A small but important category for South Africa: Winemag releases the third annual Cape White Blend Report 2018

A small but important category for South Africa:  Winemag releases the third annual Cape White Blend Report 2018
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Winemag.co.za released the third annual Cape White Blend Report – in order to be eligible, wines had to contain a significant Chenin Blanc component, specifically more than 15% and less than 85%.

Why insist on Chenin Blanc? It's what make such wines particularly, if not uniquely, of this country. If we were to make Chenin Blanc non-compulsory then producers forfeit a significant point of difference relative to wines from elsewhere in the world - with approximately 17 500ha of Chenin in the ground, it's our most planted variety and we should find ways to celebrate it.

38 entries from 32 producers were received and these were tasted blind (labels out of sight) by the three-person panel, scoring done according to the 100-point quality scale.

Wines to rate 90 points or higher on the 100-point quality scale were as follows:

94
Boplaas Gamka Branca Reserve 2017
Org de Rac Die Waghuis 2017
The Fledge & Co. Vagabond 2017
Van Wyk Family Wines Olivia Grace 2017

92
Lammershoek The Mysteries White Blend 2017
Painted Wolf Pictus VI 2017

91
Beaumont New Baby 2017
Cavalli Cremello 2016
Darling Lime Kilns 2017
Malanot Flower Pot White Blend 2014
Muratie Laurens Campher 2017
Springfontein Limestone Rocks Darkside of the Moon 2016

90
B Vintners Haarlem to Hope 2017
Fairview Nurok 2017
Painted Wolf Pictus V 2016
Perdeberg The Dry Land Collection Rossouw's Heritage 2017
Zevenwacht The Tin Mine 2017

A ringer in the form of the Chapoutier Belleruche Blanc 2016 was included. From France’s Côtes du Rhône, this wine obviously does not contain Chenin Blanc but is broadly similar in style to what many are trying to achieve with Cape White Blends. It rated 90 points.

To read the report in full, go to http://www.winemag.co.za

Follow the converstaion on twitter: #CapeWhiteReport

 

About Winemag.co.za
Wine magazine was published from 1993 until 2011 and now lives on in digital form. It covers everything to do with South African fine wine. Christian Eedes is editor. After graduating from Stellenbosch University with a BA Honours in philosophy, he joined Wine magazine in 2000 and served as editor between May 2008 and December 2009. He has completed a wine evaluation course and a small-scale winemaking course under the auspices of the Department of Viticulture and Oenology at Stellenbosch University. His experience includes tasting for the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show and Platter’s South African Wine Guide in addition to various other local and international competitions. Jacqueline Lahoud is Business Manager. She has extensive media experience including being publisher of Getaway magazine and Show & Events Director at RamsayMedia. Post running her own media business in Cape Town, she now fills the role of Business Director at Winemag. Winemag.co.za was acquired by US-based investment firm Eileses Capital in August 2018.

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