OM Trophy Wine Show

The temptation to whinge about the imperfection of wine tasting and competitions is great - and tired, so I wont. Besides life would be boring without them.

Producer of the year - Spier (just pipped Thelema)

International Judges' Trophy (inaugural) - Paul Cluver 09 Chardonnay. Probably the trophy of the show when you consider the judges: Neil Martin - Wine Advocate; Debra Meiburg MW - tipped to enter Decanter's powerful list in the next few years (Hong Kong-based); Thierry Desseauve - former editor of La Revue du Vin de France.

 

Trophy Winners

KWV Cathedral Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon 1995

Hillcrest Quarry Merlot 2008

Meerlust Pinot Noir 2009

Rijk’s Pinotage 2007

Thelema Shiraz 2007

KWV The Mentors Orchestra 2009 (Bdx blend)

Ormonde Theodore Eksteen 2008 (shiraz-based blend)

Paul Cluver Chardonnay 2009 (oaked)

Jordan Riesling 2009

Hartenberg Weisser Riesling 1999 (museum class)

Delaire Coastal Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Lomond Sugarbush Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (museum class)

Cape Point Vineyards Semillon 2006

Spier Creative Block 2 2010 (best white blend Sauvignon Blanc Semillon wooded)

Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Special White Blend 2010 (other white blend wooded)

Nederburg Private Bin Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel 2008

KWV White Jerepigo 1933 (museum class)

Nuy White Muskadel 2005

No Trophy for Bubbly (surely Bond knows better?), Chenin Blanc (Chenin newcomer Delaire was top scorer for the '10 with yours truly assisting), Port, Cab Franc, Viogner etc. Only 17 trophies and a mere 25 Gold Medals - down on last year’s total of 25 trophies & 32 Golds, probably through stricter selection rather than a fall in quality. A dramatic increase in Silver and Bronze medals - with numbers of winning wines increasing by around 30% in each category - points towards a widening of quality.

Gold Medals

Hillcrest Quarry Merlot 2009

Lomond Syrah 2008

Spier Private Collection Shiraz 2008

Chamonix Reserve Chardonnay 2009

Buitenverwachting Husseys Vlei Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Tokara Zondernaam Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Sutherland Viognier Roussanne 2009 (Thelema, Elgin fruit)

So not even Gold for Chenin or Bubbly!

''In the most closely contested race since the inaugural event in 2002, Spier edged ahead of Thelema Mountain Vineyards to take the Fairbairn Capital Trophy for the Top Producer at the 2011 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show. While Thelema had exactly the same Trophy, Gold and Silver medal count as Spier in its five highest scoring wines, it had a lower medal-to-entry ratio over its total number of submissions. In the end this proved to be the tie-breaker for the narrowest margin in the show's history.'' (winemag)

 

A new award has been created this year – the Old Mutual International Judges' Trophy. This is awarded to the wine which, in the opinion of the three international judges at this year's show, was the very best wine at the trophy judging. In theory, this wine will represent the best of the trophy line-up from an international perspective. This year's winner was the Paul Cluver Chardonnay 2009.

Some anomalies include John Platter (reviewed by Meryl Weaver) who awarded the Hillcrest Quarry Merlot 08 a mere 3,5 stars although she would have tasted it about a year ago. 

Jonathan Snashall