IWSC gold medallists include bargain from Boekenhoutskloof

HAVING achieved 95/100 for the current release of their flagship red blend at the Decanter World Wine Awards in London, Constantia Glen went one better with a score of 96 at the last of the biggest competitions of its kind in 2023, the International Wine & Spirit Competition. Constantia Glen Five 2020 was one of the three top-scoring South African wines at IWSC 2023, the others being the 2017 white blend from Bloemendal in Durbanville, also a gold medallist at the Trophy Wine Show, and a 2021 Pinot Noir from La Vierge on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. See below for the names and prices of all 18 gold medallists from the Cape – including the big-volume Wolftrap red blend, 2022 vintage, which at the time of writing was still available at R70pb!

While the IWSC is UK-based, many of the South African entries were judged in South Africa, by panels comprising international as well as local wine experts. For feedback from the jury and the rest of the competition results to date, click here. The medal winners were announced in advance of the show's top accolades, with the wine trophy laureates to be disclosed in October. In 2022, two of the most prestigious IWSC awards were presented to Stellenbosch estates Kanonkop and Jordan, the Red and White Wine Producers of the Year respectively. In 2023, it would appear that Kanonkop chose not to enter…

SA GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Bloemendal Kanonberg 2017 (White Blend)
R210pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Boekenhoutskloof Wolftrap Red 2022
R70pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek

Capensis Silene Chardonnay 2021
R350pb ex-producer, Banghoek-Stellenbosch

Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
R750pb ex-cellar, Cederberg

Constantia Glen Five 2020 (Red Blend)
R620pb ex-cellar, Constantia

Delaire Graff Banghoek Reserve Chardonnay 2022
R410pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch

Durbanville Hills Tangram White 2020
R230pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

La Vierge Apogée Pinot Noir 2021
R305pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge

Mont Rochelle Miko Chardonnay 2018
R400pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek

Neethlingshof Owl Post Pinotage 2021
R299pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Perdeberg Dry Land Old Vine Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2022
R160pb ex-cellar, Paarl

Plaisir Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R290pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Quoin Rock Red Blend 2020
R700pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Raats Angels Selection Malbec 2020
Eport-only, Stellenbosch producer

Rustenberg Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2022
R210pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R350pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch ‘1679' Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2022
R230pb ex-Koelenhof Winery, Stellenbosch

Whalehaven Seascape Reserve Chardonnay 2020
R405pb ex-cellar, Hermanus