Nederburg's acclaimed wine, the Noble Late Harvest, has once again earned international honours, this time winning the trophy for best botrytis wine on the 2006 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) in London.

The win is just one of a series of spectacular achievements on the competition, arguably the single most important international showcase of its kind. Nederburg also brought home three other best of class awards, each presented with a gold medal, as well as 10 silvers.

The 2005 Nederburg Noble Late Harvest, made under cellarmaster Razvan Macici, was one of five South African trophy winners in the event that draws entries from virtually every single wine-producing country in the world. Last year, the 2004 vintage was the only trophy winner in the Tri-Nations Wine Challenge, involving South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

The trophy winner is made from a blend of Chenin blanc (90%) and Weisser Riesling (10%) and is described by Macici as expressing "aromas of dried peach, apricots, honey and spice that follow through onto the palate with a touch of vanilla and a perfect acid/sugar balance".

While this wine is available through selected stockists countrywide and sells for under R47a 375 ml bottle, two of the other golds went to Nederburg dessert wines sold exclusively on the Nederburg Auction - the 2004 Edelkeur Noble Late Harvest and the 2004 Private Bin S316 Weisser Riesling Noble Late Harvest.

The third gold was awarded to Nederburg's Potstill Solera, also available from selected retailers, for around R129,99

All these medalists were judged the top scores in their categories.

The silver medals were awarded to the 2004 Shiraz, as well as to a range of wines sold exclusively on the Nederburg Auction. They are the 2001 and 2003 vintages of the Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2003 vintages of Edelkeur and Eminence, the 2002 Private Bin R172 Pinotage, the 2004 Private Bin D270 Chardonnay, the Private Bin 2004 D212 Viognier and two Sauvignon blancs from the 2005 vintage, the Private Bin D215 Sauvignon blanc and the Private Bin D253 Sauvignon blanc.

The trophy and multiple medals continue a tradition begun by the legendary Nederburg cellarmaster Gûnter Brözel, who was the first South African winemaker to be awarded a trophy on the competition. In 1985, Brözel won the Robert Mondavi Award as Winemaker of the Year.

Source: Press release / 25 July 2006

Some other articles on award winning South African wines
2005 Veritas award Winners
2005 Sasol/Sanlam award winning wines.