Top 100 South African Wines, Top Wine SA Hall of Fame – 2017 update

CONSIDERING the most highly rated of South Africa’s most successful wines of the 10 years 2007 to 2016, the country’s strongest suits are not surprising. What might raise eyebrows is that there aren’t more Cap Classique sparkling wines or that there isn’t a single varietal Merlot or Semillon in the 2017 Top 100 SA Wine Classification or Top Wine SA Hall of Fame.

Showcased below, the Top 100 wines in terms of the 2017 Classification include 26 that didn’t make it into the Hall of Fame on the basis of fewer than eight vintages receiving very good reviews – whereas there are only nine wines in the 2017 Hall of Fame with eight or more applauded vintages that didn’t have the calibre of reviews to secure a Top 100 score.

More useful is the confirmation of which outfits have the very best track records, with what, and where in the Cape winelands these producers are located. For the latest/full SA Wine Classifications see here. For the latest top SA wine ratings and awards locally and internationally, together with the prices, see here.

 

TOP 100 WINES OF THE CAPE 2007 TO 2016 – WHITE

CHARDONNAY

Ataraxia
Chamonix Reserve
Fleur du Cap Unfiltered (Bergkelder)
Groot Constantia
Hamilton Russell
Jordan Barrel Fermented
Jordan Nine Yards
Mulderbosch Barrel Fermented
Oak Valley
Paul Cluver Estate
Rustenberg Five Soldiers
Sumaridge
Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch
Uva Mira The Single Tree

CHENIN BLANC

Beaumont Hope Marguerite
Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine
DeMorgenzon Reserve
Kanu KCB
Ken Forrester The FMC
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection
Spier 21 Gables
Stellenrust Barrel Fermented

SAUVIGNON BLANC

Cape Point
Cederberg
Diemersdal Eight Rows
Diemersdal MM Louw
Ghost Corner (Cederberg)
Graham Beck Pheasants’ Run
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sur Lie
Nederburg Private Bin D234
Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin

WHITE BLENDS

Cape Point Isliedh (Bordeaux Style)
Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve (Bordeaux Style)
Miles Mossop Saskia
Nederburg Ingenuity
Nitida Coronata Integration (Bordeaux Style)
Sadie Palladius
Tokara Director’s Reserve (Bordeaux Style)
Vergelegen G.V.B (Bordeaux Style)

SPARKLING CAP CLASSIQUE

Villiera Monro Brut

 

TOP 100 WINES OF THE CAPE 2007 TO 2016 – RED

CABERNET FRANC

Warwick

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Boekenhoutskloof
Cederberg Five Generations
Fleur du Cap Unfiltered (Bergkelder)
Guardian Peak Lapa
Kanonkop
Le Riche Reserve
Nederburg Private Bin R163
Stark-Condé Three Pines
Thelema

PINOT NOIR

Chamonix Reserve
Hamilton Russell
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir

PINOTAGE

Beyerskloof Diesel
Diemersfontein Carpe Diem
Flagstone Writer’s Block
Kanonkop
Rijk’s Private Cellar
Rijk’s Reserve
Simonsig Redhill
Windmeul Reserve

SHIRAZ / SYRAH

Boekenhoutskloof Syrah
Bon Courage Inkará
Cederberg
De Grendel
Eagles’ Nest
Groot Constantia
Hartenberg The Stork
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve
KWV The Mentors
Rustenberg Buzzard Kloof Syrah
Saronsberg
Simonsig Merindol Syrah

RED BLENDS

Eikendal Classique (Bordeaux Style)
Ernie Els Signature (Bordeaux Style)
Hartenberg The Mackenzie (Bordeaux Style)
Jordan Cobblers Hill (Bordeaux Style)
Kaapzicht Steytler Vision (Cape Blend)
Kanonkop Paul Sauer (Bordeaux Style)
KWV The Mentors Orchestra (Bordeaux Style)
La Motte Pierneef Syrah Viognier (Rhône Style)
Morgenster Reserve (Bordeaux Style)
Rust en Vrede Estate
Sadie Columella (Rhône Style)
Saronsberg Full Circle (Rhône Style)
Spier Creative Block 3 (Rhône Style)
Tokara Director’s Reserve (Bordeaux Style)

