Organisers were particularly pleased with the increase in first-time entries, and in fact, one of them, D.A. Hanekom Family Wines’ Langrug Malbec 2018 from Durbanville was the overall winner.

Judging took place on 21 October in Cape Town. There were 14 gold medals (90+ points) awarded by the three internationally experienced judges, namely Carrie Adams from Johannesburg, and Cape Wine Masters’ Ginette de Fleuriot and Christine Rudman, the panel chair.

The judging out of 100 points was done blind with no regional or vintage information, and monitored by auditor Niel de Kock from Cecil Kilpin.

Commenting on the quality of the wines, the panel agreed that the majority had good fruit expression and lovely drinkability. The producers who scored in the high 90s showed respect for the variety’s succulence by careful oaking so as not to overwhelm the fruit. A juicy, soft-skinned variety, Malbec requires care in the vineyard to avoid over-cropping or sunburn damage, and in the cellar quick and careful fermentation to prevent oxidation.

The winning winery (highest score overall) received a Tonnellerie De Mercurey barrel of either 225, 228 or 300L according to their requirement, thanks to RX South Africa - the Malbec Challenge sponsor since 2019. While RX usually sponsors the awards lunch, it was decided to donate that sum to Food for Hope Carmen Stevens Foundation which supplies breakfast and lunch to school children.

Winners
Malbec Challenge 2021 winner: D.A. Hanekom Family Wines’ Andri and Yvette Hanekom along with Celia Galloway.

The winner

D.A. Hanekom Family Wines is a small, independent wine producer established in 2016 by the husband- and-wife team of Andri and Yvette Hanekom.

What started off as a hobby, quickly became a small business for the couple as their passion and drive to produce wines of exceptional quality continued to grow.

During a decade of farming within the wine industry, producing and acquiring grapes for different prestigious cellars, Andri became familiar with a wide range of different parcels of vines in the Cape Winelands. This knowledge became invaluable in obtaining the grapes necessary to produce a growing, high-end range of wines.

The couple view their wines as a respectful embodiment of the terroir of the farms on which the grapes were grown, as well as the hard work of the individuals who tended to the vines and wine.

D.A. Hanekom Family Wines is steeped in a long and proud history of agriculture, on both sides of the family. Paying homage to the different agricultural regions in their family history, the couple named their wines after the beautiful Karoo farms where they spent many of their holidays.

The simplicity of the brand’s labelling hides the complexity of the wine within, much like delicate and complex ecosystems make up the seemingly barren beauty of the Karoo.

The Malbec is sourced from Bloemendal Wine Estate, were Andri works fulltime as the general manager and cellar master. There is one hectare of Malbec planted on the estate.

The Malbec Challenge is an independent and professionally-run competition by Events by Celia. The aim is to shine the light on smaller wine varieties like Malbec and at the least expense to wineries, meaning there’s no expectation of extra stock other than the two bottles delivered for judging.

The results in alphabetical order:

WINNER: D.A. Hanekom Familie Wyne Langrug Malbec 2018

GOLD: Anura Malbec Reserve 2018; Bellevue Malbec 2018; Blaauwklippen Malbec 2020; Diemersdal Malbec 2020; Doolhof Bloedklip Malbec 2017; Doolhof Bloedklip Malbec 2018; Dornier Malbec 2017; Druk My Niet Malbec 2015; La Couronne Malbec 2016; Mount Vernon Malbec 2018; Neethlingshof Malbec 2020; Perdeberg The Vineyard Collection Malbec 2020 Spijker Bessie Wyne Spijker Malbec 2019.

SILVER: Benguela Cove Malbec 2019; Blake’s Single Vineyard Malbec 2020; Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Malbec 2020; Doolhof Bloedklip Malbec 2020; Doolhof Single Vineyard Malbec 2019; Doolhof Single Vineyard Malbec 2020; Dornier Malbec 2018; GlenWood Chanteclair Malbec 2019; Hillcrest Saartjie Single Vineyard Selection Malbec 2019 La Couronne 1688 Malbec 2018; La Couronne Malbec 2017; Le Pommier Jonathan’s Malbec 2020; Mitre’s Edge Malbec 2018; Post House Reserve Malbec 2019; Val du Charron Reserve Malbec 2020; Withington Darling Malbec 2020