Hattrick for South African chardonnay
DeMorgenzon’s star shines bright
Celebrated as the greatest grape in the world, chardonnay is also lionised as the winemaker’s wine much appreciated by its legion of swooning fans.
Come International Chardonnay Day – which fell on May 25 this year – chardonnay romantics are known to pause for a moment across the world to toast the longevity of the grape that has seduced palates with enduring magnetic quality.
Not everyone joins the toast, though. Resisting the grape’s allure with dogged persistence is the so-called ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) movement, which has sworn not to touch a glass of chardonnay in a lifetime – not even with a barge pole.
Live and let live, is what avid chardonnay lovers always tell the grape’s haters. In spite of all the muffled chardonnay hype, South Africans are currently relishing an unprecedented trove of superlative chardonnays produced by our talented winemakers.
And the world is green with envy at how sublime chardonnays are reaping the fruits in international competitions. These wines are being lauded for their peculiar character – moulded in both the New World style of upfront fruit and mineral notes and the Old World fashion, which is characterised by a more subtle palate rather than overt fruitiness.
Last month, Paul Cluver wine made South Africa proud when its Seven Flags Chardonnay 2016 was declared the best chardonnay in the world at the 2017 Decanter Wine Awards in London.
This is a third coup in a row for local chardonnays. The Decanter panel of judges also gave high scores to five other exquisite chardonnays – Ataraxia 2015, Kershaw 2014, Neil Ellis Whitehall 2015, Paul Cluver Estate 2015, Rustenberg Stellenbosch 2015 and Sutherland 2015 (Thelema).
Last year, South Africa’s DeMorgenzon Chardonnay Reserve 2015 was judged best in the world, trouncing Australia, New Zealand, France, America, Argentina, Chile.
In 2015, Groot Constantia’s 2013 was honoured as the world’s best chardonnay right in the heart of grape’s traditional home of Burgundy in France.
Once again, chardonnay took the centre stage at the Sandton Convention Centre last Friday when DeMorgenzon Reserve Chardonnay 2016 was paraded as “the best white wine” overall at the Old Mutual Trophy public tasting.
The same wine also won the Miele Trophy for the show's best chardonnay and the Old Mutual International Judges’ Trophy, and was also awarded the Stellenbosch Chardonnay Trophy at the recent 2017 International Wine Challenge in the UK.
DeMorgenzon is owned by Wendy Appelbaum, reputedly Africa’s wealthiest woman, who is over the moon at this latest recognition for the estate’s wines. “It demonstrates the consistent high quality of our chardonnays and chenins,” Appelbaum said.
DeMorgenzon’s offering is definitely a star in my chardonnay basket, along with Seruria Elandskloof Chardonnay 2015; Hartenberg The Eleanor 2015; Le Bonheur 2015; Benguela Cove Chardonnay; and Baleia Inge Chardonnay 2014.