TWO TROPHIES IN ONE WEEK FOR ONE WINE
The 2007 Delheim Edelspatz Noble Late Harvest (single vineyard Rhine Riesling) won the Dessert Wine Trophy at the Decanter World Wine Awards, last week in London. In the same week, it won the Best Dessert Wine Trophy at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show, scoring an impressive 96 out of 100 points.
When Edelspatz was first released in 1979, it was a hit too, although
its beginnings were a little haphazard. After the first Edelwein was
created by Nederburg’s Gunter Brözel in 1969, Delheim followed
suit ten years later and then it was only by chance.
Upon discovering the Botrytis rot - and nearly giving up - on the
Chenin Blanc harvest, Spatz Sperling of Delheim was bemoaning his
loss to Frans Malan of Simonsig. It was Frans who then suggested Spatz
created a Delheim Edelwein. After some hurried and urgent research
on the phone to Germany for the Edelbeerenauslese ‘recipe’,
the first few hundred litres of the noble juice were released on the
market.
The 2007 harvest was the smallest ever with 5.55 tonnes but the yield
had a very good Botrytis concentration. Harvested three times, it
produced just 2 200 litres. The 2007 Delheim Edelspatz Noble Late
Harvest has a concentration of dried apricot and citrus with notes
of honey, which are all beautifully balanced and expressive. It is
smooth and elegant with a deliciously lingering after taste. The Trophy
Wine Awards judges described it as having a fresh clean nose; upfront
and lively with a balanced palate; some custard, lime and a caramel
finish. Platter guide, which gives Edelspatz 4½ stars, describes
it as a ‘text book example’ of a noble late harvest.
Delheim 2007 Edelspatz Nobel Late Harvest sells for R85 a bottle direct
from the farm. |
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