New World: Chardonnay, South Africa
2015: Gold 3 Silver 3 Bronze 4 Commended 4
2014: Gold 3 Silver 8 Bronze 3 Commended 2
South Africa’s showing in Chardonnay last year took our tasters hugely by surprise. And though this year it was always going to be a struggle to live up to the sheer depth of medals of 2014, the performance was good enough to prove that last year was no fluke.
There was plenty of good wine (in a slightly fruitier style than Australian Chardonnay) and impressive pricing – with half the medal winners under £10, so perhaps a bit of inconsistency is to be expected. Either way, a category to watch.
From The Tasting Teams
‘A very impressive flight, with very good integration and balance throughout the wines. Consistently high quality.’ Michael Harrison, consultant
‘Their winemakers appear to be making the best wines from their grapes and soils, rather than forcing a style. The quality was very good across the flight.’ Jonathan Kleeman, The Ritz Hotel
‘Very good value across the flight, no bimbo wines, and some of that fynbos character coming through, so a real sense of being South African.’ Simon Woods, team leader
‘A very interesting, diverse range running between lean and very pleasing to rich and oaky styles, with the top end comparable to Burgundy, but at about half the price for the same quality.’ Sarah Guignard, The French Table
‘People think of South Africa as being an inexpensive alternative, but it’s making really good strides in terms of quality. When looking at £10 cost, South Africa’s wines can be really outstanding, so we need to communicate this to the customers.’ Yves Desmaris MS, Lutyens