall weight. All of these factors combine to produce record performance figures: 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 7.9 seconds in addition to a substantial boost in lateral acceleration. The F12tdf laps Fiorano in just 1’21”. Outstanding stopping distances are guaranteed by the adoption of the new Extreme Design one-piece brake callipers already seen on the LaFerrari. This new-generation system means the car can brake from 100-0 km/h in just 30.5 m and from 200-0 in 121 m.

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true

notes The evolution of the in-home music system has seen theatre quality surround sound which brings your media to life in the living room. In the Yamaha showroom in Kelvin Johannesburg, Chris Buchanan was treated to an experience of three dimensional surround sound, and the movie came to life around me – Gollum was literally hissing “my precious” above me as he leaned over the cliff.

speakers – each of these playing a crucial role in the accuracy and purity of the final sound. Still at the Yamaha showroom and I was introduced to the A-S3000 amplifier and CD-S3000 CD player combination that altered my perception of stereophonic sound in its clarity and accuracy. I had five of my personal CDs with me ranging from the soft rock of Steely Dan, through to a Schumann symphony, some hardcore rock of The Jam and Led Zeppelin and the sophisticated rock of Pink Floyd. First impressions were of a warm sound reminiscent of a vinyl recording rather than a CD. The accuracy of the CD-S3000 signal reading cued the music perfectly and left no extraneous noise as a song faded out, or during the adagio or pianissimo sections of the

Schumann symphony. Music reproduction is absolutely true, whether it’s a sustained note on an electric guitar, the acoustic resonance of a piano or the complex tones of a voice – I heard tones and nuances I had not experienced before within music I had been listening to for 30 years. But most significant for me was the quality of the stereophonic sound. Instead of placing the listener in front of the orchestra or band, the A-S3000 puts you in among the musicians and you hear the music as though you’re a member of the band, surrounded by the other members, listening to yourself through the monitors. The A-S3000 amplifier and the CDS3000 CD player are the pinnacle of stereophonic reproduction, crafted like a musical instrument and engineered to be as musical as the instrument itself.

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ut for the purists of musical production, stereo is still the standard of reproduction, the basics of which see an illusion of multi-directional audible perspective. The placement of microphones, or the overlaying of several recorded channels puts the listener in the virtual position of the band, or orchestra playing in front of them. Close your eyes and you imagine John, Paul, George and Ringo playing in front of you as though they were on stage, although each element of the music was recorded separately in a studio. The essence of stereophonic sound reproduction happens in three elements, the source, the amplification and the

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independent pre amp and power amp blocks. •F loating and Balanced Power Amplifier with MOSFETs. •A ll-stage balanced transmission. •D irect drawing toroidal transformer for complete elimination of signal transmission loss. •E xceptionally low impedance through secure screw connections. •S uperior quality electronic volume control for optimum sound. •D iscretely configured phono amp.

• Total Harmonic Distortion (CD to Sp Out, 20 Hz-20 kHz) 0.025% • Signal-to-Noise Ratio (CD) 103 dB (S: 200 mV) • Input Sensitivity (CD) 200mV/47k ohms • Dimensions (W x H x D) 435 x 180 x 464 mm; 17-1/8” x 7-1/8” x 18-1/4” • Weight 24.6 kg; 54.2 lbs.

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Overview A-S3000 • Rigid Streamlined Construction— provides strict anti-vibration protection, and enables shortest cabling routes. • Large toroidal transformer, solidly mounted with independent threedimensional inner frame. • Comprehensive low impedance design, shortened signal paths and copperplated chassis. • Six mm thick top panel made of nonmagnetic aluminium plate. • Left-right symmetrical design for

• Exquisite, large level meters reflect the dynamics in the music. • Meticulously designed and beautiful in appearance—just like a musical instrument. • Original speaker terminals for high sound quality, as well as beauty and ease of use. • Obsessive, meticulous switch design— elaborate, richly textured, easy-to-use. SPECS • Maximum Power (4 ohms, 1kHz, 0.7% THD, for Europe) 170 W + 170 W • High Dynamic Power/Channel (8/6/4/2 ohms) 120/150/200/300 W • Damping Factor 250 • Frequency Response 5 Hz-100 kHz (+0 dB/-3 dB) • RIAA Equalization Deviation 20 Hz-20 kHz +/-0.5 dB

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I heard tones and nuances I had not experienced before within music I had been listening to for 30 years.

SPECS • Disc Compatibility SA-CD, CD, CD-R/ RW (MP3, WMA) and USB devices

• Output Level 2 +/- 0.3 V (1 kHz, 0 dB) • Signal-to-Noise Ratio 116 dB • Dynamic Range [CD] 100 dB, [Super Audio CD] 110 dB • Harmonic Distortion [CD] 0.002% (1 kHz), [Super Audio CD] 0.002% (1 kHz) • Frequency Response [CD] 2 Hz-20 kHz, [Super Audio CD] 2 Hz-50 kHz (-3 dB) • Dimensions (W x H x D) 435 x 142 x 440 mm; 17-1/8” x 5-5/8” x 17-5/16” • Weight 19.2 kg; 42.3 lbs.

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• Single-stage configuration I/V conversion circuit enables direct analogue output. • Exceptionally high performance 32-bit D/A converter. • Built-in USB DAC functions. • ASIO 2.3 Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver. • Pure Direct Mode further enhances the quality of analogue sound.

