Global Malbec Masters include Bloedklip beauty from Doolhof

IT’S NOT a variety that the Cape is famous for, and yet! Of the 118 wines from 17 countries entered in the 2022 Drinks Business Global Malbec Masters held in the UK, one of the 10 to emerge top of the class was a South African: Doolhof Bloedklip 2018, WO Limietberg-Wellington. In a category dominated by South America, seven of the Master awards (for wines scored 97+ out of 100) went the way of the Argentinians and two were won by the French. Of the gold medals presented for wines scored 93 to 96, 12 went to Argentina, two to France and one to Spain. The entries are reviewed primarily by Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers, and according to the competition organisers, the Malbec Masters are outstanding examples of their type, showing impeccable winemaking – wines that delight for their wonderful texture, perfect balance and broad range of delicious, persistent flavours.

“Malbecs and Malbec-dominated expressions frequently produce exceptional ‘black wines’,” commented panellist Patricia Stefanowicz MW. “The quality of those we judged in our 2022 Global Malbec Masters competition was remarkably high, from inexpensive to extremely high-priced. To use the much-maligned phrase, Malbecs are by-and-large ‘food wines’. However, they are not only fit to accompany grilled Argentinian beef, they can be just as good with something like Cajun gumbo with a bit of home-made salsa.” Also on the jury were fellow Masters of Wine Jonathan Pedley, Adam Porter, Keith Isaac and Tim Tiptree, Master Sommelier Matthieu Longuère and Andrea Briccarello.

Doolhof’s Bloedklip Malbec originates in a vineyard where the earth is distinctly red and rocky. The panel of Masters described the 2018 vintage as follows: “Rich plum and blackberry fruit, with cedarwood and a hint of black truffle. Elegant and well balanced, the bright flavours are supported by lively acidity and linen-textured tannins.”

Compared to Doolhof’s Single Vineyard Malbec at R225 a bottle for the 2020 vintage, the 2018 Bloedklip is priced at R945pb ex-cellar – still less than half what some Malbec Masters from elsewhere in the world are going for.

 

 

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