ONCE AGAIN, France was awarded the most (12) ‘Best in Show’ medals (pick of the platinum medallists) at the UK’s international Decanter World Wine Awards with entries received from Bordeaux, Champagne, Alsace, Burgundy, Provence and the Loire. Italy claimed second place with eight of the 50 wines considered the best on show in 2020, followed by Australia (6) Portugal (5) and Spain (4). The various panels of judges comprised 116 of the world’s wine experts, including 37 Masters of Wine and nine Master Sommeliers, who blind-tasted 16 518 submissions over several weeks before awarding 178 platinum medals (97-plus on 100-point scale), 537 golds (95-96), 5234 silvers (90-94) as well as bronze medals and commendations. South Africa‘s medal haul was up 16% year-on-year, with five wines earning platinum medals and 31 earning gold. Top South African wine among the platinum winners and one of the best Chardonnays overall in the opinion of the jury was the 2018 vintage of Rustenberg Five Soldiers from Stellenbosch – consistently one of the Top 10 in the SA Chardonnay Classification.

This is what the judges had to say about the South African champion: “The fourth Chardonnay in what we feel was a Best-In-Show quartet which perfectly illustrates the astonishing stylistic range of this variety is certainly the most generous and opulent… Is it, therefore, just a little obvious? Not at all. The aromas, in fact, are relatively restrained, though they express the warmth of Stellenbosch: fresh lemon cream and a hint of ground hazels. The palate is full-flavoured, with soft and undulating contours, yet fresh, tempered acidity; there is a teasingly sweet-edged nuttiness in the finish. Of the quartet, this is the Chardonnay which could most easily be drunk on its own, yet it has all the delicacy and amenability which lighter foods beg for.”

PLATINUM WINNERS

Ghost Corner Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2018
R250pb from Cederberg Private Cellar

Journey’s End Cape Doctor Red 2015
R280pb ex-cellar off Sir Lowry’s Pass, Somerset West

Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet 2016
R1150pb (500ml) ex-cellar, Constantia

Paul Cluver Seven Flags Chardonnay 2018
R800pb ex-cellar, Elgin

Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay 2018
R410pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

GOLD MEDALLISTS

Alto Shiraz 2017
R270pb ex-cellar, Helderberg, Stellenbosch

Babylonstoren Shiraz 2018
R265pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Bartinney Skyfall Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
R350pb ex-cellar, Banghoek, Stellenbosch

Boschendal Reserve Collection Vin d’Or 2017 (NLH)
R170pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Franschhoek

Cederberg Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
R190pb ex-cellar, Cederberg

Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
R550pb ex-cellar, Cederberg

Cederberg Waitrose Shiraz 2018
Export label, Cederberg cellar

Constantia Uitsig Semillon 2018
R200pb ex-cellar, Constantia

De Grendel Shiraz 2017
R200pb ex-cellar, Panorama, Durbanville WR

De Wetshof Bateleur Chardonnay 2017
R550pb ex-cellar, Robertson

Delaire Graff Botmaskop 2017 (Red Blend)
R315pb ex-cellar, Banghoek, Stellenbosch

Delaire Graff Reserve White 2017
R385pb ex-cellar, Banghoek, Stellenbosch

Durbanville Hills Cape Honey Bee Noble Late Harvest 2018
R145pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Durbanville

Glen Carlou Gravel Quarry Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
R424pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
R425pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Leeuwenkuil Heritage Syrah 2017
R349pb ex-producer, Swartland

Meinert Graduate Syrah 2017
R175pb ex-cellar, Devon Valley, Stellenbosch

Mentors Chenin Blanc 2018
R138pb from KWV cellar, Paarl

Mt Vernon Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
R230pb ex-cellar, Klapmuts, Paarl

Nederburg Winemasters Noble Late Harvest 2018
R130pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Paarl

Neil Ellis Whitehall Chardonnay 2018
R285pb ex-cellar, Helshoogte, Stellenbosch

Newton Johnson Seadragon Pinot Noir 2017
R535pb ex-cellar, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

Peter Falke Kailani Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
R365pb ex-cellar, Helderberg, Stellenbosch

Rhebokskloof Black Marble Hill Syrah 2017
R350pb ex-cellar, Paarl

Roodeberg ‘1949’ 2017 (Red Blend)
R223 from KWV cellar, Paarl

Rustenberg John X Merriman 2017 (Red Blend)
R200pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Rustenberg Peter Barlow Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
R550pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Saronsberg Full Circle 2018 (Red Blend)
R500pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh

Saxenburg Shiraz Select 2015
R1100pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh

Stark-Condé Round Mountain Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R125pb ex-cellar, Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch

Strandveld Navigator 2017 (Red Blend)
R210pb ex-cellar, Elim, Cape Agulhas

Uva Mira Chardonnay 2018
R795pb ex-cellar, Helderberg, Stellenbosch