“Form is temporary, class
is permanent,” is an oft heard quote in the context
of sport, but it is quite an apt one when it comes to the crafting of fine Cape
fortifieds. Crafting an exceptional
fortified requires astute knowledge and skill along each step of the way from
harvest, fortification, extended barrel maturation and the final blending
creating a wine which quite easily can mature decades in bottle. Boplaas Family Vineyards continued its recent
run of good form and showed its true class by producing an unprecedented five
of the Classic Wine’s TOP SIX Cape “Ports”, as well as scooping the only 5
Star rating for the Boplaas Vintners
Reserve Cape Tawny Non-Vintage (N/V). The Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve
Port 2011 garnered 4 ½ Stars, while 4 Stars were awarded to the Boplaas Cape Vintage 2012, Boplaas “The Chocolate” Cape Vintage 2012 and the Boplaas CWG Cape Vintage Auction Reserve 2009 – while only one other wine managing a similar score.
A true testament to the patience and craftsmanship, the Boplaas Vinters Reserve Cape Tanwy N/V is a blend of only the finest Cape Tawny crafted from Tinta Barocca and Touriga Nacional, matured in old 500ℓ Port Pipes for twelve to fourteen years
prior to blending. This lusciously
complex fortified with its amber colour, heady aromatics and nutty flavour
profile offers those lucky enough to broach a bottle or two the opportunity to
taste a rare fine example of Boplaas Cape Tawny. Best served chilled, this wine is best
accompanied by roast duck, pork dishes, mildly spiced Cape Malay cuisine or a
fine selection of aged cheeses, charcuterie, preserved green figs or dark chocolate. This luminary wine cleaned up the competition circuit in 2013 receiving double gold at the Veritas awards, Grand d’Or at the Michelangelo International Wine Awards and top honours with the trophy at the CAPPA Challenge – an
utter bargain from cellar door at R150 per half bottle.
Legendary wine judge Dave Hughes noted earlier this year at the CAPPA Challenge 2014 that the Boplaas
Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2011 was “,by
a clear margin the best wine on show”, winning not only its class, but overall trophy too boot. It was also the only wine to garner 4 ½ Stars in the Classic WineTOP SIX. Meticulously crafted for decades of cellaring
and enjoyment, from a quartet of Portuguese varietals – including a patch of
wizened ungrafted Tinta Barocca on Boplaas – utilising traditional vinification
techniques, matured in old barrels and bottled unfined & unfiltered to
reflect the essence of the vintage, varieties and exceptional sites from which
the wines were borne. A mere 400 cases of this fine Cape Vintage Reserve were
crafted.
Although viewed as a luxury, untold value is to be had by consumers in this category, a point proven by both the 4 Star scoring Boplaas Cape Vintage 2012 and Boplaas “The Chocolate” Cape Vintage 2012,
with the former selling from cellar door for R75 per bottle and the latter an
amazing R55 per half bottle. Crafted
from a trio of Portuguese varieties according to traditional techniques, the Boplaas Cape Vintage 2012 will offer exceptional drinking pleasure over the coming decade – if well cellared. Ripe black plum, sweet spice, firm tannins and an unmistakable hint of coco nib and dark chocolate– that is what old vine Tinta Barocca consistently delivers, thus the Boplaas “The Chocolate” Cape Vintage was borne – an utterly enjoyable Boplaas fortified.
Originating from a ungrafted
Tinta Barocca vines, old vine Touriga Nacional, Souzão and Touriga Franca – the
Boplaas CWG Cape Auction Reserve 2009 was crafted & blended solely for the CWG Auctions. Carel Nel is a 25 year guild member and still the only member from the Southern Cape.
These top Boplaas Cape fortieds - except the CWG Auction wine - are
available from the Boplaas cellar door in Calitzdorp and Boplaas tasting room
in Klein Brak along the Garden Route, as well as discerning fine wine retailers
nationally.
For more information visit www.boplaas.co.za, give us a call on +27 (0)44 2133326, send us an email to info@boplaas.co.za, tweet us @Boplaas1880 or better yet, drop in for a tasting at our cellar door in Calitzdorp.
Calitzdorp Cellar door: OPEN Mondy – Friday,
09:00 – 17:00; Saturday 09:00 – 15:00 & Sundays 10:00 – 14:00
Boplaas
Family Vineyards, Calitzdorp – Tending vines & Crafting wines, since 1880