Debutante wines showcased
2005-03-17
GOING green is the theme for the 31st Nederburg Auction at Paarl on April 9 when 14 new participants representing the wide range of Cape terroir and unique biodiversity will showcase their distinctive wines.
The newcomers include Allesverloren, Boschkloof, Domaine Brahms, Joostenberg, L’Ormarins, Mas Nicolas, Meerendal, Mellasat, Nordale Winery, Winecorp’s Naledi, Raats Family Wines, Sentinel Vineyards, Signal Hill and StellenHills.
Their wines represent the full spectrum of wine styles available in South Africa, as well as the adaptability of the different varietals to the distinctive terroir in the extensive production areas, ranging from Stellenbosch and Paarl to Durbanville, Franschhoek, the Swartland, Elgin and Robertson.
L’Ormarins in Franschhoek, holder of an ISO14001 Environment Management Certificate as proof of its commitment to good environmental practices, offers its 1994 Optima, a claret-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
The other red blends on auction come from the prime red producing region of Stellenbosch. They are the Boschokloof Cabenet Sauvignon Merlot 1999 made by Jacques Borman and Nico van de Merwe’s Mas Nicolas Cape Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon 2000, which rated five stars in the 2003 Platter wine guide.
Two winemakers from the Paarl area opted to buck the trend of planting only white wines there. The warmer climate and granitic soils of the Klein Drakenstein area of Paarl made Stephen Richardson, an Englishman from Norfolk, opt for red plantings, with his Mellasat Pinotage 2000, while advocate Gesie Lategan of Domaine Brahms went for Shiraz.
Her maiden vintage Domaine Brahms Shiraz 1999 won her the Winemaker of the Year award in 2001 and Winemaker of the Year at the Shiraz Challenge in 2001 as well as a gold medal at the Michelangelo International Wine Awards in 2002.
Veteran winemaker Walter Finlayson and entrepreneur Rob Coppoolse made their site-specific Sentinel Shiraz 2000 with grapes from vineyards situated in Klapmuts and Simondium area.
Frenchman Jean-Vincent Ridon, of the boutique winery Signal Hill, selected two blocks from Wellington and Simonsberg near Stellenbosch for his Signal Hill Petit Verdot 1999, made from a rare Bordeaux varietal.
Joostenberg's Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest 2003 received a gold medal at the International Wine Challenge and the trophy for the best unfortified dessert wine at the Fairbairn Capital Trophy Show.
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