South Africa’s 20 most successful wines on the world stage in 2018

Beyerskloof Faith 2014 (Stellenbosch), DeMorgenzon Reserve Chenin Blanc 2017 (Stellenbosch Kloof), Des Dieu Claudia Brut 2012 (Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge), Groot Constantia Grand Constance 2015 (Constantia), Kaapzicht Steytler Pinotage 2015 (Stellenbosch-Bottelary), Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2014 (Constantia), Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Shiraz 2015 (Stellenbosch), Leeuwenkuil Heritage Syrah 2015 (Swartland), Neil Ellis Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (Stellenbosch), Oak Valley Groenlandberg Chardonnay 2017 (Elgin), Paul Cluver Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2017 (Elgin), Paul Cluver Seven Flags Chardonnay 2017 (Elgin), Rustenberg Peter Barlow Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (Simonsberg-Stellenbosch), Saronsberg Full Circle 2015 (Tulbagh), Shannon Mount Bullet 2015 (Elgin), Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 (Stellenbosch), Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2016 (Stellenbosch), Stellenrust Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2017 (Stellenbosch), Villiera Monro Brut 2012 (Stellenbosch-Koelenhof), Warwick Professor Black 2017 (Simonsberg-Stellenbosch).

 

For all of South Africa’s champion wines in 2018, click here. For every top-rated SA wine over the past two years, see here.

 

Beyerskloof Faith 2014
(Cape Blend)

Trophy for Best Blended Red Wine at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK), 5 Stars and one of the Wines of the Year in Platter’s SA Wine Guide.
Pinotage-based, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
R675pb at cellar door, Stellenbosch.
IWSC Tasting Notes: Sweet, plush black fruit with cured meat and herb flavours. Great depth and intensity with layers of fruit and spice unfolding constantly. Unflagging savoury finish.

DeMorgenzon Reserve Chenin Blanc 2017

Platinum at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Gold Medal at Trophy Wine Show, Trophy at Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge.
R375pb at cellar door, Stellenbosch Kloof.
Decanter Tasting Notes: Aromas of tropical fruit, vanilla, lemon, smoke and oak. The palate is fresh with great richness from the integrated oak… Very food friendly. Built to last but really delicious now.

Des Dieux Claudia Brut 2012
(Méthode Cap Classique)

Trophy for Best SA Bubbly at Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships (UK), Winner of Cap Classique Challenge.
Bottle-fermented bubbly from Chardonay (80%) and Pinot Noir.
R195pb at tasting room, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge.
CSWWC Tasting Notes: Great gunpowdery-toastiness on the nose, then with smoky notes and pristine fruit on the palate. Lovely lean structure. Very long and linear. Elegant.

Groot Constantia Grand Constance 2015
(Natural Sweet Muscat)

Best in Class at National Wine Challenge, Winner at Terroir Wine Awards, Outstanding Gold at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK), Gold at Muscats du Monde, Highly Recommended in Platter’s SA Wine Guide.
R680pb at cellar door, Constantia.
IWSC Tasting Notes: Intense Muscat aromas leap from the glass; fleshy raisins, dried apricots and tinned peaches. Sweet and unctuous, not cloying, with layers of dried stone fruit, flowers, barley sugar and golden syrup. Satin texture that lingers on the endless finish.

Kaapzicht Steytler Pinotage 2015

Trophy at International Wine Challenge (UK), Trophy at Top 10 Pinotage Competition, Gold at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), Double Gold at Michelangelo Awards.
R450pb at cellar door in Bottelary, Stellenbosch.
IWC Tasting Notes: Big, bold-but-authentic Pinotage. Benchmark spice and roasted fruit. Lively and scented despite the considerarble ripeness and heft. Long and perfumed on the long, warm finish.

Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2014
(Natural Sweet Muscat)

Platinum Award and Trophy for one of the Best Wines on Show at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide.
R985pb at cellar door, Constantia.
Decanter Tasting Notes: Thick textured, scent hinting at grapes, oranges, honey and beeswax. It’s weighty, sweet, rich, deep and chewy on the palate, with ample waxy orange richness balanced by sustained, fruit-saturated acidity.

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Shiraz 2015

Top Score at Michelangelo Awards, Gold at International Wine Challenge (UK), Gold at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK).
R365pb at cellar door, Stellenbosch.
IWSC Tasting Notes: Nose of exotic spice, coconut, dark plums and plush fruit. Just enough spice to balance all the fruit flavours. Bold with a long savoury, saline finish.

Leeuwenkuil Heritage Syrah 2015

Top Red at Trophy Wine Show, 5 Stars and Shiraz of the Year in Platter’s SA Wine Guide.
R300pb aproximate retail (Swartland Producer closed to public).
Producer’s Tasting Notes: Palate laden with fynbos herbs, thyme, buchu and white pepper. Violets, black olives and blueberry flavours lend complexity and lead to a long, satisfying finish.

Neil Ellis Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Gold at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), Gold at International Wine Challenge (UK), 94/100 in Winemag Report, Double Gold at Veritas Awards.
R375pb at cellar door on Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch.
Decanter Tasting Notes: Expressive aromatic profile of elegant black fruit, liquorice and cardamon. Lots of glycerol on the plump palate, along with soft ripe dark fruits, silky, refined tannins and well-applied oak. Still youthful and should age very well.

