Press Release 19 November 2018 Wine Magazine
Among South Africa’s finest white wines:
Winemag.co.za releases its sixth annual Sauv-Sem Blend / Wooded Sauvignon Blanc Report
13 November 2018 – Winemag.co.za today released its sixth annual Sauv-Sem Blend/Wooded Sauvignon Blanc Report, sponsored by precision agriculture service provider Aerobotics. Presenting a solid argument for increased interest in South Africa’s Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blends, panel chair Christian Eedes highlighted this style’s ability for very serious wines.
This year saw 41 blends from 37 producers scrutinised by the respected Winemag.co.za tasting panel, while for the second time, Wooded Sauvignon Blanc was included with 19 examples from 16 producers.
Eedes pointed out that the best of these Bordeaux-inspired white blends “make for demanding wines, with very dense fruit combined with punchy acidities” adding that it is these qualities that make them both food friendly and age-worthy. A point illustrated by the fact that the average score of wines rated was 90/100, which further bears testimony to the high overall standard of the category.
Commenting on the category as a whole, Eedes said: “When winemakers get it right, the end-result is wines of real gravitas and heft, perhaps not everyday drinking but rather to be served in a fine dining environment after some suitable bottle maturation.”
Cape Point Vineyards Isleidh 2017 was announced as the best overall blend, achieving a rating of 94/100, as well as a 50ha drone flight from Aerobotics worth R25 000, as well as a new 225-litre barrel from Tonnellerie Sylvain.
The wooded Sauvignon Blanc category achieved an average score of 89.9, with The Fledge & Co. Fumé Blanc 2017 best overall with a rating of 93/100 – also securing an Aerobotics package.
“We are proud to be the headline sponsor at the sixth annual Winemag Sauv-Sem Blend & Wooded Sauvignon Blanc Report”, said Aerobotics COO Andrew Burdock, who spoke at the event. “We are excited by the enthusiasm for our technology in the wine industry and look forward to helping today’s top performers and others improve their yield and produce a balanced crop.”
The full results were as follows:
Wines to rate 90 points or higher on the 100-point quality scale were as follows:
Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon Blends
94
Cape Point Vineyards Isliedh 2017 (BEST OVERALL)
93
Highlands Road Sine Cera 2015
Tokara Directors Reserve White 2016
Zorgvliet Simoné 2017
92
Delaire Graff White Reserve 2016
Chateau de Fieuzal 2015
Hazendal 2017
Strandveld Adamastor 2016
Warwick Professor Black 2017
91
90
Bizoe Henriëtta 2017
Bloemendal Kanonberg 2015
David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner The Bowline 2017
Elgin Vintners The Century 2017
Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve 2017
Waverley Hills 2018
Wooded Sauvignon Blanc
93
The Fledge & Co. Fumé Blanc 2017 (BEST OVERALL)
92
Bloemendal Suider Terras 2016
Highlands Road White Reserve 2017
Neumeister Ried Moarfeitl 2015
Overgaauw Abraham 2017
91
Cape Point Vineyards Reserve 2017
Rousseau Sacharia 2017
Zevenwacht 360º 2017
90
Diemersdal M.M. Louw 2017
Iona Klipkop Blanc Fumé 2017
Miravel Nigma 2017
Nederburg Heritage Heroes The Young Airhawk 2017
Rousseau Grace 2018
Sabathi Ried Pössnitzberger Sorgenbrecher 2015
The Giant Periwinkle Blanc Fumé 2017
Full results can be viewed on Winemag.co.za
A selection of pictures from the award ceremony can be accessed via Winemag.co.za’s Facebook page.
Issued on behalf of Winemag.co.za by Feed That Bird Communication Consultants
Contact: Jeanri-Tine van Zyl
Office: 021 206 6108
Email: jeanritine@feedthatbird.com
