Thursday, August 15, 2019

2019 ABSA Top 10 Pinotage Finalists Blind Tasting

This story was delayed until after the presentation of the Awards, because we were asked not to reveal the finalists' names

We were invited to Meerendal for the 2019 ABSA Top 10 Pinotage Finalists Blind Tasting event. We were invited to review 20 wines that the selection panel had judged to the best 20 Pinotages of the year. We were to taste and decide which wines we thought should be on this year’s Top 10 Pinotage list. These wines would then be judged for the awards by the judging panel…
A very necessary warming cup of coffee or tea on an icy wet morning in Durbanville
and, thankfully, some filled croissants to line the stomach
Pouring the first blind flight 
This is what they mean by a blind tasting - you can't identify the wines as the bottles are covered
I think we are ready to start?
Chatting about the wines are Greg Landman Country Living, Michael Malan, winemaker at Simonsig,
Clayton Reabow, Môreson winemaker, Christian Eedes, Editor of WineMag.co.za and Andre Morgenthal, Old Vines Project
Convener of the tasting was Johan Schwartz, Marketing Manager of the Pinotage Association
Nose deep in glass and lots of contemplation on our side by Mike Bampfield-Duggan of Wine Concepts,
Judy Brower of Wine.co.za and Matthew Copeland, winemaker at Vondeling
Johan Schwartz and Judge Winnie Bowman CWM
Bennie Howard with Lisa Goodwin, Meerendal's winemaker since 1998
The line up of the four flights we tasted. Flight 1
Flight 2
Flight 3
Flight 4
Beyers Truter was also a judge. Did he recognise his own wine?
The lunch menu. The dishes were served in dessert bowls
The koeksisters were crisp and very sweet, as expected, and much enjoyed.
Pancetta and white bean soup was warming, filling and flavourful
And why NOT a Biltong risotto? It worked well, the rice was good and the biltong added the meaty umami flavours
Eland ragu on mash
And now to await the Awards Ceremony and hear which wines are the Top 10
All content ©  John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus

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