The verdict is in and all the esteemed judges agree: Douglas Green is worth its weight in solid (double) gold. In one of many excellent recent competition performances, pre-eminent South African producer Douglas Green has received high praise and global clout at the recent Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards, winning two prestigious double gold medals – for the Douglas Green Chenin Blanc 2018 and Douglas Green Cabernet Sauvignon 2017.
The Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards is one of South Africa’s most authoritative and longest running annual wine competitions, having been established in 1997 as the only international wine competition in the country. The competition is unique in South Africa, in that all judges are hand-picked wine experts, representing all seven continents around the globe. The judging panel for this year’s competition included highly respected wine personalities such as Amanda Barnes from Argentina, Austin Zhang from China, Bernard Schaefer from Germany, Jean-Luis Da Ros from France, and Winnie Bowman from South Africa, among others.
According to Lorraine Immelman, CEO and founder of Michelangelo, this wealth of international expertise among the judges has created an exceptionally high standard of judging.
This year’s stellar results put the crown on a long run of fine performances at Michelangelo for Douglas Green. Jacques Roux, wine marketing director DGB, explains the winery’s affinity for the competition. “We prefer competitions like Michelangelo where the tastings are done blind – unsighted tasting – allowing the style and the quality of the wines to be rated and not the brand’s label or record and repertoire. We also really enjoy the input from international tasters who prefer a certain elegance and style – wines with excellent drinkability rather than heavy, overly showy wines”.
The double gold-winning Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon are both sourced from selected vineyard sites in Paarl, Breedekloof/Worcester and Robertson. According to Douglas Green winemaker Jaco Potgieter, the wines’ success can be attributed to various factors. “Both the Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon are blended from selected pockets of terroir across the Cape Winelands, and it is certainly a case of the sum being greater than the parts. We have been working hard on these respective vineyards for many years in a team effort with the growers in order to produce the type of quality that warrants the highest international recognition. So a lot of the credit has to go to our dedicated growers, with whom we have built wonderful relationships over the years.”
Potgieter also notes that the 2017 and 2018 vintages yielded outstanding fruit, which resulted in beautifully expressive flavours and excellent mouthfeel in the wines. The Chenin Blanc shows vibrant passion fruit, peach and pineapple flavours, laced by notes of honeysuckle and citrus that carry through from mouth-watering entry to finish. The Cabernet Sauvignon is supple and accessible, with well-defined black fruit flavours supported by gentle oak smokiness and spice, as well as a lingering fresh aftertaste. The award-winning wines are available from the winery and at leading wine retailers while stocks last.
