Boplaas winemaker Margaux Nel with Port of the Year.
Boplaas Family Vineyards has emerged as Port of the Year with top results in an international assessment of South African wines. Five wines and ports produced by the Calitzdorp winery received outstanding ratings of 90 or more points out of a possible 100.
The annual report is compiled by acclaimed UK Master of Wine, Tim Atkin, who produces similar analyses on every major winemaking region of the world. As such, they are a highly regarded and highly anticipated international perspective on the quality of wine.
Significantly, the wines from Boplaas that did well represent a spread of styles and price points, highlighting the excellence across the portfolio. The Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2004 won Port of the Year and scored 95 points in the report.
The champion wines were Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2004 (95 points); Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2019 (94); Boplaas Cape Tawny N/V (91); Boplaas Gamka Branca Family Reserve 2019 (93); and, Boplaas Ring of Rocks Family Reserve 2018 (90).
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2004
The Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve ports are the pinnacle of their pursuit of fortified perfection – crafted only from the finest Portuguese varieties – Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barocca and Souzão. All comprise hand-harvested fruit from old, low-yield vines. The 2004 vintage showcases and confirms the longevity of the Boplaas ports.
After 17 years since the harvest and 16 years in the bottle, there is no real indication of the age of the port. The colour is dark and concentrated. The wine itself is fruit forward and well-integrated with ripe tannins, which have become softer with ageing.
This port also received five stars in Platter’s South African wine guide and Gold at Veritas; was crowned trophy winner for Best SA Port (Museum Class); and, was named Best Port at the Novare SA Terroir Awards.
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2019
This wine was produced from the Portuguese varieties Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barocca and Souzão. It is inky black in colour with hints of purple – black on the rim, the wine shows a bouquet of crushed blackberries, tart cranberries, kirsch, and blue violet. Bright all-spice top notes mingle with fynbos. On the palate, the powerful fruit flavours merge with notes of liquorice, red fruits and hints of dark chocolate, and conclude in a dry finish.
Boplaas Cape Tawny N/V
This wine was aged in old barrels and compiled by selecting and blending wines eight years and older. It is made from Tinta Barocca and Touriga Nacional. After years of maturation, the colour changes from black to brick-brown tawny and the port has developed a deliciously nutty, fruitcake flavour.
Boplaas Gamka Branca Family Reserve 2019
Gamka means “lion” and was what the indigenous Khoisan people named the river that originates in the Great Karoo, passes through the Swartberg Mountains and flows past the Boplaas farm.
This white blend was crafted from diverse varieties, vineyards and sites to highlight the intrepid nature of Cape wines. The vintage combines the Portuguese variety Verdelho – a recent addition to the Boplaas plantings, but one which has a bright future – with cool-climate Chardonnay; exotic Viognier; Stellenbosch Grenache Blanc; and, Rousanne, along with old dry-land bush-vine Swartland Steen.
Boplaas Ring of Rocks Family Reserve 2018
The Ring of Rocks is named in honour of the ancient agrarians who built stone circles to determine the changing of the seasons and in turn, crop cycles.
It comprises a blend of Portuguese and other varieties – Tinta Barocca, Touriga Nacional, Souzão and Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
It is luminous maroon in colour with a purple centre. The wine brims with a combination of ripe plums, red cherry, bramble jam, black and red hedgerow fruits and fynbos.
Many of the wines are still available for sale via the Boplaas online shop at www.boplaas.co.za, Orders are shipped across SA and are free of charge for purchases over R1 500.
