Trophy Wine Show 2023: Benguela Cove Wine Estate wins gold

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate has triumphed at the prestigious Trophy Wine Show in Cape Town, held on 8th June, winning medals for both wines entered by the Hermanus wine farm.  

Out of nearly 1,000 wines judged at the competition, only 32 were awarded gold, requiring a score of 95 or above. Benguela Cove's Estate Chardonnay 2022 was one of just three Chardonnay wines to receive a gold medal. It was the second-highest-scoring white wine at the show, with an impressive 97 out of 100. 

The Trophy Wine Show is renowned for its strict judging criteria and high-profile judges, including esteemed Masters of Wine such as Jancis Robinson. The competition aims to identify the very best Cape wines and recognise the achievements of South Africa's winemakers. Investec's support allows the show's organisers to assemble top judges who share their expertise through both the results and a feedback session following the judging. 

Benguela Cove Wine Estate is located in the picturesque Walker Bay wine region of Hermanus. It is a part of the Benguela Collection wine and hospitality group, which the Streeter family founded in 2013. The estate is situated on a lagoon, separated by a narrow sandbar from the Atlantic Ocean, providing ideal conditions for cultivating a variety of grape cultivars to produce cool climate wines. 

Under the guidance of winemaker Johann Fourie, Benguela Cove produces 350,000 bottles per year. He prioritises site-specific wines that showcase the unique terroir of Benguela Cove and the wine style it delivers. The diversity of slopes, soils, and exposure to prevailing winds bring out the best in each varietal, while the estate's special location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean gives the wines a distinctive character. 

Hermanus wine farm uses only grapes from its own vineyard, which are processed in its 400-ton winery. The winery boasts crystal chandeliers, advanced technology, and a blend of traditional and modern fermentation vessels, reflecting the estate's commitment to producing exceptional wines that celebrate the unique qualities of their South African origins.

Benguela Cove's Estate Chardonnay 2022: Wine Tasting Notes 

Walker Bay earned its repertoire for outstanding Chardonnay and these vineyards are no exception. Nudged by the lagoon with vistas of the Atlantic Ocean, the vineyards enjoy cool daytime temperatures that drop even more at night. A beneficial diurnal range aids in even ripening and complexity while maritime winds encourage healthy vines that need minimal intervention.  

• Slope: Two adjacent, west-facing vineyards 

• Soil: Weathered shale with very high calcium content 

• Clones: CY277 & CY96  

WINE ANALYSIS 

• Alc: 13.5%

• pH: 3.2 

• TA: 6.66g/l

• RS: 1.2g/l 

CHARACTER

It is nearly impossible not to fall in love with the sumptuous aroma of this wine. Green-gold in colour, elegantly knit aromas of flint, peach, melon and nougat lure you in and generously follows through on the palate. Met with fresh acidity, a gentle creaminess also envelops the palate, trailed with citrus zest, and a toasty finish. The mineral structure cuts through the textured mouthfeel leaving a fresh, clean finish. This wine, packed with character, is best explained as a wine of refined complexity.  

PERSONALITY 

This wine is confident and demands attention with its balance between freshness and focus. Apart from being beautifully balanced, the intensity, chalky texture, length, concentration, and super long finish make this a worthy competitor for the best Chardonnays of its kind.  

IN THE CELLAR

Picked at optimal ripeness, the grapes were hand sorted. Juice from two pressing cycles were divided into 4 batches that had different levels of exposure to oxygen and solids content with the juice going into fermentation. The wine was left on its lees for the entire maturation period to enhance palate texture. 25% of the wine was allowed to go through secondary malolactic fermentation to enhance richness, mouthfeel, and balance.

• Cellaring potential: 2 - 5 years from harvest date

• Maturation: 11 months; 40% new French oak

• Production: 37 barrels

BEST TO ENJOY

Rich in texture and fruit, even meaty dishes will succumb to its complexity. Serving temperature: 10 - 12°C

• Blue cheese gnocchi

• Pungent washed-rind cheeses

• Escargot

“We aim to produce a Chardonnay that is an expression of the vineyard. We, therefore, make subtle use of oak to celebrate its intensely fruited core. I think this vintage might just be our best expression of Benguela Cove Chardonnay to date!” - Cellar Master, Johann Fourie