The Michelangelo International Wine Awards (MIWA), widely regarded as one of the wine competitions with the most credibility in South Africa, announced the results of the 13th annual competition at a gala event at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West on Saturday 12 September 2009. A record number of 1502 entries from 263 wine producers were received ?+¦-+???+¦-ú?-¦?+¦-ú?+¦+¦ 160 more wines than in 2008. Red blends, Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc entries dominated the competition with red blends being the most entered category with 220 entries, Shiraz with 188 entries and Sauvignon Blanc with 179.
The entries collected a total of 524 medals of which 52 were double gold, 191 gold and 279 silver. In addition, nine trophies were awarded. In accordance with the rules of the Michelangelo International Wine Awards, a maximum of 30% of the entries may be awarded a medal which adds to the prestige of a wine bearing a Michelangelo medal. For a wine to be awarded with a double gold medal, it has to score 96 points or more, and for a gold above 92 points.
The nine trophies awarded were:
The CCL Label Cape Grand Prix Trophy: Rijk’s Private Cellar Shiraz 2004
This trophy is awarded for the wine with the highest score in the competition, this year this world class wine scored 99.6 points. The wine was described by the judges as “a benchmark Shiraz” and “an ambassador for South African Shiraz”.
The RX South Africa Grand Prix Runners up Trophy: Flagstone Free Run Sauvignon Blanc 2009
,This wine was described by the judges as “well-made with complexity and finesse and great purity of fruit on the palate with dominant mineral tones, a superlative Sauvignon Blanc”.
The Organic Trophy: Bon Cap The Ruins Chardonnay/Verdelho/Viognier 2008
,”The Organic Trophy is one that is close to my heart,” says MIWA founder and director, Lorraine Immelman-Steyn. “I support the move towards fewer chemicals in all products. This exceptional wine proves that organically-made wines do not have to stand back for any other wines out there. The organic wines are not judged separately, they are judged with the other wines, which means this is not just a great organic wine, but a great wine overall.”
The Sue van Wyk Pinotage Trophy: Fort Simon Pinotage 2006
“The judges all love to taste this category as the wines on offer are generally so interesting. The 2005 and 2006 vintages were particularly impressive confirming that Pinotage is not a mere quaffing wine which fades after a year or two in the bottle. Some cellars are still mismanaging the use of oak, but this is less evident than in previous years. The majority of the wines showed good typical characteristics,” said Sue van Wyk, Cape Wine Master (now living in Australia), and technical director of the judging panel.
Good Taste Garagiste Trophy: Atkinson’s Acre Shiraz 2007
As in the case of the Organic Trophy, Garagiste entries are not singled out in any way during the judging process, they are tasted with all the other wines. The Michelangelo International Wine Awards is the only wine competition which gives recognition to small Garagiste winemakers.
Brandy Trophy : KWV 15 Year Old Brandy
“Brandy is a vital part of the South-African offering and we have proven that we can compete with the best in the world. It is our privilege to pay tribute to South African brandy,” says Lorraine Immelman-Steyn. “This trophy was handed over for the first time four years ago and brandy entries have shown a steady growth in entries since its inception.”
Golden Oldie Award: De Meye Trutina 2001
“Ironically this wine was chosen for its youthfulness rather than for its maturity! A very complex wine with intense, dark berry flavours complemented by spicy oak tannins,” says Sue van Wyk.
Laker & Le Roux Most Innovative Wine On Show Trophy: Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc Ros+¬ 2009
This award celebrates wines the judges regarded as ground-breaking and innovative and rewards creativity in the winemaking process.
The Top Producer Trophy: Ntida Cellars
This is the first year that this trophy was awarded ?+¦-+???+¦-ú?-¦?+¦-ú?+¦+¦ specifically for the highest percentage of medals won per number of entries into the competition. Ntida cellars in Durbanville excelled by winning this category.
“Noticeably the 2009 competition attracted a substantial number of new producers, as well as unusual cultivars such as Tannat, Nebbiolo and Barbera. Innovative wine styles were also entered for instance white Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc and a Malbec Noble Late Harvest. This shows that South African winemakers are permanently innovating,” Sue van Wyk added. Sue has been on the judging panel for the Michelangelo International Wine Awards since the inception of the competition 13 years ago.
