Two trophies for Neil Ellis Pinotage at 21st edition of Absa Top 10

THE 2017 ABSA Top 10 Pinotage competition culminated with the presentation of trophies to winning wine producers at Cavalli estate outside Somerset West. The event commemorated 21 years of the Pinotage Association’s competition that contributes to setting benchmarks as regards South Africa’s most successful ‘indigenous’ variety. There were 147 entries and the laureates were applauded as fine ambassadors of Wine SA, all judged to be masterful expressions of the Pinot Noir Hermitage/Cinsaut cross that dates back to the previous century and almost all from wineries that have triumphed on numerous occasions in the past.

2017 ABSA TOP 10 WINNERS

Delheim Pinotage 2012
WO Stellenbosch, Winemaker Reg Holder
Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Pinotage Reserve 2015
WO Wellington, Winemaker Francois Roode
Flagstone Writer’s Block Single Vineyard Pinotage 2015
Somerset West Cellar, WO Breedekloof, Winemaker Gerhard Swart
Kanonkop Pinotage 2012
WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Winemaker Abrie Beeslaar
La Cave Pinotage 2016
Wellington Wines, Winemakers Francois van Niekerk & Chris Smit
Lanzerac Pionier Pinotage 2014
WO Jonkershoek Valley in Stellenbosch, Winemaker Wynand Lategan
MKM 2015
From Môreson Cellar in Franschhoek, WO Stellenbosch, Winemaker Clayton Reabow
Neil Ellis Bottelary Hills Pinotage 2015
WO Stellenbosch, Winemaker Warren Ellis
Stellenbosch Vineyards Bushvine Pinotage 2015
WO Stellenbosch, Winemaker Abraham de Villiers
Windmeul Pinotage Reserve 2015
WO Paarl/Coastal, Winemaker Abraham van Heerden

THE RUNNERS-UP

Beyerskloof Pinotage Reserve 2015
WO Stellenbosch, Winemaker Anri Truter
Bon Courage Pinotage 2015
WO Robertson, Winemakers Jacques Bruwer & Philip Viljoen
Delheim Vera Cruz Pinotage 2014
WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Winemaker Altus Treurnicht
La Cave Pinotage 2015
Wellington Wines, Winemakers Francois van Niekerk & Chris Smit
Lanzerac Pionier Pinotage 2015
WO Jonkershoek Valley in Stellenbosch, Winemaker Wynand Lategan
Marianne Pinotage 2015
WO Simonsberg-Paarl, Winemaker Francois Haasbrook
Môreson The Widow Maker Pinotage 2015
Franschhoek Cellar, WO Stellenbosch, Winemaker Clayton Reabow
Neethlingshof The Owl Post Pinotage 2015
WO Stellenbosch, Winemaker De Wet Viljoen
Neil Ellis Stellenbosch Pinotage 2015
WO Stellenbosch, Winemaker Warren Ellis
Rickety Bridge Pinotage 2015
Franschhoek Cellar, WO Coastal, Winemaker Wynand Grobler
Windmeul Pinotage 2015
WO Paarl/Coastal, Winemaker Abraham van Heerden

PLUS… MUSEUM CLASS LAUREATE

For the first time in the history of the competition, this year producers were invited to also submit entries in a Museum Class specifically for older wines – 10 years and older – to showcase how top Pinotage fulfils the promise of great maturation potential. In this regard, the following were considered to be the top examples on the tasting bench:
TROPHY WINNER
Neil Ellis Jonkershoek Pinotage 2007 – WO Stellenbosch
RUNNERS-UP
Lanzerac Pinotage 1992 – WO Stellenbosch
Neethlingshof Pinotage 1999 – WO Stellenbosch
Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage 2007 – WO Tulbagh

The judges: panel chair Neil Ellis (proprietor of Neil Ellis Wines), wine educator and consultant Nomonde Kubheka, winemaker Corlea Fourie of Bosman Family Vineyards, Francois Rautenbach of Singita Premier Wine Direct, viticulturist Stephan Joubert of Douglas Green Bellingham (DGB).

For more info about the competition and/or the Pinotage Association, see here.

 

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