48 wines in 34th Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction lineup

The 2018 auction lineup comprises 31 red wines, 14 white wines, two Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) wines, and one port-style wine, making up the tally of 2,012 cases. Last year, a total of 2, 962 cases went under the hammer.

Neil Ellis

“It is encouraging to see that our Guild members are really focused on quality and innovation. There is a strong showing of traditionally styled wines, such as Cabernet blends, Shiraz and Pinot Noir, and it is great to see some members pushing the boundaries with unusual varieties such as Grenache Blanc, Mourvèdre and Tempranillo. The Nedbank CWG Auction is the ultimate showcase for our members who are serious about producing and selecting only the best quality, even if this results in a smaller auction,” says Boela Gerber, CWG chairperson.

His sentiments are shared by auction selection convener Neil Ellis: “This year’s auction once again embraces innovation, classic styling, and consistency of quality. Of particular interest will be the standout reds of the 2015 vintage.”

2018 line-up

In the 2018 lineup of 14 white wines, Chardonnay is once again the biggest category with five entries, followed by blends and Chenin Blanc with two each. Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Semillon Gris, Grenache Blanc, and Riesling each have one wine on auction.

Bordeaux-style blends are the strongest category with eight wines in the red wine selection, which comprises 31 entries this year. Next in line is Shiraz with six, followed by Pinot Noir with five wines. Cabernet Sauvignon and non-Bordeaux blends both have three wines on auction, with two Pinotages on offer. The rest of the auction reds are Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Mourvèdre and Tempranillo with one entry each.

Two vintage offerings make up the Méthode Cap Classique category this year. Pieter Ferreira’s Graham Beck Cuvée 105 ‘MGA’ Zero Dosage 2009 Pinot Noir Chardonnay Cap Classique owes its name to the 105 months (eight years and nine months) that the wine spent on the lees. The other auction MCC is John Loubser’s Silverthorn Wines Big Dog IV Méthode Cap Classique 2013.

Port-style wine makes a comeback this year with Carel Nel‘s Boplaas Cape Vintage Auction Reserve 2015. This vintage is widely held as one of the best years for Cape Vintage production in the last three decades.

Auction faithfuls back with new vintages among the reds include Boekenhoutskloof Syrah Auction Reserve 2016, Boschkloof Epilogue Syrah 2016, De Grendel Op Die Berg Pinot Noir 2016, Edgebaston Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2015, Etienne le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Auction Reserve 2015, Gottfried Mocke Wine Projects Pinot Noir 2017, Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Auction Reserve 2015, Hartenberg CWG Auction Shiraz 2015, Jordan Sophia 2015, Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2015, Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Windansea Pinot Noir 2017, Rijk’s CWG Pinotage 2015, Rust en Vrede CWG Auction Estate 2015, Saronsberg CWG Shiraz Reserve 2015, Simonsig Heirloom Shiraz 2016, and Villiera Drip Barrel Cabernet Franc 2016.

New blends to make their appearance among the auction reds include Rianie Strydom’s Strydom Family Wines The Game Changer Cabernet Franc-Merlot 2015, the Spier Frans K Smit 20-Year Celebration 2015, and Miles Mossop Wines Maximilian 2013.

New vintages among established white wines include Ataraxia Under The Gavel Chardonnay 2017, Bartho Eksteen Vloekskoot Sauvignon Blanc – Wooded 2017, Jordan CWG Chardonnay 2017, Nicky Versfeld Mia Semillon 2017, Paul Cluver The Wagon Trail Chardonnay 2017, Rijk’s CWG Chenin Blanc 2016, and Waterford Estate ‘1988 Kept Aside’ Chardonnay 2017.

Other interesting white wines to make their return include Simonsig Die Kluisenaar Roussanne Marsanne 2016, DeMorgenzon Grenache Blanc 2017, Hartenberg CWG Auction Riesling 2016, as well as the Mullineux ‘The Gris’ Semillon – Old Vines 2017 from a vineyard planted in 1955.

To find out more, visit: www.capewinemakersguild.com, email moc.dliugsrekameniwepac@ofni or call +27 (0)21 852 0408.

Tickets cost R350 per person including a tasting glass, can be purchased via www.webtickets.co.za.