IT WAS JUST a matter of time, some would say. The Benguela Cove estate alongside the Bot River Lagoon on the road to Hermanus has been on many a wine lover’s radar since entrepreneur Penny Streeter and her family began investing in the area and particularly after cellarmaster Johann Fourie came on board five years ago. Their success at the 2021 Michelangelo Awards follows that in the Mosaic Top 5 Pinot Noir competition (SA) a couple of months earlier, and this after a number of achievements in 2020 that included a win at the Shiraz SA Challenge with their 2018 vintage.

Benguela Cove’s latest Michelango awards include a trophy for the best Pinot Noir on show, the Vinography 2019, and the trophy for what was the most highly rated wine overall, the Catalina Semillon 2019 (scored 98/100). Unlike the Vinography that was already sold out at the cellar by the time the SA Pinot Noir Association were talking up their competition results, the Catalina 2019 has yet to be released, with the 2018 vintage on sale at the time of writing.

Also particularly successful at Michelangelo 2021 was Kobus Basson’s Kleine Zalze of Stellenbosch who also fielded the panel’s favourites in two classes – trophies going to the 2020 vintage of the Old Bush Vine Chenin Blanc and the Sauvignon Blanc Sur Lie in the Family Reserve range of wines. Other standout trophy winners included Arendskloof Chardonnay 2020 from Worcester at just R84 a bottle, the sparkling 2017 Cuvée Clive Cap Classique from Graham Beck in Robertson, the red blends Aslina Umsasane 2019 and Perdeberg’s Endura 2017, as well as the 2017 Kruger Family Reserve Shiraz from Stellenview. All of the top-rated wines are listed below.

The 25th edition of this international wine and spirit competition, founded by Lorraine Immelman and now with four other co-owners, attracted well over 1800 entries. There were numerous judges (over 20) on the various panels, with Cape Wine Master Winnie Bowman the technical director. For more info about the show and for the full results, click here.

 

TROPHY LAUREATES

Arendskloof Chardonnay 2020
R84pb from Eagle’s Cliff cellar, Worcester

Aslina Umsasane 2019 (Red Blend)
R225pb ex-producer, Somerset West

Bellingham Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc Limited Release 2019
R235pb from Franschhoek Cellar

Benguela Cove Catalina Semillon 2019
R650pb ex-cellar, Bot River

Benguela Cove Vinography Pinot Noir 2019
R550pb ex-cellar, Bot River

Endura Winemaker’s Selection Cape Blend 2017
R350pb from Perdeberg cellar, Paarl

Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve 2018 (White Blend)
R120pb ex-cellar, Somerset West

Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2017 (MCC)
R780pb ex-cellar, Robertson

Heaven on Earth Organic Muscat d’Alexandrie NV
Primarily for export, from Stellar Winery

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Old Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2020
R240pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Sur Lie 2020
R240pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Kruger Family Reserve Shiraz 2017
R250pb from Stellenview cellar, Stellenbosch

Meerhof Mooistrooi 2021 (Straw Wine)
R300pb ex-cellar, Riebeek-Kasteel

Nederburg Private Bin R181 Merlot 2012
Auction Wine, cellar in Paarl

Nederburg Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Museum Class, Paarl cellar

Niel Joubert Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
R160pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Rooiberg Reserve Pinotage 2019
R125pb ex-cellar, Robertson

 

PLATINUM MEDALLISTS

Chamonix Old Vine Steen 2020 (Chenin)
R385pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek

Daschbosch Mossiesdrift Steen 2020 (Chenin)
R220pb ex-cellar, Rawsonville

Diemersfontein Shiraz 2019
R130pb ex-cellar, Wellington

Goedverwacht Great Expectations Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R80pb ex-cellar, Robertson

Meerhof Mooistrooi 2020 (Straw Wine)
R300pb ex-cellar, Riebeek-Kasteel

Mt Vernon Galileo 2015 (Red Blend)
R275pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Paul René Chardonnay Brut 2017 (MCC)
R220pb from Wonderfontein cellar, Robertson

Perdeberg Dry Land Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2020
R130pb ex-cellar, Paarl

Solitude Chenin Blanc 2019
R240pb from Le Belle Rebelle cellar, Breedekloof

Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Shiraz 2018
R165pb ex-cellar, Lynedoch

Stellenrust Checkers Chenin Blanc 2019
Exclusive to supermarket chain

Vrede en Lust Boet Erasmus 2017 (Red Blend)
R240pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Weltevrede Philip Jonker Brut The Ring 2013 (MCC)
R260pb ex-cellar, Bonnievale