Top marks for South African wines in US

26 January 2011

South African wine and spirits maker KWV is continuing to establish itself a world leaders in the wine industry, with two of the company's premium wines recently scoring top marks in a prominent US publication, Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

KWV's Cathedral Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 scored 87 points, while its Cathedral Cellar Shiraz 2006 scored 90 points. Both were selected as Wine Enthusiast Editor's Choice wines, with the Cabernet Sauvignon selected for the November 2010 issue and the Shiraz for the December 2010 issue.

"This award signifies our commitment to delivering a premium quality brand, as the Cathedral Cellar range typifies our pursuit of excellence and quality, and epitomises the new KWV energy," Cathedral Cellar brand director Jeff Gradwell said in a statement last week.

'Full-bodied'

With 22 to 24 months' maturation in new French oak, the Cathedral Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 is a full-bodied wine displaying typical cassis flavours. The wine is complemented by hints of eucalyptus and spice.

The smoky oak characters result in a well-balanced wine with an abundance of berry aromas, best enjoyed with roasted or grilled red meats with rich sauces.

'Intense and brooding'

Described as an "intense and brooding" Shiraz with fantastic depth and character, the full bodied Cathedral Cellar Shiraz 2006's "creamy mouth-feel is loaded with black fruit flavours, integrated with wood spice throughout," according to KWV.

"The finish is long and the impression strong and the wine is an ideal partner to flavourful, robust dishes."

Founded in 1988, Wine Enthusiast Magazine aims to keep its readers updated on vital information in the world of wine, and includes numerous wine reviews in each issue.

"By providing this information to the wine consumer, the magazine has grown to become the world's largest journal devoted exclusively to wine and spirits," KWV said.

SAinfo reporter