This was awarded to the Kleine Zalze Family Reserve
Chenin Blanc 2013, in addition to a coveted Grand Gold Medal.
Not to be outdone by its white wines, Concours
Mondial de Bruxelles also awarded a Grand Gold Medal to the Family Reserve
Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 and a Gold Medal to the Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection
Cabernet Sauvignon 2012.
Over 8 000 wines from 41 countries competed in
Brussels before a hand-picked selection of the world’s leading sommeliers, wine
buyers, importers, journalists and wine writers. Concours Mondial provides consumers
with a reliable buying cue; a total of 2 330 medals were awarded this year with
less than 1% of the 8 060 competing wines awarded a Grand Gold Medal. This gives
context to the huge achievement by Kleine Zalze.
Owner and managing director of Kleine Zalze, Kobus
Basson, emphasises consistency as being the winning formula: ‘our Chenin Blanc
has continued to be a strong core of the Kleine Zalze brand. We are thrilled to
see that South African Chenin Blanc is being recognised and celebrated in a
highly respected and traditional world forum among top white wines. It is a great
acknowledgement for “Proudly South African” Chenin!’
The Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Chenin Blanc grapes
are sourced from highly prized areas in Stellenbosch that show wonderful site
expression. The Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2013 was crafted from different
soils (Granite, Oakleaf and Duplex). Old bush vine (40 years old and more)
vineyards and three separate wards in Stellenbosch each contributed to the best
quality level of fruit and palate structure.
Winemaker RJ Botha noted, ‘A cool microclimate
around the grapes meant no direct sun or botrytis. The whole idea and story
behind the wine was to create something that was not over-oaked or full of
botrytis sweetness. The aim was to produce a wine of pure varietal fruit
enhanced with subtle oaking; the result is a silky texture with a structure
that retains elegance. The bush vines are vital, not just due to their age, but
because each bunch has its own microclimate and as a result, there is
significant diversity of flavours in the final wine.’
Last year, the same wine won a gold medal at the Old
Mutual Trophy Wine Show, a Veritas gold medal and was a winner in the Standard
Bank Top Ten Chenin Blanc Challenge. This challenge awarded a prize consisting
of
R20 000 earmarked for social responsibility. Kleine Zalze gave the money to
their Workers’ Committee who distributed the funds to community projects
including crèches and libraries in need.
Kleine
Zalze is situated in Strand Road (R44), Stellenbosch,
South Africa.
For further comment and more information, contact Cathryn Henderson, Brand
Manager for Kleine Zalze on +27 (21) 880 0717, email CHenderson@kleinezalze.co.za or visit www.kleinezalze.co.za