Surepure Chenin Blanc Challenge 2009
The awards lunch took place on 14 January at Catharina's, the newly revamped restaurant at the Steenberg Hotel in Tokai, Cape Town.
The Bush Vines 2008 from Stellenbosch estate Mooiplaas was named the best unwooded wine in the competition as well as the best wine overall - only the second time in the 14-year history of the competition that the overall winner had not undergone treatment in barrel.
The Mooiplaas achieved a rating of 4½ Stars, as did Bellingham The Maverick 2006, which took the award for best wooded Chenin Blanc. The award for best value went to Koelenbosch Houtverouderd 2007, which had the best quality/price ratio of the 121 wines tasted (4 Stars/R25 a bottle ex-cellar).
"Many people are still not Chenin believers," commented Ken Forrester, head of the Chenin Blanc Association. "But it is the jewel in the crown of South African white wine."
