Did Warwick win, or Zorgvliet... Top SA Bordeaux Blends |

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

07/2020 Mike Froud Leave a comment

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.