The excitement of following a wine competition through to the end, is tasting the winning wines
and discovering what the judges found in them
This is especially true if foreign judges of the calibre of Jancis Robinson MW, Anne Krebiehl MW and Benjamin Roffet
have been invited to come here to sample excellent South African Wines with their wider world wine industry experience
Not forgetting that the panel of expertly trained local judges is very experienced and well respected
The Trophy Wine Show had its public tasting this week at the CTICC in Cape Town
and our mission was to taste the top Trophy winning wines, and hopefully a few more
Lynne with Alex Mason Gordon of Outsorceress Marketing, ready for the off...
A warm welcome and a tasting glass
Lots of tables, lots of industry friends and it would fill up a lot as the evening wore on
KWV's Laborie Blanc de Blanc Cap Classique 2017 from KWV was a great way to begin
They won the Sowetan Trophy for Best Cap Classique
This has always been one of our favourite Blanc de Blancs
Very generous on the nose with some welcome maturity and lovely lime and citrus
On the palate dry, crisp and zingy, with lime and citrus notes and a fine bright mousse, delicious
Bev Murray of Strandveld Vineyards with Survivor cellarmaster Pierre Wahl
who makes the wines at Overhex near Worcester, sourcing the grapes from the best vineyards he can find
Survivor won the Miele Trophy for Best Chardonnay
and, impressively, the Investec Trophy for Best White Wine Overall: Survivor Cellar Master Series Chardonnay 2022
It's a great Chardonnay, yeasty on the nose with apple blossom, apple and citrus notes and a classic on the palate,
mouth filling with crisp lemon lime vibrant acidity and a hint of minerality
The oak appears as gentle supporting nutty flavours
Charles Lourens and Hagen Viljoen, Zevenwacht winemakers
Zevenwacht swept the board as the most successful winners
by winning the Investec Trophy for Most Successful Producer Overall
The Zevenwacht Z Collection Chenin Blanc 2022 won two trophies:
Rosa Kruger Trophy for Best Old Vine Wine and the Harold Eedes Trophy for Best Chenin Blanc
The Zevenwacht Z Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (Wooded) won the Sunday Times Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc
The Chenin is initially rather shy on the nose, some herbal notess on the palate,
good minerality and lovely perfumed fruit follow through
The Sauvignon Blanc has an enticing green nose which follows through to the palate, with some initial sweetness,
a touch of semillon adds roundness, long crisp flavours with grapefruit, granadilla and lemon follow and remain
Their Chardonnay 2021 which won a Silver medal impressed us and is very French in style,
on both the nose and the palate, crisp layered lemon lime with golden wood just supporting
Thato Montse with her Makoti wine and wonderful traditional decoration
She won a silver medal for her Makoti Premium Red Bland 2020
Jan Booysen with Paul Cluver wines and Wim Braak of Peter Falke
Paul Cluver Estate Pinot noir, always excellent, won a Silver medal and so did the Peter Falke Kailani 2018
Another of the wines we really enjoy; it goes so well with food,
the Muratie Laurens Campher White Blend 2021 which won a silver
Michael Langenhoven of Mont Rochelle got a silver medal for their 2022 Sauvignon Blanc
Leopards Leap earned a silver medal for their Culinaria 2022 Chenin Blanc
There is always one wine at a show that people are talking about and saying "you have to go and taste!"
This was the Canto Methode Cap Classique Brut 2020
It has a hint of age on the lees, with perfume of lime lemon and a whiff of smoke
Zingy crisp and exciting on entry, with a bite of acidity, it's a citrus bomb, so elegant and calls for food
They won a gold medal
Shelley Sandell won a silver for her excellent Tierhoek Straw Wine
Bloemendal won three trophies:
Trophy for Best Museum Class Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Blend
Trophy for Best Museum Class Wine Overall
Bloemendal Kanonberg 2017
Trophy for Best Museum Class Semillon
Bloemendal Semillon 2016
Chris Albrecht of Bouchard Finlayson won the Investec Trophy for Best Niche Red Blend
for his Bouchard Finlayson Hannibal 2020 (Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Barbera)
Another wine much talked about and enjoyed. It has violets and roses and beautiful red fruit on the nose, it is enticing
So smooth on the palate, with raspberry, cherry fruit, then some grip of good tannins
It calls for food and is quite a sexy wine
Brookdale Bradburne, a blend of Chenin blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne and Picpoul won a silver medal
Durbanville Hills Cape Mist Sauvignon blanc, 10 months on lees, rich and full - the talent of Martin Moore
It won a gold medal
The Sauvignon Blanc 2022 won a silver medal
Rustenberg won silver medals for both their wines:
The Stellenbosch 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon and the Peter Barlow 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon
Cape Point Isliedh 2012 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon won a silver medal
Man Vintners won a Gold for their Free Run Steen Chenin Blanc 2022
and two trophies for MAN Family Wines Essay Syrah Cinsault & Grenache & Mourvèdre 2021
the Investec Trophy for Best Rhône-Style Red Blend
and the Investec Trophy for Discovery of the Show – Best Value Gold Medallist
We found the Essay Red blend juicy and exciting
The Investec Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon went to Neil Ellis Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Du Toits Kloof won a silver for their 2020 Land's End Cape Agulhas Syrah, for which they have won many other awards.
Thea van der Merwe with Jordan Cobbler's Hill Red Blend which won a Gold Medal
Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate won a gold for their Estate Chardonnay 2022
Joris van Almenkerk and Natalie Opstaele of Almenkerk won a silver medal for their 2021 Chardonnay
