THE RED BLENDS from South Africa’s winelands that were the subject of good reviews in 2015 include plenty to choose from at under R100 a bottle. At under R50 there are fun labels such as Balance (depicted by an elephant on a stool) from Worcester’s Overhex, wines with a story behind them such as Sixpence of Opstal, Rawsonville, as well less frivolous blends such as Simplicity from Stellenrust of Stellenbosch which has a track record to speak of. And between R50 and R100 there’s another classified combo, LB Cape Cuvée from Anura of Paarl, plus a bunch of second-tier labels from some of the Cape’s premier red wine cellars including Boschendal, Diemersdal, Rustenberg and Simonsig.

The following all received good reviews in 2015 and the prices are those at the cellar door when surveyed earlier in the year, or approximate retail prices in the case of wineries that are closed to the public:

BEST VALUE SA RED BLENDS AT UNDER R50 A BOTTLE IN 2015

Balance Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2014 (Overhex), Worcester – R33
Bloem Syrah Mourvèdre 2014 (Noble Hill), Simonsberg-Paarl – R40
Bonnievale Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2014 – R45
Cloof Inkspot Vin Noir 2011 (Cape Blend), Darling – R40
Leopard’s Leap Lookout Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Cinsaut 2015, Franschhoek – R36
Namaqua Pinotage Malbec 2014 (Cape Blend), Vredendal – R47
Secret Cellar Big 5 ‘No 273’ 2013 (Bordeaux Style, Ultra) – R35
Secret Cellar SMG ‘No 303’ 2014 (Rhône Style, Ultra) – R35
Sixpence Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2014 (Opstal), Rawsonville – R35
Stellenrust Simplicity 2014, Helderberg/Stellenbosch – R48
Tangled Tree Reserve 2013 (Van Loveren), Robertson – R33

BEST VALUE SA RED BLENDS AT UNDER R100 A BOTTLE IN 2015

Anura Syrah Mourvèdre Grenache Reserve 2009, Simonsberg-Paarl – R95
Arabella In Unison Reserve 2013, Robertson – R85
Asara Vineyard Collection Cape Fusion 2013 (Cape Blend), Stellenbosch – R80
Ashton Kelder Roodewal 2013 – R95
Ayama The Leopard Spot 2013, Voor Paardeberg/Paarl – R69
Badsberg Belladonna 2013, Rawsonville – R63
Boschendal 1685 S&M Shiraz Mourvèdre 2013, Franschhoek – R90
Boschendal Larone Shiraz Mourvèdre 2013, Franschhoek – R59
Cloof Duckitt 2012 (Bordeaux Style), Darling – R55
Delheim Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2013, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch – R60
Diemersdal Woolworths Merlot Malbec Reserve 2014, Durbanville – R80
Du Toitskloof Dimension 2012, Rawsonville – R75
Ken Forrester Renegade 2011 (Rhône Style), Helderberg/Stellenbosch – R95
LB Cape Cuvée 2014 (Cape Blend, Anura), Simonsberg-Paarl – R95
Leipzig Master Blend 2014 (Cape Blend), Worcester – R70
Leopard’s Leap Culinaria Grand Vin 2012 (Bordeaux Style), Franschhoek – R90
Louisvale Dominique 2013 (Bordeaux Style), Devon Valley/Stellenbosch – R75
Melck’s Blended Red 2014 (Muratie), Simonsberg-Stellenbosch – R55
Painted Wolf Peloton Rouge 2011 (Cape Blend), Paarl – R95
Rhebokskloof Flat Rock Red 2013 (Cape Blend), Paarl – R65
Ridgeback SGMV 2012 (Rhône Style), Paarl – R75
Roodeberg 2013 (KWV), Paarl – R64
Rustenberg Stellenbosch RM Nicholson 2013, Stellenbosch – R95
Simonsig The SMV 2013 (Rhône Style), Koelenhof/Stellenbosch – R75
Simonsvlei Hercules Paragon Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Paarl – R85
Spencer Bay The Blend 2011 (Bordeaux Style, Namaqua), Vredendal – R85
The Dry Land Collection Joseph’s Legacy 2013 (Perdeberg), Paarl – R91
Van Loveren Blackberry Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2014, Robertson – R52
Van Zijl Shiraz Mourvèdre Viognier 2013 (Imbuko), Wellington – R50