The results from the Top 100 SA Wines competition were revealed last night at a reception in Kalk Bay. This competition is now into its third year and although there has been plenty of controversy in previous years over the name, the lack of auditing (something which has changed this year with I.C Mackay & Associates being handed the task) and the overall credibility of the competition, this year seems to have gone very smoothly for all concerned.
A slightly reduced panel of judges, a reduced number of wineries entering, but an increased number of wines entered meant that 440 wines were eventually tasted and judged before the top 100 wines were announced.
Interesting stats show a marked and worrying increase in oxidised wines – 20 this year as opposed to only 1 last year. In fact, faulty wines increased overall by just over 50% – does this reflect on the quality of the tasters’ palates or the quality of the wines submitted?
Other interesting stats from the competition show a definite drop in the number of white wines awarded a place in the Top 100 – surprising since most international and local pundits are tending to agree that white wines (Chenin, Chardonnay and white blends) are proving to be greater strengths than SA reds on the whole.
Twitter recorded several people’s disappointment that Chenin and Chardonnay in particular didn’t do very well this year with a mere 4 wines of each varietal gaining a Top 100 place.
The Best Value award is given to wines which are less than R90 (reds, fortified and MCC’s) and under R70 (whites). Perhaps as a sign of the times, this year there were only 7 wines given Best Value status, 3 reds and 4 whites.
These wines, and the rest of the winners, can be tasted at a series of events which will take place in May in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. For details of those events, please go to www.webtickets.co.za.
For full details of all the winners, go to www.Top100SAwines.co.za