MERELY a casting vote by one judge stood between Bellingham The Maverick Chenin Blanc 2006 and status as the overall winner in Wine magazine’s highly-contested Chenin Blanc Challenge this year.
The winner by a nose was the Bush Vine 2008 from Mooiplaas in the Bottelary ward of Stellenbosch which took the title of best unwooded wine in the competition, and that of best wine overall.
The Maverick, with a top-rating of four-and-a-half stars (on par with the winner) and Best Wooded Chenin for the 2009 Wine Magazine SurePure Chenin Blanc Challenge in the bag, has clinched so many local and international awards, it now takes its place as one of the country’s show Chenins.
In this, it is playing an important part to promote the varietal as South African showcase white wine.
The Chenin Blanc Challenge drew a massive 121 entries this year. The two top wines were rated four-and-a-half stars, while a record 13 were awarded four stars.
With widely-varying styles and a range of price points, it was an extraordinary turn-out.
Wine magazine, who started the project in 1996, says that this indicates that the establishment of Chenin Blanc as noble variety and premium South African wine is now firmly rooted.
At the awards event, Ken Forrester, speaking on behalf of the enterprising Chenin Blanc Association, said that the country’s vineyard ‘work horse’ variety has now become the ‘show horse’.
That Bellingham The Maverick Chenin Blanc is one of the ‘show horses’ is no doubt. The same winning wine came a close second in the Challenge last year.
It has also won a silver medal in last year’s International Wine Challenge and gold at Veritas. Gold was also awarded to it in the Michelangelo Competition, while the 2007 Decanter World Wine Awards and International Wine & Spirit Competition crowned it with silver (and best in its class). It won a Diamond Award in the 2007 Winemaker’s Choice.
But all these award stickers, says Bellingham winemaker Niël Groenewald, is not so much an accolade for him and his team, but for the wonderful versatility of the Cape’s Chenin Blanc grape.
Noting that he considers it the best wine he has made, Niël says working with such premium grapes offers great opportunities.
“The grapes came from two vineyards with low-yielding bush vines. These are well established vines, 20 years and older. They deliver bright quality, but also produce power.”
* Also among the top ten are Graham Beck’s Bowed Head Chenin Blanc 2008 and The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2007.
It is only the second time in the 14 year history of the competition that the overall winner did not undergo treatment in barrel. Stellenbosch farm L’Avenir having won with its unwooded 1997 in 1998.
The award for best value wine went to Koelenbosch Houtverouderd 2007.
This year’s results highlight the excellent value that the Chenin Blanc category offers with no less than seven of the 15 wines to rate 4 stars or better selling for R40 or less a bottle.
A tasting of the top scoring wines will be held on 12 March at the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town at 18:30. Tickets R120 on 0860-100-205.
