In a hotly contested category, Jordan Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa was awarded the Decanter International Chardonnay Trophy for their 2010 Nine Yards Chardonnay at the 2012 Decanter World Wine Awards. Widely recognised as the world’s biggest and most prestigious wine competition, this year a record-breaking 14 120 wine entries were received from 47 countries. A panel of 211 leading wine experts, including 54 of the world’s Masters of Wine and 11 Master Sommeliers blind tasted each of the wines within their region of origin and price bracket, to ensure every wine was compared like for like. Regional Trophy winners then competed for the International Trophies to win the ultimate accolade. Only 28 International Trophies in total were awarded to the top 0.2% of the wines.
“Reaching this final hurdle is a truly stellar achievement, as the Chardonnay category always produces countless spellbinding wines. It was a fearsome line-up for the Trophy this year, and rising to the challenge was a producer which rarely disappoints.” Decanter – The Ultimate Winners, October 2012.
Topping off a fantastic year already for the multi-award-winning wine estate in Stellenbosch, Gary Jordan, co-owner of Jordan Wine Estate explained: “The Jordan Chardonnay allows me to bring my background in geology together with a love for one of the greatest white wine varieties in the world, creating a truly profound expression of our terroir. As we celebrate our 20th vintage on the estate this year, the Jordan team celebrates my dad Ted’s foresight when he planted the first vines 30 years ago and encouraged us to push the boundaries as we went from strength to strength.”
“Intensity of fruit and subtle oaking results in a wine from one of our best single vineyard Chardonnay sites on the Estate being described by the Decanter judges as having flavours of lemon meringue and tropical, yellow fruit on a ripe palate with tangerine aromas, a layered richness and smoky straw notes. Creamy and complex with integrated toasty oak, a big structure and reined-in power were essential elements that helped rocket us to the position for Best Chardonnay ” added Kathy Jordan.
