My neighbour at the top of Leeukloof Drive has a Labrador called Johannes so it really should come as no surprise to taste a Chardonnay called Kobus. Yet it does. The Kobus in question is Kobus du Plessis, owner of Havana Hills and his 2010 namesake came third in yesterday’s RECM Best Value blind tasting of the remaining 30 Chardonnays. A rum called Kobus from Havana Hills would be perhaps more expected.

The result was dominated by Robertson, the appellation of wine and roses with 2/3 of the top 6 and half from a single brand Esona, with the proud brand owners at the public tasting last night.

Esona Chardonnay 2011 score 16.30 price R110.00 value R130.49
Esona Chardonnay 2010 score 16.10 price R120.00 value R128.16
Kobus Chardonnay 2010 score 16.00 price R150.00 value R123.86
Christina van Loveren Chardonnay 2014 score 15.90 price R83.00 value R118.26
Edgebaston Chardonnay 2013 score 15.70 price R80.00 value R107.21
Esona Chardonnay 2012 score 15.70 price R106.00 value R107.21

A quick wave of the RECM value for money wand and Stellenbosch becomes the favoured appellation with Stellenrust and Louisvale featuring. Louisvale. Now that’s a blast from the past as the brand used to dominate the Chardonnay scene a generation ago.

Obikwa Chardonnay 2014 score 15.30 price R30.00 value R85.32
De Krans Wild Ferment Unwooded Chardonnay 2014 score 15.50 price R40.00 value R99.88
Tangled Tree Butterscotch Chardonnay 2014 score 15.10 price R33.00 value R74.07
Stellenrust Chardonnay 2014 score 15.60 price R50.50 value R101.47
De Wet Cellar Chardonnay 2013 score 15.00 price R32.00 value R57.82
Louisvale unwooded Chardonnay 2014 score 15.40 price R55.00 value R94.53

No surprise to see Stellenrust shine as the barrel fermented brother was the best scorer at the tasting of the first four dozen wines. Winemaker Tertius Boshoff is clearly doing something right.