WHAT AN intriguing selection, the Top 6 in the 2018 Cab Franc Challenge. Where do Anthology wines come from? Well, the Johannesburg proprietor has been renting cellar space at Marklew in Stellenbosch for several years now. My Wyn is another small producer, high up the side of a mountain in Franschhoek. Rainbow’s End isn’t much bigger, situated in the Banghoek area between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek and well worth a detour off the beaten track. Warwick of Simonsberg-Stellenbosch is synonymous with the variety. Whereas  Ondine of Ormonde in Darling and Morgenster of Somerset West offer perhaps the best-value Cab Francs on the market this year at just over R100 a bottle in a category where there’s very little at under R200, some over R300 and a few at over R500 – R1500 even!

The cellar-door prices of the laureates are given below together with the winery locations. And believe it or not, included among the gold medallists is a blend from Paarl at just R48 per bottle!

The judges: Cape Wine Master Christine Rudman (panel chair), Samarie Smith (wine writer), Anita Streicher-Nel (wine marketer and SA Wine Tasting Competition Champion in 2017), Tinashe Nyamudoka (Test Kitchen sommelier), Lizette Tolken (Cape Wine Academy lecturer).

Top 6 in Cab Franc Challenge 2018

Anthology 2015 : R230pb, Stellenbosch, Simonsberg
Morgenster 2015 : R107pb, Somerset West
My Wyn 2015 : R300pb, Franschhoek
Ondine 2014 (Ormonde) : R105pb, Darling
Rainbow’s End Limited Release 2016 : R300pb, Stellenbosch, Banghoek
Warwick 2015 : R320pb, Stellenbosch, Simonsberg

Top 3 Blends in Cab Franc Challenge 2018

Alto Rouge 2016 : R96pb, Stellenbosch, Helderberg
Kunjani 2015 : R165pb, Stellenbosch
Morgenster Lourens River Valley 2011 : R190pb, Somerset West

Also Gold Medal Winners

Camino Africana Cabernet Franc 2015 (Edgebaston) : R295pb, Stellenbosch
Chamonix Cabernet Franc 2015 : R238pb, Franschhoek
Druk My Niet Cabernet Franc 2013 : R145pb, Paarl
Hermanuspietersfontein Swartskaap 2014 : R285pb, Walker Bay
Holden Manz Cabernet Franc 2015 : R695pb, Franschhoek
KWV The Mentors Orchestra 2015 (Blend) : R220pb, Paarl
Landskroon Paul Hugo Red 2016 (Blend) : R48pb, Paarl
Morgenster Lourens River Valley 2010 (Blend) : R190pb, Somerset West
Oldenburg Cabernet Franc 2014 : R275pb, Stellenbosch, Banghoek
Raats Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2015 : R138pb, Stellenbosch
Raats Family Cabernet Franc 2015 : R507pb, Stellenbosch
Raats Family Red Jasper 2015 : R197pb, Stellenbosch
Ridgeback Journey 2015 (Blend) : R115pb, Paarl
The Garajeest Bruce Cabernet Franc 2015 : R240pb, Elgin
The Garajeest Bruce Cabernet Franc 2016 : R240pb, Elgin
Villiera The Clan 2015 (Blend) : R785pb, Stellenbosch, Koelenhof
Vrede en Lust Artisan Cabernet Franc 2015 : R275pb, Paarl, Simonsberg
Warwick Trilogy 2015 (Blend) : R350pb, Stellenbosch, Simonsberg
Whalehaven Cabernet Franc 2014 : R150pb, Walker Bay, Hermanus
Zorgvliet Cabernet Franc 2016 : R140pb, Stellenbosch, Banghoek

Best of Older Cab Francs Judged

Holden Manz 2013 : Sold Out, Franschhoek

Also Gold Medallists

Avontuur Cabernet Franc 2010 : Sold Out, Somerset West, Helderberg
Druk My Niet Cabernet Franc 2012 : R145pb, Paarl
Rainbow’s End Cabernet Franc 2012 : Sold Out, Stellenbosch, Banghoek
Rietvallei JMB Cabernet Franc 2011 : Sold Out, Robertson, Klaasvoogds