As with each year a large number of people attended
Friday night’s WineX event. This year the wine festival saw wine enthusiasts on
the Wednesday evening, many corporate business people and trade on the Thursday
evening and Friday evening’s attendance being traditionally those wine lovers
winding down after a busy week at the office. And what better way to do just
that than to chat & mingle with crowds of wine lovers having the pleasure
of selecting from up to 170 wine producers wonderful ranges of red and white
wines to taste at leisure. Plus having the opportunity to view some very
innovative presentation such as Checkers ‘Wine Route & Odd Bins” exhibit as
well as the eye catching Vrede en Lust wine tables. Clever marketing and word association
has carried the quality wine of Boekenhoutskloof’s
Chocolate Block far and if emulated well popularity
of other brands with similar themes are likely to take off.
My Top Red & White South African Wines @ Winex
I arrived at 6pm and did unfortunately not taste as many of the wines as I would have liked to have tasted. I did however thoroughly enjoy the majority of those that I did taste. My top red for the night was the Rustenberg Peter Barlow 2007 (100% Cabernet Sauvignon). I loved the upfront concentrated cassis & black cherries which followed through onto the palate. It was in fact my first wine of the night and one that had impressed me a number of years ago. It again won me over and sealed the deal for the night. Even the John X Merriman also from the Rustenberg range with a similar ranking did not supersede the Peter Barlow.
My favourite white wine of the evening was the Eagles Nest Sauvignon Blanc 2010 which was extremely elegant, fresh with layers of subtle fruit and minerality. There were several other superb wines. Based on the public voting results it would appear that presentation played a key role in the outcome in some of the results.
I arrived at 6pm and did unfortunately not taste as many of the wines as I would have liked to have tasted. I did however thoroughly enjoy the majority of those that I did taste. My top red for the night was the Rustenberg Peter Barlow 2007 (100% Cabernet Sauvignon). I loved the upfront concentrated cassis & black cherries which followed through onto the palate. It was in fact my first wine of the night and one that had impressed me a number of years ago. It again won me over and sealed the deal for the night. Even the John X Merriman also from the Rustenberg range with a similar ranking did not supersede the Peter Barlow.
My favourite white wine of the evening was the Eagles Nest Sauvignon Blanc 2010 which was extremely elegant, fresh with layers of subtle fruit and minerality. There were several other superb wines. Based on the public voting results it would appear that presentation played a key role in the outcome in some of the results.
South Africa has earned itself a Sauvignon Blanc reputation
with almost 10% of total plantings being attributed to Sauvignon. Designed to be
drunk (mostly) within two years of its production and essentially well chilled.
The best areas of planting producing the ideal results are Constantia (where Eagles
Nest is situated), Darling, Elim and Elgin. I also enjoyed the Sauvignon Blanc
wine from the Creation range. Click on link to view Winex photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/click-ka-ching/sets/72157631865579580/show/
The Rustenberg Peter
Barlow 2007 (Cabernet Sauvignon) wine derives its name from the man who bought the
property and lovingly restored it to become a South African icon in the wine
industry. This year this iconic Stellenbosch estate on the slopes of the
Simonsberg celebrates 70 years of Barlow ownership. MD, Simon Barlow was one of
a few wine estate owners and wine makers present at Winex on Friday evening.
Rustenberg Peter Barlow 2007 Accolades
International Wine Challenge 2012
– Silver Medal; Silver – Decanter World Wine Awards 2012
TOP 100 South African Wines 2011; 4½ Stars in 2011 John Platter Wine Guide
Robert Parker Rating August 2011 – 93 Points
TOP 100 South African Wines 2011; 4½ Stars in 2011 John Platter Wine Guide
Robert Parker Rating August 2011 – 93 Points
Maturation Potential: 10 – 15
years from vintage
