One of Nederburg’s most awarded wines, The Winemasters Noble Late Harvest, has been honoured with a five star rating for the eighth time. The 2015 vintage featured in the 2017 edition, is the sixth in succession to do so. It joins three other five-star Nederburg wines in the newly published 37th issue of what is considered the most authoritative guide to South African wine.
The honey-sweet dessert wine with its vibrant acidity and notes of stone fruit is a blend of botrytised Chenin blanc and Muscat de Frontignan. It has an outstanding track record that speaks for itself. Earlier vintages achieved trophies and gold medals on platforms such as the International Sweet Wine Challenge, the International Wine & Spirit Competition, the Six Nations Wine Challenge and the Decanter World Wine Awards. The 2014 vintage was even lauded as one of the ‘wines of the year’ in Tim Atkin’s 2016 South Africa Report, scoring 95 points.
For the second time, one of the wines in Nederburg’s Heritage Heroes collection was highlighted. This time the honour went to The Brew Master 2014, a Bordeaux-style blend named to commemorates Johann Graue, a pioneering winemaker who was amongst the earliest to recognise that vineyard quality dictates wine quality. The co-owner of a leading brewery in Germany before coming to South Africa, he acquired Nederburg in 1937 and a foundation of excellence which could be followed by his successors.
Comprising 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 15% Petit Verdot and 10% Malbec, The Brew Master 2014 is described by cellarmaster Andrea Freeborough as full-bodied, classic and complex with juicy dark fruit flavour, savoury notes, and powerful soft ripe tannins.
The other two five-star wines, a white and red, are produced for potential selection on the prestigious annual Nederburg Auction. One of these, the 2013 vintage of Nederburg Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon, was recently awarded the 2016 International Wine & Spirit Competition Trophy for the best Cabernet Sauvignon in the world.
The final Platter five star wine is Nederburg’s Private Bin D234 Sauvignon Blanc 2015, featuring fruit sourced from Groenekloof in Darling. Showing intense aromas of asparagus, green pepper, green figs and slight hints of citrus, its zingy and fresh palate of capsicum, gooseberry and citrus is lifted by a lively acidity.
The two Private Bin wines are not yet available for sale.
Cellarmaster Andrea Freeborough, who took over the reins from Razvan Macici in 2015, says: “We are thrilled! Earning the title of Platter’s 2017 Winery of the Year is a true acknowledgment of the collective efforts of the winegrowing and winemaking team in producing consistently delicious, well-balanced wines of excellence.
“The Platter guide is respected locally and internationally, considered the go-to source for many in identifying remarkable South African wines.”
Freeborough works with Natasha Boks, who makes the white wines under her direction, and Samuel Viljoen, who makes the reds, while Bennie Liebenberg is responsible for the vineyards supplying Nederburg.
Nederburg has been shortlisted by the judges of the 2016 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) as South African Producer of the Year. The results will be announced at a gala ceremony in London, UK, on the evening of 16 November 2016.
To purchase Nederburg’s The Winemasters or Heritage Heroes wine collections, visit the Nederburg Visitors’ Centre, situated on the farm in Paarl. The wines are also available to purchase online via www.vinoteque.co.za, as well as at fine wine shops and top-end restaurants.
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