Every year, after the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Competition, comes the Trophy Wine Show, which is held in Cape Town and Johannesburg and, at last, we had a chance to taste some of the Silver, Gold and, especially, the Trophy winners, and see why the Trophy wines won their classes
Of course it is not possible to taste all of the wines. We do try to get around to taste the Trophy wines and there were some really outstanding wines this year, as expected, as the bar has been pushed high. Mulderbosch won three trophies: The Harold Eedes Trophy for Best Chenin Blanc, Old Mutual International Judges’ Trophy and Old Mutual Trophy for Best White Wine Overall with Mulderbosch Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc Block A 2017. And wow, this wine is spectacular. Perfumed with integrated apple & citrus fruit, with lees character from its natural fermentation in old barriques, some salty minerality on the end
Wade Roger-Lund, Young Winemaker of the Year 2017, and his colleague Dennis showed the Jordan Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2018, which won the Miele Trophy for Best Chardonnay. Already a 5 Star in Platter, this wooded Chardonnay charms and shows how judicious use of oak can enhance and enrich a good Chardonnay without ever overwhelming the good citrus fruit. Fermented 'sur lie' for 9 months
Jeremy Borg of Painted Wolf Wines with their three trophies: Old Mutual Trophy for Most Successful Producer Overall, for his many medals. But, almost more importantly, he won both the Trophy for Best Niche White Variety with Painted Wolf Roussanne 2018 and the Trophy for Best Niche Red Variety with his Painted Wolf Black Pack Mourvèdre 2017
Viticulturist Marco Ventrella and his colleagues were on the KWV stand with their two: Trophy for Best Museum Class Semillon, awarded to KWV The Mentors Semillon 2012 and the Trophy for Best Museum Class Fortified Wine, KWV Ruby Port 1949
They also won a Gold for KWV The Mentors Semillon 2015 (from Darling grapes). This was a classic Semillon, crisp with a dusty nose, beautiful on the palate. The Mentors Semillon 2012 was racy and full of life. Sadly the 1949 Port had all gone by the time we got to the table, but the vestige of wine left in the bottle smelled amazing
They won the most fragile trophy, the Riedel Trophy for Best Bordeaux-Style Red Blend, Leopard's Leap Culinaria Collection Grand Vin 2017. The Trophy is a large Riedel wine glass which has the capacity for a whole bottle of wine. The Grand Vin 2017 is spicy and fruity, a beautiful wine with such depth and maturity that tastes as though it might have been from the 2007 vintage. Definitely the red wine of the night. And many in the room agreed. It is our Wine of the Week
More fun on the Mulderbosch stand with their three trophies. Harold Eedes Trophy for Best Chenin Blanc, Old Mutual International Judges’ Trophy and Old Mutual Trophy for Best White Wine Overall, Mulderbosch Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc Block A 2017
And D'Aria won the Trophy for Best Museum Class Sauvignon Blanc D'Aria The Songbird Sauvignon Blanc 2014. We learned something from this wine. We need to keep D'Aria Sauvignons Blanc for a few years in the cellar. Wow, this was impressive. We confess we do find their current vintages rather too fresh for us; now we have the solution
Ghost Corner deservedly won the Nestlé Pure Life Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2018. It is so good to see a Sauvignon Blanc of this depth and quality come to the fore. It is a classic green and herbal, quite intense, layered Sauvignon, with not a hint of any tropical flavours, and a benchmark for its terroir. The style we Sauvignonophiles absolutely love to drink and buy. Well done David Nieuwoudt. Perhaps this will start a trend back to how Sauvignon should be. And those who prefer more tropical flavours can start to drink more South African Chenin Blanc, which is also fantastic.
There were many other superb wines to taste but, sadly, they were beyond our capacity. The evening as always, was very social; we do enjoy meeting MENU readers. This is definitely one of the best wine shows of the year; there is quality and variety to taste and admire
If you want to see this year’s results, Click on this link: https://www.trophywineshow.co.za/2019-results/
Keelyn Gibbons was at their stand to show the wines
Nederburg won the Old Mutual Trophy for Best Dessert Wine (Unfortified), Nederburg The Winemasters Noble Late Harvest 2018
Having fun with Martelize Brink of the SABC’s Radio Sonder Grense on the Leopards Leap Table
Reino Kruger of Stellenview was awarded the American Express Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon
and the Old Mutual Trophy for Best Red Wine Overall for the Kruger Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Sean Griffiths having fun with Michelle Stewart and Caroline van Schalkwyk
Delaire Graff are very happy about their award, the Tony Mossop Trophy for Best Cape Port,
the Delaire Graff Cape Vintage 2017 which was shown by Maggie Marais
All content © John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus
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