THE 2020 National Wine Challenge of South Africa – a.k.a. Robin von Holdt’s Top 100 Wines – attracted “well over 500” entries, down on previous years but not bad given the lockdown(s) due to Covid-19. The coronavirus pandemic resulted in the judges all being locally based, with Greg Sherwood MW unable to fly out from the UK. Ginette de Fleuriot CWM of wholesaler Vinimark and Elgin négociant Richard Kershaw MW chaired the deliberations, with Cape Town winemaker Duncan Savage and JD Pretorius of Stellenbosch estate Warwick also on the panels.

Groot Constantia was the most successful producer according to the number of their class winners (5) and wines included in the Top 100 (9). Cellarmaster Boela Gerber and his team also excelled with one of the three most highly rated reds in the competition: Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve 2017. However the awards for top-scoring wines overall went to Highlands Road Estate of Elgin for their 2018 Semillon and Diemersfontein of Wellington for their Cabernet Sauvignon 2018. Other top achievers: Vrede en Lust and Backsberg of Paarl for their unwooded 2019 Anni Sauvignon Blanc (WO Elgin) and 2018 4 Pillars Shiraz respectively.

In the words of Diemersfontein’s Francois Roode, top-scoring was “a big surprise”, especially with a Cab. “We have been working hard to make an outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon and finally we got it right.” Whereas Highlands Road winemaker Vanessa Simkiss had this to say of their Semillon: “[UK critic] Oz Clarke describes his favoured wines made from this varietal as ‘big, round, slightly creamy but with a lovely aroma of fresh apples’. I aspire to put that into the bottle… We also like apples,” she says, elaborating that their vineyard “delivers generous aromas and flavours, but the fruit requires focused guidance through the vinification process, with careful choices of French oak to add some drama to the tasting experience.”

WHITE WINE OF THE YEAR
Highlands Road Semillon 2018

RED WINE OF THE YEAR
Diemersfontein Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

TOP-SCORING WHITE WINES
• Highlands Road Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2017
• Highlands Road Semillon 2018
• Vrede en Lust Anni Sauvignon Blanc 2019

TOP-SCORING RED WINES
• Backsberg Checkers Colab 4 Pillars Shiraz 2018
• Diemersfontein Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
• Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve 2017

WHITE WINE CLASS WINNERS
Avontuur Luna de Miel Chardonnay Reserve 2018
R200pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Cavalli Cremello 2017 (Blend)
R145pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve 2017 (Bordeaux-Style Blend)
R494pb ex-cellar, Constantia
Highlands Road Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2017
R295pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Highlands Road Semillon 2018
R190pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Jordan Real McCoy Riesling 2019
R139pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch Kloof
Ridgeback Viognier 2019
R140pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Stellenbosch Hills Kastanjeberg Chenin Blanc 2017
R285pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Vrede en Lust Anni Elgin Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R95pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

RED WINE CLASS WINNERS
Almenkerk Merlot 2016 (joint winner)
R240pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Backsberg Checkers Colab 4 Pillars Shiraz 2018
Checkers Exclusive, Paarl Cellar
De Krans Touriga Naçional 2018
R115pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp
Diemersfontein Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R130pb ex-cellar, Wellington
Groot Constantia Constantia Rood 2017 (Cape Blend)
R158pb ex-cellar, Constantia
Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve 2017 (Bordeaux-Style Blend)
R495pb ex-cellar, Constantia
Ken Forrester Gypsy 2015 (Rhône-Style Blend)
R595pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
La Couronne Malbec 2017
R140pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Meinert Printer’s Ink Pinotage 2017
R168pb ex-cellar, Devon Valley, Stellenbosch
Paul Cluver Estate Pinot Noir 2018
R285pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Ridgeback Cabernet Franc 2017
R180pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Shannon Mount Bullet 2017 (Merlot, joint winner)
R465pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Stellenbosch Hills 1707 Reserve 2016 (Blend)
R175pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch Vineyards Flagship Petit Verdot 2015
R650pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Grenache 2019
R275pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

ALSO CLASS WINNERS
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2017 (Port Style)
R325pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp
Graham Beck Brut Blanc de Blancs 2015 (Cap Classique Sparkling)
R280pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Groot Constantia Grand Constance 2016 (Natural Sweet)
R771pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Constantia
Groot Constantia Rosé 2019
R117pb ex-cellar, Constantia
Spice Route Amos Block Perpetual Reserve Under Flor NV (Fino/Sherry-Style)
R350pb ex-producer (Swartland), Spice Route Destination (Paarl)