We are delighted to advise that both of Morgenster’s 2006 Bordeaux blends excelled in blind tastings conducted under controlled conditions in Germany by Andreas Larsson and Markus Del Monego, highly experienced sommeliers. Each has achieved the prestigious Best Sommelier in the World title.
The results were published in Tasted Journal #8 of November 2012.
1. Results of the South African blind tasting. Copy of TASTED Journal article attached.
Morgenster 2006 has the highest rating in Stellenbosch with 94.5 points, and was the highest rated Bordeaux blend of the different regions tasted:
94,5 Morgenster
Full bodied, elegant, classic, dry 2006
Andréas LARSSON - Developed, ruby red colour; beautiful nose, intense with notes of smoke, truffle, wild berries and fine oak; the palate has sweet fruit, a soft but mouth filling structure, very lingering and complex aftertaste - a splendid example. 94
Markus del MONEGO - Dark, purple red with garnet red hue and black centre. Opulent and elegant, a wine with freshness in a classic style. Aromas reminiscent of blackcurrant, plums, vanilla, mild spices and balmy note. On the palate well structured with good length, well integrated tannins, great balance and a touch of minerality adding to the complexity of the wine. 95
Morgenster Lourens River Valley 2006 is third in Stellenbosch and one of the four top Bordeaux blends tasted with 92.5 points: 92,5 Morgenster Lourens River Valley, Full bodied, elegant, classic, dry 2006
Andréas LARSSON - Slightly developed, ruby red. Very appealing, classic nose - Bordeaux like with leather, tobacco, blackcurrant and spices. The palate is full and has serious structure, attractive level of complexity, finely grained tannin, complex spiciness, plenty of flavour intensity and very good length; a complex and refined wine that reminds you of fine Bordeaux. 92
Markus del MONEGO - Dark, purple red with garnet red hue. Very elegant nose with ripe and balmy aromas, almost Claret like in style. On the palate clean and well balanced with finely grained tannins and freshness. Good depth and length. A classic style. 93
2. Results of the Top 200 wines and spirits. Copy of TASTED Journal article attached.
This Top 200 wines and spirits list is a useful and easily accessible tool of the 200 best performing products as discerned by the combined tasting skills and experience of Andreas Larsson and Markus Del Monego since they started tasting together for TASTED Journal.
Morgenster 2006 is listed 36th and Morgenster Lourens River Valley 2006 is at 103rd in the Top 200 list. There are only three South African wines featuring in the top 200 list, two of them coming from Morgenster.
Morgenster in the Helderberg ward of Stellenbosch is the culmination of the dreams of Giulio Bertrand, the inimitable Italian gentleman who made this Cape farm his home and transformed it into a leading wine and olive estate. Its internationally acclaimed red wines and premium extra virgin olive oils and olive products reflect his philosophy of ‘Quality without compromise’.
Morgenster’s Bordeaux-styled red wines have shone in local and international competitions. Since the mid nineties, Giulio Bertrand has had the assistance of Pierre Lurton, president of Château Cheval Blanc and Château d'Yquem and also a director on the board of Morgenster, to consistently produce elegant wines that have the capacity to age well.
www.morgenster.co.za
4. TASTED Journal
Tasted Journal was first established in 2002 in New York in partnership with the American Sommeliers Association, and moved three years later to Bordeaux, the capital of world wine.
It covers upmarket lifestyle articles around wines, spirits, gastronomy, fashion, jewellery, travel, art and cars.
For the first time, two international Best Sommeliers of the World, Markus del Monego (Germany) and Andreas Larsson (Sweden) decided to constitute a blind tasting team.
The objective of these two tasters, who have complementary views and experiences, is to inform the public in a professional and impartial way. Their blind tasting sessions take place several times a year in the highly professional tasting rooms of caveCo in Essen, Germany.
The blind tasting procedure follows very strict specifications, which allow for constant control and reliable reproducibility of the tasting conditions. This way, the tasting results are perfectly comparable. Every month they publish the results of each blind tasting session exclusively in TASTED Journal, a 550.000 copy newsletter that is also available as an e-newsletter.
5. Markus Del Monego and Andreas Larsson.
In 2003 Markus Del Monego was the first, and is still the only, German to hold the title of Sommelier World Champion.
Andreas Larsson received the award for the best Sommelier in the World in 2007.
Andreas Larsson and Markus Del Monego are both highly professional sommeliers with profound and wide experience, as was confirmed by each of them achieving the prestigious Best Sommelier in the World Competition and thus the recognition by their peers in the trade.
