Beyerskloof, Kaapzicht and Wellington excel at Pinotage |

Beyerskloof, Kaapzicht and Wellington Pinotages excel on two fronts

08/2020 Mike Froud Leave a comment

REGULAR LAUREATES at the Pinotage Association’s annual Top 10 awards, Rijk’s of Tulbagh and Beyerskloof of Stellenbosch have fared particularly well again in 2020, each with more than one wine included among the 20 finalists announced by the Pinotage Association in advance of the trophy presentations. Begun almost a quarter of a century ago, the Absa Top 10 has grown to become one of the most successful and well supported wine competitions in South Africa. Whereas the Prescient Pinotage Report, published on Winemag.co.za a week or so before the names of the Absa Top 20 were released, is just out of the starting blocks. And it’s interesting that Beyerskloof excelled there too, with Kaapzicht of Stellenbosch and Wellington Wines the other producers featuring both in the first Winemag Top 10 and the 24th Absa Top 20.

Of course, it’s not a sure thing that when the Absa Top 10 are announced that they will include any of the Winemag Top 10, but it would be most surprising if Beyerskloof Diesel doesn’t achieve the double, albeit with different vintages. Also in with a chance is the much more affordable 2018 La Cave from Wellington. Until then, no doubt many a wine lover will be mulling over the fact that Stellenbosch ‘first growth’ Kanonkop isn’t on either of the shortlists!

Reliability? Well, the following have again lived up to their reputations for very good reviews on a consistent basis, as monitored for the SA Wine Classification: Beyerskloof, Diemersdal, Kaapzicht, L’Avenir, La Cave (Wellington Wines), Rijk’s, Simonsig, Spier and Windmeul.

On the panel of experts entrusted with the judging of 149 wines from 80 producers who entered the 2020 Absa Top 10 Pinotage Competition were the following: Cape Wine Master and panel convenor Winnie Bowman, Tsogo Sun sommelier Georgio Meletiou, Spier cellarmaster Frans Smit, wine writer Fiona McDonald and viticulturist Solly Monyanane, a protégé judge in 2019. Their 20 favourites were as follows – announcement of the Top 10 on hold until later in the year:

ABSA TOP 20

Aan de Doorns Pinotage 2018
R50pb ex-cellar, Worcester

Anura Signature Pinotage 2017
R360pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2016 & 2017
R850pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Beyerskloof Pinotage Reserve 2017
R165pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Brink Family Pinotage 2018
R80pb from Pulpit Rock cellar, Riebeek West

Conradie Pinotage 2019
R140pb ex-cellar, Nuy Valley, Worcester

Delheim Vera Cruz Pinotage 2016
R470pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Diemersdal Journal Pinotage 2018
R320pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve Promenade Pinotage 2017
R180pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Glen Carlou Collection Pinotage 2019
R295pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Kaapzicht Pinotage 2018
R160pb ex-cellar, Bottelary, Stellenbosch

La Cave Pinotage 2018
R200pb from Wellington Wines cellar

Rijk’s Private Cellar Pinotage 2014
R250pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh

Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage 2015
R490pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh

Simonsig Redhill Pinotage 2018
R395pb ex-cellar, Koelenhof, Stellenbosch

Spier 21 Gables Pinotage 2017
R310pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Springfontein Jonathan’s Ridge Single Vineyard Pinotage 2016
R405pb ex-cellar, Stanford

Viljoensdrift River Grandeur Single Vineyard Pinotage 2018
R125pb ex-cellar, Robertson

Windmeul Legend Pinotage 2018
R180pb ex-cellar, Paarl

• For the names of the trophy winners announced on 7.10.20, click here.

Speaking about the 57 submissions from 33 producers around the Cape who participated in Winemag’s 2020 Prescient Pinotage Report, editor Christian Eedes remarked that: “This was a very satisfying tasting with plenty of characterful wines on show. The variety seems to be benefiting from some particularly considered, imaginative work in both vineyard and cellar and there is a nice spread of styles…” Eedes chaired the panel of judges, who also included wine merchants Roland Peens and James Pietersen of Wine Cellar, Cape Town. Their favourites were as follows, with the top-rated wine to be announced at the end of the year: