EU awards focus the spotlight on Spier, Nederburg, Cirrus…
ANNOUNCED in quick succession, the results of the 2012 Decanter World Wine Awards and International Wine Challenge in London offered tips aplenty – albeit with few surprises in the gold medal stakes when it came to South Africa’s top-performing cellars. Among the attention grabbers on both stages were the 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2010 from Spier, who have done so well over the years with this variety under their Private Collection label. Nederburg excelled again with their sweet wines, but also with their Manor House Shiraz Mourvedre 2010 at the Decanter Awards.
Chamonix Reserve Pinot Noir is becoming a regular on the competition podia, this time with the 2010 vintage scooping a Decanter trophy, and among the stand-out gold medallists at the IWC this year were delicious white blends from Vergelegen, Tokara and Flagstone, and a Shiraz from Jean Engelbrecht’s Rust en Vrede/Guardian Peak stable – the Cirrus Syrah 2008.
Earlier in the month the same Cirrus won a great gold medal at Concours Mondial in Portugal, where the 2009 vintage also came out on top. And as if to rub it in on the Shiraz front, Engelbrecht’s Rust en Vrede Shiraz 2009 was one of three South African wines to place among the Top 10 at the 2012 Syrah du Monde in the Rhone Valley, France.
GOLD MEDALLISTS, INTERNATIONAL WINE CHALLENGE:
Cirrus Syrah 2008 (Guardian Peak), Flagstone Treaty Tree White 2010, Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2010, Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2006, Lourensford Winemaker’s Selection Chardonnay 2011, Nederburg Eminence 2008, Nederburg Eminence 2009, Nederburg Winemaker’s Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2010, Saronsberg Viognier 2010, Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2010, Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2010, Vergelegen GVB White 2010, Vergelegen MMV 2008. For more info.
Cirrus Syrah 2008 (Guardian Peak), Flagstone Treaty Tree White 2010, Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2010, Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2006, Lourensford Winemaker’s Selection Chardonnay 2011, Nederburg Eminence 2008, Nederburg Eminence 2009, Nederburg Winemaker’s Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2010, Saronsberg Viognier 2010, Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2010, Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2010, Vergelegen GVB White 2010, Vergelegen MMV 2008. For more info.
GOLD MEDALLISTS, DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS:
Trophy winners The Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage 2010 (Bellingham), Chamonix Reserve Pinot Noir Reserve 2010, Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (Bergkelder), Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay 2010, Nederburg Manor House Shiraz Mourvedre 2010, Nederburg Edelkeur 2008, Nederburg Winemaker’s Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2010, Spice Route Chakalaka 2009, Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2010, Villiera Monro Brut 2007; and other gold medal winners Almenkerk Chardonnay 2011, Bouchard Finlayson Limited Edition Kaaimansgat Chardonnay 2010, Circle of Life 2010 (Waterkloof), Cirrus Syrah 2009 (Guardian Peak), Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Pinotage 2010, Eikendal Merlot 2009, Ernie Els Merlot 2010, Ernie Els Proprietor’s Syrah 2010, Kasteelberg Shiraz 2010 (Riebeek Cellars), KWV Cathedral Cellar Chenin Blanc 2011, KWV The Mentors Orchestra 2010, Paul Cluver Chardonnay 2010, Saronsberg Provenence Shiraz 2010, Spencer Bay Pinotage 2010 (Namaqua), Zonnebloem A Place in the Sun Shiraz 2011 (Distell). For more info.
Trophy winners The Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage 2010 (Bellingham), Chamonix Reserve Pinot Noir Reserve 2010, Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (Bergkelder), Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay 2010, Nederburg Manor House Shiraz Mourvedre 2010, Nederburg Edelkeur 2008, Nederburg Winemaker’s Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2010, Spice Route Chakalaka 2009, Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2010, Villiera Monro Brut 2007; and other gold medal winners Almenkerk Chardonnay 2011, Bouchard Finlayson Limited Edition Kaaimansgat Chardonnay 2010, Circle of Life 2010 (Waterkloof), Cirrus Syrah 2009 (Guardian Peak), Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Pinotage 2010, Eikendal Merlot 2009, Ernie Els Merlot 2010, Ernie Els Proprietor’s Syrah 2010, Kasteelberg Shiraz 2010 (Riebeek Cellars), KWV Cathedral Cellar Chenin Blanc 2011, KWV The Mentors Orchestra 2010, Paul Cluver Chardonnay 2010, Saronsberg Provenence Shiraz 2010, Spencer Bay Pinotage 2010 (Namaqua), Zonnebloem A Place in the Sun Shiraz 2011 (Distell). For more info.
GOLD MEDALLISTS, SYRAH DU MONDE:
Boschendal Cecil John Reserve Shiraz 2009, Hartenberg The Stork Shiraz 2008 (Top 10), Rust en Vrede Shiraz 2009 (Top 10), Saronsberg Shiraz 2010 (Top 10). For more info.
Boschendal Cecil John Reserve Shiraz 2009, Hartenberg The Stork Shiraz 2008 (Top 10), Rust en Vrede Shiraz 2009 (Top 10), Saronsberg Shiraz 2010 (Top 10). For more info.
GOLD MEDALLISTS, CONCOURS MONDIAL:
Great gold medal winners Cirrus Syrah 2008 (Guardian Peak), Cirrus Syrah 2009, Cloof The Very Sexy Shiraz 2009, Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Naledi Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (Spier); and gold medal winners The Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage 2010 (Bellingham), Boschendal 1685 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Brampton Shiraz 2009, Dieu Donne The Cross Collection Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Douglas Green Chenin Blanc 2011, Driehoek Shiraz 2010 (Du Toit), Eerste Hoop Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Fairview Eenzaamheid Shiraz 2009, Fairview La Beryl Blanc 2011, Fairview Primo Pinotage 2010, Fairview Viognier 2010, Franschhoek Cellar Statue de Femme Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Kaapzicht Steytler Pinotage 2008, Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Shiraz 2009, Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc 2011, La Motte Shiraz 2009, Naledi Merlot 2009 (Spier), Saronsberg Brut 2008, Saronsberg Full Circle 2009, Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2010, Spier Creative Block 3 2009, Spier Creative Block 8 2010, Spier Private Collection Merlot 2009, Spier Private Collection Shiraz 2009, Stellenbosch Ridge 2009 (Rust en Vrede), Thelema Shiraz 2009. For more info.
Great gold medal winners Cirrus Syrah 2008 (Guardian Peak), Cirrus Syrah 2009, Cloof The Very Sexy Shiraz 2009, Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Naledi Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (Spier); and gold medal winners The Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage 2010 (Bellingham), Boschendal 1685 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Brampton Shiraz 2009, Dieu Donne The Cross Collection Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Douglas Green Chenin Blanc 2011, Driehoek Shiraz 2010 (Du Toit), Eerste Hoop Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Fairview Eenzaamheid Shiraz 2009, Fairview La Beryl Blanc 2011, Fairview Primo Pinotage 2010, Fairview Viognier 2010, Franschhoek Cellar Statue de Femme Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Kaapzicht Steytler Pinotage 2008, Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Shiraz 2009, Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc 2011, La Motte Shiraz 2009, Naledi Merlot 2009 (Spier), Saronsberg Brut 2008, Saronsberg Full Circle 2009, Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2010, Spier Creative Block 3 2009, Spier Creative Block 8 2010, Spier Private Collection Merlot 2009, Spier Private Collection Shiraz 2009, Stellenbosch Ridge 2009 (Rust en Vrede), Thelema Shiraz 2009. For more info.
