THE JUDGING is complete, preparations for the awards function at Cavalli Estate in Somerset West on 15 August are in full swing and wine lovers are looking forward to seeing which of their favourites among the Top 20 finalists are considered by the panel of experts to be the best of the best in the 2018 Absa Top 10.

The Absa Top 10 Pinotage Competition is now in its 22nd year and this time round a record number of 161 entries were submitted. Neil Ellis (proprietor of Neil Ellis Wines) chaired the Pinotage Association’s team of experienced palates who deliberated at the judging venue of Nederburg in Paarl, with the other panellists including wine educator Nomonde Kubheka, winemaker Francois Haasbrook, wine writer Samarie Smith and Francois Rautenbach, wine buyer for Singita Premier Wine Direct.

Four of the producers represented among the Top 20 in the main competition stand out in having two of their wines selected for the final round of judging: Diemersdal of Durbanville, Kaapzicht as well as Kanonkop of Stellenbosch, plus Môreson of Franschhoek. A ‘Museum Class’ for older wines was introduced in recent years, and here too the finalists include the names of producers with reputations for some of the very best wines made from Pinotage over the years.

 

ABSA TOP 10 FINALISTS

Allée Bleue Black Series Old Vine Pinotage 2016
WO Piekenierskloof (Franschhoek cellar), Winemaker Van Zyl du Toit

Alvi’s Drift Reserve Verreaux Pinotage 2015
WO Worcester, Winemaker Alvi van der Merwe

Badsberg Pinotage 2017
WO Breedekloof, Winemaker Henri Swiegers

Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2015
WO Stellenbosch, Winemaker Anri Truter

Diemersdal Pinotage Reserve 2017
WO Durbanville, Winemaker Thys Louw

Diemersdal Pinotage 2015
WO Durbanville, Winemaker Thys Louw

Fairview Primo Pinotage 2016
WO Paarl, Winemaker Anthony de Jager

Flagstone Writer’s Block Pinotage 2016
WO Breedekloof (Somerset West cellar), Winemaker Gerhard Swart

Kaapzicht Steytler Pinotage 2015
WO Bottelary-Stellenbosch, Winemaker Danie Steytler

Kaapzicht Pinotage 2016
WO Bottelary-Stellenbosch, Winemaker Danie Steytler

Kanonkop Pinotage 2013
WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Winemaker Abrie Beeslaar

Kanonkop Pinotage 2015
WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Winemaker Abrie Beeslaar

KWV The Mentors Pinotage 2016
WO Darling (Paarl cellar), Winemaker Izele van Blerk

Lanzerac Pionier Pinotage 2015
WO Stellenbosch, Winemaker Wynand Lategan

Lyngrove Platinum Pinotage 2016
WO Stellenbosch, Winemaker Danie van Tonder

Meerendal Heritage Block Single Vineyard Pinotage 2016
WO Durbanville, Winemaker Liza Goodwin

Môreson The Widow Maker Pinotage 2015
WO Stellenbosch (Franschhoek cellar), Winemaker Clayton Reabow

Môreson The Widow Maker Pinotage 2016
WO Stellenbosch (Franschhoek cellar), Winemaker Clayton Reabow

Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage 2014
WO Tulbagh, Winemaker Pierre Wahl

Wellington Wines Duke of Wellington Pinotage 2017
WO Wellington, Winemaker Francois van Niekerk

 

MUSEUM CLASS FINALISTS

Grangehurst Pinotage 2008
WO Stellenbosch, Winemaker Jeremy Walker

Kanonkop Pinotage 2006
WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Winemaker Abrie Beeslaar

Lord Neethling Pinotage 2003
Neethlingshof, WO Stellenbosch, Winemaker De Wet Viljoen

Neil Ellis Vineyard Selection Pinotage 2008
WO Stellenbosch, Winemaker Warren Ellis

Rijk’s Private Cellar Pinotage 2008
WO Tulbagh, Winemaker Pierre Wahl