Feminine touch in Chenin Blanc victory
2006-01-26
THE 2006 Chenin Blanc Challenge presented by Wine magazine and Tops at Spar may well be a talking point for some time.
Line honours went to the “shy, elegant and understated” Spier Private Collection 2004 from Stellenbosch, while the winning winemaker, Eleanor Visser, is the first woman ever to claim victory in the Challenge.
The winner is bottled under screwcap, and it fended off worthy contenders from top Chenin producers.
The runners up were Ken Forrester 2005, Bellingham The Maverick 2004, Forrester Meinert the FMC 2004, Anura 2004, Spice Route 2004, Kanu Wooded 2004 and De Morgenzon 2005.
Says Michael Fridjhon, chairman of the judges: “In the final line-up of eight, the quality was incredibly even, with only nuances separating the wines.
“People in the industry had been criticising the Challenge for rewarding heavier wines, so I made my wine in a drier, more elegant French style, but with a definite South African fruit focus,” says Visser.
Wine lovers will be able to sample a selection of the top wines from this Chenin Blanc Challenge at a public tasting to be held in Cape Town on 27 February. Tickets are R100 per person on 0860 100 204 or smart@rsp.co.za.
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