Tokara, Leeuwenkuil and DeMorgenzon ‘top guns’ at Trophy Wine Show

THE 2017 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show celebrates the achievements of producers from Constantia to the Northern Cape and properties that have been part of the Cape wine landscape for centuries as well as those where winemaking only began within the past 10 years. Winner of the trophy for Most Successful Producer: Tokara of Helshoogte, on the slopes of the Simonsberg in Stellenbosch. Winner of the trophy for Best Red Wine Overall: Leeuwenkuil Heritage Syrah 2014, WO Swartland. Winner of the trophy for Best White Wine Overall: DeMorgenzon Reserve Chardonnay 2016, from Stellenbosch Kloof. Top cellars, vineyards with proven credentials.

However show chairman Michael Fridjhon highlighted the fact that the Cabernet Sauvignon and Blended Red trophy winners, most notably, are from areas previously not considered high-quality wine-producing areas: Landzicht Winemaker’s Reserve Cab 2015, from a cellar in the Northern Cape; and De Krans Tritonia 2015, a blend comprising Portuguese varieties, WO Calitzdorp in the Klein Karoo.

Tokara’s overall triumph after four days of judging at the Grande Roche Hotel in Paarl was secured with a trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc Semillon blend, won with the Director’s Reserve White 2015, a gold medal for the 2015 Reserve Collection Stellenbosch Chardonnay and three bronze medals. Buitenverwachting of Constantia was almost as impressive, winning the trophy for Best Bordeaux-style Red Blend with their Meifort 2014, the trophy for Best Dessert Wine with the 2014 vintage of their ‘1769’ Muscat de Frontignan (unfortified) as well as a number of bronze medals.

No surprise when it came to announcing the trophy winner for best Port-style wine: Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2015. Although less familiar among the champions are Paul Wallace of Elgin for the Brave Heart Pinot Noir 2015, and Cavalli of Stellenbosch with their white blend Cremello 2015. Best Pinotage on show: Bosman Family Vineyards 2014 from Wellington. Best Chenin Blanc on show: Darling Cellars Old Bush Vines 2016. And Discovery of the Show – trophy for best value gold medallist – was an Ultra Liquors exclusive, the red blend Secret Cellar No. 702 of 2015 that was selling for under R40 a bottle!

Full results available here. There were 960 wines on the tasting benches representing 198 producers. The judging panel members included Neil Beckett of the UK, editor of The World of Fine Wine, sommelier Heidi Mäkinen of Finland and wine writer Eduardo Brethauer of Santiago in Chile, with the South African contingent comprising Blaauwklippen winemaker Narina Cloete, Cape Wine Master Heidi Duminy, Christian Eedes of Winemag.co.za, Durban-based wine educator Nkulu Mkhwanazi, James Pietersen of the Wine Cellar merchants and cellarers and Francois Rautenbach of Singita Premier Wine Direct.

TROPHY WINNERS AT 2017 TROPHY WINE SHOW

Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2015 (Port)
Bosman Family Vineyards Pinotage 2014
Buitenverwachting ‘1769’ 2014 (Dessert)
Buitenverwachting Meifort 2014 (Red Blend)
Cavalli Cremello 2015 (White Blend)
Constantia Uitsig Brut 2013 (MCC)
Credo Verdelho 2015 (Stellenbosch Vineyards)
Darling Cellars Old Bush Vines Chenin Blanc 2016
De Krans Tritonia 2015 (Red Blend)
Deetlefs Familie White 2014 (Semillon)
DeMorgenzon Reserve Chardonnay 2016
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2012 (Museum Class)
Landzicht Winemaker’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Leeuwenkuil Heritage Syrah 2014
Nederburg Edelkeur Chenin Noble Late Harvest 2009 (Museum Class)
Paul Wallace Brave Heart Pinot Noir 2015
Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay 2009 (Museum Class)
Secret Cellar Merlot Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon No. 702 2015 (Ultra)
Stark-Condé Round Mountain Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2015

ALSO GOLD MEDAL WINNERS AT THE SHOW

Allée Bleue Pinotage 2015
Asara Vineyard Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Boschendal Jean Le Long Blanc de Blanc 2007 (MCC)
Cilmor Chenin Blanc 2015
Delaire Graff Terraced Block Chardonnay Reserve 2015
Fable Mountain Vineyards Syrah 2014
Hartenberg The Eleanor Chardonnay 2012 (Museum Class)
Jordan Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2013 (Museum Class)
Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay 2013 (Museum Class)
Kings Kloof Sauvignon Blanc 2016
La Motte Pierneef Syrah Viognier 2015
Marianne Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Mulderbosch 1000 Miles Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Mulderbosch Faithful Hound White 2015
Nederburg Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel 2007 (MC)
Painted Wolf ‘Guillermo’ Swartland Pinotage 2013
Paul Cluver Seven Flags Pinot Noir 2015
Peter Falke PF Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2015
Uitkyk Chenin Blanc 2015
Zevenwacht Sauvignon Blanc 2016

A countrywide roadshow commenced after the competition results were announced, with public tastings of the trophy, gold and silver medal winners scheduled to take place in Cape Town and Johannesburg – details here.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Want to have your say?