{"id":52695,"date":"2023-06-22T18:22:19","date_gmt":"2023-06-22T16:22:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wfi-global-staging.com\/topwineold\/?p=52695"},"modified":"2023-06-23T08:34:22","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T06:34:22","slug":"rainbows-end-top-scores-in-hallo-merlot-top-10-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wfi-global-staging.com\/topwineold\/2023\/06\/rainbows-end-top-scores-in-hallo-merlot-top-10-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"Rainbow’s End top-scores in ‘Hallo Merlot Top 10’ competition"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Rainbow's End, Banghoek-Stellenbosch<\/em><\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

THE SECOND Top 10 competition organised by South Africa's Merlot Forum<\/strong><\/span><\/a> attracted 69 entries from most of the Cape\u2019s wine regions. Notable relative to the inaugural panel tasting was the “dynamic spread” of offerings. “This year's entries were a tad more exciting,” reflected the convener of the judging panel, Vondeling winemaker Matthew Copeland. “Excellent examples of each style,” he said. However, also notable was how many of the country's producers have yet to establish really good track records with wines that impress big time on a consistent basis. Only two of last year's winning producers are represented in the Forum's 2023 Top 10 \u2013 Bein and Vondeling \u2013 and none of the Merlots in the SA Wine Classification<\/strong><\/span><\/a> were included.<\/p>\n

In contrast to the 2022 ‘Hallo Merlot Top 10' competition, the 2023 edition involved naming the Top 20 finalists in advance of the Top 10 awards presentation. It also attracted the sponsorship of a prize for the top-scoring entry, with Rainbow's End receiving a Taransaud barrel for their 2020 vintage \u2013 the Stellenbosch estate having last been applauded big time for their Merlot at the 2020 Michelangelo Awards, with a trophy awarded for their 2018 vintage.<\/p>\n

On the Merlot Top 10 panel of judges together Vondeling's Matthew Copeland (convener) were Master of Wine Cathy van Zyl, wine writer Malu Lambert, Ladybird winemaker Francois van Zyl and Cape Wine Master Raymond Nopp\u00e9.<\/p>\n

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Bein Merlot 2020<\/strong>
\nR230pb ex-cellar, Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch<\/p>\n

Carmen Stevens Merlot 2021<\/strong>
\nR253pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch<\/p>\n

De Grendel Merlot 2019<\/strong>
\nR170pb ex-cellar, Panorama-Durbanville<\/p>\n

Holden Manz Merlot Reserve 2019<\/strong>
\nR610pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek<\/p>\n

Nabygelegen Merlot 2022<\/strong>
\nR125pb ex-cellar, Wellington<\/p>\n

Nilberg Merlot 2018<\/strong>
\nPrice t.b.c. – Stellenbosch cellar<\/p>\n

Rainbow's End Merlot 2020<\/strong>
\nR220pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch<\/p>\n

Ridgeback Merlot 2020<\/strong>
\nR235pb ex-cellar, Paarl<\/p>\n

Vondeling Barrel Selection Merlot 2020<\/strong>
\nR195pb ex-cellar, Voor Paardeberg, Paarl<\/p>\n

Zorgvliet Merlot 2020<\/strong>
\nR190pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE SECOND Top 10 competition organised by South Africa’s Merlot Forum attracted 69 entries from most of the Cape\u2019s wine regions. Notable relative to the inaugural panel tasting was the “dynamic spread” of offerings. “This year’s entries were a tad more exciting,” reflected the convener of the judging panel, Vondeling winemaker Matthew Copeland. “Excellent examples of each style,” he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4091,1825,3981],"tags":[4063,3985,4201,957,3982,2919,4199,4004,4202,2450,1405,849,1044,811,3860,967,1406],"class_list":["post-52695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-4091","category-wine-ratings","category-top-10-merlot-competition","tag-4063","tag-bein","tag-carment-stevens","tag-de-grendel","tag-hallo-merlot","tag-holden-manz","tag-merlot-competition","tag-nabygelegen","tag-nilberg","tag-rainbows-end","tag-ridgeback","tag-sa","tag-south-africa","tag-top-10","tag-top-wine-sa","tag-vondeling","tag-zorgvliet"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t