FNB’S TOP 10 SAUVIGNON BLANC COMPETITION DELIVERS
CONSISTENCY AND CLASS
The winners of the 2013 FNB Top 10
Sauvignon Blanc competition were revealed on Friday, 27th September, at
Blaauwklippen Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. Held under the auspices of the
Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group of South Africa (SBIG) with sponsorship provided
by FNB, this year's competition attracted a record number of 207 entries (compared with 195
in 2012)
The Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 competition was started in
2007 to promote innovation and excellence in the category, and reward those
endeavouring to make wines of true distinction.
Welcomed by music; the musicians were soon
overwhelmed by chatter of arriving guests
Caprese canapés seem to be the fashion
this year. Another way of serving them
Gary Jordan with the serving team, who gave
us glasses of Bramon MCC from the Southern Cape, which is made from Sauvignon Blanc
Mini onion tarts filled with lovely sweet
caramelised onions
Organiser of this prestigious annual
award, Pieter de Waal, Secretary of the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group
A very large group of winemakers,
retailers and media awaits the announcements
We could vote for our own favourites by
placing stickers on the card, over the names of the wines we liked most, and then
submitting the card for a prize – an iPad. It
did not affect the real voting, which had been done previously by the judges, but
it did involve everyone in a very enjoyable way
Stephan Claassen of FNB tells us about their involvement and
sponsorship
The spicy and Herbaceious category
consisted of five wines : Alexanderfontein
Chip off the Old Block 2013 – Winner Top 10; Cape Point Vineyards Woolworths
2012 – Winner Top 10; Jordan 2013;
Ormonde 2012; Virgin Earth The Pepper Tree 2013
and was paired with Spiced Seared Tuna
loin with a fried kataifi wrapped prawn on a
lime aioli
This was the dish to go with the four
Flinty and Mineral wines: Cape Point
Vineyards Reserve 2012 – Winner Top
10; Cedarberg 2012; Hillcrest 2013; Thelema
2013 – Winner Top 10;. Served with Grilled baby aubergine with babaganoush,
salmon trout mousse and fennel pesto. It
badly needed bread, as aubergine on its own can be slightly slimy. Good flavours with the wines though.
This hefty slice of smoked Norwegian
Salmon with blackcurrant polenta and rosewater scented honey dressing (why?)
was paired with the Lime, Green Melon and Grapefruit style wines: Cape of Good Hope Altima 2013 – Winner Top 10; Graham Beck Pheasants’
Run 2012; Nederburg Private Bin D234
2012 – Winner Top 10; Thelema Sutherland 2012 and the one Blackcurrant leaf, Elderberry and oak influence wine, Vrede
and Lust Casey’s Ridge 2012
Pieter de Waal chatting to the media
about the wines
Martin Moore, Cellarmaster at Durbanville Hills and
Director of Distell Wines
The dish to match the Tropical and Yellow
fruit style of Sauvignon was a very moist Chicken Ballotine with a melon salad
and an orange blossom cream cheese. The Ballotine was stuffed with Quinoa, pinenuts, herbs and fruit. Wines were: Boschendal Reserve Collection 2013 – Winner
Top 10; Durbanville Hills
Rhinofields 2012; Franschhoek Cellar
Statue de Femme 2013 – Winner Top
10; Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 20120 – Winner Top 10; Phizante Kraal 2013 –
Winner Top 10; Sumaridge 2013
Charl Sandenbergh presented the awards
Journalist Christian Eedes, who was one of
the Judges.
Pieter de Waal presents the award to the
winning member of the audience whose preference was closest to the actual
winners.
The ten 2013 FNB Top 10 Sauvignon
Blanc competition winners: Alexanderfontein
Chip Off The Old Block 2013, Boschendal Reserve Collection 2013, Cape
of Good Hope Altima 2013, Cape Point Vineyards Reserve 2012, Cape
Point Vineyards Woolworths 2012, Franschhoek Cellar Statue de Femme 2013, Kleine
Zalze Family Reserve 2012, Nederburg Private Bin D234 2012, Phizante
Kraal 2013, Thelema 2013
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013
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