Recognised as South Africa's leading wine auction open to the wine trade and the general public with a turnover of over R5 million, the prestigious Guild Auction features an impressive lineup of 39 wines this year. All the wines are crafted exclusively for the auction and are meticulously chosen in a blind tasting by members of the Guild to represent the pinnacle of what can be achieved in South African winemaking. This year's auction wines, all poised to become rare collector's items, include 21 red wines, 13 white wines, 3 Méthode Cap Classiques, a dessert wine and a port. Leading American wine commentator James Molesworth of Wine Spectator gave 27 of the 32 wines tasted 90 points or more on the magazine's infamous 100-point scale, whilst Steve Tanzer of the authoritative International Wine Cellar, gave 22 of the 30 wines tasted 90 points or more in a similar blind tasting. "The annual Cape Winemakers Guild auction showcases small-production wines that are not commercially released, and this year's batch is the best since I began reviewing the wines in 2007," says Molesworth in his glowing review on the Wine Spectator website. Molesworth singles out the A.A. Badenhorst Family Kalmoesfontein Semillon Noble Late Harvest Volume 2 2008 as a stunning dessert wine with a score of 93 describing it as "a rare treasure worth chasing after." Referring to the 2010 white wines as "the most consistent set yet, with outstanding quality among Chenin Blancs, Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blends", he highlights the Teddy Hall Mediterranean White 2008 at 92 points, followed by Cape Point Vineyards Auction Reserve White 2008 on 91. Other high scoring whites include Jordan Chardonnay Auction Reserve 2009 on 92 points and Nitida Aureus 2009 on 91 points. Describing the red wines on offer this year as being "loaded with character", his top red auction wines are the Neil Ellis Auction Reserve 2007 scoring 93 points, Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2007 on 91 points, with the Cederberg Teen Die Hoog Shiraz 2008 and Saronsberg Shiraz Die Erf Shiraz 2007 both on 93 points. Other top performing reds scoring 92 points are Hidden Valley Top Secret 2008, Kaapzicht Cape Blend Auction Reserve 2007 and Simonsig Auction Reserve Shiraz 2008. Steve Tanzer was particularly impressed with the white wines on auction this year. "It is clear that cooler growing areas in the Cape region are producing a growing number of vibrant, characterful white wines with real concentration and grip, not to mention staying power. So when I had the chance to taste most of the South African wines that will be on offer at this year's Cape Winemakers Guild auction, it was no surprise that the whites more than held their own alongside the reds." said Tanzer. His top scoring white wine is the Paul Cluver The Wagon Trail Chardonnay 2009 on 93 points followed by Nitida Aureus 2009, Rijk's Private Cellar Auction Reserve 2007 and the Tullie Family Wines The Yair 2009 all on 92 points. Tanzer's highest scoring reds with 92 points are the Neil Ellis Auction Reserve 2007, Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2007 and the CWG Pinotage 2008, Louis Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 and Saronsberg Die Erf Shiraz 2007. In a similar blind tasting by five leading South African wine commentators, Michael Fridjhon, Tim James, Neil Pendock, Christine Rudman and Christian Eedes, the stand out wines were the Tullie Family Vineyards The Yair 2009, Boplaas Auction Reserve Port 2008, Nitida Aureus 200, A.A. Badenhorst Wines Kalmoesfontein Noble Late Harvest Volume 2 2008, Edgebaston Cabernet Sauvignon Auction Reserve 2008, Cederberg Private Cellar Elim Semillon 2010 and Paul Cluver The Wagon Trail Chardonnay 2009. In stark contrast to their American counterparts, the South African commentators were less generous in their scoring of the wines with fewer wines breaking the 90 point barrier. Distinctly different from wines bottled under the members' own labels, the CWG Auction wines are chosen at a blind tasting and only those showing technical excellence and maturation potential are chosen. This thorough process involving the members of the Guild ensures that every wine boasting the CWG Auction label is a wine of exceptional quality. The 26th Nedbank CWG Auction will be held from 09h00 at the Spier Conference Centre on Saturday, 2 October 2010. Prospective buyers who are unable to attend the auction on the day, can register in advance with the CWG and take advantage of their telephonic and proxy bidding facilities. For further details and to attend the Auction, visit www.capewinemakersguild.com or contact the Guild Office on Phone: 021 852 0408 or info@capewinemakersguild.com.