Maverick Cape Brandy continues SA's international winning streak

Joseph Barry Cape Pot Still Brandy Ten competed against no less than nine South African brandies in the final taste-off for the trophy, together with brandy from France, Australia and the USA. Adding to Southern Cape Vineyards' impressive achievement is the double whammy for their Barry and Nephews Muscat - which garnered Gold together with Best in Class - while Joseph Barry Five took Silver.

"I am particularly pleased that a Cape brandy was voted tops in the year that the IWSC celebrates the 40th year of this competition, commented Dave Hughes, a qualified distiller and leading independent local representative on wine and spirits tasting panels internationally (including the IWSC). IWSC is regarded as the most 'senior' of its kind and was also the first to recognise brandy as a category in itself worthy of a trophy for 'best in the world'."

Both Hughes and South African Brandy Foundation chairperson Dr Caroline Snyman highlighted another aspect of this year's result. Said Snyman: "What this tremendous achievement by the Joseph Barry Cape Pot Still Brandy Ten in winning this prestigious title also proves, is that the excellence of our brandy quality has a broad base. It's not just one or two of our big brandy producers winning this coveted award; no fewer than five different producers have been thus recognised in just the past decade or so."

Others from South Africa to have won the trophy as ‘best brandy in the world' in the past are Van Ryn, KWV, Oude Molen and Backsberg. Since the inception of the worldwide best brandy trophy in 1984, Cape brandies have won the award 11 times - and an impressive eight times since 1999. Snyman points out: "This year's excellent results at this and other international competitions confirm the consistently outstanding quality of SA brandy in the global drinks arena.'

Other South African brandies awarded both Gold and Best in Class are: Van Ryn's Viceroy five year Old Brandy; Van Ryn's 12 Year Old Distillers Reserve, Van Ryn 20 Year Old Collectors Reserve and Olof Bergh Solera Brandy. KWV Founders Reserve Pot still Brandy, KWV 20 Year Old Pot still Brandy and Van Ryn 10 Year Old Vintage Brandy took Gold.

Only brandies officially designated Cognac are not included in the IWSC evaluation, although South African brandies follow the same stringent set of production methods as those in the Charentes. These range from grape vinification guidelines through double distillation in copper pot stills and maturation in small French oak barrels. Strict minimums of style and standards of quality are set locally to ensure stylistic authenticity in three specific categories of brandy (blended, pot still and vintage).

The Joseph Barry Cape Pot Still Brandy Ten is made from Colombar and St- Emilion (Ugni Blanc). Both grape varieties are traditionally recognised (and officially sanctioned for Cognac) as ideal for the making of fine brandy. "The wine was distilled twice in a Woudberg copper pot and the distillate matured in French oak for several years, as is the practice for our other two potstill brandies, Joseph Barry Five and Joseph Barry Muscat," according to Ferdi Smit, operations manager: brandy at Barrydale Cellars SCV.

"But through the years there had always been this one batch of brandy that turned out to be distinctly different from the rest of the Joseph Barry family, which had us baffled; a non-conformist, a loner, a rebel even," added Riaan Marais, CEO of Southern Cape Vineyards. So it was decided to leave this batch in barrel and watch its development.

"This was the one that eventually revealed itself as having the makings of a 10-year-old; it simply needed time to show its true character."

Judging by the tasting notes of the judging panel this ‘maverick' from the Klein Karoo had transformed into bright gold, with an aroma attack of ripe fruit. "The pace slackens a bit and vanilla becomes apparent while a great floral backing builds up. Pretty spectacular mouth with deep fruit flavours edged by the sweet spice of vanilla. Silky flow across the palate with fine, lively texture. Well integrated and complex mouth with good balance. Some hints of fruitcake lead into a floral, dry finish.'

Only a limited quantity of the award-winning Joseph Barry Cape Pot Still Brandy Ten (some 3,000 bottles) were made. It's available directly from the Barrydale Cellar, just outside the tiny Klein Karoo hamlet of Barrydale on the R62 Brandy Route, at R350 a bottle, or from a select few fine liquor stores including Wine Concepts, Caroline's Fine Wine Cellar and Morgan Wines in Cape Town. It can also be ordered online at www.barrydalewines.co.za.

The team at Barrydale Cellar is monitoring the development of another distinctive batch with the potential to carry the 10-year-old label. Says Marais: "If we're lucky, it'll be in three years' time; but with brandy you never know…."

The Joseph Barry Cape Pot Still Brandy Ten will be hailed at the official awards ceremony to be held on 26 November 2009 at the historic Guildhall in London.

All results are available on www.iwsc.net.

Errieda du Toit PR
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