Ten superb Sauvignon Blanc wines were lauded today (Thursday, 13 September) when the results of the 2012 FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc competition were announced.
The competition, presented by the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group of South Africa (SBIG) with sponsorship provided by FNB, celebrates the quality, diversity and regionality of this white wine cultivar which has over the last decade become South Africa’s favourite white grape variety.
Five experienced judges had the challenging task of tasting 195 entered wines (compared to 169 in 2011) in order to first select the Top 20 and then to whittle it down to the exclusive group of 10, representing the wines that the judges agreed showed the most distinctive features of South African Sauvignon Blanc, while maintaining elegance, clean fruit expression and overall balance.
The 2012 winners (7 from the 2012 vintage and 3 from 2011) are:
· Clos Malverne Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2011
· De Morgenzon DMZ Western Cape Sauvignon Blanc 2012
· Diemersdal MM Louw Durbanville Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (wooded)
· Driehoek Cederberg Sauvignon Blanc 2012
· Du Toitskloof Western Cape Sauvignon Blanc 2012
· Groote Post Darling Sauvignon Blanc 2012
· Lomond Pincushion Cape Agulhas Sauvignon Blanc 2011
· Neethlingshof Single Vineyard Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2012
· Simonsig Sunbird 73% Stellenbosch & 27% Darling Sauvignon Blanc 2012
· Virgin Earth Pepper Tree Langeberg-Garcia Sauvignon Blanc 2012
“The Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 competition was initiated to promote innovation and excellence and we undoubtedly found those characteristics in these ten wines,” says judging panel chairperson and wine writer Christian Eedes. “The fact that the ten winning wines originate from very different producing areas including Cape Agulhas, Breedekloof, Cederberg, Darling, Durbanville, Elgin, Langeberg-Garcia and Stellenbosch gives a clear indication that South Africa’s great diversity of macro and micro climates allow for a broad range of Sauvignon Blanc styles.”
According to Eedes, Sauvignon Blanc lovers can choose between a wide spectrum of flavour profiles and wine styles, including green and herbaceous, yellow fruit/tropical fruit, flinty and mineral, blackcurrant and elderberry, or wines that have been subjected to some oak, either being barrel fermented or matured. “Obviously, some of these are more mainstream and others more esoteric, with ‘green’ and ‘fruity’ being the most prevalent,” he says.
Eedes was joined by Miguel Chan, sommelier for the Tsogo Sun hotel group, Richard Kershaw MW of Richard Kershaw Wines, Mark Norrish, general manager of the Ultra Liquors wine division and Erika Obermeyer of Graham Beck Wines and chairperson of SBIG.
Panellist Erika Obermeyer’s general impression of this year’s entries is that a significant shift in style from greener (pyrazine-derived) flavours towards more tropical fruit (thiol-derived) flavours was evident. “I suspect that winemakers endeavoured to attain greater drinkability in this way,” she says. “Ultimately however it should be about the balance and synergy between these two compounds.”
Mark Norrish indicated some concern about the ultra-green flavours in some wines which can correspond to ultra-acidity. “Consumers are increasingly coming out against Sauvignon Blanc’s high acidity and producers can head this off by adding Semillon up to the 15% maximum level. This not only softens the acidity but adds another dimension to the wine,” Norrish explains.
Several esther-driven wines (very pretty but destined to be short-lived) performed well. According to Richard Kershaw these wines inevitably show very well when young but do tend to lose their fruit rather quickly. “Wine lovers should be advised to drink and enjoy sooner than later.”
“The wines featuring more oxidative handling, extended lees contact and oak fermentation and maturation definitely have a part to play but would always remain niche and appeal to a small segment of the market,” indicates Kershaw.
According to Francois Marais, Head of Agriculture at FNB, competition most often brings out the best performances in an industry. “The FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 competition encourages the creation of superb wines and promotes a cultivar despite times of difficult financial challenges on the local and international front.”
An FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc pack, including one bottle of each of the winning wines, will be sold through the Wade Bales Wine Society in limited quantities, as some of the wines in the Top 10 were produced in very small volumes.
Contact the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group (SBIG) for any further information on the 2012 FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc Competition:
Pieter de Waal
Secretary: SBIG
+27 (0)83 357 3864
E-mail: sbig@dw.co.za
