Duncan Savage (Cape Point Vineyards) opnieuw bekroond.......
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
This time as the winemaker whose Cape Point 2004 Sauvignon Blanc was chosen as the winning wine in the 16th annual Bartho Eksteen Sauvignon Blanc Celebration.
Unanimously chosen by a panel of international and local judges and independent public aficionados of this much loved cultivar, Duncan's prowess as winemaker is undisputed.
This year's Sauvignon Blanc Celebration saw a record 169 local wines enter the event, of which 10 made it to the final taste-off against 10 wines from Australia, New Zealand, France and Chili.
No one was more proud and excited about Duncan's accomplishment than the Sage of Sauvignon Blanc, Hermanuspietersfontein winemaker and initiator of the Celebration, Bartho Eksteen. "The whole idea of the Sauvignon Blanc Celebration is to benchmark local styles of Sauvignon Blanc against the best the world has to offer. As local winemakers we must look beyond the norm and measure ourselves against the best. In the wake of the Diner's Club Winemaker of the Year debacle, it is clear and evident: Duncan Savage is the man!"
In the crazy quagmire of entry details and rules Duncan had to step down as Winemaker of the Year because his winery was unable to meet the minimum stock requirement of Cape Point's 5 Star white blend, 2006 Isliedh. What a great pity - a winning wine gets judged by available stock levels as opposed to unique character and winemaking skills.
A great wine sells itself, as was evident in this case. It is just a pity that the winemaker could not yield recognition for the contribution he makes to the local producers' industry. This is why Bartho Eksteen was so elated when Duncan's wine came out tops in his Sauvignon Blanc Celebration.
"From day one, 16 years ago, the objective of the Celebration was to give recognition to the wine which stands out proud amongst the best. My passion is Sauvignon Blanc, and it is a very competitive and complex cultivar. Over the last 16 years we have seen many new entrants into the Sauvignon Blanc category and we're seeing some world class wines being made in South Africa today," says Eksteen.
An impressive seven of the local wines were rated in the top 10. It is fair to say the South African wines strongly held their own against the best of the world and to this end the wines which made it to the Celebration tasting should all be saluted as winners in their own right!
Under the circumstances Duncan Savage need not be "a better, more humble man" - to the contrary he and all 10 the winemakers whose wines were tasted in the Sauvignon Blanc Celebration must be applauded for their passion and brand of winemaking.
This time as the winemaker whose Cape Point 2004 Sauvignon Blanc was chosen as the winning wine in the 16th annual Bartho Eksteen Sauvignon Blanc Celebration.
Unanimously chosen by a panel of international and local judges and independent public aficionados of this much loved cultivar, Duncan's prowess as winemaker is undisputed.
This year's Sauvignon Blanc Celebration saw a record 169 local wines enter the event, of which 10 made it to the final taste-off against 10 wines from Australia, New Zealand, France and Chili.
No one was more proud and excited about Duncan's accomplishment than the Sage of Sauvignon Blanc, Hermanuspietersfontein winemaker and initiator of the Celebration, Bartho Eksteen. "The whole idea of the Sauvignon Blanc Celebration is to benchmark local styles of Sauvignon Blanc against the best the world has to offer. As local winemakers we must look beyond the norm and measure ourselves against the best. In the wake of the Diner's Club Winemaker of the Year debacle, it is clear and evident: Duncan Savage is the man!"
In the crazy quagmire of entry details and rules Duncan had to step down as Winemaker of the Year because his winery was unable to meet the minimum stock requirement of Cape Point's 5 Star white blend, 2006 Isliedh. What a great pity - a winning wine gets judged by available stock levels as opposed to unique character and winemaking skills.
A great wine sells itself, as was evident in this case. It is just a pity that the winemaker could not yield recognition for the contribution he makes to the local producers' industry. This is why Bartho Eksteen was so elated when Duncan's wine came out tops in his Sauvignon Blanc Celebration.
"From day one, 16 years ago, the objective of the Celebration was to give recognition to the wine which stands out proud amongst the best. My passion is Sauvignon Blanc, and it is a very competitive and complex cultivar. Over the last 16 years we have seen many new entrants into the Sauvignon Blanc category and we're seeing some world class wines being made in South Africa today," says Eksteen.
An impressive seven of the local wines were rated in the top 10. It is fair to say the South African wines strongly held their own against the best of the world and to this end the wines which made it to the Celebration tasting should all be saluted as winners in their own right!
Under the circumstances Duncan Savage need not be "a better, more humble man" - to the contrary he and all 10 the winemakers whose wines were tasted in the Sauvignon Blanc Celebration must be applauded for their passion and brand of winemaking.