 

TOP 100 WINES OF THE CAPE 2007 TO 2016 – SWEET

UNFORTIFIED DESSERT

Delheim Edelspatz Noble Late Harvest
Fairview La Beryl Blanc (Straw Wine)
Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest (Bergkelder)
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet
Nederburg Edelkeur Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest
Nederburg Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel
Nederburg Winemasters Noble Late Harvest
Neethlingshof Maria Noble Late Harvest
Paul Cluver Riesling Noble Late Harvest

FORTIFIED DESSERT

Nuy Red Muscadel
Nuy White Muscadel

CAPE PORT

Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve
De Krans Cape Vintage
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve

 

Top Wine SA Hall of Fame 2017

The following South African wines stand out as having received top accolades – gold medal standard or better – from the top panels locally and/or internationally for at least eight vintages in respect of a 10-year span of vintages rated during the 10-year period 2007 to 2016:

BOT RIVER CELLAR(S)
Beaumont Hope Marguerite (Chenin)

CALITZDORP CELLAR(S)
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve (Port)
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve (Port)

CAPE PENINSULA CELLAR(S)
Cape Point Isliedh (White Blend)
Eagles’ Nest Shiraz (Constantia Winery)
Groot Constantia Chardonnay
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet

CEDERBERG CELLAR(S)
Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon
Cederberg Sauvignon Blanc
Cederberg Shiraz
Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc (Cederberg Winery)

DARLING CELLAR(S)
Cloof The Very Sexy Shiraz

DURBANVILLE CELLAR(S)
De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc (Panorama Winery)
De Grendel Shiraz (Panorama Winery)
Diemersdal Eight Rows Sauvignon Blanc
Nitida Coronata Integration (White Blend)

ELGIN CELLAR(S)
Oak Valley Chardonnay
Paul Cluver Estate Chardonnay
Paul Cluver Riesling Noble Late Harvest

FRANSCHHOEK CELLAR(S)
Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon
Boekenhoutskloof Syrah
Chamonix Chardonnay Reserve
Chamonix Pinot Noir Reserve
La Motte Pierneef Collection Syrah Viognier

HEMEL-EN-AARDE CELLAR(S)
Ataraxia Chardonnay
Hamilton Russell Chardonnay
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir

KLEIN RIVER / STANFORD CELLAR(S)
Raka Biography Shiraz

PAARL CELLAR(S)
Fairview La Beryl Blanc (Straw Wine)
Nederburg Ingenuity White Blend
Nederburg Private Bin D234 Sauvignon Blanc
Nederburg Edelkeur Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest
Nederburg Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel
Nederburg Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon
Nederburg Winemasters Noble Late Harvest
Windmeul Reserve Pinotage

ROBERTSON CELLAR(S)
Bon Courage Inkará Shiraz
Graham Beck Pheasants’ Run Sauvignon Blanc

SOMERSET WEST CELLAR(S)
Flagstone Dark Horse Shiraz
Ken Forrester The FMC Chenin Blanc (Helderberg Winery)
Morgenster Reserve (Red Blend, Helderberg Winery)
Vergelegen G.V.B White (Helderberg Winery)

