A DOZEN South African wines earned gold medals at the 2020 International Wine & Spirit Competition in the UK. Top score of 97/100 in this regard went to the 2018 vintage of Bouchard Finlayson Missionvale Chardonnay from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, with three wines scored 96 points, namely the Nicolas van der Merwe Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, the Quoin Rock Red Blend 2015 and the Tradition Brut NV Cap Classique bubbly from Villiera.

There were also eight wines of the Cape rated 95 points, plus a bunch of silvers and bronzes. The medallists’ names were released prior to the award ceremony in mid-October.

“South Africa continues to impress,” reflected Master of Wine Alistair Cooper, one of the judges. “I am increasingly impressed by Stellenbosch and the fantastic and diverse styles of Cabernet Sauvignon it yields, not least the stellar Bartinney 2015 Banghoek Cabernet.” Of the Missionvale 2018 Chardonnay, he reported that the panel had been wowed by “equal measures of power and elegance”.

GOLD MEDALLISTS

Bartinney Skyfall Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
R350pb ex-cellar, Banghoek, Stellenbosch

Bouchard Finlayson Missionvale Chardonnay 2018
R295pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

Darling Cellars Chocoholic Pinotage 2018
R120pb ex-cellar, Darling

Glen Carlou Syrah 2018
R170pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

La Vierge Apogée Chardonnay 2018
R550pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge

Mt Vernon Malbec 2015
R245pb ex-cellar, Klapmuts, Paarl

Nicolas van der Merwe Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
R350pb ex-cellar, Polkadraai, Stellenbosch

Quoin Rock Red Blend 2015
R600pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Southern Point Shiraz Merlot 2019
Export-only, International Procurement & Logistics

Steenberg Lady R Méthode Cap Classique 2015
R540pb ex-cellar, Tokai, Constantia WR

Stellenrust Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2019
R225pb ex-cellar, Helderberg, Stellenbosch

Villiera Tradition Brut NV (MCC)
R140pb ex-cellar, Koelenhof, Stellenbosch

• For the names of the trophy winners announced on 12.10.20, click here.