South African champion port producer Boplaas Family Vineyards has announced a special release that wine connoisseurs will be eager to get their hands on. Reflecting the unmistakable thread of consistent quality, Boplaas has re-launched its award-winning 2006 Cape Vintage Reserve Port along with the release of the 2016 vintage.
The Calitzdorp farm has a long history of producing excellent wines from Portuguese varieties and ports, thanks to ideal terroir and years of expertise. Boplaas Cellar Master and co-owner Carel Nel celebrated his 40thvintage of making wine this year. He has spent more than 10 000 hours achieving world-class knowledge and skill in producing port-style wines. Winemaker Margaux, Carel’s daughter, did her MSc thesis on the production of Portuguese variety table wines.
“We only release our Cape Vintage Reserve ports on the most exceptional vintages. The special release this year features two of the most outstanding in that period,” says Carel. “It made absolute sense that the 2006 and the 2016 Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Ports be presented together.”
The 2016 recently won double Platinum at the SA Top 100 and the title of Grand Cru National Champion Port for the best Cape Port in South Africa at the 2016 SA Young Wine Show. Soon after its original release, the 2006 vintage was named SA Champion Port Trophy at the SA Young Wine Show. It also received a Veritas Double Gold and five-star ratings from Wine magazine and Platter’s South African wine guide.
The accolades are just a small indication of a track record that dates to 1986 – the first year Boplaas port was singled out as champion at the SA Young Wine Show. Last year, it collected this same trophy for the 11thtime while Boplaas port has amassed 25 Double Gold medals at Veritas since 2003 and 18 five-star ratings by Platter’s.
It’s a remarkable feat for any winemaker, and especially for Carel Nel whose journey with port began with the discovery that Tinta Barocca had been planted on the farm instead of Shiraz. His father Danie had ordered the vines from a nursery and planted them 10 years earlier, but it was Carel – fresh from his studies – that discovered the happy mistake. His first trip to Portugal followed. That was the 1970s and been followed by many.