CAPE LEGENDS SHINES AT MICHELANGELO
Wines in the Cape Legends portfolio have excelled at this year’s Michelangelo International Wine Awards, coming away with two Grand d’Or distinctions for the 2007 Lomond Sugarbush Single-Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc and the 2004 Stellenzicht Syrah, as well as four gold medals.
The gold medallists were the 2007 Lomond Pincushion Single-Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, the 2007 Alto Shiraz, the 2009 Neethlingshof Caracal and the 2010 Uitkyk Sauvignon Blanc.
There were also three silvers awarded. Two of these went to Lomond’s Pincushion Single-Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc of the 2010 and 2011 vintages, and the third to the 2011 Neethlingshof Short Story Collection The Maria Noble Late Harvest.
Cape Legends marketing manager Lize-Marie Gradwell said Lomond’s whites have continued to attract critical acclaim.
She said the 2007 vintage had proven to be an exceptional one for Lomond’s single-vineyard Sauvignon blancs. “They seem to be getting better as they get older. After four years both are displaying a wonderful richness of flavour and should, according to winemaker, Kobus Gerber, hold their own for another four years.”
The 2007 Sugarbush won the trophy for the best Sauvignon blanc at the annual Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show in 2009 and then repeated this feat in 2011 at the same show, this time in the museum class. The 2007 Pincushion in turn was adjudged the best Sauvignon blanc worldwide, selling for less than £10 in 2008 in the Decanter World Wine Awards.
Wayne Gabb, general manager and viticulturist of Lomond ascribes the longevity of the wines mainly to the slow ripening of the grapes in the cool climate of the area. “Because of the long hang-time there is a natural build-up of high acids combined with a low pH so that the inherent characteristics of the wine only start coming to the fore after 18 months.”
The 2004 Stellenzicht Syrah which brought home for Cape Legends its second Grand d’Or, is the flagship wine of this estate situated in the famous Golden Triangle between Stellenbosch and Somerset West known for the exceptional quality of its grapes. Stellenzicht was one of the estates contributing most to the upsurge in the quality of wines made from this varietal in South Africa. This particular vintage of the Stellenzicht Syrah, made from the grapes of a single vineyard, also won winemaker Guy Webber a Grand d’Or at Michelangelo in 2008.
DATE September 13, 2011
ISSUED BY DKC (De Kock Communications)
FOR Cape Legends
QUERIES Lize-Marie Gradwell, Cape Legends (021) 809 7000
Tessa de Kock /Marlise Potgieter, DKC (021) 422 2690
Kind regards
Marlise Potgieter
De Kock Communications (DKC)
Tel: +27 21 422 2690
Fax/Faks: +27 86 610 5388
Cell/Sel: +27 72 562 5307
E-mail/E-pos: marlise@dkc.co.za
