New York commends Cape Winemakers Guild Auction wines

The wines for this year's Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction have received outstanding ratings with most breaking the 90 point barrier in two tastings held in New York recently.

28 Sep 2011

Of the 46 auction wines tasted, leading wine commentator James Molesworth, senior editor of Wine Spectator, gave 37 a score of 90 points or better on the magazine's famous 100-point scale.

Another respected wine critic, Steve Tanzer of International Wine Cellar, who found the average level of quality of the wines higher than ever before, gave 34 of the 44 wines tasted 90 points or more in a similar tasting.

"From intriguing white wines to compelling reds and from offbeat varieties to traditional blends, the annual auction typically represents the cusp of winemaking trends in South Africa," says Molesworth in his review posted on the magazine's website, entitled "46 Cutting-edge South African Wines".

Wine Spectator choices

All rated at 93 points, Molesworth selects:

De Trafford Perspective 2008
De Trafford Sijnn Touriga Nacional 2009 (92 points)
Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2008
Louis Nel Rebel Rebel 2009
Louis Nel Turtles All The Way Down 2009
Jordan Chardonnay Auction Reserve 2010

International Wine Cellar selection

Ernie Els CWG 2009 - 94 points
Waterford Estate 2009 Auction Reserve BB - 93 points
Pieter Ferreira's Muscat de Frontignan - 93
Graham Beck Three Thousand and One Nights 2001 - 93

On 92 points:

Bouchard Finlayson Pinot Noir 2009
De Trafford Perspective 2008
De Trafford Sijnn Touriga Nacional 2009
Kanonkop CWG Pinotage 2009
Kleine Zalze Granite Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Louis Nel Turtles All the Way Down 2009
Louis Nel Rebel Rebel 2009
Cape Point Vineyards Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Groot Constantia CWG White 2010
Edgebaston Chardonnay "Tete du Ciel" 2009
Jordan Chardonnay Auction Reserve 2010
Rijk's CWG Chenin Blanc 2010

In his review, Tanzer points out, "The recent strength in the US dollar offers American wine lovers an even better opportunity to pick up some scarce and superb South African wines."