46190786 1997310520311732 7971080356411473920 o
Zorgvliet’s Simoné 2017 scored 93 points in the Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blends.

Winemag.co.za today released its sixth annual Sauv-Sem Blend/Wooded Sauvignon Blanc Report, sponsored by precision agriculture service provider Aerobotics. Presenting a solid argument for increased interest in South Africa’s Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blends, panel chair Christian Eedes highlighted this style’s ability for very serious wines.

This year saw 41 blends from 37 producers scrutinised by the respected Winemag.co.za tasting panel, while for the second time, Wooded Sauvignon Blanc was included with 19 examples from 16 producers.

Eedes pointed out that the best of these Bordeaux-inspired white blends “make for demanding wines, with very dense fruit combined with punchy acidities” adding that it is these qualities that make them both food friendly and age-worthy. A point illustrated by the fact that the average score of wines rated was 90/100, which further bears testimony to the high overall standard of the category.

Commenting on the category as a whole, Eedes said: “When winemakers get it right, the end-result is wines of real gravitas and heft, perhaps not everyday drinking but rather to be served in a fine dining environment after some suitable bottle maturation.”

Cape Point Vineyards Isleidh 2017 was announced as the best overall blend, achieving a rating of 94/100, as well as a 50ha drone flight from Aerobotics worth R25 000, as well as a new 225-litre barrel from Tonnellerie Sylvain.

46309253 1997212656988185 5181949738513072128 o
Cape Point Vineyards’ won best overall (94 point score) for its Isliedh 2017.

The wooded Sauvignon Blanc category achieved an average score of 89.9, with The Fledge & Co. Fumé Blanc 2017 best overall with a rating of 93/100 – also securing an Aerobotics package.

“We are proud to be the headline sponsor at the sixth annual Winemag Sauv-Sem Blend & Wooded Sauvignon Blanc Report”, said Aerobotics COO Andrew Burdock, who spoke at the event. “We are excited by the enthusiasm for our technology in the wine industry and look forward to helping today’s top performers and others improve their yield and produce a balanced crop.”

The full results were as follows: Wines to rate 90 points or higher on the 100-point quality scale were as follows:

Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon Blends

94 Cape Point Vineyards Isliedh 2017 (BEST OVERALL)

93 Highlands Road Sine Cera 2015 Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2016 Zorgvliet Simoné 2017

92 Delaire Graff White Reserve 2016 Chateau de Fieuzal 2015 Hazendal 2017 Strandveld Adamastor 2016 Warwick Professor Black 2017

91 Benguela Cove Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2016 Celestina 2017 David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner The Bowline 2016 Durbanville Hills The Tangram 2017 Highlands Road Sine Cera 2016 Iona One Man Band White 2016 Lanzerac Keldermeester Versameling Bergstroom 2017 Nitida Coronata Integration 2016 Quoin Rock White Blend 2017 Trizanne Signature Wines Reserve 2017

90 Bizoe Henriëtta 2017 Bloemendal Kanonberg 2015 David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner The Bowline 2017 Elgin Vintners The Century 2017 Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve 2017 Waverley Hills 2018

Wooded Sauvignon Blanc

93 The Fledge & Co. Fumé Blanc 2017 (BEST OVERALL)

92 Bloemendal Suider Terras 2016 Highlands Road Sauvignon Blanc White Reserve 2017 Neumeister Ried Moarfeitl 2015 Overgaauw Abraham 2017

91 Cape Point Vineyards Reserve 2017 Rousseau Sacharia 2017 Zevenwacht 360º 2017

90 Diemersdal M.M. Louw 2017 Iona Klipkop Blanc Fumé 2017 Miravel Nigma 2017 Nederburg Heritage Heroes The Young Airhawk 2017 Rousseau Grace 2018 Sabathi Ried Pössnitzberger Sorgenbrecher 2015 The Giant Periwinkle Blanc Fumé 2017

Full results can be viewed on Winemag.co.za