Best New World imported Chardonnay – Waterford Estate
Posted by peter | Articles | Posted on June 23rd, 2011
Waterford Wine Estate is delighted to share with you its most recent accolade announced out of Holland a few days ago.
Waterford Estate Chardonnay 2009 was chosen out of 500 wines as “The best Chardonnay from The New World (Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, USA) imported into Holland under €12.50” (ZAR 125.00). This is an annual award organized by Holland’s largest and most popular wine magazine – “Perswijn’ – and the first time that Waterford Estate has won it. The panel judging the award is made up of renowned wine writers, sommeliers and journalists, and the tasting is conducted blind.
Although the 2009 vintage has now sold out in South Africa, the 2011 production is due for release in November this year. The 2010 vintage was short lived in the market, due to crop losses of 65% due to Black South Easter winds in October 2009.
However, each vintage of Chardonnay has come from the same vineyard on the Waterford Estate, one of the oldest blocks on the 120 hectare property in the Blaauwklippen Valley, and as such has been registered as a single vineyard with SAWIS from 2005 onwards. “Due to the above, there has always been uniformity and consistency in its style” says Francois Haasbroek, Wine Maker at Waterford Estate. The wine although enjoyable when young, is made in such a style that rewards cellaring and ageing of 4 to 8 years.
The Waterford Estate Chardonnay has traditionally been sold out in a short space of time due to the quality of the wine far outweighing the price.
Beaumont House has the 2009 vintage for guests to enjoy.