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