South Africa,
Stellenbosch, November 2013; STELLENBOSCH
WINE ESTATE KLEINE ZALZE has added to its
collection of awards. Two of their wines received the coveted five-star grading
in the annual Platter’s South African Wine Guide. Joining
the list of the producer’s top achievers in this authoritative publication was
the Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2012 and
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2012.
“This
achievement is an affirmation of the quality of wines that carry the Kleine
Zalze label, irrespective of varietal and price category,” says Kleine Zalze
Managing Director Kobus Basson. “Their consistent performances at Platter and
other shows reflect the care and craftsmanship pursued from the vineyards to
the cellar and into the bottle.”
The latest five-star ratings bring the number of Kleine
Zalze wines that have reached this superior level to six. They join the Shiraz
Family Reserve 2003, Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve 2007, Sauvignon Blanc
Family Reserve 2008 and Sauvignon Blanc Family Reserve 2010.
Five-star
wines are exceptional bottlings that emerge from two rounds of judging with the
event’s highest rating.
The performance of the Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2012
was a proud moment for Kleine Zalze cellarmaster Johan Joubert. “This maiden release was truly a work of art, focusing
on the important role of soil and how it contributes to the Kleine Zalze style
of Chenin Blanc,”
“All the credit goes to the Kleine Zalze cellar team
that put immense focus on the end product, giving the collector of icon wines
the opportunity to get hold of this fine expression of Chenin Blanc.”
Joubert says it is of the utmost importance that this
creative style be achieved every year with the same level of fruit intensity
and longevity, and a firm eye on achieving superior quality. “Through years of
experimentation, the perfect selection of barrels was presented to the three
different soil selections, each contributing to the unique expression of an
elegant, fresh and lengthy finish.”
As for the Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, this is the
third time the wine has collected five stars at Platter’s. “This demonstrates not
only consistency, but also how regionality, distance from the sea, canopy
management and winemaking contribute in the crafting of this quality wine
through months of patience on the lees,” he says.
“The secret lies in the balance achieved through the
contribution of five wine regions to the final product. Each brings a different
layer of fruit with a long lingering aftertaste.”
Joubert says these vineyard blocks, situated no further
than 10km from the sea, produce natural compounds of utmost importance in a top
quality Sauvignon Blanc wine. “Canopy management produced the perfect
microclimate, which are also essential factors. Added to this, the winemaking
team brings understanding of how each parcel of fruit will develop over twelve
months, the correct winemaking practices and decisions on length of time to
leave the wine on the lees,” he says.
“Blending - an art in itself - needs to predict how the
wine will develop in the bottle with the ultimate aim of providing the consumer
with the best quality expression of the Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon
Blanc style.”
Platter’s South African Wine Guide is the best-selling
annual of its kind. It was conceived in 1978 and is today seen as one of the
most highly regarded wine advisers.
Kleine Zalze’s achievements at Platter’s come hot on
the heels of its stellar performance at this year’s Michelangelo International
Wine Awards where its Vineyard Selection Chardonnay 2012 was one of only three wines
to receive a platinum award. Kleine Zalze also received a Gran D’Or medal for the
Vineyard Selection Shiraz Mourvédre Viognier 2011, three Golds and two Silvers.
For
more information contact Wynand van Schalkwyk, Marketing Manager at Kleine
Zalze via e-mail wvanschalkwyk@kleinezalze.co.za or visit www.kleinezalze.com