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Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Tasted yesterday

Full tasting notes on Vivino.com









Nederburg Auction 2016 wine collection embraces old with new



The Nederburg Auction:
·       Is recognised as one of the world’s five major wine auctions – alongside the auctions of Hospices de Beaune in France and Kloster Eberbach in Germany.
·       Has a special focus on promoting older South African wines, prompted by its commitment to the preservation and continuation of South Africa’s rich, rare wine heritage.
·       Strives to invest in excellence as South Africa’s leading platform for the sale of rare, premium wines, providing the opportunity for their fair and equitable distribution.

This year’s wine selection for the 42nd Nederburg Auction is set to be one of the most complete style and vintage representations yet of South Africa’s wines, and a veritable snapshot of how South African winemaking styles have evolved over time, says Auction Manager Dalene Steyn.

“Judging from the clear vintage variations our judges are increasingly finding during their selection process, it has become apparent that producers have over time increasingly resisted interfering too much with the grapes.

“It is also clear that increasingly, producers are finding their niche – matching site, soil, vines and slope to produce wines they understand. Both of these factors feed into quality of wines through predictable, repeatable results. And this is what we’re seeing in the auction selection line-up – consistency in quality over several vintages, which goes a long way towards helping the producers build their own unique brand heritages,” she says.

“Our judges were impressed with this vintage continuity over several flights of reds, Noble Late Harvest and Ports, and how these wines evolved and changed over consecutive vintages. This constantly evolving heritage is a tribute to the efforts of our wine makers over the years to produce icon wines – ones that deserve the Nederburg Auction’s unique seal of approval.”

The international panel of judges selected 146 wines, only 39% of the total number of wines submitted. According to their tasting notes, this year’s line-up is defined by ‘perfect balance, intensity, complexity, true expression of soil and grape variety and immense depth’. View all their comments here.

Tasting convenor and sommelier Higgo Jacobs says the increasingly definitive South African wine heritage is a result of wine producers ‘innovating while taking pride in their history – properly embracing who they are as wine producers”.

Evidence of this innovation and new skill level is starting to shine through, says selection group leader Cathy van Zyl. “Investment in vineyards over the last few years is clearly showing in the quality of the wines.”

Fellow selection panel member Roland Peens believes there’s been a change in the style of winemaking in SA from 2009 onwards. “We’ve started to respect the fruit more, using less new oak, making lighter, less alcoholic styles of wine.”

Wine producers in step with this change in style tended to do well in the tough Nederburg Auction selection process, says Steyn. “It was clear from the panel discussion that the judges were very hard on over-ripe, over-oaked wines – but they equally rewarded icon wines that deserve the Auction’s unique seal of approval.”

Several categories of wine performed extremely well at the tasting, with Noble Late Harvest garnering the most praise from the panel ahead of Cap Classique, port, white blends, Chenin, Chardonnay, Cabernet and Semillon.

Steyn says looking at statistics and judges’ comments from previous years, it is clear that we just do not understand how good South African fortified and sweet wines are, particularly the Noble Late Harvest category.

Peens confirms this, saying Noble Late Harvest wines from the sixties, seventies and eighties are outstanding, simple and honest: “Wines 15 years and older hardly show any ageing and can age much longer. This is a category buyers can buy with confidence, especially if they want to further mature it for a special occasion.”

In terms of white wines, Peens also highlights the Chenin Blanc category, which he says showed an incredible depth in quality, and the Chardonnays that remain one of South Africa’s most exciting and top categories. “The white wines on auction all possess impressive complexity, balance and structure for ageing. Buyers can be confident in purchasing these and their ability to age 10 to 15 years.”

This year's 42nd annual Nederburg Auction will take place on Friday and Saturday, 16 and 17 September, at Nederburg winery in Paarl. A total of 146 wines from 79 producers will be auctioned over both days, including debut participants Bayede 7, Fable Vineyard, Glenelly, Jakobs Vineyards, Kershaw Elgin, Kleinood, Seven Springs and Windmeul.

The well-supported Nederburg charity auction will take place straight after the close of the main auction, and all proceeds raised will be donated to two local community organisations, Hope through Action and The Breytenbach Centre. 

The 2016 collection comprises of 73 red wines, 50 white wines, four Muscadels, 11 Noble Late Harvest wines, six Ports and two Méthode Cap Classique. Click here to view a complete list of the 2016 selection.
The annual Nederburg Auction offers an exclusive opportunity for local and international wine buyers to select, taste and bid on a stringently curated range of distinctive South African wines. Prospective buyers keen to register for this year’s event may do so via the website: www.nederburgauction.co.za

The 2016 Nederburg Auction selection is as follows:

