Paul Cluver Chardonnay takes Decanter Trophy
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Elgin's Paul Cluver Estate has won "a huge accolade" in the words of Lyn Day, Decanter's World Wines Award executive, at the 2008 Decanter World Wine Awards recently announced at the London International Wine Trade Fair - a gold medal.
The Paul Cluver Chardonnay 2007 won the Decanter Regional trophy for the best South African Chardonnay under 10 pounds.
It was one of just 97 wines out of 36,000 bottles covering over 9,000 varietals entered to win a regional trophy.
The judges, which included Cape Wine Master Vashti Galpin, John Avery, Greg Sherwood MW, Maria Gallup - wine buyer for the Co-Operative, and Lynne Sheriff MW and Regional Chair, commented that, "The South African results show marked improvement in terms of winemaking skill, with a continued move away from over-extracted and over-oaked red wines and Chardonnays".
Paul Cluver winemaker, Andries Burger, is delighted the judges agreed with his assessment when the wine was released earlier this year, that it is "classic Chardonnay".
"There is great balance between fruit and wood, and the citrus aromas and hints of ripe peaches and pineapple integrate with the oak's toasted nuttiness to produce wonderful elegance," he says.
This award follows other industry acknowledgement of Paul Cluver Chardonnay such as four and a half stars in John Platter; four in Grape and Decanter; commendations at the International Wine Challenge; gold medal at the Chardonnay du Monde and Michelangelo; silver and bronze medals at Decanter and Air France trophies and competition; listings in premium cabins in KLM and SAA, and 91 points in Wine Spectator.
Elgin's Paul Cluver Estate has won "a huge accolade" in the words of Lyn Day, Decanter's World Wines Award executive, at the 2008 Decanter World Wine Awards recently announced at the London International Wine Trade Fair - a gold medal.
The Paul Cluver Chardonnay 2007 won the Decanter Regional trophy for the best South African Chardonnay under 10 pounds.
It was one of just 97 wines out of 36,000 bottles covering over 9,000 varietals entered to win a regional trophy.
The judges, which included Cape Wine Master Vashti Galpin, John Avery, Greg Sherwood MW, Maria Gallup - wine buyer for the Co-Operative, and Lynne Sheriff MW and Regional Chair, commented that, "The South African results show marked improvement in terms of winemaking skill, with a continued move away from over-extracted and over-oaked red wines and Chardonnays".
Paul Cluver winemaker, Andries Burger, is delighted the judges agreed with his assessment when the wine was released earlier this year, that it is "classic Chardonnay".
"There is great balance between fruit and wood, and the citrus aromas and hints of ripe peaches and pineapple integrate with the oak's toasted nuttiness to produce wonderful elegance," he says.
This award follows other industry acknowledgement of Paul Cluver Chardonnay such as four and a half stars in John Platter; four in Grape and Decanter; commendations at the International Wine Challenge; gold medal at the Chardonnay du Monde and Michelangelo; silver and bronze medals at Decanter and Air France trophies and competition; listings in premium cabins in KLM and SAA, and 91 points in Wine Spectator.
