The WINE magazine Amorim Cork Cap Classique Challenge

The WINE magazine Amorim Cork Cap Classique Challenge is a competition held annually to promote South Africa's top-class bottle-fermented sparkling wines. Judging conducted in August, competition results announced in the October issue of WINE magazine.

 

2010

BEST BLANC DE BLANCS AND OVERALL WINNER - RATED 4 STARS
Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Blanc de Blanc 2007

BEST NON-VINTAGE - RATED 4 STARS
Pongrácz Brut

BEST ROSÉ - RATED 4 STARS
Pongrácz Rosé

BEST VINTAGE - RATED 4 STARS
Kumkani Infiniti Brut 2004

ALSO RATED 4 STARS
Topiary Blanc de Blancs 2008
Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Blanc de Blanc 2006
Colmant Cap Classique Brut Reserve
Môreson Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2007
Colmant Cap Classique Brut Chardonnay
 

2009

BEST VINTAGE AND BEST OVERALL - RATED 4½ STARS
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel 2005

BEST NON-VINTAGE
Weltevrede Philip Jonker Brut Entheos

BEST ROSé
Ross Gower Pinot Noir Brut 2007

BEST BLANC DE BLANCS
Klein Constantia Brut 2006

TOP 10 WINES OVERALL (IN ORDER OF ARITHMETIC SCORE)
1. Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel 2005 - 4½ Stars
2. Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel 2005 (1.5 litre) - 4 Stars
3. Klein Constantia Brut 2006 - 4 Stars
3. Teddy Hall MMV Blanc de Blancs 2005 - 4 Stars
5. Desiderius Pongrácz 2001 - 4 Stars
6. Hazendal White Nights Brut 2007 - 3½ Stars
6. Waterford 2000 - 3½ Stars
6. Ross Gower Pinot Noir Brut 2007 - 3½ Stars
9. Weltevrede Philip Jonker Brut Entheos - 3½ Stars
10. Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Blanc de Blancs 2006 - 3½ Stars

2008

WINNER RATED 4 STARS:
JC le Roux Pinot Noir Rosé 2006 – disgorged January 2008

ALSO RATED 4 STARS:
Krone Borealis Brut 2001 – disgorged May 2007
Waterford Cap Classique 2000 – disgorged June 2008

2007

WINNER RATED 4½ STARS:
Graham Beck Brut Pinot Noir Chardonnay 1994 (1.5-litre) - disgorged March 2006

RATED 4 STARS:
Graham Beck Brut Blanc de Blancs 2003 - disgorged July 2007
Graham Beck Brut Pinot Noir Chardonnay NV (1.5-litre) - disgorged February 2007
Morena Brut Rosé NV - disgorged June 2007 (Franschhoek Pass)
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut 2005 - disgorged April 2007
Villiera Monro Brut 2001 - disgorged April 2007
Woolworths Villiera Brut 1999 - disgorged November 2005

2006

WINNER RATED 4½ STARS:
Desiderius Pongrácz 2001 – disgorged July 2004 (JC le Roux)

ALSO RATED 4½ STARS:
Jacques Bruére Brut Reserve 2002 – disgorged November 2005 (Bon Courage)

RATED 4 STARS:
Desiderius Pongrácz 1999 – disgorged April 2006 (JC le Roux)
Graham Beck Brut – disgorged December 2005
Graham Beck Brut – disgorged May 2006
Graham Beck Brut 1994 – 1.5 litre – disgorged March 2006
Graham Beck Brut Blanc de Blancs 2001 – disgorged February 2006
Graham Beck Brut Blanc de Blancs 2002 – disgorged July 2006
JC le Roux Scintilla 1999 – disgorged April 2006
JC le Roux Scintilla 2001 – disgorged April 2005
Woolworths Brut Vintage Reserve 1999 – disgorged November 2005

2005

WINNER RATED 4½ STARS:
Laborie Blanc de Blanc 2000, disgorged April 2004

RATED 4 STARS:
Desiderius Pongrácz 1998, disgorged October 2003 (JC le Roux)
Dieu Donné Maingard Brut Blanc de Blancs 2002, disgorged October 2004
Graham Beck Brut 1994 magnum, disgorged September 1999
Graham Beck Brut Blanc de Blancs 1999, disgorged April 2004
Villiera Monro 1999, disgorged January 2004
Villiera Tradition Brut Rosé, disgorged January 2005
Weltevrede Philip Jonker Brut 2000, disgorged February 2005
Woolworths Blanc de Blanc Chardonnay Brut 2002, disgorged June 2005 (Villiera)
Woolworths Méthode Cap Classique Brut 1998, disgorged October 2003 (Villiera)

2004

WINNER: RATED 4½ STARS
Jacques Bruere Brut Reserve 2000, disgorged September 2003 (Jacques Bruwer, Bon Courage)

RATED 4 STARS:
Ambeloui Alexis Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2001 (disgorged May 2004)
Desiderius Pongrácz 1998 (disgorged December 2003)
Graham Beck Brut (disgorged August 2003)
Graham Beck Brut 1994 (disgorged January 2000, magnum)
Graham Beck Brut 1999 (disgorged August 2004, magnum)
Graham Beck Brut Blanc de Blancs 1999 (disgorged January 2004)
Graham Beck Brut Rosé (disgorged March 2004)
Jacques Bruere Blanc de Blanc Brut Reserve 2000 (disgorged September 2003)
Môreson Soleil du Matin Brut (disgorged July 2004)
Pongrácz (disgorged March 2004)
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut 2001 (disgorged October 2003, magnum)
Woolworths Villiera Brut Rosé (disgorged January 2004)
Woolworths Villiera MCC Vintage Reserve 1997 (disgorged September 2003)

2003

WINNER:
Weltevrede Philip Jonker Brut 1999

ALSO RATED 4 STARS:
Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs Brut 1991
Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs Brut 1998
Graham Beck Brut 1994
Graham Beck Brut NV (disgorged Dec 2001)
Groot Constantia Cap Classique NV
Môreson Soleil du Matin Brut NV
Woolworths Brut Rosé NV

2002

WINNER:
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut 1999

ALSO RATED 4½ STARS:
Boschendal Brut 1998
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut 1998

For more Cap Classique WINE ratings, click here.

For Cap Classique tasting reports, click here.