The second year of Top 100 SA Wine Challenge results have been announced at a private reception at Rodwell House in St James tonight. This controversial competition has delivered a very respectable and laudable list of wines, most of which any wine-lover would find difficult to dislike. Panel chairman, Tim Atkin, was fulsome in his praise for the organisation, and – more importantly – the quality of the wines entered, whilst show director Higgo Jacobs shared the difficulty of deciding the final line-up with debates going on all day.
At a first glance, it seems to me that there may be fewer sub-R100 wines in the list (although I stand open to correction) than last year, and there are several wines with multiple entries, notably Jordan Estate with 5 entries and Lomond, Saronsberg and Cederberg with 4 apiece. Newcomers this year include Avontuur, Boplaas, Ernie Els, Eikendal, Jean Daneel, Nitida and Shannon Vineyards and I would like to give a special mention for what I think to be two of the most underrated and best value ports in the country – the Calitzdorp Cellars Ruby Port which I believe comes in at around the R45-mark and is utterly delicious and the wonderful Boplaas Tawny Reserve – a wine which is a true labour of love.
So where does this competition sit now then? Credible? Not credible? I think it needs another year to be sure and I don’t think the controversy over the name will ever truly die. But let me say this – without knowing exactly which other wines entered, I have absolutely no quarrels over any of the wines which I recognise, as being worthy of inclusion in a list of delicious South African wines. And the ones I don’t know? Well, this list makes me want to go and try them as soon as I can. And perhaps that is the best answer for now.
Full list of Top 100 SA Wine Challenge 2012
Allee Bleue Isabeau 2011
Allee Bleue Pinotage 2009
Alvi’s Drift AD Chardonnay 2011
Alvi’s Drift AD CVC 2011
Alvi’s Drift Viognier 2011
Anwilka 2009
Avontuur Estate Dominion Royale Shiraz Reserve 2009
Bon Courage Cap Classique Jacques Bruere Brut Reserve 2007
Boplaas Cape Tawny Reserve Port 1997
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2009
Boschendal Grande Cuvee Brut 2007
Bosman Family Vineyards Erfenis 2010
Bosman Family Vineyards Optenhorst 2010
Calitzdorp Cellar Cape Ruby 2010
Calitzdorp Cellar Touriga Nacional 2010
Cape Point Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2010
Capelands Estate Redstone 2010
Cederberg Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Cederberg Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Cederberg Shiraz 2009
Christina van Loveren Shiraz 2010
Dalla Cia Giorgio 2007
Diemersdal MM Louw Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Doolhof Wine Estate Signature Malbec 2010
Driehoek Shiraz 2010
Eenzaamheid Chenin Blanc 2011
Eikendal Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Elgin Heights Shiraz 2010
Elgin Vintners Shiraz 2008
Ernie Els Big Easy 2010
Ernie Els Proprietors Syrah 2010
Ernie Els Signature 2008
Glenwood Chardonnay Vigneron’s Selection 2010
Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve 2009
Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve White 2010
Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay 2011
Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir 2010
Jean Daneel Chenin Blanc 2010
Jordan Chardonnay 2010
Jordan Chenin Blanc 2011
Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay 2010
Jordan The Outlier Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Jordan The Real McCoy Riesling 2010
JP Bredell Wines Bredell’s Cape Vintage 2003
Kanu KCB Chenin Blanc 2009
Ken Forrester The FMC 2010
Klein Constantia Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2007
La Motte Pierneef Shiraz Viognier 2009
La Motte Shiraz 2009
Landau du Val Late Vintage Semillon Private Collection 2010
L’Avenir Grand Vin Pinotage 2009
Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2009
Lisha Nelson Cabernet Franc 2008 2008
Lomond Pincushion Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Lomond Single Vineyard Conebush Syrah 2008
Lomond Single Vineyard Sugarbush 2010
Lomond Single Vineyards Pincushion 2011
Longridge Brut 2008
Longridge Chardonnay 2009
Longridge Merlot 2008
Louis Wines Louis 2008
Miles Mossop Max 2008
Mulderbosch Chardonnay Barrel Fermented 2008
Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc Steen op Hout 2010
Mvemve Raats De Compostella 2009
Neethlingshof The Owl Post Pinotage 2010
Nitida Club Select Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Oldenburg Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2009
Oldenburg Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2011
Overgaauw Tria Corda 2009
Paul Cluver Chardonnay 2010
Rickety Bridge The Foundation Stone 2010
Rietvallei Wine Estate Special Select Esteanna White 2011
Rustenberg Stellenbosch John X Merriman 2009
Saronsberg Provenance Rooi 2010
Saronsberg Provenance Shiraz 2010
Saronsberg Shiraz 2010
Saronsberg Viognier 2010
Saxenburg Private Collection Shiraz 2007
Shannon Vineyards “Sanctuary Peak” Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel 2007
Stark-Conde Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Sumaridge Chardonnay 2010
Super Single Vineyards Mount Sutherland Syrah 2009
Swartland Winery Bushvine Pinotage 2010
Swartland Winery Bushvine Shiraz 2010
Teddy Hall Dr Jan Cats Chenin Blanc Reserve 2010
Teddy Hall Hercules van Loon Cabernet Sauv Reserve 2008
The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2010
The High Road Director’s Reserve 2009
Tierhoek Straw Wine 2007
Tokara Directors Reserve Red 2008
Tokara Directors Reserve White 2010
Vilafonte Series M 2009
Vondeling Baldrick Shiraz 2011
Vondeling Sweet Carolyn 2007
Warwick Trilogy 2009
Wildekrans Osiris Chenin Blanc Barrel Selection 2010