FRANSCHHOEK winemaker Marc Kent has been named the Diner’s Club Winemaker of the Year.
His Shiraz is already regarded as an iconic wine, a consistent Five Star performer from one of the country’s most respected cellars, Boekenhoutskloof.
Now Marc Kent’s unswerving winemaking excellence has been recognised by the prestigious 2007 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year award for his Boekenhoutkloof Syrah 2005.
There will be few who don’t applaud his victory.
Marc’s Shiraz has merited no fewer than six 5-Star ratings in Platter, two in Wine magazine (out of only 23 5-Star laureates in 13 years) and occupies number one slot in Wine’s annual classification of top Shiraz producers based on the wine’s performance over the past five years.
His Syrah has received praise from international critics and commands top dollar – this despite the fact that Marc doesn’t often seek recognition or reward through competitions, with Boekenhoutskloof’s premier status achieved almost solely by word of mouth.
The judging panel, chaired by Dave Hughes, was impressed by the range of types and styles in the 71 wines in round two of the judging – reduced from 162 after an initial screening – and of the 13 top-scoring wines in the competition.
Hughes said he was pleased with the number of wines showing balance, freshness and fruitiness and commended the winning wine for its “sweet, ripe fruit, refined tannins and freshness”.
He was aided by the international expertise and perspective of Alain Graillot of Croze-Hermitage in the Rhône, France – himself a Shiraz winemaker of world renown – and fellow panellists Margaret Fry CWM, Carrie Adams of Norman Goodfellows, Nederburg winemaker Tariro Masiyati and Cape Winemakers Guild protégé Howard Booysen of Flagstone winery.
The Winemaker of the Year award carries with it a winner’s purse of R15 000 and an air ticket to any winemaking country in the world.
Speaking at the awards lunch, the sponsor’s regional manager (Cape), Jane Ledger, said Diners Club was thrilled the award was “still highly regarded in the industry after 27 years, and being nominated as a Diners Club Winemaker of the Year is as inspirational today as it was when the awards were introduced in 1981, when Walter Finlayson won for his 1980 Blauwklippen Zinfandel”.
The categories for the next five annual Winemaker of the Year awards are 2008 White Blends, 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, 2011 Bordeauxstyle Red Blends and 2012 Non-Bordeaux-style Red Blends.
