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
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
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
Tomato concasse on herb cheese on small savoury
biscuits
Good Parma ham with shavings of parmesan cheese
but sadly the crisp toasts were tooth breakingly hard
Tiny pies with a tomato dip
Attie Louw from Opstal, who was awarded 91 points
for his Carl Everson Cape Blend 2014, with a now recovered Roland Peens
© John & Lynne
Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2016