Cabernet Sauvignon is the world’s best travelled dark-skinned wine grape. In its traditional home of Bordeaux, it is a component of some of the world’s greatest wines and it has been taken up far and wide as producers seek to emulate this. In South Africa, it is the third most widely planted variety making up 12% of the national vineyard and the Report was devised to scrutinise the top producers on an annual basis.
There were 65 wines in the line-up, submission by invitation only and judged blind, labels out of sight. Fifteen wines were rated 90 or higher on the 100-point quality scale and these were recognised during an event held at The Stack, Leinster Hall in Cape Town on Wednesday, 10 May.
The top wines were as follows:
92
Neil Ellis Jonkershoek Valley Stellenbosch 2014
Price: Not yet released.
Strydom Rex 2014
Price: R220
91
Bartinney 2014
Price: R179
Jordan The Long Fuse 2014
Price: R160
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2013
Price: R335
Le Riche Reserve 2014
Price: R500
Peter Falke 2013
Price: R140
Rustenberg Peter Barlow 2012
Price: R400
Tokara Reserve Collection 2013
Approximate retail price: R315
Waterford Estate 2014
Price: R295
Warwick Blue Lady 2014
Price: R275
90
Groot Constantia 2015
Price: R201
Neil Ellis Stellenbosch 2014
Price: Not yet released
Spier 21 Gables 2014
Price: R260
Vergelegen V 2012
Price: R1 300
To read the report in full, go to Winemag.co.za.
Join the conversation and follow the action on twitter #PrescientCabSauv
Winemag.co.za, in conjunction with Prescient are hosting two Public Tasting events to showcase the top-rated Cabernet Sauvignon for 2017.
Cape Town
Date: 24 May
Time: 18h00 for 18h30
Venue: Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel, Beach Road, Granger Bay
Details and tickets are available online.