Oak Valley Groenlandberg Chardonnay 2017

5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Gold at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), 93/100 in Winemag Report, Top 100 at National Wine Challenge, Double Gold at Michelangelo Awards.
R220pb at cellar door, Elgin.
Decanter Tasting Notes: Lemon-lime and almond notes with a kiss of oak, limestone minerality and length. Delicate lick of butterscotch melts into green fruits and lime cordial. A fabulous expression with a long, long finish.

Paul Cluver Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2017

Trophy at International Wine Challenge (UK), 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Outstanding Gold at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK).
R300pb (375ml) at cellar door, Elgin.
IWSC Tasting Notes: Power-packed Riesling with so many layers and so much concentration. Scents of crystalised pineapple, stone fruit and a honeyed botrytis note which all come together on the rich, rich palate.

Paul Cluver Seven Flags Chardonay 2017

Top White at National Wine Challenge, 94/100 in Winemag Report, Gold at Six Nations Wine Challenge (AU).
R700pb at cellar door, Elgin.
Producer’s Tasting Notes: Hints of buttered toast/brioche on the nose. Tangerine fruit and citrus blossom fragrances, with hints of vanilla pod and ruby grapefruit at the end. Fine, fresh acidity lifts the fruit, giving the wine a lovely freshnes, adding poise and focus.

Rustenberg Peter Barlow Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Platinum at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), Best in Class at Trophy Wine Show, Gold at Six Nations Wine Challenge (AU), 90/100 in Winemag Report.
R500pb at cellar door, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch.
Decanter Tasting Notes: Expressive nose; coffee, cherry, blueberry, celery seeds, fruitcake — even a touch of cumin! Freshness on the palate, with spicy, grippy and youthful tannins. Exemplary length and persistence.

Saronsburg Full Circle 2016
(Rhône-Style Red Blend)

5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Gold at Six Nations Wine Challenge (AU), One of Top 3 Blends at Shiraz SA Challenge, Double Gold at Michelangelo Awards, Gold at Veritas Awards.
Shiraz-based Blend, with Grenache, Mourvèdre and Viognier.
R420pb at cellar door, Tulbagh.
Producer’s Tasting Notes: Prominent ripe plum, red berry flavours combined with floral notes and undertones of spice. Firm tannins.

Shannon Mount Bullet 2015
(Merlot)

Best in Class at National Wine Challenge, Gold at Six Nations Wine Challenge (AU), 92/100 in Winemag Report, Listed in Sommeliers Selection, Highly Recommended in Platter’s SA Wine Guide.
R395pb at cellar door, Elgin.
Among Producer’s Tasting Notes: Plums and dark cherries with earthy complexity; outstanding freshness; silkiness and elegance.

Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Platinum at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), Top Red at National Wine Challenge, Gold at Concours Mondial (BE).
R280pb at cellar door, Stellenbosch.
Decanter Tasting Notes: Dusty nose of grilled herbs, black current spice and cassis leaf. Palate loaded with chalky mineral tannins, tobacco leaf, piquant cassis and a dense, long, graphite-loaded finish.

Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2016

Trophy for Best Chenin Blanc at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK), Top White at Trophy Wine Show, Double Gold at Six Nations Wine Challenge (AU), Double Gold at Michelangelo Awards, Top 100 at National Wine Challenge.
R198pb at cellar door, Stellenbosch.
IWSC Tasting Notes: Ripe melon and papaya overlaid with sweet almond and vanilla oak. Silky smooth with generous body and warming… Lovely marriage of fruit and high-quality oak.

Stellenrust Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2017

5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Trophy at Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge, Gold at International Wine Challenge (UK).
R200pb at cellar door in Helderberg, Stellenbosch.
IWC Tasting Notes: Papaya and apricot with a hint of honey. Rich and creamy, rounded acidity, and a long, oaky finish.

Villiera Monro Brut 2012
(Méthode Cap Classique)

Trophy for Best Bottle Fermented Sparkling Wine at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK), 5 Stars and Cap Classique of the Year in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Gold at Veritas Awards.
Bottle-fermented bubbly from Chardonnay (61%), Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
R220pb at cellar door in Koelenhof, Stellenbosch.
IWSC Tasting Notes: Brioche, buttered toast and apple-pie nose. The fine bubbles are creamy on the rounded and full palate. Intense, with a silky-smooth, long finish.

Warwick Professor Black 2017
(Bordeaux-Style White Blend)

Best in Class at Trophy Wine Show, 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Double Gold at Six Nations Wine Challenge (AU), 92/100 in Winemag Report, Gold at Veritas.
Blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
R350pb at cellar door, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch.
Producer’s Tasting Notes: Flavours of blackcurrant, as well as passion fruit, litchi and citrus. A hint of white florals, with an edge of minerality calling up wet slate. Subtle French oak flavours.

 

• For all of South Africa’s champion wines in 2018, click here. For every top-rated SA wine over the past two years, see here.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Want to have your say?