The latest wine farm addition to the Bottelary Hills from Stellenbosch has scooped their very first Gold medal for their Kunjani Shiraz 2015 at the highly acclaimed Michelangelo International Wine Awards.
The Michelangelo International Wine Awards is one of South Africa’s leading wine competitions and a highlight on the awards calendar for many a wine farm. Each year the judging panel consists of several international wine judges from wine producing countries such as Argentina, France, Germany and Portugal, amongst others. No less than 2,225 entries were received for the 2018 competition with only 150 walking away with a gold medal in hand.
For a farm who’s only been producing Shiraz wines since the 2014 vintage, this comes as no small feat for team Kunjani. “We are overjoyed by this award and very proud! It’s not as if we’ve been doing this for a decade, so you can imagine our complete surprise when our name was announced,” says Kunjani’s co-owner and managing director, Pia Watermeyer. “We knew that the 2015 vintage delivered grapes of exceptional quality all round, but we didn’t expect this!” They have also garnered a gold medal for their Cabernet Franc-led Kunjani Red Blend during May this year at the annual Cabernet Franc Challenge.
The grapes for the Kunjani Shiraz 2015 are grown in the Devon Valley ward of Stellenbosch, on the Kunjani premises, and visitors to the estate will be overlooking this Shiraz vineyard block when dining on the deck of their contemporary restaurant. Kunjani first opened its doors to the public in November 2017 and has been a popular wine tasting and restaurant attraction as well as accommodation destination ever since.
Says consulting winemaker, Carmen Stevens: “The Kunjani Shiraz will marry exceptionally well with rack of lamb and, in particular, with game and venison cuts. But don’t let the fact that it is a hearty and full-bodied red wine be the only determinant for acquiring this wine, because it will just get better with time and is therefore perfect for cellaring up to 8 years.”
The wine was matured in 13% new French Oak barrels and the balance second and third fill French Oak barrels for 12 months. Stevens describes the Shiraz as follows: “An inviting nose of white pepper and paprika spice fuse with black olives and a savoury soy sauce aroma. The soft palate entrance flows to an elegant tannin structure filled with spice and juicy fruit. The depth of the palate is enhanced by a sweet liquorice root impression whiles the touch of lime keeps the palate refreshed.”
The Kunjani Shiraz 2015 is available directly from the farm at R115 per bottle.
