South Africa’s finest dessert wines among the best in the world
THERE WERE 214 still and sparkling wines from 25 countries entered in the 2017 edition of Muscats du Monde, the international competition held where Muscat de Frontignan is said to have originated in France… There were 55 critics involved and the judging took place over two days at the historical Voltaire House in Frontignan-la-Peyrade of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, culminating in July with the awarding of 38 gold and 33 silver medals… Two of the golds went to South African dessert wines, Groot Constantia Grand Constance 2014 (unfortified natural sweet from Muscat de Frontignan) and Orange River Cellars Red Muscadel 2016 (fortified), with Grand Constance placing among the Top 10. More about the competition here.
Below are the SA dessert wines that have been most highly rated during the year to date. In the unfortified class, the specially crafted bottles of Groot Constantia’s Grand Constance at close to R600 per 375ml and Klein Constantia’s Vin de Constance at around R900 per 500ml are iconic in their positioning. Among the fortified sweets, however, there are particularly good value offerings at under R100 per 750ml bottle!
TOP-RATED UNFORTIFIED DESSERT WINES – JAN TO JUL 2017
Buitenverwachting ‘1769’ 2014 – Noble Late Harvest, R210 per 500ml
Groot Constantia Grand Constance 2014 – Natural Sweet, R583 per 375ml
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet 2013 – R895 per 500ml
Nederburg Edelkeur Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest 2009 – Auction Wine, 375ml
Nederburg Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel 2013 – Auction Wine, 375m
Nederburg Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel 2012 – Auction Wine, 375m
Nederburg Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel 2007 – Auction Wine, 375ml
Paul Cluver Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2014 – R230 per 375ml
TOP-RATED FORTIFIED DESSERT WINES – JAN TO JUL 2017
Alvi’s Drift Muscat de Frontignan 2014 – White Muscadel, R129 per 375ml
Boplaas Heritage Collection White Muscadel 2014 – R120 per 750ml
Du Toitskloof Red Muscadel 2014 – R55 per 750ml
Landzicht Red Muscadel 2016 – R52 per 750ml
Nuy Red Muscadel 2012 – Museum Class, 750ml
Orange River Cellars Red Muscadel 2016 – R54 per 750ml
Orange River Cellars White Muscadel 2016 – R54 per 750ml
Rooiberg Red Muscadel 2014 – R60 per 500ml
Rustenberg Red Muscadel 2015 – R80 per 375ml
All of the top SA dessert wine ratings over the past two years here.
Latest SA Dessert Wine Classification here.
