Morgenster, Nederburg and Stellenrust lead SA charge at Six Nations
SA WINERIES excelled at the 2018 Six Nations Wine Challenge in Sydney, Australia, with Stellenbosch, Somerset West and Paarl producers winning trophies in the company of top cellars representing six New World countries: Australia, New Zealand, Chile, the USA, Canada and South Africa. A Stellenrust Chenin triumphed in the category for non-aromatic whites and Morgenster came top among the Bordeaux-style red blends, with Nederburg declared champions in the dessert wine class with a Noble Late produced exclusively for sale at the annual Nederburg Auction. New Zealand was the overall winner, with Sacred Hill Riflemans Chardonnay 2016 judged to be best wine on show.
The Challenge involves six renowned wine critics from each of the competing nations nominating 100 leading wines of their countries whose producers are then invited to send in samples. South Africa’s entries were nominated by Michael Fridjhon, the panel chair, whose fellow judges included Bob Campbell MW of New Zealand, Christopher Waters of Canada, Eduardo Brethauer of Chile, Huon Hooke of Australia and Patrick Comiskey of the USA. For more info about the competition and the full results, see here.
SA TROPHY WINNERS AT SIX NATIONS
Morgenster Estate Reserve 2014 (Bordeaux-Style Red Blend)
Nederburg Private Bin S316 Weisser Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2004
Stellenrust Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2016
SA RUNNERS-UP AT SIX NATIONS
Eikendal Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Uva Mira O.T.V. 2015 (Bordeaux-Style Red Blend)
Warwick Professor Black 2017 (Sauvignon Blanc Semillon)
ALSO DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Delaire Graff Swartland Reserve Chenin Blanc 2016
Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2012 (MCC)
Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Nederburg Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel 2012
Paul Wallace Black Dog Malbec 2015
Perdeberg Dry Land Collection Courageous Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2016
Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2016
Survivor Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (Overhex)
Tokara Directors Reserve 2014 (Red Blend)
Uva Mira The Dance Cabernet Franc 2015
Vilafonte Series C 2015 (Red Blend)
SA GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Backsberg Family Reserve 2017 (White Blend)
Boschendal Jean Le Long Blanc de Blancs 2008 (MCC)
Bouchard Finlayson Tête de Cuvée Pinot Noir 2013
Cederberg Shiraz 2016
De Krans Tritonia 2016 (Red Blend)
Eikendal Charisma 2016 (Red Blend)
Glenelley Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2016
Laborie Blanc de Blancs Cap Classique 2011 (KWV)
Meerlust Rubicon 2015 (Red Blend)
Nederburg Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Chardonnay 2017
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir 2017
Paul Cluver Riesling 2017
Paul Cluver Seven Flags Chardonnay 2017
Raats Family Cabernet Franc 2015
Rustenberg Peter Barlow Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Saronsberg Full Circle 2016 (Red Blend)
Shannon Mount Bullet 2015 (Merlot)
Vondeling Babiana 2017 (White Blend)
Warwick Cabernet Franc 2015
Ouch! The Pinotage winners at Six Nations 2018 were the 2015 Reserve from The View Winery in Canada (double gold medal) and Muddy Water 2016 from New Zealand (gold medal). South Africa’s entries in this category, ‘born’ in the Cape winelands, included De Grendel Amandelboord Pinotage 2015 and Kanonkop Pinotage 2015 which were grouped among the ‘Judges Selection’ (silver).