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Ultra Liquors Taste-off
Cape Town and Johannesburg have been at social war forever. The two could not be more opposite – but what about their wine drinkers? Are they similar or as different?
Ultra Liquors put this to the test with a taste-off. The Johannesburg and cape town panels tasted the same wines. The bottles were covered so their identity was secret, and only the varietal was known. There were comments and tastings for the initial tasting, then prices were revealed. Game on!
1. Veuve de France Brut (actual price R37.99)
Jeremy Cowen (JHB) – gave it 4 points and guest the price at R70
Lika Bakkes (CPT) – gave it 8 points and guest the price at R150
2. Veuve de France rosé (actual price R37.99)
Phil Davidson (CPT) - gave it 8 points and guest the price at R140
Jeremy Cowen (JHB) - gave it 6 points and guest the price at R85
3.Table Bay MCC (actual price R54.99)
Phil Davidson (CPT) - gave it 7 points and guest the price at R100
Andrew Farrant (JHB) - gave it 5 points and guest the price at R85
4. Secret Cellar Brut MCC (actual price R49.99)
Odysseus von Bizmarck (CPT) - gave it 6 points and guest the price at R90
Andy Hatfield (JHB) - gave it 6 points and guest the price at R80
5. Table Bay sauvignon Blanc 2011 (actual price R32.99)
Odysseus von Bizmarck (CPT) - gave it 8 points and guest the price at R100
Jeremy Cowen (JHB) – gave it 7 points and guest the price at R45
6. Secret Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (actual price R28.99) Gold Medalist at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show and TROPHY for ‘Best Value wine”
Phil Davidson (CPT) - gave it 8 points and guest the price at R90
Andrew Farrant (JHB) - gave it 7 points and guest the price at R65
The Secret Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2011 collected the Old Mutual Discovery of the Show award. The Trophy is awarded to the Gold Medallist whose final score – at the trophy judging – divided by its declared price on the entry form, yields the highest index (adjusted for category). In short, it is an award for the best value Gold Medal wine, and this year may indeed have yielded the best value index in the history of the show.
7. Table Bay Cabernet Sauvignon (actual price R36.99)
Lika Bakkes (CPT) - gave it 5 points and guest the price at R50
Andrew Farrant (JHB) - gave it 9 points and guest the price at R75
8. Secret Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2007 (actual price R29.99)
Odysseus von Bizmarck (CPT) - gave it 8 points and guest the price at R120
Andrew Farrant (JHB) - gave it 8 points and guest the price at R65
9. Secret cellar Shiraz Reserve 2007
Adele Steyn (CPT) - gave it 8 points and guest the price at R110
Andy Hadfield (JHB) - gave it 8 points and guest the price at R120
The great thing about the taste-off was that the wines all cost a lot less than everyone guessed them to cost. Nobody knew the price of the wines when they tasted them, so they are all thrilled at their good value. Guessing a wine costs R100 more than it really does is certainly proof of amazing value. Andy was so delighted by this value offering that he tweeted to his followers to head out and buy a case immediately. Many tasters noted that with this Ultra tasting, it was not only the wines that were winners – the consumers were winners too.
Mark Norrish sources wines from the winelands and bottles them under the Secret Cellar label, making these wines and vintages once-off surprises – you might end up buying a well-known brand in your bottle. The Secret Cellar Sauvignon Blanc, for example, did very well at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show. The Veuve De France is a range of sparkling wines imported from France and the Table Bay is Ultra Liquors’ third range of special red and white wines.
