Sadly this piece will be of no use/interest to those people lucky enough to have a fab and groovy time at the Cape Town Showcase last week, but hopefully they will be in time for all your Jo’burgers who will be flocking to the Nedbank Atrium on September 2nd. And perhaps, these will also be helpful to people going to actual auction itself – to be held on Saturday 2nd October at Spier Conference Centre in Stellenbosch.
The aim of the Cape Winemakers’ Guild is to ensure that South African winemakers are ranked amongst the best in the world and there really were some world class wines there to taste. We went through a total of 39 wines and I have listed my favourites below – if anyone is passionately interested in my opinion of any of the others, then let me know! There are no prices to these wines as obviously the price will be determined on the auction day, but last year the average price per bottle was R381.50. Get your credit cards at the ready…
Teddy Hall Tribute Methode Cap Classique 2003
Originally made for family-drinking, this comes from 100% Chardonnay vines. Shining with creamy baked apples with spice and an almost savoury finish. Complex and satisfying.
Steenberg Vineyards ‘The Magus’ 2009
Best of many Sem/Sauv blends this year. Green vegetal notes with a creamy herbal palate. Beautifully balanced, acid nicely tamed by subtle oak. Plenty of time to come – definitely a keeper.
Cederberg Private Cellar Semillon 2010
Made from Elim grapes this has a wild, grassy nose with some hints of honey. Elegant and expressive with excellent length to an almost pineapple finish. Great food potential, plenty still to come.
Cape Point Vineyards Auction Reserve White 2008
Made – surprisingly – from 62% Chenin Blanc and 38% Chardonnay, this had a wonderfully nutty nose (almonds and cashews) and a fabulous balance between oak-fruit-acid. A rich finish with clean citrus fruit – possibly my favourite on the night.
Paul Cluver The Wagon Trail Chardonnay 2009
Pale pale, green in colour with a toasty citrussy nose. Lively acidity and a fresh minerality lift the yellow fruit, beautifully balanced with soft, creamy oak.
Jordan Chardonnay Auction Reserve 2009
The quintessential Chardonnay. Elegant aromas of ripe stone fruit and cream give way to tropical baked fruits, bouncy acidity and satisfyingly subtle oak. Endless finish.
Villiera Mother Earth 2008
I am a sucker for Cabernet Franc – 85% of this blend – and this wine offers a smoky, coffee nose with green herbal hints. Black fruit, licorice, fivespice and juicy tannins with excellent length and vanilla finish.
AA Badenhorst Family Wines Auction Red 2005
A Bordeaux-blend of Cab Sauv, Petit Verdot, Cab Franc and Malbec, all co-fermented to produce a soft, ripe wine with velvety fruit, spice and creamy finish. Elegant, juicy tannins – still more to come.
Neil Ellis Auction Reserve 2007
An elegant red of mainly Bordeaux varietals with 10% Shiraz as well. Probably the most forward of the wines on offer with elegant, ripe black fruit, well-integrated tannins, acids and oak and a juicy vanilla finish.
Simonsig Auction Reserve Shiraz 2008
A classic Shiraz nose of berries, leather, white pepper and spice. Elegant and perfumed with refined tannic structure and an impressively complex finish. Lots more to come here.