STELLENBOSCH CELLAR(S)
Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage (Koelenhof Winery)
Beyerskloof Pinotage Reserve (Koelenhof Winery)
Ernie Els Signature (Red Blend, Helderberg Winery)
Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest (Bergkelder)
Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon (Bergkelder)
Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Chardonnay (Bergkelder)
Guardian Peak Lapa Cabernet Sauvignon (Helderberg Winery)
Hartenberg The Stork Shiraz (Bottelary Winery)
Jordan Barrel Fermented Chardonnay (Stellenbosch Kloof)
Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay (Stellenbosch Kloof Winery)
Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon (Simonsberg Winery)
Kanonkop Paul Sauer (Red Blend, Simonsberg Winery)
Kanonkop Pinotage (Simonsberg Winery)
Kanu KCB Chenin Blanc
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Shiraz
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sur Lie Sauvignon Blanc
Miles Mossop Saskia (White Blend)
Mulderbosch Barrel Fermented Chardonnay (Polkadraai Hills)
Raats Family Cabernet Franc
Rust en Vrede Estate (Red Blend, Helderberg Winery)
Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay (Simonsberg Winery)
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut (MCC, Koelenhof Winery)
Simonsig Redhill Pinotage (Koelenhof Winery)
Stark-Condé Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon (Jonkershoek)
Stellenrust Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc
Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon (Simonsberg Winery)
Tokara Director’s Reserve Red (Simonsberg Winery)
Tokara Director’s Reserve White (Simonsberg Winery)
Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc (Simonsberg)
Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch Chardonnay (Simonsberg)
Uva Mira The Single Tree Chardonnay (Helderberg Winery)
Warwick Trilogy (Red Blend, Simonsberg Winery)
Waterford Cabernet Sauvignon

SWARTLAND CELLAR(S)
Sadie Columella (Red Blend, Malmesbury Winery)
Sadie Palladius (White Blend, Malmesbury Winery)

TULBAGH CELLAR(S)
Rijk’s Private Cellar Pinotage
Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage
Saronsberg Full Circle (Red Blend)
Saronsberg Shiraz

WELLINGTON CELLAR(S)
Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Pinotage

 

For the Latest SA Top 100 and Hall of Fame, Click Here.

 

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4 comments

  • How does the Top 100 SA wines and the Top Wine SA Hall of Fame differ from the SA Wine Index Grand Wines Collection?

    • The SAWi GWC is comprised of South African wines that have achieved more than 93 points (out of 100) according to the multi-vintage SAWi “Algorithm of Excellence”, ranked from No. 1 in descending order using a 10-year performance track record. The system involves “participating wineries”, a cumulative average of the wine’s best results in several tastings over some years (with exceptions for new releases) and a list of wine competitions and reviews (over 100 ranging from widely respected to obscure) that include assessments by both individuals and panels, local and international, with and without the identities of the producers or the prices of the wines being divulged up front. For more about the South African Wine Index, click here.
      The SA Wine & Cellar Classifications are presented as the consensus of the top panels – a pooling of expert opinions about South African wines reviewed around the globe – based on the top ratings and awards in the world’s most respected forums for the assessment of wine quality and interest value (about 30) where South African wines have a significant presence. The reviews are all by panels of judges (none by individuals) who conduct their assessments with the names of the wines and their producers undisclosed, the Classifications based on ratings and awards during the previous 10 years (no exceptions for new releases) without confounding matters by publishing scores used in the calibration process.
      The Top 100 South African Wines in terms of the SA Wine Classification are the most highly rated of the country’s most successful wines of the past 10 years, and, as per the Top 10 and Top 20 in the various Classifications according to wine type or variety, the wines are presented alphabetically rather than according to specific, individual rankings.
      The Top Wine SA Hall of Fame comprises those South African wines that stand out as having received top accolades – gold medal or better – from the top tasting panels locally and internationally for at least eight vintages in respect of a 10-year span of vintages rated during the past 10 years.
      For more about the SA Wine & Cellar Classifications, click here.

  • Altus Lombard

    Interesting SA Top 100 list. However, I find it curious that some of SA’s proven top wines didn’t make the list. Warwick The White Lady Chardonnay and Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak Pinot Noir, for example.

    • Regarding those omissions from the SA Top 100… Warwick’s White Lady is included in the 2017 SA Wine Classification and there have been some particularly good vintages, but over the past 10 years there have been plenty of other top SA Chardonnays with better track records. Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak, on the other hand, is Classified among the Top 10 SA Pinot Noir on the basis of vintages reviewed between 2007 and 2016, i.e. albeit that very few of the country’s Pinots have performed well enough to rank among South Africa’s Top 100 wines overall.

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