Participant
Wines
Vintage
Allesverloren
Shiraz
2002
Almenkerk
Chardonnay
2012
Sauvignon Blanc
2011
Alto
Cabernet Sauvignon
2003
Anura
Méthode Cap Classique Brut
2008
Syrah Mourvèdre Reserve
2003
*Bayede!
7 Icon Chenin Blanc
2013
7 Icon Shiraz
2011
Beaumont
Hope Marguerite
2008
Bloemendal
Kanonberg
2014
Boplaas
Cape Tawny Reserve
1995
Bosman Family Vineyards
Adama White
2010
Calitzdorp
Cellar Vintage Port
2009
Constantia Glen
TWO
2013
De Grendel
Op die Berg Chardonnay
2013
Rubaiyat
2010
De Krans
Cape Vintage Reserve
2005
Delheim
Chardonnay Sur Lie
2011
Edelspatz Noble Late Harvest
2012
Grand Reserve
2007
DeMorgenzon
Reserve Chardonnay
2013
De Toren
Fusion V
2005
De Wetshof
Finesse Chardonnay
1993
Naissance Cabernet Sauvignon
2011
Diemersdal
Private Collection
2011
Distell Tabernacle
Chateau Libertas
1968
Chateau Libertas
1979
Chateau Libertas
1986
Lanzerac Muscat Alexandria
1984
Meerlust
1986
Oude Libertas Cinsaut Noir
1971
Zonnebloem Cabernet Sauvignon
1966
Zonnebloem Pinotage
1976
Zonnebloem Pinotage
1986
Zonnelboem Shiraz
1976
Domaine des Dieux
Chardonnay
2010
Eagle's Nest
Shiraz
2010
Eikendal
Charisma
2011
Classique
2011
Merlot
2011
*Fable Vineyard
Fable Syrah
2010
Fleur du Cap
Unfiltered Semillon
2010
Unfiltered Special White Blend
2011
Unfiltered Viognier
2012
*Glenelly
Lady May
2009
Graham Beck
Coffeestone Cabernet Sauvignon
2009
Grangehurst
Grangehurst
2006
Groot Constantia
Chardonnay
2013
Haskell
Anvil
2010
Iona
One Man Band
2010
*Jakob's Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon
2006
Joubert Tradauw
Jaubert Family Muscat
1800
R62 Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon
2003
JC Le Roux
Scintilla
2003
Jordan
Cobblers Hill
2009
Kanonkop
Pinotage
2003
Pinotage
2006
Ken Forrester
The FMC
2010
*Kershaw Elgin
Clonal Selection Chardonnay
2012
Kleine Zalze
Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
2005
*Kleinood
Tamboerskloof
2009
KWV
Mentors Pinotage
2009
La Couronne
Muscadel
NV
La Motte
Shiraz
2009
Landskroon
Paul de Villiers Cabernet Sauvignon
2011
Lanzerac
Cabernet Sauvignon
1968
Pinotage
1969
L'Avenir
Grand Vin Pinotage
2006
LeBonheur
Cabernet Sauvignon
2001
Lomond
Cat's Tail Syrah
2011
Sauvignon Blanc
2008
Snowbush
2009
Syrah
2006
Meerkat
Pinotage
2009
Monis
Muscadel
2001
Port
1990
Single & Double Seal Port
1948
Morgenster
Reserve
2000
Mount Sutherland
Syrah
2009
Mulderbosch
Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
2012
Sauvignon Blanc Noble Late Harvest
2010
Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc Block S2
2013
Nederburg
II Centuries Sauvignon Blanc
2014
Pinotage
1999
Private Bin D252 Sauvignon blanc
2011
Private Bin D266 Semillon
2012
Private Bin D270 Chardonnay
2009
Private Bin Edelkeur
1979
Private Bin Edelkeur
2006
Private Bin Edelkeur
2009
Private Bin Eminence
1991
Private Bin Eminence
2001
Private Bin Eminence
2005
Private Bin R109 Cabernet Sauvignon
2007
Private Bin R121 Shiraz
1985
Private Bin R121 Shiraz
1999
Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon
1985
Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon
2009
Private Bin R172 Pinotage
2011
Private Bin S316 Weisser Riesling
2003
Private Bin Sauvignon blanc
2007
Reserve Chenin Blanc
2002
Winemasters Reserve Shiraz
2006
Neethlingshof
Neethlingshof Six Flowers
2012
Nitida
Nitida Coronata Integration
2013
Paul Cluver
Seven Flags Pinot Noir
2007
Perdeberg
The Dryland Collection, Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc
2013
Plaisir de Merle
Cabernet Sauvignon
1995
Chardonnay
2010
Shiraz
1998
Raats
Family Chenin Blanc
2009
Remhoogte
Honeybunch Chenin Blanc
2011
Honeybunch Chenin Blanc
2013
Rijk's
Private Cellar Chenin Blanc
2009
Private Cellar Pinotage
2007
Romond
Rebus
2007
Rooiberg
Pinotage Reserve
2011
Rudera
De Tradisie Chenin Blanc
2009
Platinum Cabernet Sauvignon
2007
Robusto Chenin Blanc
2008
*Seven Springs
Chardonnay
2013
Shannon
Rockview Ridge Pinot Noir
2010
Semillon
2012
Signal Hill
Eszenzia
2002
Olympia Kalk Bay Cabernet Franc
2008
Straw Wine
2001
Simonsig
Chenin Avec Chêne
2010
Spier
21 Gable Chenin Blanc
2010
21 Gable Pinotage
2009
Stellenbosch Vineyards
The Flagship Petit Verdot
2010
Stellenrust
48 Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc
2012
Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
2011
Chenin Blanc
2012
Peppergrinder's Shiraz
2010
Stellenzicht
Merlot
1994
Stellenzicht
1994
Tokara
Directors Reserve Red
2005
Uitkyk
Cabernet Sauvignon
2001
Chardonnay
2009
Vergelegen
GVB
2012
Sauvignon Blanc
2012
V
2004
Vergenoegd
Old Cape Colony
1993
Weltevrede
Oupa se Wingerd
1986
*Windmeul
Pinotage Reserve
2010
Zonnebloem
Pinotage
1998

* debut participants


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Distributed by:    Refresh Connect | On behalf of:       Dalene Steyn, Nederburg Auction

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