Uitkyk Turns Heads

As elegant, graceful and understated as its historic 1788 manor house, thought to have been designed by renowned French architect Louis Michel Thibault, Uitkyk’s wines and potstill brandy have succeeded in impressing the 2010 Veritas judges, winning three golds and four silvers.

The trio of golds went to both the 2009 and 2010 vintages of the Simonsberg estate’s Sauvignon blanc, made in the tropical style, as well as to the venerable but still very vibrant 2001 Carlonet, a classic South African Cabernet Sauvignon. Full-bodied with ripe berry characters, the wine is a long-standing favourite of local wine lovers, enjoyed for its refreshing fruit as much as for its fine-grained, sturdy structure.

The 2007 vintage, only just beginning to come into its own now that its fruit and wood characters have had sufficient time to meld into a harmonious whole, took silver in the competition.

The accolades for this august red are well-timed as the wine, named after Prussian nobleman Hans von Carlowitz, who bought Uitkyk in 1929, prepares to celebrate its 50^th anniversary next year.

Uitkyk’s other Veritas silver medalists this year were the 2007 vintage of the spicy, succulent and savoury limited-edition Special Reserve Shiraz; the 2009 Chardonnay with its citrus fruit and vanilla notes; and the 10 Year Grand Reserve Brandy, the specialty potstill that won gold at the International Wine & Spirit Challenge in London earlier this year.

Uitkyk’s winemaker is Estelle Lourens. The estate is represented by Cape Legends.