In conjunction with Prescient, a multinational financial
services provider, Winemag.co.za is pleased to present the fifth annual Chardonnay
Report, the Prescient
Chardonnay Report (previously the Christian Eedes Chardonnay Report).
When Chardonnay is at its best, it’s
arguably the grape responsible for the greatest dry white wine in the world,
whatever lovers of Riesling might like to think. It has a universal following,
by far the best selling wine, white or red, in the United States for instance.
And there is a well-established frame of reference when it comes to discussion
of style and quality, the traditional home of the variety being Burgundy in the
northeast of France where it has been grown for centuries but benchmark
examples occurring around the world especially from Australia and California,
USA.
In South Africa, serious attempts at
growing the grape date from the early 1980s and the variety is currently the
seventh most planted making up just over 7% of the national vineyard. All of
the above makes the South African wine industry’s efforts with it worthy of
scrutiny.
There were 60 wines in the line-up,
submission by invitation only. 29 wines were rated 90 or higher on the
100-point quality scale and these were recognised during an event held at Gallery
MOMO in Cape Town on Wednesday, 28 October.
The top performing wines were as follows:
94
Eikendal 2014
Groot Constantia 2014
KWV The Mentors 2013
Paul Cluver Estate 2014
Paul Cluver Seven Flags 2014
Richard Kershaw Elgin Clonal Selection 2014
Sumaridge 2013
Uva Mira The Single Tree 2014
93
StellenRust Barrel Fermented 2014
Uva Mira The Mira 2014
92
Evidence 2014 (Julien Schaal)
Hamilton Russell Vineyards 2014
Hartenberg 2013
Newton Johnson Southend 2014
Oak Valley Elgin 2014
Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch 2014
Vergelegen Reserve 2014
91
Chamonix 2014
Iona Elgin 2014
Môreson Mercator Premium 2014
Radford Dale 2013
Vriesenhof 2014
Warwick White Lady 2014
90
Ataraxia 2013
Bartinney 2014
Buitenverwagting 2014
DeMorgenzon Reserve 2014
Mulderbosch 2014
Rustenberg Five Soldiers 2013
For the full report:
#PrescientChard Report 2015
Winemag.co.za, in conjunction with
Prescient are hosting two Public Tastings events to showcase the top-rated Chardonnays.
Tickets are available online for 4th
November in Johannesburg at the Radisson Blu Hotel Gautrain and 11th
November in Cape Town, at the Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront.