THE HIGH Road cellar in Stellenbosch, the Overhex winery in Worcester and the Zevenwacht estate in Kuils River. THE standout participants at South Africa's 2023 Trophy Wine Show, convened by veteran wine critic Michael Fridjhon and sponsored by Investec Private Banking. The High Road Director's Reserve 2019 and Overhex's 2022 Survivor Cellar Master Series Chardonnay (made using grapes from the vineyards of Joubert-Tradauw outside Barrydale in the Klein Karoo) were the most highly rated red and white wines in the competition. Zevenwacht won more trophies than any other entrant – including those for Best Sauvignon Blanc, Best Chenin Blanc and Best ‘Old Vine Wine' – with their Z Collection Sauvignon and Z Collection Chenin, both 2022 vintage.
A red blend in the ‘Essay' range from MAN Family Wines in Stellenbosch was chosen as the Discovery of the Show, Best Value Gold Medallist at R105 a bottle, although wine lovers hunting for bargains were also advised to consider MAN's Free-run Steen at R90pb, a Bon Courage Unwooded Chardonnay from Robertson at R83pb, KWV Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc from Paarl at R99 and a Shiraz from Villiersdorp at R100pb – see below for all the gold and trophy laureates.
There were 688 wines from the Cape winelands reviewed in this, the 22nd year of the show. 32 earned gold medals, of which 19 were elevated to trophy status. The judges on chairmain Michael Fridjhon's panels: UK Masters of Wine Jancis Robinson OBE and Anne Krebiehl, French wine writer and lecturer Benjamin Roffet, associate editor of Platter's SA Wine Guide Cathy van Zyl MW, winemakers Trizanne Barnard, JD Pretorius (Warwick) and Gynore Hendricks (Great Heart), Cape Wine Master and principal of the Cape Wine Academy Heidi Duminy, sommelier Patson Mathonsi and James Pietersen, CEO of Wine Cellar Fine Wine Merchants.
For info about public tastings of the winning wines in Johannesburg and Cape Town, click here. For more about the show, click here.
TROPHY WINNERS
High Road Director's Reserve 2019
Best Bordeaux-Style Red Blend & Top-Scoring Red Wine Overall; R475pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Survivor Cellar Master Series Chardonnay 2022
Best Chardonnay & Top-Scoring White Wine Overall; R370pb from Overhex cellar, Worcester
Essay Syrah Cinsault & Grenache & Mourvèdre 2021
Best Rhône-Style Red Blend & Discovery of the Show; R105pb from MAN cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Groot Phesantekraal Berliet Pinotage 2021
Best Pinotage; R250pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2017
Best Cap Classique Sparkling Wine; R169pb from KWV cellar, Paarl
Zevenwacht Z Chenin Blanc 2022
Best Chenin Blanc & Best Old Vine Wine; R270pb ex-cellar, Kuils River
Old Road 12 Mile Syrah 2021
Best Shiraz; R270pb ex-producer, Franschhoek
Zevenwacht Z Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Best Sauvignon Blanc; R270pb ex-cellar, Kuils River
Vergelegen G.V.B White 2021
Best Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Blend; R500pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Neil Ellis Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Best Cabernet Sauvignon; R250pb ex-cellar, Helshoogte-Stellenbosch
Thokozani Cabernet Franc 2021
Best Cabernet Franc; R150pb from Diemersfontein cellar, Wellington
Villiersdorp Winery Syrah 2020
Winner of International Judges' Trophy; R100pb ex-cellar, Villiersdorp
Bouchard Finlayson Hannibal 2020
Best Niche Red Blend; R399pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Buitenverwachting ‘1769' 2020 (Noble Late Harvest)
Best Dessert Wine; R380pb (500ml) ex-cellar, Constantia
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2020
Best Cape Port; R350pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp
Bloemendal Kanonberg 2017
Best Museum Class Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Blend & Best Museum Class Wine Overall; R210pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Bloemendal Semillon 2016
Best Museum Class Semillon; R210pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Eikendal Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Best Museum Class Cabernet Sauvignon; R165pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Bosman Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2013
Best Museum Class Chenin Blanc; R415pb ex-cellar, Wellington
ALSO GOLD MEDALLISTS
Benguela Cove Chardonnay 2022
R289pb ex-cellar, Bot River
Bloemendal Tyger Syrah 2016
R255pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Bon Courage Unwooded Chardonnay 2022
R83pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Canto Brut 2020 (MCC)
R250pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Delaire Graff Banghoek Reserve Chardonnay 2022
R410pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Delaire Graff White Reserve 2021
R535pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve Cape Mist Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R135pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Hartenberg Woolworths Reserve Chardonnay 2022
Exclusive to retail chanin, Stellenbosch cellar
KWV Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R99pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Louisvale Five Barrels Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
R470pb ex-cellar, Devon Valley, Stellenbosch
MAN Free-Run Steen Chenin Blanc 2022
R90pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Oldenburg Rondekop Stone Axe Syrah 2021
R650pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Spier Woolworths Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Exclusve to retail chain, Stellenbosch cellar