Lorraine Immelman-Steyn added, “The Michelangelo Wine Awards is now firmly established on the South African wine calendar. With wine production increasing world wide, local wine producers have to work even harder to ensure their share of the local and international market. We aim to help producers identify wines that will appeal to the international palate. Since 2008, the competition has also accepted tank and barrel samples accompanied by independent analysis. We believe that this assists producers to benchmark the quality of their wines.”
The Double Gold Medal winners were:
Rijk’s Private Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (Rijk’s Private Cellar)
Raka Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (Raka)
Flagstone CWG Weather Girl 2006 (Flagstone)
KWV Cathedral Cellar Chardonnay 2007 (KWV)
Nederburg Winemasters Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2008 (Nederburg Wines)
Excelsior Merlot 2008 (Excelsior Estate)
Namaqua Wines Spencer Bay Winemakers Reserve The Blend 2007 (Namaqua Wines)
Music by D’Aria 2008 (D’Aria Winery)
L’Avenir Chenin Blanc 2008 (L’Avenir Estate)
Anura Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2009 (Anura Vineyards)
Quinta do Sul Vintage Port 2008 (Quinta do Sol)
Raka Figurehead 2006 (Raka)
Jason’s Hill Merlot 2007 (Jason’s Hill)
Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest 2007 (Bergkelder)
Arra Shiraz 2004 (Arra Vineyards)
Barton Chenin Blanc 2009 (Barton Vineyards)
De Heuvel Estate Shiraz 2006 (De Heuvel Estate)
Nuy White Muscadel 1986 (Nuy Winery)
AA Badenhorst Shiraz/Mourv+¬dre/Cinsault 2006 (Badenhorst Family Wines)
Graham Beck Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (Graham Beck)
Leopard Frog Midnight Maasai Shiraz 2002 (Leopard Frog Vineyards)
Signatures of Doolhof Pinotage 2007 (Doolhof Wine Estate)
Douglas Green Chardonnay 2008 (Douglas Green Wines)
Rijk’s Private Cellar Pinotage Reserve 2006 (Rijk’s Private Cellar)
Andreas Shiraz 2007 (Andreas Wines)
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Shiraz 2007 (Kleine Zalze)
Ntida Cellars Club Select Sauvignon Blanc 2009 (Ntida Cellars)
Nederburg Private Bin Eminence 2007 (Nederburg Wines)
Rietvallei Juanita Ros+¬ 2008 (Rietvallei Wine Estate)
Rooiberg Sauvignon Blanc 2009 (Rooiberg Winery)
Jason’s Creek Classic Red 2007 (Jason’s Hill)
Graham Beck Pheasants’ Run Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (Graham Beck Wines)
KWV Cathedral Cellar Triptych 2006 (KWV)
African Pride Lady Anne Barnard Sauvignon Blanc 2009, (African Pride Wines)
Morkel Atticus, 2005 (Bellevue Wine Estate)
Boland Cellar Reserve No 1 Pinotage 2008 (Boland Cellar)
Idiom Cabernet Sauvignon/Pinotage/Merlot/Petit Verdot, 2006 (Da Capo)
Lourensford Estate Viognier 2008 (Lourensford)
Marianne Wine Estate Cape Blend 2006 (Marianne Wine Estate)
Nederburg Private Bin D270 Chardonnay 2007 (Nederburg Wines)
Zorgvliet Sauvignon Blanc 2009 (Zorgvliet Wines)
Nuy Red Muscadel 1988 (Nuy Winery)
Montagu Wine & Spirits Company Vintage Port 2007 (Uitvlucht)
Grundheim Late Bottled Vintage 2004 (Grundheim Wines)
La Motte Millennium 2006 (La Motte)
Signatures of Doolhof Malbec 2007 (Doolhof Wine Estate)
Al+¬e Bleue Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2006 (All+¬e Bleue Wines)
Fleur du Cap Semillon Unfiltered 2008 (The Bergkelder)
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