The 2024 CWG Auction wines rated: 93 – 94
By Christian Eedes, 24 September 2024
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The 40th Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) Auction is set to be held on Friday 4 October and Saturday 6 October 2023 at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West – register here. This year’s auction sees a total of 48 wines from 35 guild members on offer – I tasted the line-up sighted, those rating 93 – 94 as follows:
White
94
Bartho Eksteen Wine Estate Vloekskoot Sauvignon Blanc – Wooded 2023 – Bartho Eksteen
Subtle fynbos notes precede yellow apple, peach, green melon, grapefruit and elderflower on the nose. The palate has great clarity and linearity – dense fruit, punchy acidity. The finish long and saline. Pure and harmomious. Alc: 13.07%.
94
Kershaw Wines Ziggurat Chardonnay 2023 – Richar Kershaw
W.O. Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Flinty reduction before peach, citrus, vanilla and spice on the nose while the palate has a dense core of fruit, racy acidity and a saline finish. A wine that combines power with precision. Alc: 13.6%.
94
Lismore Valkyrie Chardonnay 2023 – Samantha O’Keefe
W.O. Greyton. Matured for 11 months in 500-litre barrels, 25% new. The nose shows orchard blossom before marmalade, nougat, and a hint of leesy complexity. The palate is rich and round – luscious and smooth in texture, tangy acidity lending balance, the finish savoury. Curious but compelling.
94
Miles Mossop Wines Saskia-Jo 2022 – Miles Mossop
W.O. Swartland. 85% Chenin Blanc, 15% Clairette Blanche. Peach, citrus, herbs, earth and a hint of leesy complexity on the nose. Good fruit concentration with bright acidity, the finish gently savoury. Relatively thick textured. Alc: 13.11%.
94
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Sandford Chardonnay 2022 – Gordon Newton Johnson
A marked note of smoky reduction before lemon, orange vanilla and spice on the nose. The palate is rich and round with punchy acidity and a savoury finish. Luscious and intense, a dramatic wine. Alc: 13.6%.
94
Warwick Auction Chardonnay 2022 – JD Pretorius
Grapes from Simonsberg and Helderberg. Matured for 11 months in 228-litre barrels, 33% new. Complex aromatics with a floral top note preceding lemon, some leesy complexity, oatmeal, vanilla and a hint of spice. The palate is taut and composed – good fruit concentration and bright acidity before a savoury finish. Still primary, more detail should come with time. Alc: 12.29%.
Red
94
De Grendel Op Die Berg Pinot Noir 2022 – Charles Hopkins
W.O. Ceres Plateau. Black cherry, orange, musk, violets, fynbos, earth and spice on the nose. Rich and round with good line of acidity and fine tannins. A wine with presence and a certain sleekness about it. Alc: 13.88%.
94
Luddite Tonto 2022 – Niels Verburg
67% Shiraz, 19% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache. Evocative aromatics with top notes of fynbos and flowers before dark berries, earth and spice. The palate is rich and layered – a dense core of fruit, fresh acidity and soft tannins. A coherent, a carefully considered blend with succulent fruit upfront, the finish nicely dry. Alc: 14%.
94
Neil Ellis Wines Cain 2020 – Warren Ellis
W.O. Jonkershoek Valley. 44% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Red and black berries, floral perfume, cocoa and spice on the nose. The palate is rich but balanced – lots of fleshy fruit to go with velvety tannins. Broad and more open than the Cab-led companion wine called Abel also on auction. Alc: 14.62%.
94
Rock of Eye CWG Auction Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 – Coenie Snyman
Grapes from Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg. Extravagantly aromatic with notes or red and black berries, violets, and a hint of herbs. The palate is not exceptionally dense, but the fruit is still to the fore while there’s plenty of freshness and the tannins are fine and powdery. A sophisticated, cleverly made version of the variety. Alc: 14.69%.
94
Strydom Family Wines The Game Changer Cabernet Franc – Merlot 2020 – Rianie Strydom
83% Cabernet Franc, 17% Merlot. Red and black berries, rose. Fresh herbs and flinty reduction on the nose. Good clarity of fruit, bright acidity and fine tannins. Well balanced and detailed rather than possessing the greatest depth. Alc: 14.03%.
White
93
Ataraxia Under The Gavel Chardonnay 2023 – Kevin Grant
Some reduction before lime, lemon, a slight herbal note and nuts. The palate is linear with concentrated fruit and arresting acidity and a super-dry finish. A wine of vigour. Alc: 13.04%.
93
Cederberg CWG Auction Chenin Blanc 2023 – David Nieuwoudt
Grapes from a 23-year-old Five Generations block. Fermented and matured for 10 months in concrete egg. Attractive aromatics of pear, white peach, lime, guava, herbs and flowers. The palate Iinear with fresh acidity and a pithy finish. Poised and precise.
Red
93
Erika Obermeyer Wines Fields of Gold 2021 – Erika Obermeyer
W.O. Stellenbosch. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah. Red and black berries, flowers, fynbos, some leafiness, earth and spice on the nose. The fruit is succulent and sweet in the best sense. Rich but not entirely short of freshness, the tannins lightly grippy. Alc: 14.21%.
93
Hartenberg CWG Auction Amphora Merlot 2021 – Carl Schultz
Matured for 18 months in a 400-litre amphora imported from Italy. Black berries, violets and a touch of earth on the nose while the palate is plush without trading off sweetness or lacking freshness. Does exactly what you would hope for from the variety. Alc: 14%.
93
Hartenberg CWG Auction Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 – Carl Schultz
Cassis, fresh herbs including a touch of mint, black olive, tobacco and undergrowth on the nose. The palate displays dense fruit, fresh acidity and grippy tannins, the finish savoury. Currently rather stern but should mature with benefit. Alc: 14.3%.
93
Kershaw Wines Vertiginous Pinot Noir 2022 – Richard Kershaw
From unirrigated plantings of Clone 52 in central Elgin. Red cherry, cranberry, musk and white pepper plus touches of vanilla and smoky reduction. The palate is vital and alive – not without weight, the tannins soft in the best sense. Alc: 13.4%.
93
Leeu Passant Franschhoek Hillside Cabernet Franc 2022 – Andrea Mullineux
Red berries, some leafy, herbal notes and violets on the nose. The palate borders on presenting as plush – a dense core of fruit offset by bright acidity, the tannins fine. Youthful, clean and correct. Alc: 14.47%.
93
Luddite Hands Off Mourvèdre 2023 – Niels Verburg
Effusive aromatics of red and black berries, lavender, tea leaf, liquorice, earth and spice. The palate is pure and fresh with powdery tannins, the finish long and dry. Youthful, energetic and entirely charming. Alc: 13.33%.
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