Top SA Chardonnays not all from Stellenbosch, Elgin – 2017 Report
PUBLICATION of the 2017 Prescient Chardonnay Report on Winemag.co.za prompted debate about the standout examples made from this variety in South African cellars as reviewed this year to date. Perhaps the most celebrated for top quality: DeMorgenzon Reserve 2016 at R350pb, Eikendal 2015 at R163, Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection 2016 at R93 and Rustenberg Five Soldiers 2015 at R400pb, all from Stellenbosch outfits, and from Paul Cluver in Elgin, their 2016 Estate Chardonnay at R220pb as well as their 2016 Seven Flags at R550. Whereas the ‘best bang for your buck’ contenders include Robertson’s Bon Courage Unwooded 2016, McGregor 2017 and Welmoed 2017 from Stellenbosch Vineyards – great reviews and under R50 a bottle ex-cellar.
For all the top-rated SA Chardonnays over the past two years, details of the ratings and the prices of these beauties, see here. In Winemag’s 2017 Chardonnay Report, the Top 3 among the panel’s pick of the 91 wines entered in the competition were Delaire Graff Banghoek Reserve, Eikendal and Rustenberg Stellenbosch Chardonnay – all 2016. The judges included Christian Eedes (chair), James Pietersen (Wine Cellar) and Hennie Coetzee (taster for Platter’s SA Wine Guide). Their full report and all the scores here, with the top-rated wines as follows:
‘OUTSTANDING’
Dabar Chardonnay 2016
Napier Cellar
Delaire Graff Banghoek Reserve Chardonnay 2016
Helshoogte Pass Cellar, Stellenbosch
Eikendal Chardonnay 2016
Helderberg Cellar, Stellenbosch
Evidence Chardonnay 2016 (Julien Schaal)
Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Cellar
Hartenberg The Eleanor Chardonnay 2015
Bottelary Cellar, Stellenbosch
Holden Manz Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2016
Franschhoek Cellar
Longridge Chardonnay 2015
Helderberg Cellar, Stellenbosch
Paul Cluver Seven Flags Chardonnay 2016
Elgin Cellar
Rustenberg Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2016
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch Cellar
Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2016
Helshoogte Pass Cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Uva Mira Chardonnay 2016
Helderberg Cellar, Stellenbosch
‘EXCELLENT’
Bartinney Hourglass Chardonnay 2016
Banghoek Cellar, Stellenbosch
Bergsig Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2016
Breedekloof Cellar
Credo Chardonnay 2016 (Stellenbosch Vineyards)
Stellenbosch Cellar
Delaire Graff Terraced Block Reserve Chardonnay 2015
Helshoogte Pass Cellar, Stellenbosch
DeMorgenzon Reserve Chardonnay 2016
Stellenbosch Kloof Cellar
Domaine des Dieux Chardonnay 2012
Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge Cellar
Dombeya Chardonnay 2015 (Haskell)
Helderberg Cellar, Stellenbosch
Edgebaston Chardonnay 2016
Stellenbosch Cellar
Glen Carlou Chardonnay 2016
Simonsberg-Paarl Cellar
GlenWood Vigneron’s Selection Chardonnay 2016
Franschhoek Cellar
Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2016
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Cellar
Hartenberg Chardonnay 2015
Bottelary Cellar, Stellenbosch
Haute Cabriére Chardonnay Reserve 2016
Franschhoek Cellar
Jordan Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2016
Stellenbosch Kloof Cellar
Journey’s End Chardonnay 2016
Sir Lowry’s Pass Cellar, Somerset West
Julien Schaal Chardonnay 2016
Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Cellar
KWV Cathedral Cellar Chardonnay 2016
Paarl Cellar
La Bri Chardonnay 2016
Franschhoek Cellar
La Motte Chardonnay 2016
Franschhoek Cellar
Lanzerac Mrs English 2016
Jonkershoek Cellar, Stellenbosch
Longridge Chardonnay 2016
Helderberg Cellar, Stellenbosch
Lourensford The Dome Chardonnay 2015
Somerset West Cellar
Môreson Dr. Reason Why 2014 (Unwooded)
Franschhoek Cellar
Neil Ellis Whitehall Chardonnay 2016
Helshoogte Pass Cellar, Stellenbosch
Oak Valley Beneath The Clouds Chardonnay 2016
Elgin Cellar
Oak Valley Groenlandberg Chardonnay 2016
Elgin Cellar
Rickety Bridge Chardonnay 2016
Franschhoek Cellar
Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay 2015
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch Cellar
Stellenrust Wild Yeast Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2016
Helderberg Cellar, Stellenbosch
Thelema Chardonnay 2015
Helshoogte Pass Cellar, Stellenbosch
Uva Mira The Mira Chardonnay 2016
Helderberg Cellar, Stellenbosch