Top-rated wine in 2015 Ultra Value Wine Challenge

THE FIRST Ultra Value Wine Challenge for SA wines priced at under R100 a bottle was a curious affair with the judges scoring “almost 500” wines according to a 100-point scale involving both quality and price. Top value rating of 99 went to the Bordeaux-style red blend Dominique 2013 from Louisvale in Devon Valley, Stellenbosch – which at R75pb must be a case of serious over-delivery / under-pricing to have scored higher on value than the Shiraz-led red blend ‘Secret Cellar’ SMG at R35pb or the ‘Unbelievable White’ at R25pb from Mt Vernon in Paarl which also shone in the Challenge.

The Douglas Green Bellingham (DGB) group was declared the most successful producer overall in terms of the number of medallists, with the DGB-owned brands including Boschendal, Brampton, Douglas Green, Franschhoek Cellar, Legacy, Tall Horse, The Beachhouse and then some.

The organisers of the competition are Buybetterwine.com and Ultra Liquors – Ultra having sponsored Winemag’s Best Value Wine Guide prior to it being discontinued in 2013. The panel of judges included Cape Wine Master Ginette De Fleuriot (chair), vintner Trizanne Barnard, freelance wine writers Fiona McDonald and Cathy Marston, winemakers JD Pretorius (Steenberg), Irene Waller (La Bri) and Carmen Stevens (Naked Wines), with sommeliers Gregory Mutambe (12 Apostles Hotel) and Pearl Oliver (Mount Nelson Hotel).

BEST VALUE AT 2015 ULTRA CHALLENGE

Alvi’s Drift ADS Viognier 2015 – R46
Brampton Pinotage 2014 – R60
Douglas Green Shiraz 2014 (DGB) – R55
Ken Forrester Petit Pinotage 2014 – R45
Louisvale Dominique 2013 (Red Blend) – R75
Melck’s Blended Red 2014 (Muratie) – R55
Secret Cellar SMG ‘No 303’ 2014 (Syrah Mourvédre Grenache, Ultra) – R35
Splattered Toad Shiraz 2014 (Cape Point) – R54
Unbelievable White NV  (Mt Vernon) – R25

ALSO GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY

Alexanderfontein Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 (Ormonde) – R40
Arabella In Unison Reserve 2013 – R85
Balance Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2014 (Overhex) – R33
Balance Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2015 (Overhex) – R33
Christina van Loveren Chardonnay 2014 – R83
Delheim Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2013 – R60
Douglas Green Chardonnay 2015 (DGB) – R55
Drostdy-Hof Pinotage 2014 – R45
Eagle’s Cliff Chenin Blanc 2015 – R55
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chardonnay 2014 – R80
Leopard’s Leap Lookout Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Cinsaut 2015 – R36
MAN Chenin Blanc 2015 – R60
Meander Moscato Rosé 2014 (uniWines) – R40
Orange River Cellars Red Muscadel 2014 – R47
Ridgeback SGMV 2012 (Shiraz Grenache Mourvédre Viognier) – R75
Riebeek Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 – R40
Secret Cellar Big 5 ‘No 273’ 2013 (Red Blend, Ultra) – R35
Secret Cellar Sauvignon Blanc ‘No 527’ 2014 (Ultra) – R37
Sixpence Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2014 (Opstal) – R40
Two Oceans Shiraz 2014 (Distell) R45
Welmoed Pinotage 2014 (Stellenbosch Vineyards) – R47

For the full results and more info about the Ultra Value Wine Challenge, click here.