Tomorrow’s launch of a new vintage of Vin de Constance at cycling mecca Klein Constantia is shaping up into something of a wake for Constantia wines. For in the list of 20 Sauvignons Bank from the First National Blanc competition, not a single one hails from the appellation that started it all. Perhaps no-one entered the spectacular Metis or the Perdeblokke from the same stable. Or Steenberg or Groot Constantia or Constantia Glen or Buitenverwachting not to mention Hussey’s Vlei or any of the new brands popping up like Nova Zonnestraal?
- Cederberg Private Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2015
- Cederberg Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2014
- Durbanville Hills Rhinofields Sauvignon Blanc 2014
- Hidden Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2015
- Jordan Sauvignon Blanc 2014
- Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sur Lie Sauvignon Blanc 2015
- Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sur Lie Sauvignon Blanc 2013
- Lomond Cape Agulhas Sauvignon Blanc 2015
- Mulderbosch 1000 Miles Sauvignon Blanc 2013 (wooded)
- Merwida Sauvignon Blanc 2015
- Mooiplaas Sauvignon Blanc 2015
- Nederburg Private Bin D234 Sauvignon Blanc 2014
- Nederburg Two Centuries Sauvignon Blanc 2014 (wooded)
- Overhex Survivor Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (wooded)
- Rivendell Sauvignon Blanc 2014
- Shannon Sanctuary Peak Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (wooded)
- Spier 21 Gables Sauvignon Blanc 2015
- Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc 2015
- Uva Mira Sing-a-Wing Sauvignon Blanc 2015
- Windmeul Kelder Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Nothing from Darling either, although I suspect some grapes from a couple of wines may have been grown at pyrazene central. The press release gives nothing away with appellations fingered: Stellenbosch, Cederberg, Paarl, Agulhas, Bot River, Elgin, Rawsonville and Worcester. But then Durbanville is AWOL but Durbanville Hills is present and saluting the green flag.
Snow White and his Seven Dwarfs plumped rather for big brands like Nederburg (home to the four-day blow out tasting with lashings of Ingenuity with the bobotie), Overhex, Kleine Zalze, Windmeul, Merwida and Spier. Hermit on the Pill will be disappointed not to feature even if his former Platter punter has returned to the tasting panel after a year in the wilderness. So much for principles in SA wine.
No MM Louw on the dwarf’s shopping list. Or Darling Cellars or Perdeberg Dryland or KWV Mentors or Boschendal that trousered Veritas double golds only last week. In fact the dwarfs missed more Veritas DGs than they hit which might prompt a cynic to ask what is the point of this competition? Surely the public will be better off following the 9 Veritas double golds than taking a chance on wines from such cool climate appellations as Rawsonville, Worcester and Paarl?
After all the convener of the dwarfish panel, Chas Hopkins, is also chairman of Veritas, so what is the point of a separate tasting two weeks later?
The cast of dwarfs: Chas, Cathy van Zyl, Richard Kershaw, Winnie Bowman, Trizanne Barnard, Christian Eedes and Narina Cloete.
