Boplaas Family Vineyards’ outstanding reputation for producing world-class Cape port wines – with proven ageability – was again highlighted on Monday in Paarl at the 25th edition of the Investec Trophy Wine Show. Judges comprising both local and international panellists awarded the trophy for Best Museum Class Cape Port to the Calitzdorp producer’s Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2016.
The victory is a demonstration not only of how well the 2016 vintage is hitting its stride now, 10 years after bottling, but also contributes to Boplaas’s history of consistency. The Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2016 was rated the best fortified wine in the Winemag.co.za 10-Year-Old Wine Report earlier this year as well as scoring 94 points from Tim Atkin MW; being included in the SA Top 100 Wines, having won the Grand Cru and Double Platinum awards; receiving Platinum at the Michaelangelo International Wine and Spirit Awards; and winning gold at the 2021 Veritas Awards.
In addition to the trophy, Boplaas also received top ratings for its Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2024 and Family Reserve Ring of Rocks 2022, which the panel declared were “excellent, wines of distinction”.
“Recognition at Trophy Wine Show is always an honour, says Boplaas winemaker Margaux Nel. “Taking the award for an older wine demonstrates just how well Boplaas ports improve over time – and, to us, time is the ultimate arbiter of greatness.”
The Trophy Wine Show, sponsored by Investec, is regarded as one of South Africa’s toughest competitions and continues to be spearheaded by Michael Fridjhon – the country’s most experienced and respected wine judge. Very few entries go on to be included among the Silver, Gold and Trophy winners.
The Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2016 comprises a blend dominated by Touriga Nacional – a variety that was Margaux’s central research topic for the completion of her MSc at Stellenbosch University. She has been the Boplaas winemaker since 2009.
The wine also contains other traditional Portuguese varieties, Tinta Barocca and Souzao. The Portuguese varieties thrive in the Klein Karoo climate as they require less water to ripen and are less sensitive to warmer weather.
Tinta Barocca was planted by accident when the late Family patriarch, Danie, ordered Shiraz vines from a nursery in the Cape, but received the Portuguese variety instead. For 10 years, he made wine without knowing until his son, Carel, while studying at Stellenbosch University, suspected the mix-up and investigated. Carel eventually took the baton from his father and built Boplaas into one of South Africa’s leading port producers.
Boplaas Cape Ports may be ordered along with the farm’s outstanding table wines and spirits, from boplaas.co.za.