THE KWV has enjoyed a rather good run in the Absa Perold Cape Blend Competition with five wins for their Abraham Perold Tributum since the first taste-off in 2011 – twice now with the 2014 vintage, having also won with it in 2016, but also with the 2013 (in 2015), the 2011 (in 2013) and the 2010 (in 2012). No other producer has been quite as successful in this event, the name of which, like that of the KWV blend, pays tribute to the man credited with the crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut in 1925 to come up with what was later to be called Pinotage, one of the success stories of the South African wine industry.

Interestingly, while the Pinotage Association has long prescribed that a Cape Blend should comprise at least 30% Pinotage though not more than 70%, from 2019 their competition rules will require that Pinotage should also be the major component. Had this rule already been in force, two of the Top 5 Blends chosen from 51 entries in 2018 would not have been eligible – the KWV wine having more Shiraz than Pinotage and the Lyngrove combo leading with Cabernet.

The judges in 2018: Jacques Roux (marketing director of DGB), Fred Viljoen and Johan Malan (proprietors and cellarmasters at Viljoensdrift in Robertson and Simonsig in Stellenbosch respectively), Susan Erasmus (Laffort), Cape Wine Master Brad Gold (Oak Valley in Elgin) and winemaker Guy Webber (Stellenbosch).

WINNING CAPE BLENDS

KWV Abraham Perold Tributum 2014
WO Coastal: Shiraz,  Pinotage, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon,  Petite Sirah
R425 pb ex-cellar, Paarl

Leipzig Master Blend 2017
WO Western Cape: Pinotage, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
R135 pb ex-cellar, Worcester

Lyngrove Platinum Latitude 2016
WO Stellenbosch: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz
R160 pb ex-cellar in Helderberg, Stellenbosch

Pulpit Rock Louisa Reserve 2014
WO Swartland: Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Petit Verdot
R150 pb ex-cellar, Riebeek West

Wildekrans Barrel Select Reserve Cape Blend 2015
WO Bot River: Pinotage, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir
R295 pb ex-cellar, Bot River

ALSO IN THE TOP 10

Anura Signature Cape Cuvée 2015
WO Paarl: Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz
R175 pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Beyerskloof Faith 2015
WO Stellenbosch: Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
R675 pb ex-cellar in Koelenhof, Stellenbosch

Blake’s Amethyst 2016
WO Swartland: Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Petit Verdot
R242 pb ex-cellar, Malmesbury

La Cave Cape Blend 2016
WO Wellington: Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz
R165 pb at Wellington Wines, Wellington

Pulpit Rock Louisa Reserve 2015
WO Swartland: Pinotage,  Shiraz, Petit Verdot
R150 pb ex-cellar, Riebeek West