Top Trophy Wine Show laureates from Stellenbosch, Barrydale…

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


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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


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