With French rockstar economist Thomas Piketty under fire at the minute for fat fingering his data, we’re taking special care this week to report on two RECM best value blind tastings of white blends and niche white cultivars. While it’s clear that the gap between the have’s and the have-not’s is widening at an alarming rate, it might not be explained by Professor Piketty as his pernickety colleagues point out.

But one conclusion that is clear from our blind tastings of white blends and niche cultivars is that white blends in general offer better value than mono wines. On scores alone, monos come out tops

Monos

Ken Forrester Roussanne 2102 Price R195.00 Value R159.36 Score 17.00
Rickety Bridge Semillon 2010 Price R95.00 Value R136.71 Score 16.50
La Chataigne Semillon 2102 Price R110.00 Value R151.00 Score 16.50
Fleur du Cap Semillon 2102 Price R100.00 Value R120.54 Score 16.20
Nitida Semillon 2103 Price R79.00 Value R107.15 Score 16.00
Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Viognier Reserve 2102 Price R97.00 Value R101.51 Score 15.80

With Semillon dominant except for an amazing Roussanne from Ken Forrester, the godfather of Chenin Blanc. In the blends department Rijk Melck rules

Muratie: Laurens Campher Blended White 2013 Price R95.00 Value R146.10 Score 16.30
Rietvallei Esteanna 2011 Price R130.00 Value R148.84 Score 16.30
Rickety Bridge Foundation Stone 2013 Price R85.00 Value R140.79 Score 16.10
Waverley Hills Viognier Semillon Chardonnay 2012 Price R90.00 Value R133.65 Score 16.00
Oak Lane 2013 Price R45.00 Value R125.18 Score 15.90
Marvelous Yellow 2012 Price R80.00 Value R115.18 Score 15.90

But sort on the ratio of quality value to selling price and the line-ups change remarkably

For best value Monos, Alvi van der Merwe replaces Ken Forrester. Zonnebloem storm in – this brand is so popular they’ve now run out of tasting stock for our blind tastings going forward but the wines are so competitive we’ll be buying the two bottle entries from Tops at Spar to keep the process honest.

Alvi’s Drift Viognier 2103 Price R43.00 Value R99.95 Score 15.70
Zonnebloem Limited Edition Semillon 2103 Price R51.50 Value R89.45 Score 15.60
Ondine Semillon 2103 Price R58.00 Value R99.05 Score 15.70
Rickety Bridge Semillon 2010 Price R95.00 Value R136.71 Score 16.50
Two Oceans Pinot Grigio 2103 Price R35.00 Value R48.94 Score 14.50
La Chataigne Semillon 2102 Price R110.00 Value R151.00 Score 16.50

Rickety Bridge in Franschhoek are the only producer in both categories confirming the excellent job Wynand Grobler is doing. My own Lemoenfontein brand creeps in at number three in the value blends department which does not bother me at all as I was at Alto when the tasting happened and its done rigorously blind.

Oak Lane 2013 Price R45.00 Value R125.18 Score 15.90
Opstal Estate: Sixpence 2014 Price R35.00 Value R75.54 Score 15.60
Lemoenfontein Dry White: Bukketraube, Chenin Blanc, Verdelho 2009 Price R60.00 Value R105.19 Score 15.90
Rickety Bridge Foundation Stone 2013 Price R85.00 Value R140.79 Score 16.10
Muratie: Laurens Campher Blended White 2013 Price R95.00 Value R146.10 Score 16.30
Waverley Hills Viognier Semillon Chardonnay 2012 Price R90.00 Value R133.65 Score 16.00

Combining both lists and its evenly split between monos and blends although blends are 1,2 and 4. Great information for wedding planners like Aleit Swanepoel and Luke Krone who keep an eagle eye on costs in these days of limited gravy trains.

Oak Lane 2013 Price R45.00 Value R105.18 Score 15.90
Opstal Estate: Sixpence 2014 Price R35.00 Value R81.10 Score 15.60
Alvi’s Drift Viognier 2103 Price R43.00 Value R96.91 Score 15.70
Lemoenfontein Dry White: Bukketraube, Chenin Blanc, Verdelho 2009 Price R60.00 Value R109.02 Score 15.90
Ondine Semillon 2103 Price R58.00 Value R92.59 Score 15.70
Rickety Bridge Semillon 2010 Price R95.00 Value R149.82 Score 16.50

RECM best value stickers are on their way to the dozen best value winners.