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Overview - CD-S3000 • Optimised High-precision Rigid CD Mechanism with heavy anchors improves vibration control and achieves precise signal reading. • High rigidity aluminium CD tray. • High rigidity main chassis improves anti-vibration properties and left-right symmetrical construction. • Independent configuration of digital and analogue circuits. • Digital/analogue boards with integrated power supply circuits.

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of denmark Chris Buchanan shares a Bang & Olufsen experience in the lead up to the company’s most innovative loudspeaker, celebrating 90 years of excellence.

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y first encounter with Bang & Olufsen is etched in an ever fading memory of a glorious childhood on the smallholding of family friends who were well cashed up. They had the tennis court, swimming pool, drove a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and played their favourite tunes – Nina and Frederik – through a piece of Hi-Fi I was in love with. ‘Listen to the Ocean’ sounded so sweet on a Beosystem 1200 that was out of science fiction with its linear black and white dials, controlled with glass sliders. The tangential tracking of the Beogram 4000 turntable had me mesmerised for hours.

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I was 35 before I owned my first B&O, a BeoSound 9000 CD player which I mounted on the wall and which pushed out such good quality sound for such a small piece of kit. Seventy years before the launch of the BeoSound 9000, Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen began building radios in the garage of Olufsen’s family estate in Denmark and from the word go, design and technical innovation are what made this brand stand out from the rest. The who’s who of Scandinavian and international design have penned the beautiful objects that have borne the B&O name and 90 years later, to celebrate the nine decades, the BeoLab 90 loudspeaker is no exception. The Frackenpohl Poulheim design studio created the visual dramatics that house Bang & Olufsen’s new Active Room Compensation technology, which makes up for the impact of your room, your furniture, placement of the loudspeakers and the location of the listening position. With BeoLab 5, Bang & Olufsen introduced its first room compensation called Automatic Bass Calibration, which

by means of a microphone, measured the effects of the room’s acoustical behaviour and created a filter in the low frequencies to compensate for the room’s effect. With BeoLab 90, the Active Room Compensation takes this to a new level as it works up in the midrange area as well. Using an external microphone, you can measure the effects of your room’s acoustical behaviour in different positions in the room and select different compensation filters for different locations. Therefore, instead of compensating for the entire space of the room, you can make specific room compensation preset for a specific listening area. These solid aluminium, oak wood and fabric speakers weigh in at 137kg each and stand 1.2m high integrating into the design of the room and continuing the ethos of HiFi to fall in love with. The BeoLab 90 loudspeakers are likely to mesmerise any young mind that comes across them and hopefully instil a lingering memory of great sound and great design.

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Love all, trust few,

do wrong to none William Shakespeare’s words ring true in these strange times.

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have been doing a lot of soul searching recently in light of recent events. We are living in weird times. Times where what we believe and understand is blurred by the pervasiveness of information. Times where we sometimes blindly trust that because we “Google it”, it must be true. More important though, is that we are generally trusting our instincts less. Clouded by the need for “facts” coupled with the instant gratification of an on-line culture with information immediately at our disposal, we are becoming increasingly incapable of making conscious decisions that are balanced, fair and objective. That being said, I’m not proposing that we do not seek out the facts, all I am saying is that we are making choices that may not always be the correct ones. With that context I want to relate a personal experience. Recently, I assisted in the funding and incubation of a new company where we were approached by some young businessmen seeking capital for implementing a new technology to innovate and improve yields in a production process. After some research and due diligence, we raised the funding and the business got off the ground. Over a few months, despite these guys and the suppliers being paid, there was always a need for more funding yet the deliverables were not being met by suppliers. Eventually, when we performed a detailed review and investigation and much to-ing and fro-ing from the parties, we established that through collusion between these young fellows, their suppliers and some of the client’s staff, they were manipulating invoicing and performance of the company to the detriment of the company. During the six months of operations, all we had received at head office was a rosy picture until these delinquent directors pledged their “good intentions” and their commitment yet instead, were planning to defraud the company or

its destruction in favour of stealing the contracts with the clients of the company. Now the reason why I am explaining this story is the following: The legislation provides clear direction around fiduciary responsibilities of directors which have been clearly breached by these parties to the extent of criminal charges being laid. We have alerted the necessary authorities and provided the necessary information to substantiate these charges, and it is likely that these parties will face prison terms. Yet, in their dealings around this matter, despite them being aware of such, has been pure arrogance and further deceit. So a lesson needs to be taught and will. It’s a pity that this lesson will probably involve jail time. My close friend and mentor, Dr John Demartini, has always impressed on me that loyalty per se only exists when goals are aligned. Obviously the lesson in this is that we had misread these parties loyalty to a common objective instead of their personal self-gain. What was also evident is that the trust we had in these parties was misplaced in that they had abused it and taken advantage of it. In my quiet unassuming demeanour, trust is confused by some to be weakness. Paolo Coelho’s teachings are that when one draw’s a sword, one should not put it back in its sheath without blood. It’s important that credibility is built so that when someone steps over a line that infringes on your values or your concept of right and wrong, that you take action decisively and promptly. There have been a few times when people have crossed me, lied to me or deceived me to take advantage of my kindness and compassion, which I will always have. This time around, though, the sword is drawn, and blood is about to be spilt as lessons need to be taught – out of love, for the lesson is there for everyone, including myself. For me the lessons are to trust my gut more by supplementing the facts with intuition. Vivien Natasen

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Earrings by Dominic Jones

Mila Kunis wears Zambian emeralds from Gemfields, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading producer of ethically-sourced coloured gemstones. Beauty, set in stone. www.gemfields.co.uk +27 (0)21 794 2488

I N C I N EMAS

JAMES BOND’S CHOICE