IT WAS WITH the announcement of the 2020 Absa Top 10 Pinotage Competition winners imminent that the Pinotage Association released the names of the Top 5s in their Perold Absa Cape Blend and Pinotage Rosé competitions. It was in the midst of KWV tweaking the positioning of their wine named in honour of the man who thought to cross Cinsaut and Pinot Noir, which led to Pinotage. ‘KWV Abraham Perold Tributum’ has changed to ‘The Mentors Perold’ – the designers stopping short of including ‘Cape Blend’ on the label.

The Pinotage-driven red blends and ‘pinks’ were judged by a panel of winemakers comprising Wilhelm Pienaar (chair), Danie Steytler, Rüdger van Wyk, Corlea Fourie and Charles Hopkins. For the winners, see below:

TOP CAPE BLENDS

La Cave Cape Blend 2018
R180pb from Wellington Wines

Mentors Perold 2017
R468pb from KWV cellar, Paarl

Rijk’s Pinotage Syrah 2015
R275 ex-cellar, Tulbagh

Stellenbosch Hills Suikerboschrand Cape Blend 2015
R385 ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Warwick Three Cape Ladies 2017
R190pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Perold Absa Cape Blend Competition Runners-up: Anura Signature Cape Cuvée 2017 (Paarl), Flagstone Dragon Tree 2018 (Somerset West), Lyngrove Platinum Latitude 2017 (Stellenbosch), The Mentors Perold 2018 from KWV (Paarl) and Viljoensdrift River Grandeur Cape Blend 2018 (Robertson)

TOP PINOTAGE ROSÉ

Bon Courage Lady of the House Pinotage Rosé 2020
R73pb ex-cellar, Robertson

De Krans Pinotage Rosé 2020
R62pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp

Florence by Aaldering Pinotage Rosé 2020
R130pb ex-cellar in Devon Valley, Stellenbosch

Merwida Pinotage Rosé 2020
R62pb ex-cellar in Rawsonville, Breedekloof

Painted Wolf Ros Pinotage Rosé 2020
Export wine from Paarl producer