COULDN’T help it! At first glance, what first ‘jumped out’ of Winemag’s 2019 Cape Bordeaux Red Blend Report was that one of the Top 5 is from a cellar in Worcester, and selling for a lot less than most of the top-rated submissions from Stellenbosch and Somerset West! Turns out that the Leipzig Grand Master 2017 is made from grapes grown in areas of Stellenbosch and the Swartland, but still. And unlike the competition winner, the 2017 vintage of Botanica Arboretum, it’s already available for purchase…

Although she has made some fine Semillon and Pinot Noir, American Virginia Povall’s reputation as a top winemaker is built on the great Botanica Chenin Blanc she’s been coming up with over the past 10 years. Hall of Fame shoo-in. There have only been two vintages of the Arboretum to date, with the third (2017) only due to be labelled in October 2019. Unlike the Chenin, made from grapes grown in Citrusdal, the Bordeaux-style red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot orginated from eight-year-old vines on Povall’s Protea Heights farm in Devon Valley, Stellenbosch. Vinification at Zorgvliet on the other side of town.

There were 65 wines from 53 producers entered in the Cape Bordeaux competition, the panel of judges comprising Winemag’s Christian Eedes (chair) with retailers Roland Peens and James Pietersen, both of Wine Cellar. No surprise that Delaire Graff, Eikendal, Groot Constantia, Morgenster, Raats and Tokara got some of the best reviews, with most of the Cape’s leading examples in the line-up – Kanonkop a glaring stayaway. Interesting to see Jason’s Hill of the Breedekloof and Rietvallei of Robertson also in the spotlight.

For all of the panel’s favourites, see below (prices per 750ml bottle ex-cellar), and for the full report including more info about the wines and tasting notes, see here.

 

RATED ‘OUTSTANDING’

Botanica Arboretum 2017
R285, Devon Valley Farm, Stellenbosch

Leipzig Grand Master 2017
R160, Nuy Valley Farm, Worcester

Morgenster Estate Reserve 2014
R490, Somerset West Farm

Raats Family Jasper 2017
R250, Stellenbosch Producer

Remhoogte Reserve Sir Thomas Cullinan 2015
R315, Simonsberg Farm, Stellenbosch

 

RATED ‘EXCELLENT’

Alto M.P.H.S. 2015
R1025, Helderberg Farm, Stellenbosch

Babylonstoren Nebukadnesar 2017
R498, Simonsberg Farm, Paarl

Creation Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Petit Verdot 2016
R210, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge Farm, Walker Bay

Delaire Graff Botmaskop 2017
R295, Helshoogte Cellar, Stellenbosch

Eikendal Classique 2017
R325, Helderberg Cellar, Stellenbosch

Epicurean 2011
R529, Simonsberg Producer, Paarl

Glenelly Lady May 2014
R520, Ida’s Valley, Stellenbosch

Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve Red 2016
R462, Constantia Farm, Cape Town

Jason’s Hill Izak Reserve 2015
R200, Slanghoek Valley Farm, Breedekloof

Lanzerac Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Petit Verdot 2016
R170, Jonkershoek Farm, Stellenbosch

Morgenster Lourens River Valley 2014
R190, Somerset West Farm

Mvemve Raats De Compostella 2016
R1300, Stellenbosch Producer

Nederburg Brew Master 2016
R200, Paarl Cellar

Neethlingshof Caracal 2017
R270, Stellenbosch Farm

Overgaauw DC Classic 2015
R680, Stellenbosch Kloof Farm

Overgaauw Tria Corda 2015
R390, Stellenbosch Kloof Farm

Rietvallei Estéanna 2016
R320, Robertson Farm

Rudi Schultz Boneyards 2016
R395, Stellenbosch Producer

Rustenberg John X Merriman 2016
R190, Simonsberg Farm, Stellenbosch

Tokara Director’s Reserve Red 2016
R400, Simonsberg Farm, Stellenbosch

Vrede en Lust Artisan Malbec Petit Verdot 2016
R150, Simonsberg Farm, Paarl

Vrede en Lust Boet Erasmus 2016
R225, Simonsberg Farm, Paarl

Vriesenhof Kallista 2015
R320, Stellenbosch Farm

Zorgvliet Richelle 2017
R300, Banghoek Farm, Stellenbosch