.: The Laurium Capital Signature Red Blend Report 2016 at Ellerman House

This annual competition now has Laurium Capital as their sponsor and was held this year at Ellerman House. Christian Eedes (winemag.co.za), James Petersen and Roland Peens (Wine cellar) usually judge the red blends entered. This year, Roland was ill and so Accountant Hennie Coetzee was co-opted. There were 16 winners . You can see who won here: http://winemag.co.za/the-laurium-capital-signature-red-blend-report-2016/. There will be public tastings in Cape Town on 17 August at Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront and in Johannesburg on 18 August at Summer Place Hyde Park respectively. Tickets available on line from winemag.co.za

Jacqueline Lahoud is Winemag.co.za 's business manager. 63 entries were received from 46 producers for this year’s competition. 16 wines were rated 90 or higher on the 100-point quality scale. The wines entered are tasted blind and no attention is paid to the blends, something we really like. The best will rise, by taste, to the top

Christian Eedes, editor at winemag.co.za. He said if South African white blends are getting huge recognition and excitement worldwide, why not our red blends?

The interested audience, mostly winning winemakers and media. In the front row, Andre and Rhona Liebenberg of Romond vineyards in Helderberg and Francois Rautenbach from Singita, with Ken Forrester

Louis Strydom of Ernie Els Wines with Izelle van Blerk of the Mentors wines from KWV

Jacqueline introduces the new sponsor, Laurium Capital. Murray Winckler their Portfolio and Investment manager helped present the awards

Two wines scored 94. Tyrell Myburgh's 2014 Bakermat from Joostenberg

The second top wine to score 94 was Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Granum 2014. Both were really excellent

We also really liked the Solms-Delta Hiervandaan 2014 which scored an impressive 92. There were no wines that scored 93 points.

91
Eikendal Charisma 201
Ernie Els Proprietor's Blend 2014
Guardian Peak Summit 2014
Ken Forrester The Gypsy 2012
KWV The Mentors Canvas 2014
Leipzig Master Blend 2015
Nederburg Ingenuity Spanish Blend 2012
Opstal Carl Everson Cape Blend 2014
Orange River Cellars Lyra Vega 2013
Rust en Vrede Estate 2013

90
KWV Cathedral Cellar Triptych 2013
Romond Vineyards Rebus Cape Cuvée 2011
Zonnebloem Shiraz Mouvèdre Viognier 2014

Good canapes were served . All were single bite sized. something we applaud loudly as so many fall apart as you try to bite into their vastness. Small mushroom stuffed choux buns