THERE WERE 52 entries from 33 South African producers assessed for the 2017 Pinot Noir Report on Winemag.co.za. The top-scoring wines were as follows (see below), with Creation Reserve Pinot Noir 2015 judged best overall: “Gleaming garnet with an inviting bouquet… Peppercorn and clove… Layers of dried fruit mingle with hints of raspberry and piquant spice… A lingering wine with supple tannins.”
Creation Reserve 2015
Creation Reserve 2016
Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge Cellar
Dabar 2014
Dabar 2015
Napier Producer
De Grendel Op die Berg 2014
Panorama Cellar, Durbanville Wine Route
Hamilton Russell 2016
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Cellar
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards 2016
Newton Johnson Walker Bay 2016
Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Cellar
Oak Valley Sounds of Silence 2015
Elgin Producer
Paul Cluver Seven Flags 2015
Elgin Cellar
Reservoir Road 2016 from B Vintners
Stellenbosch Producer
Shannon Rockview Ridge 2015
Elgin Producer
The Fledge & Co. Katvis 2016
Calitzdorp Cellar
Vrede en Lust 2016
Simonsberg-Paarl Cellar
The judges: Christian Eedes (chair) with the Wine Cellar's Roland Peens and James Pietersen. For the full report and the ranking of submissions scored according to a 100-point scale, click here.
