Nelson takes top trophy at somewhat surprising Michelangelo Awards

SUCCESS in South Africa’s Cab Franc Challenge, then at the SA Terroir Awards, and now in one of the country’s biggest wine competition… The 2014 vintage of Lisha Nelson Cabernet Franc from the Nelson Estate in Paarl must surely be in short supply after winning big time at the 2017 Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards in Cape Town.

Named after the winemaker and daughter of the proprietor Alan Nelson, the flagship in the Lisha Nelson Signature Range was the most highly rated of the 1633 entries assessed by 28 judges from 23 countries – British Masters of Wine, sommeliers, educators and journalists from Europe, the Far East, the Americas as well as South Africa.

Notable about the 31 trophy and platinum award winners is how few are from Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, with none from the wineries of Elgin or Hemel-en-Aarde… Paarl, Wellington, Robertson and Worcester were the most successful wine-producing districts at the show, and perhaps the most surprising ‘outlier’ among the trophy laureates is a Pinotage made in the Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal:

TROPHY WINNERS

Alvi’s Drift Muscat de Frontignan 2014
Fortified Dessert, Worcester Cellar

Cathedral Peak Pinotage 2015
KZN Cellar (Central Drakensberg)

Celine Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut NV
Cap Classique Sparkling, Nuy Cellar in Worcester

De Grendel Rubaiyat 2013
Bordeaux-Style Red Blend, Panorama Cellar, Durbanville Wine Route

De Wet Cellar Chenin Blanc 2017
Worcester Cellar

Hermanuspietersfontein Swartskaap 2013
Cabernet Franc, Walker Bay Cellar

Lazanou Organic Chenin Blanc Chardonnay Viognier 2017
Wellington Cellar

Lisha Nelson Cabernet Franc 2014
Paarl Cellar

Lourensford Brut 2011
Cap Classique Sparkling, Somerset West Cellar

Nitida Pinot Noir 2015
Durbanville Cellar

Pulpit Rock Louisa Reserve 2013
Cape Blend, Riebeek West Cellar

Renosterbos Cape Vintage 2010
Port, Hofstraat Cellar in Malmesbury

Van Loveren African Java Pinotage 2017
Robertson Cellar

Viljoensdrift River Grandeur Single Vineyard Pinotage 2014
Robertson Cellar

PLATINUM AWARD WINNERS

Anura Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2014
Paarl Cellar

Babylon’s Peak Shiraz Mourvèdre Grenache 2016
Malmesbury Cellar

Bergsig Icarus 2016
White Blend, Breedekloof Cellar

Bon Courage Noble Late Harvest 2016
Unfortified Dessert, Robertson Cellar

Conradie Red Muscadel 2009
Fortified Dessert, Worcester Cellar

Excelsior Evanthius Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Ashton Cellar

Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest 2016
Unfortified Dessert, Bergkelder in Stellenbosch

Groot Constantia Grand Constance 2014
Natural Sweet Dessert

Grundheim Rosyntjiewyn NV
Fortified Dessert, Oudtshoorn Cellar

La Bri Syrah 2014
Franschhoek Cellar

La Cave Chenin Blanc 2016
Wellington Wines

Lanzerac Syrah 2015
Jonkershoek Cellar, Stellenbosch

Nederburg Winemasters Noble Late Harvest 2017
Unfortified Dessert, Paarl Cellar

Niel Joubert The Proprietor Malbec 2014
Simonsberg-Paarl Cellar

Nuy Red Muscadel 2012
Fortified Dessert, Worcester Cellar

Thokozani Shiraz Mourvèdre Viognier 2016
Diemersfontein Cellar in Wellington

Welbedacht Patriot 2014
Bordeaux-Style Red Blend, Wellington Cellar

For the full results and more information about the competition, see here.

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