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Flagstone wins big at 2009 Michelangelo International Wine Awards

Competition from 1 501 wines, from 262 other wine producers was not enough to stop Flagstone scooping several prestigious prizes at the 2009 Michelangelo International Wine Awards, which are widely regarded as among the most credible awards in the country.

An international panel of 15 judges – including top South African wine writer Christine Rudman – declared Flagstone Free Run Sauvignon Blanc 2009 runner up for the RX South Africa Grand Prix Trophy. One of winemaker Gerhard Swart’s favourites, it was described by the judges as “well-made with complexity and finesse and great purity of fruit on the palate with dominant mineral tones, a superlative Sauvignon Blanc”. It was also awarded a Double Gold medal, making it one of the most-awarded Sauvignon Blancs from the current vintage.

Another Double Gold was bestowed on the Flagstone CWG Weather Girl 2006, a Sauvignon Blanc/Semillion blend created from grapes grown in Elim. Together with the Free Run, these awards again underline the phenomenal growing conditions for grapes at the cool southern tip of Africa. Being an unwooded wine, this award proves that South Africa can make white wines that age magnificently. The Flagstone CWG Weather Girl is a limited release made specifically for, and only available for purchase at, the 2009 Cape Winemaker’s Guild Auction (see www.capewinemakersguild.com for more information).

The vibrant red-tinged purple of Writer’s Block Pinotage 2007 received a gold medal. This wine has just received an ABSA Top Ten rating and was the highest rated Pinotage at this year’s Old Mutual Trophy Show.

Flagstone also walked away with the best overall Trophy for a young Pinotage at the SA National Young Wine Show, demonstrating that Pinotage is a strength at this cellar, and Flagstone Writer’s Block Pinotage one of the very best examples of this variety in the world.

Two other iconic Flagstone wines – Dark Horse Shiraz 2007 and Two Roads 2002 Chardonnay – received a silver medal each. “The grapes for Dark Horse come mostly from Tulbagh,” says Swart, “with some from Robertson/Ashton and Elim. We aim for a dark, rich plummy colour with a combination of dark fruit, white pepper and cigar box undertones.”

“We put the Flagstone Two Roads 2002 in to show that the Flagstone winemaking philosophy results in wines that age very gracefully,” said chief winemaker for Constellation Wine South Africa, Bruce Jack.

In accordance with the rules of the Michelangelo International Wine Awards, a maximum of 30 percent of the entries may be awarded a medal. For a wine to be awarded with a double gold medal, it has to score 96 points or more, and for a gold above 92 points. “We are pleased to have scored so highly and are going to reward ourselves with a glass of the good stuff – from Flagstone of course!” says Jack.