This year’s Sauvignon Blanc Report sponsored by multinational financial services company Prescient attracted 125 entries and these were tasted blind (labels out of sight) by a three-person panel, scoring done according to the 100-point quality scale.

The Unwooded Top 10 emerged as follows:

95
Vergelegen 2021

94
Delaire Graff Coastal Cuvée 2021

93
Dombeya 2021 (Haskell Vineyards)

Groote Post 2021

La Vierge Original Sin 2020

Nitida 2021

South Hill 2021

92
Strandveld Pofadderbos 2021

91
Paul Cluver 2021

Zevenwacht 2021

The Wooded Top 10 emerged as follows:

94
Carmen Stevens 2019

Groot Phesantekraal Marizanne 2021

Neil Ellis Amica 2019

93
Cape Point Vineyards Noordhoek 2020

Kruger Family Wines Old Vines 2020

Le Bonheur Blanc Fumé 2020

91
Benguela Cove Estate 2020

Highlands Road White Reserve 2018

Vergelegen Reserve 2019

90
Diemersdal The Journal 2020

The Sauv-Sem Blends Top 10 emerged as follows:

96
Wade Bales Regional Series Constantia White 2019

95
Constantia Uitsig Natura Vista 2019

Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2018

Vergelegen G.V.B White 2019

94
La Petite Ferme Winemaker’s Edition 2019

93
Brunia White 2019

Delaire Graff White Reserve 2019

92
Bizoe Henriëtta 2019

Strandveld Adamastor 2019

91
Saxenburg Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2020

Wade Bales, as producer of the Sauv-Sem blend judged best overall, wins a new 225-litre Sylvain Blanc barrel worth €879 (the equivalent of R15 150 at the time of writing) from Tonnellerie Sylvain.

“Of the 125 entries in total, just short of 60% rated 90-plus on the 100-point quality scale,” says Christian Eedes, chairman of the tasting panel and Winemag.co.za editor. “Some think of Sauvignon Blanc as only capable of easy-drinking and nothing more but when it’s grown on the right site and is handled thoughtfully in the cellar, then some very smart wines result”.

To read the report in full, including key findings, tasting notes for the top wines and scores on the 100-point quality scale for all wines entered, visit Winemag.co.za.