In conjunction with RisCura, a global financial investment services provider, Winemag.co.za is pleased to announce the fourth annual White Hot Wine Awards featuring Bordeaux-style white blends.

The Graves sub-region of Bordeaux excels at under-stated, oak-aged dry whites from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. In simple terms, Sauvignon Blanc provides freshness while Semillon provides palate weight but when it comes to the best examples, it’s a case of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts.

Sauv-Sem blends are a niche category within South Africa but there is general agreement that overall quality is exceptionally high and the RisCura White Hot Wine Awards serves to provide these wines with the attention they deserve.

35 entries were received from 31 producers for this year’s competition. 15 wines were rated 90 or higher on the 100-point quality scale and these were recognised during an event held at Cape Town restaurant Tjing Tjing Torii on Wednesday, 7 September.

The top wines were as follows:

94

Iona One Man Band White 2015
Strandveld Adamastor 2014
Tokara Director’s Reserve 2014

93

Constantia Uitsig Natura Vista 2014

92

Trizanne Signature Wines Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2015

91

Barton Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2015
Cape Point Vineyards Isliedh 2015
Creation Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2015
Delaire Graff White Reserve 2014
Highlands Road Sine Cera 2014
KWV The Mentors Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2015
Vrede en Lust Barrique 2014

90

Nitida Coronata Integration 2015
Mulderbosch Faithful Hound White 2014
Zorgvliet Simoné 2015

As producer of the best wine overall, Iona won a new 225-litre Blanc barrel from Tonnellerie Sylvain.

This competition is a companion project to the RisCura Red Hot Wine Awards begun last year and features blends from the red varieties of Bordeaux, namely Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot.

A full report on the state of the category can be found on Winemag.co.za

Join the conversation and follow the action on twitter #RisCuraWhiteHot

Winemag.co.za, in conjunction with RisCura are hosting a Cape Town and Johannesburg Public Tasting event to showcase the top-rated Bordeaux-style white blends. Tickets are available online for 29 September at Protea Hotel Fire&Ice! Cape Town and  5 October at Café Cru Monte Casino respectively.