NEDERBURG CONSOLIDATES ITS 2008 TRIUMPH
Nederburg repeated its 2008 success when the Paarl cellar again won the Fairbairn Capital Trophy for the Most Successful Producer at the 2009 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show. The competition, judged over four days in early May at the Grande Roche in Paarl, attracted a record 1 155 entries from 257 cellars. Nederburg secured the Most Successful Producer slot with trophies for its Noble Late Harvest 2007 (best Noble Late Harvest) and Private Bin Eminence Muscadel Natural Sweet 2008 (best Natural Sweet), a gold medal for the Noble Late Harvest 2008 plus seven silver medals and eleven bronze medals. Kleine Zalze secured second position in the Most Successful Producer rankings, followed by Fleur du Cap and Vergelegen in joint third position.
This result confirms the now widely acknowledged improvement in the standard of Nederburg’s wines in the past five years. Razvan Macici as Cellarmaster, White-wine maker Tariro Masayiti and Red-wine maker Wim Truter have been focusing on fruit sources, managing batch processing and refining production techniques to optimise quality at all levels of the winemaking process. However, the narrow margin by which Nederburg secured the Fairbairn Capital Trophy from Kleine Zalze and the clear evidence of a red wine renaissance at Vergelegen suggests that rivalry for the Show’s top slot has been tougher than ever before.
This year’s competition yielded 25 gold medals in total – one more than in the last 3 years. The silver medal count of 70 was substantially higher than in 2007 and 2008; likewise the bronze medal tally of 331 was a significant improvement on 2008 (by 36%) and in line with the average percentage since the inaugural 2002 show.
Co-convenor of the competition (together with WINE magazine) and Chairman of the Judges, Michael Fridjhon comments: “There are clear signs that the quality improvements noted in the 2008 show have been carried forward into this year’s competition. To an extent this can be measured by the higher percentage of silver and bronze medals as more and more producers cross the necessary threshold. It is also evident in the increased gold medal count in classes where massive new plantings are reaching maturity (Shiraz) and producers have been more focused in their fruit handling (Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc). But for the absence of gold medals in a couple of the red wine classes, the number of trophies would also have reflected the palpable step-up we have been tracking over the past few years.”
Says Stephen Cahill, General Manager at Old Mutual: “This year marks the 8th year of our involvement with the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show and we are extremely proud to be associated with the most important wine evaluation competition in the country. Investing in people’s future success and uplifting South African communities is part of our business ethos at Old Mutual. Through this sponsorship we promote excellence in the South African wine industry with the intention of putting our local wines and winemakers on the international map. Part of insuring international acclaim is by putting together the judging panel that consists of leading local and international wine connoisseurs. Top wine luminary Michael Fridjhon leads the judging panel to discover what makes the various wines gold medal winners in their respective categories. Michael’s hard work and dedication makes this one of the country’s premier wine events.”
Within the next two weeks, a series of tastings will be taken to six major centres countrywide including a Masterclass® in Windhoek during July. Wine lovers in Cape Town and Johannesburg will be able to taste the 93 trophy, gold and silver medal winning wines at public tastings.  A free copy of ICONS, the official guide to the competition, will be available in the July issue of WINE magazine, on sale from 22 June.
2009 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show Public TastingsÂ
Cape Town:Â Friday, 5 June 2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 17h00 to 20h00 CTICC – Jasminium & Clivia Rooms
THE AUDITED* RESULTS OF 2009 OLD MUTUAL TROPHY WINE SHOW
Fairbairn Capital Trophy for the Most Successful Producer 2009: Nederburg Wines
Old Mutual Trophy for Best Red Wine Overall: Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Shiraz 2007
Old Mutual Trophy for Best White Wine Overall: Simonsig Woolworths Limited Release Chenin Blanc 2008
Old Mutual Trophy for Discovery of the Show (Best Value): Ashton Unwooded Chardonnay 2008
Old Mutual Trophy for Best Port: Bredell’s Cape Vintage Reserve 2003
American Express Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon: Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
British Airways Comair Limited Trophy for Best Shiraz: Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Shiraz 2007
Miele Trophy for Best Wooded Chardonnay: Tokara Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2007
Riedel Glass Trophy for Best Bordeaux-Style Red Blend: Saronsberg Nick & Forti’s Epicentre 2005
Trophy for Best Unwooded Sauvignon Blanc: Lomond Sugarbush Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Trophy for Best Chenin Blanc: Simonsig Woolworths Limited Release Chenin Blanc 2008
Trophy for Best Unwooded Chardonnay: Ashton Unwooded Chardonnay 2008
Trophy for Best Wooded Sauvignon Blanc Semillon White Blend: Vergelegen White 2007
Trophy for Best Wooded White Blend: Fleur du Cap Limited Release Unfiltered Viognier Chardonnay Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Trophy for Best Noble Late Harvest Dessert Wine:Â Nederburg Noble Late Harvest 2007
Trophy for Best Natural Sweet Dessert Wine: Nederburg Private Bin Eminence Muscadel Natural Sweet 2008
Trophy for Best Fortified Dessert Wine (Red): Monis Wood-matured Muscadel 2001
Trophy for Best Museum Class Wooded Sauvignon Blanc:Â Tokara White 2005Â
Trophy for Best Museum Class Wooded Chardonnay: Chamonix Chardonnay 1999
Trophy for Best Museum Class Fortified Dessert Wine: Nuy White Muscadel 1986
OTHER GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:
Axe Hill Cape Vintage 2006
Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (unwooded)
Haskell Pillars Shiraz 2007
Kanu KCB Chenin Blanc 2006 (wooded)
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Shiraz 2007
Lomond Pincushion Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (unwooded)
Nederburg Noble Late Harvest 2008
Raka Biography Shiraz 2007
Vergelegen Red 2004
A full set of results, including SILVER and BRONZE medals, a transcript of the judges’ feedback session and a variety of statistics are available on www.trophywineshow.co.za