{"id":91500,"date":"2017-08-02T00:40:34","date_gmt":"2017-08-01T22:40:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/?p=91500"},"modified":"2017-08-02T22:12:29","modified_gmt":"2017-08-02T20:12:29","slug":"second-signature-red-blend-report-presented-by-winemag-four-wines-score-92100","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/second-signature-red-blend-report-presented-by-winemag-four-wines-score-92100\/","title":{"rendered":"Signature Red Blend Report 2017 presented by WineMag, four wines score 92\/100!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Yesterday WineMag presented the Signature Red Blend Report 2017, the second year that it has been compiled by WineMag editor Christian Eedes, at Stuzzico at Villa 47 on Bree Street. <\/p>\n

WineMag Business Manager Jacqueline Lahoud welcomed all winemakers, media, and retailers \"\"present. She said that the Report reflects ‘the South African wines with a sense of adventure<\/i>‘. She also asked all present to raise a glass to the glorious rain, sorely needed in the Western Cape. <\/p>\n

She said that 82 entries had been received from 62 producers for the category, defined as non-Bordeaux style wines, tending more to Rh\u00f4ne-style with a Shiraz and\/or Pinotage base. Jax also asked us to raise our glasses to the women in the room, including female winemakers, it being the start of Women’s Month. <\/p>\n

The wines were evaluated by the judges Christian, and Roland Peens and James Pietersen of Wine Cellar, and were tasted blind. Guest participant Karlien Nel, winemaker at Rupert & Rothschild, joined the panel. She fed back that the wines she tasted were perfumed, with abundant fruit, with moderate acidity, and fine tannins. James said that it is an important category, shaping the industry, and the South Africanness of it is work in \"\"progress. <\/p>\n

Christian said the South African red wine blends should be promoted. The Bordeaux Blend is well-established as a benchmark already, and is our industry reference point too. More Proudly South African is Signature Red Blends. Christian fed back that sweetness was picked up in some of the blends, wondering if this was deliberate to meet the needs of the target market, or if the grapes were picked high in sugar. He also spoke of winemaking flaws which he and his panel of judges picked up, referring to ‘residual clumsiness<\/i>‘ and ‘premature oxidisation<\/i>‘, which should not be happening in 2017. He added that Red Blends lag white blends, due to a lack of precision in the Red Blend category. He asked if the typical Rh\u00f4ne-style whole bunch approach is the only way for South African Red Blends to be made.  He requested greater imagination by winemakers. <\/p>\n

Twenty wines were rated 90 or more points on the quality score, as follows: <\/p>\n

92 points<\/b>
\nJoostenberg Bakermat 2015
\nPrice: R186<\/p>\n

Newton Johnson Granum 2015
\nPrice: R273<\/p>\n

Olifantsberg Silhouette 2013
\nPrice: R195<\/p>\n

Vrede en Lust Artisan Range Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
\nPrice: R139<\/p>\n

91 points<\/b>
\n\"\"Creation Syrah Grenache 2015 (winemaker JC Martin)
\nPrice: R190<\/p>\n

DeMorgenzon Maestro Blue 2015
\nPrice: R200<\/p>\n

Eikendal Charisma 2015
\nPrice: R104<\/p>\n

Guardian Peak Summit 2014
\nPrice: R160<\/p>\n

Luddite Saboteur Red 2015 \"\"
\nPrice: R250<\/p>\n

Opstal Carl Everson Cape Blend 2015
\nPrice: R175<\/p>\n

Rust en Vrede 1694 2014
\nPrice: R1 300<\/p>\n

Vondeling Erica 2014
\nPrice: R195<\/p>\n

90 points<\/b>
\n\"\"Fairview Extra\u00f1o 2013 (winemaker Stephanie Wiid)
\nPrice: R100<\/p>\n

Haskell II 2013
\nPrice: R180<\/p>\n

Haut Espoir Gentle Giant 2012
\nPrice: R90<\/p>\n

Le Riche Richesse 2015
\nPrice: R140<\/p>\n

Orange River Cellars Lyra Vega 2015
\nPrice: R95<\/p>\n

Spier Creative Block 8 2014
\nPrice: R159<\/p>\n

Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Shiraz Merlot Viognier 2014
\nPrice: R149<\/p>\n

Warwick Three Cape Ladies 2013
\nPrice: R160\"\"<\/p>\n

Stuzzico Chef Vittorio Bianchi prepared very generous and tasty canap\u00e9s, including a Caprese salad, arancini balls with a Gorgonzola and Sage dip, arancini balls with a tomato dip, bruschetta with melted Fontina cheese, \"\"bruschetta with chicken liver p\u00e2t\u00e9, Four Cheese Tortellini (with Parmesan, ricotta, mozzarella, and Gorgonzola), and sirloin with mash and a Villa 47 sauce. <\/p>\n

Signature Red Blend Report 2017<\/b>, WineMag. www.winemag.co.za Twitter: @ChristianEedes @Winemag @jaxlahoud Instagram: @christian.eedes @jaxlahoud<\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yesterday WineMag presented the Signature Red Blend Report 2017, the second year that it has been compiled by WineMag editor Christian Eedes, at Stuzzico at Villa 47 on Bree Street. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[29859,3,124,1918,32565,19],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t