That other Tri Nations competition 31 August 2006

Better results for Cape wines in 2006

South Africa has always come an emphatic third in few years that the Tri Nations Wine Awards competition has been running. This year was no exception, but it was the Cape’s best performance yet, with three wines winning their classes. The overall result was that Australia won again (five category-winning wines, and winning six classes) with 165 points; New Zealand won with five winning wines and four classes, giving it 114 points; South Africa achieved 85 points with its three winning wines and its three class wins.

Perhaps the most surprising (certainly the lest known) of the triumphant Cape wines was  Bergsig’s Lategan Family Reserve Touriga Nacional 2005 (Other reds), alongside Meerlust Merlot 2001 and Mulderbosch Chardonnay 2004.

Second-placed local wines were Guardian Peak Frontier Cabernet Shiraz Merlot 2004 (strangely in the Bordeaux blend category, where the winner also contained shiraz!), Paul Cluver Weisser Riesling 2004 (Aromatic wines), and Nederburg Late Noble Harvest 2004.

Other South African wines that were placed in scoring positions included the best-placed sauvignon blanc not from New Zealand: Vergelegen Schaapenberg 2005, Pongràcz, two more chardonnays: Glenwood 2005, Chamonix Reserve 2003, De Morgenzon Chenin 2005, Stellenzicht Shiraz 2001, Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet 2003, Spier Shiraz-Mourvèdre-Viognier 2004, Cloof Pinotage 2003, Nederburg Eminence 2003, Ken Forrester T 2001.

The Tri Nations competition is judged each year (in Australia) by James Halliday of Australia, Bob Campbell of New Zealand, and Michael Fridjhon representing South Africa. These three nominate wines from their countries for each of the 15 categories; so the wines are all there by invitation only. In 2005 British wine-writer Robert Joseph became the fourth panel member and acts as Chair.

• See Michael Fridjhon’s article commenting on this year’s competition

• Link to the Tri Nations website

Winners of the Tri Nations Wine Awards 2006

Category 1. Sparkling Wine
1^st Brown Brothers Patricia Pinot Noir Chardonnay Pinot Meunier Brut 1999 – Australia
2^nd Kamberra Tumbarumba Pinot Noir Chardonnay Pinot Meunier 2000 – Australia

Category 2. Chardonnay
1^st Mulderbosch Chardonnay 2004 – South Africa
2^nd Penfolds Yattarna 2003 – Australia

Category 3. Aromatic Wines
1^st Heggies Vineyard Eden Valley Riesling 2001 – Australia
2^nd Paul Cluver Weisser Riesling 2004 – South Africa

Category 4. Sauvignon Blanc
1^st Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc 2005 New Zealand
2^nd Highfield Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2005 New Zealand

Category 5. Other White Wine Varieties
1^st McWilliams Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon 2000 – Australia
2^nd Brokenwood ILR Reserve Semillon 2001 – Australia

Category 6. Pinot Noir
1^st Peregrine Pinot Noir 2004 – New Zealand
2^nd Moorooduc Estate The Moorooduc Pinot Noir 2004 – Australia

Category 7. Merlot
1^st Meerlust Merlot 2001 – South Africa
2^nd YarraLoch Stephanies Dream Merlot 2004 – Australia

Category 8. Shiraz
1^st Trevor Jones Wild Witch Reserve Shiraz 2002 – Australia
2^nd Craggy Range Block 14 Shiraz 2004 - New Zealand

Category 9. Cabernet Sauvignon
1^st Forrest Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 - New Zealand
2^nd Balnaves The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 – Australia

Category 10. Red Wine Blends
1^st Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2002 – New Zealand
2^nd Trinity Hill Homage Cabernet Merlot 2004 – New Zealand

Category 11. Bordeaux Blends
1^st Wolf Blass Black Label Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 – Australia
2^nd Guardian Peak Frontier Cabernet Shiraz Merlot 2004 – South Africa

Category 12. Other Red Varieties
1^st Bergsig Lategan Family Reserve Touriga Nacional 2005 – South Africa
2^nd Trinity Hill Tempranillo 2004 – New Zealand

Category 13. Dessert Unfortified Wines
1^st Forrest Estate John Forrest Collection Noble Riesling 2005 – New Zealand
2^nd Nederburg Late Noble Harvest 2004 – South Africa

COMMENT

From Chris Wood:
Michael and Jake  – your selections got similar results!

(For those who don't know, the Widow assures us that the reference is to Jake White, coach of the Springbok rugby who also had, er, mixed success Down Under....)