The 2013 lineup of rare and exclusive wines to go under the hammer at the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction at the Spier Conference Centre in Stellenbosch on Saturday, 5 October, has received outstanding ratings from two leading wine commentators in New York with the vast majority breaking the venerable 90 point barrier.
James Molesworth, Senior Editor of Wine Spectator, gave 38 of the 50 auction wines tasted a score of 90 points or more on the magazine’s famous 100-point scale. Another respected wine critic in the USA, Steve Tanzer of the authoritative International Wine Cellar, scored 38 of the 48 wines tasted 90 points or higher. Both reviewed only new wines on auction this year and excluded Méthode Cap Classique, port and brandy from their tastings.
Molesworth’s “standout” Guild auction wines this year are red blends from winemakers Abrie Beeslaar of Kanonkop, Louis Strydom of Ernie Els Wines and Coenie Snyman of Rust en Vrede. His top scoring wine on 94 points is the Kanonkop CWG Paul Saul Sauer 2010, followed by Ernie Els CWG 2011 and Rust en Vrede CWG Estate 2010 both on 93 points. Molesworth also felt that red and white Rhône varieties made a strong showing singling out both Adi Badenhorst’s wines, the AA Badenhorst Family Wines White Grenache Vuilgoed 3 2012 with a score of 92 points and the AA Badenhorst Family Wines L.D.R. Shiraz 2011 on 91 points.
Tanzer who described the 2013 Guild auction as a “terrific buying opportunity for American wine lovers interested in picking up some scarce and excellent South African wines from some of the country’s most talented winemakers”, awarded his top score of 93 points to the Ernie Els CWG 2011, David Nieuwoudt’s Cederberg Teen die Hoog Shiraz 2011, and the AA Badenhorst Family Wines L.D.R. Shiraz 2011.
Top scoring wines Molesworth Tanzer
Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2010 94 92
Ernie Els CWG 2011 93 93
Rust en Vrede CWG Estate 2010 93 91
AA Badenhorst Family Wines L.D.R. Shiraz 2011 91 93
Cederberg Teen die Hoog Shiraz 2011 92 93
Luddite “Just Alice” Shiraz Mourvèdre 2010 92 92
Neil Ellis Auction Reserve 2011 92 91
Teddy Hall Eva (Krotoa) Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest 2012 92 91
Hermanuspietersfontein Vloekskoot Sauvignon Blanc 2012 92 91
Miles Mossop Wines Maximilian 2011 92 91
Neil Ellis Auction Reserve Pinotage 2011 91 92
Simonsig “The Russety One” Roussanne 2012 91 92
AA Badenhorst Family Wines White Grenache Vuilgoed 3 2012 92 90
Cape Point Vineyards Auction Reserve White 2012 92 90
Etienne le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Auction Reserve 2010 92 90
Edgebaston Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2011 90 92
Rijk’s CWG Shiraz 2011 90 92
Hartenberg Auction Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 92 89
Spier Auction Reserve Frans K Smit 2010 92 89
Saronsberg Die Erf Shiraz 2011 91 92
Boekenhoutskloof Syrah Auction Reserve 2011 91 91
Simonsig Heirloom Shiraz 2011 91 91
Sijnn Syrah 2011 91 91
Boschkloof Auction Reserve Syrah 2011 91 90
Bouchard Finlayson Auction Reserve Estate Chardonnay 2012 91 90
Saronsberg CWG Viognier 2011 91 90
Rijk’s CWG Chenin Blanc 2012 91 90
Tokara Tribute 2012 91 90
Waterford Estate Chardonnay Auction Reserve 2011 91 90
Beyerskloof Traildust Pinotage 2011 90 91
Jordan Chardonnay Auction Reserve 2012 90 91
John Loubser Thirteen 2011 90 91
Ataraxia Under The Gavel Chardonnay 2012 91 89
Paul Cluver The Wagon Trail Chardonnay 2012 91 89
The Drift We’re Here 2011 89 91
Hartenberg Auction Reserve Shiraz 2010 90 90
Vriesenhof Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 90 90
Kaapzicht Cape Blend 2010 90 89
Kleine Zalze 3 Expressions 2010 90 89
Nitida Sauvignon Blanc Barrel Twenty Eight 2013 89 90
Groot Constantia Auction Reserve Shiraz 2010 89 90
De Grendel Wooded Sauvignon Blanc 2013 89 90
Lanner Hill Double Barrel White 2012 90 88
Paul Cluver CWG Pinot Noir 2011 88 90
Teddy Hall Maria van Swaanswijk Auction Reserve Chardonnay 2012 88 90
The 29th Nedbank CWG Auction, conducted by Henré Hablutzel of Hofmeyr Mills Auctioneers for the 16th consecutive year, is open to the public and will be held at the Spier Conference Centre in the Stellenbosch Winelands from 09h00 on Saturday, 5 October 2013.
Prospective buyers who are unable to attend the auction, can either register in advance and take advantage of the Guild’s telephonic and proxy bidding facilities, or register with www.the-saleroom.com to bid online on the day.
For further details and to attend the Auction, visit www.capewinemakersguild.com or contact the Guild Office on Tel: 021 852 0408 or info@capewinemakersguild.com.
