Unbelievably good: Boplaas dominates SA Port Challenge
| Calitzdorp might be the ‘Port Capital’ of South Africa, but it’s not the only place in the country where they know how to do it Portuguese style |
THE JUDGING PANEL was sound and the competition has a good track record, but the announcement of the Cape Port Producers’ Association’s 2013 Challenge results prompted as many questions as it provided answers. On the face of it, either many of the renowned port-wine makers are losing the plot, know when they are out-gunned, preferred to avoid a showdown and live to fight another day… or they know something we don’t and chose to boycott the Challenge?!
Boplaas – winner of more than 50% of the gold medals awarded this year – is without doubt one of South Africa’s top producers of port-style wines, but it’s not the only one. Yes, there are some producers such as JP Bredell who’ve been having troubled times, but where was KWV, Overgaauw, Muratie, Axe Hill, Monis, Bergsig? One could go on… It’s not clear whether any of these producers participated in or steered clear of the CAPPA event this year? We’re wondering how many entries there were in total… And on top of this it has been impossible to locate the association’s new website – the address of www.cappa.co.za having been announced by Boplaas, doubling as the public relations office for the association!
Perhaps all will soon be explained. Maybe there’s nothing at all mysterious or untoward about what went down. In the meantime:
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2010 – Reserve Champion
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2003 (Museum Class)
Boplaas Cape Tawny 1995
Boplaas Cape Tawny 1994 (Museum Class)
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2009
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2008
De Krans Cape Vintage 2003 (Museum Class)
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2002 (Museum Class)
Groot Constantia Cape Ruby 2011
Landskroon Cape Vintage 2010
TTT Cellar Cape Vintage 2010
Remenber the ABSA Calitzdorp Port & Wine Festival this long weekend (14 – 17 June) http://www.portwinefestival.co.za
Dear Mike
The total entries were 63 (about the same as last year). 24 Cellars entered, Overgaauw, Axe Hill, Muratie, Vergenoegd all entered.
KWV was last years winner and are probally still selling their Tawny. An overall winner cannot be entered again. Bergsig also had a previous winner in the LBV class. JP Bredell did not enter and did not produce a port in 2013.
“We Produce wold class Port” – Dave Hughes Panel Chairman.
The awards funtion was held at Muratie and we would be very happy for you to attend next years function.