YOU COULD be forgiven for wondering whether Perold Tributum’s success at the Pinotage Association’s Perold Absa Cape Blend competition was stage-managed, engineered… However, the KWV flagship has also got the nod at Veritas, the International Wine & Spirit Competition and International Wine Challenge, the Decanter World Wine Awards, etc, etc. So nothing untoward!

The producers’ association holds the view that a Cape Blend should include a minimum of 30% Pinotage in the mix (70% max), and the panel who chose the winners at the 2015 Perold taste-off comprised the following judges: Neil Ellis (convenor), cellarmasters Kevin Arnold (Waterford), André van Rensburg (Vergelegen) and Karl Lambour (Grande Provence), and Cape Wine Master Christine Rudman.

2015 PEROLD CAPE BLEND WINNERS

Idiom Cape Blend 2012 (Da Capo, Bottega)
KWV Abraham Perold Tributum 2013
La Cave Cape Blend 2013 (Wellington Wines)
LB Cape Cuvée 2014 (Anura)
Welbedacht Hat Trick 2007

ALSO FINALISTS IN THE COMPETITION

Cloof Inkspot Vin Noir 2011
Kaapzicht Steytler Vision 2012
Namaqua Pinotage Malbec 2014
Painted Wolf Peloton Rouge 2011
Pulpit Rock Louisa Reserve 2012
Rebus Cape Cuvée 2011 (Romond)

TOP 5 CAPE BLENDS – PAST THREE YEARS

Beyerskloof Faith
Flagstone Dragon Tree
KWV Abraham Perold Tributum
LB Cape Cuvée (Anura)
Wildekrans Barrel Select Cape Blend

TOP 5 CAPE BLENDS – PAST 10 YEARS

Beyerskloof Faith
Kaapzicht Steytler Vision
KWV Abraham Perold Tributum
Simonsig Frans Malan Cape Blend
Windmeul Reserve Cape Blend

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