Super year for Boplaas in 2012
Wednesday, 19 December, 2012
Boplaas Family Vineyards
The Boplaas Cape Tawny Port 1997 - a rare Colheita - reigned supreme as the top scoring Cape "Port" at the inaugural Classic Wine "Top of the Top 6". This achievement was one of the many highlights of 2012 for this small family cellar situated in the tiny Klein Karoo hamlet of Calitzdorp.
Dedication, passion, traditional methods and the pursuit of perfection are often pandered around and have become hollow clichés in the world of wine, but without these tenants and resilience, the small family cellar that is Boplaas in Calitzdorp would surely not have achieved the level of success which it enjoys.
The Nels of Boplaas can trace back their vinous heritage to their very first export of potstill brandy to London in 1880 and have become synonymous with the crafting of arguably the finest Cape “Port”-styled wines and fortifieds. Their all-round vinous ability has also been proven by the crafting of back-to-back SA Young Wine Trophy winning Sauvignon Blanc in 2009 & 2010; while in 2005 they were crowned overall top producer at the Veritas awards.
In 2012 the awards continued to steadily roll in, the latest being the fact that the Boplaas Cape Tawny Port 1997, achieved the highest overall score at the inaugural Classic Wine “Port” tasting and was included in this year’s “Top of the Top 6”. This rare Colheita – dated tawny – was crafted solely from Tinta Barocca and the single barrel was aged for 12 years before bottling unfined & unfiltered. Amongst this latest accolade, this very same wine was included in the South African “Top 100 wines” 2012, Platter’s 5 Star awardee, Veritas double gold in 2011 and being crowned top “Port” in the Musuem Class at CAPPA’s 2012 Port & Wine Challenge. This exceptional Cape Tawny epitomizes the dedication to the art of crafting fine fortifieds.
Veritas 2012 resulted in two double gold medals achieved for the Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2009 and Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2010; while three gold medals were achieved for the gold medals for the Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2007, Boplaas Cape Tawny Reserve Port 1995 and Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2002. This impressive haul resulted in Boplaas firmly positioning itself amongst the top producers in the Cape’s largest and longest running wine competition.
A brace of golds and a prestigious Grand d’Or were won at the Michelangelo International Wine Awards 2012. One of only 44 Grand d’Ors went to the luminary Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2006; while golds were scooped up by the Boplaas Cape Tawny N/V, Boplaas “The Chocolate” Cape Vintage Port 2010 and the Boplaas Tinta Chocolat 2011. While the Boplaas Cape Ruby N/V claimed a silver medal, to add to its title of Cape Ruby category winner at the CAPPA Challenge 2012.
The innovative and immensely popular Boplaas Tinta Chocolat 2011 – a dry red crafted from Tinta Barocca – also managed to take top honours at the inaugural CAPPA “Port & Wine Challenge” 2012 outscoring all Portuguese led blends and varietal wines. Boplaas’ stable of Portuguese varietal table wines claimed an impressive three spots in the CAPPA “Top 10” – with the Boplaas Tinta Chocolat 2011 joined by the Boplaas Tinta Barocca 2009 in 3rd and the “Top 10” rounded out by Woolworths’ Boplaas Portuguese Collection 2011.
At the SA National Young Wine Show 2012, Boplaas faired admirably clinching the only gold medal for a fine Touriga Nacional and took the top honours as best performing private cellar in the Klein Karoo. The Boplaas Merlot 2011 and Boplaas Hanepoot 2012 clinched spots amongst the 549 wines included in Ultra Liquors’ BestValue Guide 2013 chosen from the 1114 entrants all retailing below R80 a bottle – with the judges extremely surprised by the quality and value offered by the Merlot in particular.
Continuing their strong showing in the fortifieds category, the Boplaas White Muscadel 2011 received one of only three gold medals for White Muscadel at the South African Muscadel Association & Enartis Muscadel Awards 2012 and was the only Muscadel from the Klein Karoo to walk away with a medal. At this year’s Terroir Awards – the first time, wines from the district of Calitzdorp could enter – the Boplaas Muscadel 2011 managed to receive the highest score of Muscadel in the district.
This year has also seen the up-dating of packaging and launch of Boplaas’ new white wine labels by Stellenbosch design impresarios Fanakalo; coupled with the launch of the Klein Karoo’s very first low-alcohol Muscat table wine, the Boplaas Moscato Light 2012 (Veritas bronze 2012), as well as the Carel Nel 15 Year Old Reserve Brandy and the Nel’s Heritage Muscat both of which are exclusively available from the cellar door. While 2012 also resulted in the release of only the 3rd ever, Cool Bay Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. The Cool Bay Reserve was crafted from old dry-land farmed bush-vines within earshot of the icy Atlantic Ocean in Darling and garnered a 4 Star rating in Platters’ 2013.
For more information on these stellar award winning wines and our extensive range, please visit our website www.boplaas.co.za, send us a mail to info@boplaas.co.za, give us a call on 044 – 2133326, follow us on Twitter @Boplaas1880 or come visit our cellar door open 7-days a week this December in Calitzdorp.
So as this year concludes, we eagerly look forward to 2013 harvest and wish all a blessed festive season filled with much cheer, merriment and joy.
Boplaas Family Vineyards, Calitzdorp – Tending vines & Crafting wines, since 1880