Winemag releases its much-anticipated Prescient Chardonnay report
· 4 min read
, in association with financial services company Prescient, announced the top Chardonnays - from a record number of 117 entries - at a celebratory sundowner event at the Norval Foundation in Cape Town on Tuesday, 16 October.
The report, which is compiled by SA wine critic Christian Eedes and his panel of expert wine judges, highlights two key facts: South Africa’s ability to produce exceptional Chardonnays across multiple regions and the category’s continuing increase in quality. Out of the top 24 wines, 10 were from Stellenbosch, six were from Elgin, three were from the greater Hemel-en-Aarde area, two from Franschhoek, one from Constantia, one from Darling and one a multi-regional blend.
Speaking at the awards, Eedes indicated that the overall quality of the wines in the line-up this year was excellent, with an average score being 89.9/100. “This would suggest that local Chardonnay is not in some mysterious state of stagnation but rather going from strength to strength,” Eedes states in his report.
Ultimately, there were five wines which topped the rankings, each scoring 94/100, these being: Delaire Terraced Block Reserve 2016, La Bri 2017, Le Riche 2017, Meerlust 2017 and Paul Cluver Seven Flags 2017.
Winemag Business Unit Director, Jacqueline Lahoud commented: “The Chardonnay category is a highlight on the annual Winemag Report calendar, and we would like to thank our sponsor Prescient, for their ongoing support. This company specialises in investment and it is worth pointing out that any of these Chardonnays will make excellent investments – if only for the drinking pleasure they will all deliver on in the future!”
RESULTS:
Wines to rate 90 or higher were as follows:
94 Delaire Graff Terraced Block Reserve 2016
94 La Bri 2017 – Cybercellar price: R137
94 Le Riche 2017 – Cybercellar price: R155
94 Meerlust 2017 – Cybercellar price: R232
94 Paul Cluver Seven Flags 2017
93 Creation Reserve 2017
93 Delaire Graff Banghoek Reserve 2017
93 DeMorgenzon Reserve 2017 – Cybercellar price: R425
93 Domaine Des Dieux 2014
93 Eikendal 2017 – Cybercellar price: R178
93 Groot Constantia 2017 – Cybercellar price: R240
93 Hartenberg The Eleanor 2016 – Cybercellar price: R380
93 Henri Boillot Meursault 2016
93 Kershaw GPS Lower Duivenhoks River 2017
93 Kruger Family Wines Walker Bay 2017
93 Longridge 2017
93 Malanot Malan Family Reserve 2016
93 Oak Valley Groenlandberg 2017 – Cybercellar price: R260
93 Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 2015
93 Sutherland Elgin 2017 – Cybercellar price: R140
92 Elgin Vintners 2014
92 Groote Post Kapokberg 2017 – R180
92 Journey’s End Destination 2017 – Cybercellar price:R282
92 Kershaw Clonal Selection Elgin 2017
92 La Motte 2017 – Cybercellar price: R140
92 Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch 2017 – Cybercellar price: R195
91 Almenkerk 2017
91 Bartinney Hourglass 2017
91 Eikendal Infused by Earth 2016
91 Goedverwacht Maxim Limited Release 2017
91 Iona 2017
91 Jordan Nine Yards 2016
91 Longridge 2016
91 Neil Ellis Whitehall Elgin 2017
91 Plaisir de Merle 2017
91 Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo 2016
91 Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo 2017
91 Uva Mira The Mira 2017
91 Uva Mira The Single Tree 2016
91 Vrede en Lust Marguerite 2016
90 Aaldering 2017
90 Babylonstoren 2017 – Cybercellar price: R239
90 Badsberg Sur Lie 2017
90 Bersig Barrel Fermented 2016
90 Cape Point Vineyards 2017
90 Creation The Art of Chardonnay 2017
90 Durbanville Hills 2017
90 Edgebaston 2017
90 Esona Single Vineyard 2015
90 Fleur du Cap Series Privée 2017
90 Glen Carlou Quartzstone 2017
90 Haskell Anvil 2017
90 Hazendal 2017
90 Highlands Road 2016
90 Highlands Road 2017
90 Jordan Barrel Fermented 2017 – Cybercellar price: R172
90 Julien Schaal Evidence 2017
90 Julien Schaal Confluence 2017
90 Kershaw The Smuggler’s Boot 2016
90 Kershaw The Smuggler’s Boot 2017
90 Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection 2017 – Cybercellar price: R120
90 Kruger Family Wines Klipkop 2017
90 La Vierge Jezebelle 2017 – Cybercellar price: R145
90 Louisvale 2017
90 Lourensford Limited Release 2017
90 Môreson Dr. Reason Why 2017
90 Muratie Isabella Reserve 2017
90 Oldenburg Vineyards 2017
90 Paul Cluver Estate 2017
90 Rustenberg Five Soldiers 2017
90 Stellenbosch Reserve Moederkerk 2018
90 Stonebird 2016
90 Sutherland Elgin Reserve 2016 – Cybercellar price: R300
90 Uva Mira 2016
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