Bouchard Finlayson Hannibal
Bouchard Finlayson is proud to announce that its Hannibal 2009 and Tête de Cuvée Galpin Peak Pinot Noir 2010 have both won Gold, the highest accolade, at the 2013 Decanter World Wine Awards, which were held in London on Monday 20 May.
The prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards launched in 2004 with just over 4,000 wines, and are now celebrating their 10th anniversary as the world’s leading wine competition. This year, 219 wine experts from 27 countries, including 75 Masters of Wine and 13 Master Sommeliers, gathered in London in April to taste a record-breaking 14,362 wine entries from 52 countries. South Africa entered the third-highest numbers of wines (842), behind Spain with 1616 wines and Australia with 1104. Bouchard Finlayson’s two trophies were amongst a total of 14 awarded to South Africa.
Winemaker and ‘Pinot Pioneer’ Peter Finlayson is delighted with the accolades received for both wines. Explaining Bouchard Finlayson’s Tête de Cuvée Galpin Peak Pinot Noir’s appeal he says that, ‘Tête de Cuvée reflects the winemaker's opportunity to create a blend from a handful of chosen, best barrels in the cellar from a particular vintage. Not every vintage presents suitable quality for this selection - 2010 is arguably our best Pinot Noir vintage since 2005 and 2007. This Tête de Cuvée edition is a barrel selection of the best barrels from the 2010 vintage where the wine matured in 100% new wood, which means more time is required for the ageing and bottle maturation – resulting in greater complexity.’
The essence and soul of the Italian/French blend that is Bouchard Finlayson’s Hannibal meanwhile is captured in the pitching of six grape cultivars into one wine, with Italian Sangiovese as its principal component. All these cultivars are grown on Bouchard Finlayson’s Hemel-en-Aarde Valley terroir which is composed of heavy clay shale soils. In dry years such as 2009 these soils offer red wines of bold composition and abundant complexity. Says Finlayson: ‘Vintage 2009 was predicted to offer stunning results, and I am thrilled for Hannibal 2009 to have been recognised in what is considered to be the most important wine award in the world.’
Both wines are available from the Bouchard Finlayson Vineyard, as well as through Bouchard Finlayson’s Worldwide Agents, including Seckford Agencies Ltd. in the UK.
Winners of the highest accolade, the 32 International Trophies, will be announced on 4 September 2013 at a gala dinner at the Royal Opera House in London.
ABOUT BOUCHARD FINLAYSON
Established in 1989 in the temperate Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on 125 hectares (312 acres) of Walker Bay's prime viticultural land, Bouchard Finlayson Vineyard and Winery is a small cellar dedicated to the quality production of Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. Ever since releasing their first vintages, the name Bouchard Finlayson has been internationally synonymous with excellence. Today, owned by the Red Carnation Hotels’ Tollman family and under the leadership of Victoria Tollman and winemaker Peter Finlayson, 22 hectares (54 acres) of the estate are currently under vine with 50% devoted to the varietal for which Peter is most acclaimed – Pinot noir. Other cultivars under production include Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc and Sangiovese, as well as a handful under exploration. Bouchard Finlayson is an accredited Championship member of the Biodiversity and Wine initiative (BWI).
Situated on the R320 near Hermanus, Bouchard Finlayson vineyard and winery is open for tastings and sales Monday to Friday from 09h30 to 17h00 and on Saturdays from 10h00 to 13h00. For further information, call +27 28 312 3515; email info@bouchardfinlayson.co.za or visit www.bouchardfinlayson.co.za
