A NUMBER of South Africa’s Top Pinotage cellars are represented among the 2019 Absa Top 10 Competition finalists. There are no surprises among the Top 20, with all of the producers having excelled before with previous vintages. Odds-on favourites to be called to the podium on 14 August? Beyerskloof, Kanonkop, Wildekrans… Most notable absentees? Rijk’s, Flagstone, Diemersfontein…

That the Pinotage Association received as many as 161 entries is indicative of how sought-after these trophies are. The panel of judges: Cape Wine Master Winnie Bowman (chair) and Master of Wine Greg Sherwood (UK), with Cape winemakers Frans Smit (Spier), Razvan Macici (Ormonde) and Nomonde Kubheka (Pinotage Youth Development Academy).

TOP 20 IN ABSA TOP 10

Anura Reserve Pinotage 2016
R175pb at Simonsberg cellar, Paarl

Badsberg Pinotage 2018
R86pb at Rawsonville cellar, Breedekloof

Beyerskloof Winemakers Reserve 2017
Price to be announced, Stellenbosch cellar

Bowwood Pinotage 2016
R370pb at Vondeling cellar in Voor Paardeberg, Paarl

Diemersdal MM Louw Pinotage 2017
R300pb at Durbanville cellar

Diemersdal Reserve Pinotage 2018
R160pb at Durbanville cellar

Fleur du Cap Series Privée Pinotage 2016
R180pb at the Bergkelder, Stellenbosch

Kanonkop Pinotage 2015
R390pb at Simonsberg cellar, Stellenbosch

Kanonkop Pinotage 2017
R390pb at Simonsberg cellar, Stellenbosch

KWV Mentors Pinotage 2017
R280pb at Paarl cellar

Lutzville Francois le Vaillant Pinotage 2016
R133pb at Lutzville cellar

Môreson Widow Maker Pinotage 2016
R250pb at Franschhoek cellar

Simonsig Redhill Pinotage 2016
R375pb at Koelenhof cellar, Stellenbosch

Simonsig Redhill Pinotage 2017
R375pb at Koelenhof cellar, Stellenbosch

Survivor Pinotage 2017
R175pb at Overhex cellar in Worcester

Viljoensdrift River Grandeur Single Vineyard Pinotage 2017
R125pb at Robertson cellar

Wildekrans Barrel Select Reserve Pinotage 2015
R345pb at Bot River cellar

Wildekrans Barrel Select Reserve Pinotage 2016
R345pb at Bot River cellar

Windmeul Legend Pinotage 2016
R150pb at Paarl cellar

Windmeul Legend Pinotage 2017
R150pb at Paarl cellar