In conjunction with Prescient, a multinational financial services provider, Winemag.co.za is pleased to present the seventh annual Chardonnay Report.
When Chardonnay is at its best, it’s arguably the grape responsible for the greatest dry white wine in the world, whatever lovers of Riesling might like to think. It has a universal following and is by far the best selling wine in the United States. There is also a well-established frame of reference when it comes to discussion of style and quality. While the traditional home of the variety is Burgundy in the northeast of France, where it has been grown for centuries, benchmark examples occur around the world especially from Australia and California, USA.
In South Africa, serious attempts at growing the grape date to the early 1980s. The variety is currently the seventh most planted making up just over 7% of the national vineyard. All of the above makes the South African wine industry’s efforts regarding Chardonnay, worthy of scrutiny.
There were 91 wines in the line-up, these judged blind, labels out of sight. 42 wines were rated 90 or higher on the 100-point quality scale and these were recognised during an event held at The Stack, Leinster Hall in Cape Town on Wednesday, 18 October.
The top wines were as follows:
95
Delaire Graff Banghoek Reserve 2016
Price: R200
Eikendal 2016
Price: R163
Rustenberg Stellenbosch 2016
Price: R175
94
Dabar 2016
Price: R97
93
Evidence 2016 (Sophie & Julien Schaal)
Price: R250
Hartenberg The Eleanor 2015
Price: R325
93
Holden Manz Barrel Fermented 2016
Price: R225
Longridge Organic 2015
Price: R165
Paul Cluver Seven Flags 2016
Price: R550
Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch 2016
Price: R180
Uva Mira 2016
Price: TBC
92
Delaire Graff Terraced Block Reserve 2015
Price: R650
GlenWood Vigneron’s Selection 2016
Price: R240
La Motte 2016
Price: R120
Lourensford The Dome 2015
Price: R110
Neil Ellis Whitehall 2016
Price: R225
Stellenrust Barrel Fermented 2016
Price: R150
Thelema 2015
Price: R145
Uva Mira The Mira 2016
Price: R195
91
Bartinney Hourglass 2016
Price: R620
91
Edgebaston 2016 (Finlayson Family Wines)
Price: R95
Hartenberg 2015
Price: R115
Jordan Barrel Fermented 2016
Price: R160
Journey’s End 2016
Price: R150
Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo 2016
Price: R149
Julien Schaal Mountain Vineyards 2016
Price: R175
90
Bergsig Barrel Fermented 2016
Price: R89
DeMorgenzon Reserve 2016
Price: R350
Domaine des Dieux 2012
Price: R200
Dombeya 2015 (Haskell Vineyards)
Price: R115
Glen Carlou 2016
Price: R108
Hamilton Russell Vineyards 2016
Price: R395
Haute Cabrière Reserve 2016
Price: R190
KWV Cathedral Cellars 2016
Price: R90
La Bri 2016
Price: R130
90
Lanzerac Limited Release Mrs English 2016
Price: R450
Longridge Organic 2016
Price: R165
Môreson Dr Reason Why Unwooded 2016
Price: R125
Oak Valley Beneath The Clouds 2016
Price: R110
Oak Valley Groenlandberg 2016
Price: R190
Rickety Bridge 2016
Price: R120
Rustenberg Five Soldiers 2015
Price: R400
To read the report in full, go to Winemag.co.za.
Join the conversation and follow the action on twitter #PrescientChard
Winemag.co.za, in conjunction with Prescient are hosting a Cape Town Public Tasting event on 25 October, to showcase the top-rated Chardonnays for 2017. Details & tickets are available online.