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While the 1 491 entries represented a record for the sixth year running, the total number of medals decreased from 77% of total entries to 67%, with the biggest shift occurring in the double gold and silver categories. The double gold moved up from 35 to 67 and the silver moved down from 666 to 359. While the gold medals decreased from 102 to 62, the bronze increased from 345 to 517. It is probably the first time in the 11 year existence of this competition that double gold exceeded gold - a state of affairs that could probably be ascribed to an overall improvement of quality and the consequence of the exceptionally good current vintage.
In the spirit of the feedback meeting in which all interested parties participated earlier this year, a revised points system was introduced. Judges also had the opportunity to discuss the wines, which are tasted blind, and thus to have the final say about the points and medals awarded.
Double gold was awarded when five of the seven judges on a panel awarded more than 17 points out of 20, gold for an average of 17, silver for 16 and bronze for 15.
The judging panels comprised 105 judges altogether, including eight international experts. The international team consisted of Geoff Merrill and Robin Day from Australia; Janake Johansson and Johannes Högström of Sweden; David Wrigley and Lilyane Weston of the United Kingdom; Raul Castellani of Argentina, Guido Francque of Belgium and Dave Hughes of South Africa.
Four cellars excel
Four cellars boasted three double gold medals each at the Santam Veritas Awards, namely Boland, Kanu, Monis and West Coast Vineyards.
Boland Cellar - who has been performing extremely well both locally and internationally this year - notched up yet more awards at Santam Veritas. The cellar's 1995 White Muscadel, 2001 Chenin Blanc and Bon Vino White Dry garnered three double golds.
For Kanu Wines, winemakers Teddy Hall and Theo Brink brought home three double golds with the flagship, 1999 Keystone (Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot), 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon and 1999 Merlot.
Winemaker Kosie Möller, no newcomer to the awards scene, won three double golds for West Coast Vineyards with his red wines - the Bluebird blend, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, all labelled Devon Hill and all from the 2000 vintage.
Monis' winemaker, Dirkie Christowitz, was awarded three double golds for Monis Medium Cream Sherry, Pale Dry Sherry and Tawny Port.
KWV's winning wines received 34 Veritas medals altogether, including double gold for the 2000 Cathedral Cellar Chardonnay and 1820 Full Cream Sherry.
Simonsig put up an excellent show with 20 sought-after Veritas medals. The only double gold in the category for Cap Classique was awarded to Simonsig's 1992 Cuvée Royale. Winemaker Johan Malan won the estate's second double gold award with a 2001 Chenin Blanc.
Neil Ellis received two double gold awards for his 1998 Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon and 1999 Vineyard Selection Shiraz.
Newcomers who performed exceptionally well were Flagstone and Havana Hills.
Bruce Jack's Flagstone winery in the Cape Waterfront took home two double golds, both for red blends, namely 2000 Flagstone Longitude and 2000 Flagstone Strata Series George's Blend.
Nico Vermeulen and Kobus du Plessis of Havana Hills on the West Coast won two double gold Veritas Awards for Shiraz, namely Havana Hills 1999 and 2000 Du Plessis Reserve Shiraz.
Only ten of the 249 participants were awarded 15 or more double gold, gold and silver medals. They are KWV (34), Stellenbosch Vineyards (21), Botha (21), Simonsig (20), Bon Courage (20), De Wetshof (18), Slanghoek (18), West Coast Vineyards (16), Distell (16) and Bergsig (15).
The new wine marketing giant, Distell, entered its wines separately under the names of the specific cellars or production houses, which took home jointly four double golds and five golds.
Red blends won most of the double gold medals this year, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon (8), Merlot, Pinotage and Chardonnay (6 each).
Members of the public, media and trade had the opportunity to taste the winners of double gold and gold medals at the Holiday Inn in Cape Town on 5 and 16 October and at the WineX show in the Sandton Convention Centre on 23 October.
- Cassie du Plessis
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Looking at the totality of the medals awarded this year, the picture is very different to last year, probably in line with the organisers' endeavour to raise standards even more, inter alia by means of a changed points and judging system.
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