The judging panel of this prestigious international competition comprised specialist tasters from around the world, including Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers. Platinum medal wines are chosen from gold medal winners in a particular region and specific categories defined by wine style.
The Anchorman is a wooded Chenin blanc that commemorates Nederburg’s founder, Philippus Wolvaart, who bought the farm in 1791 and planted Chenin blanc, amongst other varietals.
White-wine maker, Natasha Boks, says it offers a “superb combination of freshness and complexity with ripe apricot, orange and floral characters laced with spice and minerality".
“It is a most interesting and expressive wine that is a blend of very differently vinified components. One portion of fruit was fermented in second- and third-fill 300-litre barrels. A second component was fermented in stainless-steel tanks, while a third was fermented in very old, large vats and the remainder involved a fermentation technique usually reserved for red wines. Called carbonic maceration, whole bunches which are neither crushed nor pressed, are allowed to ferment spontaneously. The resultant wine tends to be light and fruity. This technique was chosen for the freshness it would impart to the wine. After fermentation, the various components were kept on the lees for 9 months prior to final blending and bottling.”
Nederburg also walked away with three Decanter gold medals, for the 2012 and 2013 vintages of its Private Bin Eminence Noble Late Harvest, and the 2014 vintage of its Ingenuity White blend. Eminence is made for exclusive sale on the annual Nederburg Auction, while Ingenuity White 2014 and The Anchorman 2016 are available from the farm in Paarl, fine wine outlets such as Norman Goodfellows, top-rated restaurants and style bars, and online via www.vinoteque.co.za.
Boks suggests serving Nederburg’s Heritage Heroes The Anchorman 2016 with fish, poultry, veal, pasta and salads; Nederburg Ingenuity White 2014 with quail, duck, guinea fowl, rabbit, lamb, free-range chicken or top-grade beef, prepared with spice, fruit and citrus seasonings.
“This wine’s abundant layering of flavours and refined structure render it an excellent wine to pair with food.
“Eminence is best enjoyed with pâtés, terrines, tomato soup, cake, pastries, tarts, mature cheeses and desserts.”
A 750ml bottle of Nederburg The Anchorman 2016 retails for around R150, and Nederburg Ingenuity White 2014 for approximately R220.