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Did Warwick take it, or Zorgvliet perhaps… Bordeaux-Style Blend Report

ACCORDING to the buying guide / cellar-door prices for the panel's favourites in Winemag's 2020 Prescient Cape Bordeaux Red Blend Report, Org de Rac of Piketberg in the Swartland could have fielded the best-value entry in the competition at R250 a bottle. On the other hand, the publishers chose to front the report with a scenic image of Warwick among the foothills of the Simonsberg and illustrated coverage on the home page of Winemag.co.za with a shot of Zorgvliet, also in Stellenbosch. Hmmm! We're told that exact ratings of the Top 10 will only be confirmed at an award presentation during a gala dinner later in the year. Until then, the various preferences of Christian Eedes (editor/panel chair) and fine wine merchants Roland Peens and James Pietersen of the Wine Cellar outfit in Cape Town make for interesting reading.

Tasting ‘blind', the judges assessed a total of 61 submissions from 51 SA wine producers. Kanonkop wasn't among them, but most of the other top seeds were. “The panel was impressed by the fruit power on display,” said Eedes. “Gone are the days of under-ripe wines with aggressive tannins. We’re seeing a better understanding of when to pick and there also seems to be greater precision in the cellar.”

Just outside their Top 10, Winemag's good-value recommendations extended to the following: Laibach Ladybird 2018 at R120pb, Diemersdal Private Collection 2018 at R165pb and Stellenrust Timeless 2017 at R175pb. Full report here.

 

TOP 10 – WINEMAG REPORT

De Grendel Rubaiyat 2016
R375pb ex-cellar, Panorama, Durbanville Wine Route

Dornier Donatus 2017
R350pb ex-cellar, Upper Blaauwklippen, Stellenbosch

Ernie Els Signature 2015
R740pb ex-cellar, Helderberg, Stellenbosch

Kaapzicht Steytler Pentagon 2017
R550pb ex-cellar, Bottelary, Stellenbosch

MR de Compostella 2017 (Raats)
R1500pb ex-producer, Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch

Org de Rac Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2017
R250pb ex-cellar, Piketberg, Swartland

Quest Heroes Journey 1 2017 (Du Toitskloof)
R310pb ex-cellar, Rawsonville, Breedekloof

Tokara Director's Reserve 2017
R400pb ex-cellar, Helshoogte, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Warwick Trilogy 2017
R550pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Zorgvliet Richelle 2017
R315pb ex-cellar, Banghoek, Stellenbosch

 

 

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