BOUCHARD FINLAYSON has been ranked as a top red wine producer in South Africa at the 2017 South African Wine Index (SAWi) awards. Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak Pinot Noir scored a full 100 as the No 1 Pinot Noir in South Africa and was placed the 11th highest ranked wine overall in South Africa. Despite fierce competition, this lauded wine has been the winner in the Pinot Noir category for the past five years.
The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley boutique winery, owned by the Tollman family and headed by founder Peter Finlayson and winemaker Chris Albrecht, was also placed in the eighth position overall this year as SA’s Fine Wine Producer.
In addition to the 100 score Platinum for the Galpin Peak Pinot Noir, Bouchard Finlayson received three other Platinum SAWi awards, scoring higher than 95 for its Tête de Cuvée Galpin Peak Pinot Noir (98.40); the Hannibal red blend of Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Mourvèdre (placed in second place in the Red Blend category at 96.82); and its famed Crocodile’s Lair Chardonnay Kaaimansgat (95.44). Three of its other white wines also scored above 90: Bouchard Finlayson Walker Bay Missionvale Chardonnay (91.90); Blanc de Mer (Riesling and Viognier blend 90.88); and Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (90.84).
SAWi’s Grand Wines (GWC) promotes South African fine wines as a collective, and offers wine lovers the first ever South African cultivar “ranking” list, and the most definitive measure of wine quality to date. It applies a rigorous methodology through its Algorithm of Excellence, ascribing a value to the various kinds of awards to level the playing field and in doing so, properly asses the quality status of every wine produced here. In the process the system condenses the results of more than 100 judging panels using a rolling ten-year timeframe. Applying the Algorithm of Excellence to this vast set of data, stretching back a decade, patterns emerge that makes it easy to distinguish wines which are consistently accepted as exceptional. Importantly, it allows for the only definitive comparison of vinous like with like.
ABOUT BOUCHARD FINLAYSON
Established in 1989 in the temperate Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on 125 hectares (312 acres) of Walker Bay’s prime viticultural land, Bouchard Finlayson Vineyard and Winery is a small cellar dedicated to the quality production of Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. Ever since releasing their first vintages, the name Bouchard Finlayson has been internationally synonymous with excellence. Today, owned by the Red Carnation Hotels’ Tollman family and under the leadership of Victoria Tollman, founder Peter Finlayson and winemaker Chris Albrecht, 25 hectares (62 acres) of the estate are currently under vine with 50% devoted to the varietal for which Peter is most acclaimed – Pinot noir. Other cultivars under production include Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc and Sangiovese, as well as a handful under exploration. Bouchard Finlayson is a World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Conservation Champion.
Situated on the R320 near Hermanus, Bouchard Finlayson vineyard and winery is open for tastings and sales Mondays to Fridays from 9am till 5pm and on Saturdays from 10am till 1pm. For more information, call +27 28 312 3515; email info@bouchardfinlayson.co.za; or go to www.bouchardfinlayson.co.za