2005 JULIET CULLINAN WINE CONNOISSEUR'S AWARD WINNERS
20 June 2005

The Juliet Cullinan Wine Connoisseur's Awards identify the highlights at the Juliet Cullinan Standard Bank Wine Festival. Wine buffs regard wine awards with interest, wondering if the regular winners will take the medals, or if a new winery blessed with good terroir and a talented cellarmaster will surprise the critics?

The wines on offer at the Juliet Cullinan Standard Bank Wine Festival, now in its 13th year, are tasted blind by a tasting panel of Cape Wine Masters. The Cape Wine Master is the highest qualification in the country and their qualification and expertise is internationally recognised. Each has undergone stringent tastings tests and can identify wines from around the globe. After sniffing, swilling and spitting their way through several red wine categories, Ports and Dessert wines, Marilyn Cooper, Henry Davel, Margie Fallon, Margaret Fry, Alf Mauff, Heidi Rosenthal Duminy, Junel Vermeulen, and Paul Bernardie pronounced their verdicts.

The Standard Bank Equity House in Dunkeld, Johannesburg, was the forum for the rows of marked bottles, trays of glasses and score sheets this year. The wine-tasting process is monitored by KPMG, who oversee the pouring of the wines, the wine judging and score tabulation. Red wines, Ports, and Noble Late Harvest styles are tasted in June and the whites in September when the 2005 vintage is launched onto the market in September.

The Juliet Cullinan Wine Connoisseur Award highlights the best wines at the Festival, awarding only three wines are selected from each varietal category. They are given a first, second and third placement and rated gold, silver or bronze according to their scores. Gold: 17 and over; Silver 16 - 17 and Bronze 15 - 16 out of 20 points. Wine bottle stickers are handed out together with bottle stickers, framed certificates and silver lapel-sized taste-du-vins for their achievements.

Standard Bank sponsors an international air ticket to the wine destination of the winners choice and R3000 spending money. This prize gives the winning winemaker the opportunity to travel to an international wine region, establish contact with foreigners and glean new, invaluable tips in vineyard and cellar techniques. He (or she) will be able to keep abreast of international trends and build up a foreign network. Which will ensure that local winemakers are kept abreast of international trends. The winner of the 2004 Juliet Cullinan Wine Connoisseur's Award for the overall top scoring wine was the Kaapzicht Steytler Vision 2001.

The Juliet Cullinan Standard Bank Wine Festival is recognised as a showcase for handpicked boutique wineries. It's appeal lies in its small size, targeting quality wineries. Come and taste the spoils…

In Johannesburg: July 27-28 at The Campus, The Forum, 57 Sloane Street, Corner Main and Sloane Roads in Bryanston, Johannesburg. Doors are open from 5.30pm-9pm and tickets cost R80.
In Durban at the Hilton Hotel, Durban on 1 July so if you are down for the Durban July, warm your spirits with a focused tipple the night before!

Group bookings can be arranged in advance by calling Juliet Cullinan Wines on (011) 447 1885 or 083 255 9430.

2005 JULIET CULLINAN WINE CONNOISSEUR'S AWARD WINNERS
TASTED AT THE STANDARD BANK EQUITY HOUSE, DUNKELD

Gold: 17 and over; Silver 16 - 17 and Bronze 15 - 16 out of 20 points

CAPE BLEND
FIRST KAAPZICHT STEYTLER VISION 2002 SILVER
SECOND FLAGSTONE DRAGON TREE 2003 BRONZE
THIRD VILLIERA CELLAR DOOR CAPE BLEND 2002 BRONZE

MERLOT
FIRST DE WAAL MERLOT 2002 BRONZE
SECOND KAAPZICHT MERLOT 2001 BRONZE
THIRD RIDGEBACK MERLOT 2003 BRONZE
THIRD STEENBERG MERLOT 2003 BRONZE

PINOTAGE
FIRST KAAPZICHT STEYTLER 2002 GOLD
SECOND RAKA PINOTAGE 2003 SILVER
THIRD GROOT CONSTANTIA PINOTAGE 2003 SILVER

SHIRAZ
FIRST WATERFORD KEVIN ARNOLD SHIRAZ 2002 GOLD
SECOND RAKA BIOGRAPHY SHIRAZ 2002 GOLD
THIRD HORSE MOUNTAIN SHIRAZ 2004 SILVER

RED BLEND
FIRST GROOT CONSTANTIA GOUVERNEURS RESERVE 2002 GOLD
SECOND AVONTUUR BACCARAT 2001 SILVER
THIRD BLYDE BONA DEA 2002 SILVER

PINOT NOIR
FIRST BOUCHARD FINLAYSON PINOT NOIR TETE DE CUVEE 2000 BRONZE
SECOND DE WETSHOF DANIE DE WET NATURE IN CONCERT PINOT NOIR 2003 BRONZE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
FIRST DELAIRE BOETMANSKOP 2002 GOLD
SECOND RIDGEBACK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2003 GOLD
THIRD TOKARA ZONDERNAAM CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2001 SILVER
THIRD KAAPZICHT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2001 SILVER

UNUSUAL REDS
FIRST RIDGEBACK CABERNET FRANC/MERLOT 2003 SILVER
SECOND GLEN CARLOU TORTOISE HILL 2003 BRONZE
THIRD VREDE EN LUST JACQUES DE SAVOYE CARA 2002 BRONZE

PORT
FIRST DE KRANS CAPE TAWNY PORT SILVER
SECOND DE KRANS VINTAGE RESERVE PORT 2002 BRONZE
THRID VILLIERA FIRED EARTH 2000 BRONZE

NOBLE LATE HARVEST
FIRST JORDAN MELLIFERA 2004 BRONZE
SECOND VILLIERA CELLAR DOOR 2005 BRONZE


THE JULIET CULLINAN WINE CONNOISSOISSEUR'S AWARDS ARE AUDITED BY KPMG