Zonnebloem releases generous new Viognier vintage under screw cap
Wednesday, 07 October 2009
Zonnebloem, one of South Africa's most enduring wine brands, has just released its first white wine under screw cap – the 2009 vintage of its intense, rich and complex Viognier. This palate pleasing food wine is the successor of the maiden vintage of this classic Rhône varietal that was released in 2008.
Zonnebloem Viognier 2009 is a full-bodied wine with complex aromas of orange blossoms, apricots and tropical fruit on the nose, whilst the crisp palate delights with hints of vanilla that complement the prominent peach and tropical fruit flavours.
Winemaker of Zonnebloem white wines, Deon Boshoff, made this luscious wine with grapes specifically selected from vineyards growing in the Stellenbosch and Wellington areas to ensure a good combination of sugar levels, fullness and flavour profiles. In the cellar, the wine was left on the lees and stirred regularly to further enhance the fullness of the wine on the palate.
Zonnebloem Viognier 2009 is the perfect table companion that stands up well to spicy foods such as curries and Thai dishes as well as seafood but is equally delightful on its own, served slightly chilled.
Zonnebloem is one of South Africa’s first major wine brands dating back to the early part of the 18th century. Today the time honoured tradition lives on from the vineyards, tended by the same families for over three generations, to the meticulous craftsmanship in the cellar. The result is an illustrious range of wines slowly coaxed to perfection until they are released at optimum quality. These full-bodied wines are well-structured to show varietal character with rich, robust flavours, yet remain accessible and easy to drink with a soft palate.
The Zonnebloem Viognier 2009 retails at around R40 per bottle from leading wine outlets.
Issued by: GC Communications
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 07 October 2009 )
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel crowned SA's Best Cap Classique
Wednesday, 07 October 2009
1st and 2nd place in 2009 WINE Magazine Amorim Cork Cap Classique Challenge
Simonsig Estate made a clean sweep at the 2009 WINE Magazine Amorim Cork Cap Classique Challenge clinching both 1st and 2nd places with the illustrious Kaapse Vonkel.
The Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel 2005 was crowned this year’s king of Cap Classiques, judged both Best Vintage and Best Overall, sharing the podium with its big brother from the same vintage, a 1.5-litre Kaapse Vonkel magnum, as runner up.
A noble sparkler heralded as South Africa’s first bottle fermented sparkling wine produced by the late Frans Malan in 1971 – Kaapse Vonkel is no newcomer to this highly contested challenge. In 2002, Simonsig clinched the inaugural title with the 1999 vintage.
Prior to the 2009 Cap Classique Challenge, Kaapse Vonkel 2005 has also been lauded on the international stage for its exceptional quality and refined taste, clinching the Best Sparkling Wine (Non-Champagne) award at the 2007 Proefschrift Wijnconcours awards in the Netherlands - the country’s most reliable benchmark for good value quality wines.
“Very low yields and a higher percentage of Chardonnay than in previous years, made the 2005 Kaapse Vonkel vintage the smallest ever, but resulted in a Cap Classique with a big heart that keeps on giving. This is an exceptional example of how quality prevails over quantity,” shares Simonsig winemaker Johan Malan, whose enduring passion for sparkling wine is evident in this pioneering Stellenbosch estate’s award-winning Cap Classique lineage.
The 2005 vintage is a medley of the classique Champagne varietals Chardonnay (55%), Pinot Noir (42%) and Pinot Meunier (3%). In addition to being the country’s first sparkling wine made according to the French tradition, Kaapse Vonkel also became the first Cap Classique to use all three of the classic grape varieties used in Champagne when Pinot Meunier was introduced in 1997.
Elegant and soul-quenchingly refreshing, the Chardonnay imparts a clean flintiness whilst the Pinot Noir fulfills body and taste and the delicious, aromatic fruit flavours of the Pinot Meunier blossoms early in the evolution of the wine.
The wine, made in a fuller, fruitier style, has a luminous pale straw hue and shows delicate floral aromas with hints of sun-ripened Golden Delicious and citrus freshness on the nose. A classic biscuit character follows through to a nostalgic encounter of freshly baked bread on a rich, full palate. The mousse is extremely fine and creamy and enhances the exquisite roasted almond nuttiness in the mouth. The Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel has beautiful finesse and the tight, steely finish lingers well, leaving the taste buds beckoning for another sip.
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel lends grandeur to the Festive Season and is the perfect present to take along to any Christmas feast, regardless whether it lands up under the tree or is enjoyed as a refreshing toast. Or why not step boldly into the New Year by celebrating with a majestic Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel magnum.
The Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel is available from R76 per 750ml bottle and R170 for the magnum, at selected supermarkets and fine wine outlets countrywide.
For information or direct cellar orders contact Simonsig Estate on Tel: (021) 888 4915 or visit www.simonsig.co.za.
Chateau Carbonnieux in Pessac Leognan is due to begin picking its Sauvignon Blanc grapes at the end of this week after a 'roller-coaster' season of highs and lows.
Zonnebloem, one of South Africa's most enduring wine brands, has just released its first white wine under screw cap – the 2009 vintage of its intense, rich and complex Viognier. This palate pleasing food wine is the successor of the maiden vintage of this classic Rhône varietal that was released in 2008. 
Simonsig Estate made a clean sweep at the 2009 WINE Magazine Amorim Cork Cap Classique Challenge clinching both 1st and 2nd places with the illustrious Kaapse Vonkel..jpg)
