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South Africa’s top wines in 2021 include 55 that were also on top in 2011

GOING BY the reviews of multiple vintages of South African wines by panels of connoisseurs the world over during the past 10 years, the following are those with the Top 10 track records in each category according to the 2021 SA Wine Classification. Highlighted in bold are those that also topped the Classification back in 2011. Talk about consistency!

Continuing to command respect, decade after decade, are whites such as Rustenberg Five Soldiers, Ken Forrester FMC, Cape Point Isliedh, Sadie Palladius and Tokara Director's Reserve… reds including Cederberg Five Generations, Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak, Kanonkop and Rijk's… Cap Classique sparklers such as Bon Courage Jacques Bruére, Graham Beck and Villiera Monro… sweets including Nuy, Boplaas and De Krans.

Given below after the names of the wines are the cellar locations, which are sometimes different from where the vineyards are located. For the full Classification, see here.

 

TOP SA WHITE WINES

TOP SA RED WINES

TOP SA BUBBLIES

TOP SA SWEET WINES

 

 


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TOP SA WHITE WINES

TOP 10 CHARDONNAY

Chamonix Reserve – Franschhoek
• DeMorgenzon Reserve – Stellenbosch Kloof
• Groot Constantia – Constantia
Hamilton Russell – Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Jordan Barrel Fermented – Stellenbosch Kloof
Jordan Nine Yards – Stellenbosch Kloof
• Oak Valley Groenlandberg – Elgin
Paul Cluver Estate – Elgin
Rustenberg Five Soldiers – Stellenbosch
• Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch – Helshoogte

TOP 10 CHENIN BLANC

• Beaumont Hope Marguerite – Bot River
• Botanica – Devon Valley, Stellenbosch
• DeMorgenzon Reserve – Stellenbosch Kloof
Ken Forrester FMC – Helderberg, Stellenbosch
• Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Old Bush Vine – Stellenbosch
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection – Stellenbosch
• Perdeberg Dry Land Barrel Fermented – Paarl
• Sadie Skurfberg – Paardeberg, Malmesbury
• Spier 21 Gables – Vlottenburg, Stellenbosch
• Stellenrust Barrel Fermented – Helderberg, Stellenbosch

TOP 10 SAUVIGNON BLANC

Cape Point Reserve – Noordhoek
Cederberg – Cederberg
• Delaire Graff Coastal Cuvée – Helshoogte, Stellenbosch
• Diemersdal Journal – Durbanville
• Ghost Corner (Cederberg)
• Ghost Corner Wild Ferment (Cederberg)
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sur Lie – Stellenbosch
Nederburg Private Bin D234 – Paarl
• Spier 21 Gables – Vlottenburg, Stellenbosch
• Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin – Helshoogte, Stellenbosch

TOP 10 SEMILLON

• Cape of Good Hope Laing Groendruif (Anthonij Rupert) – Franschhoek
Constantia Uitsig – Constantia
• Deetlefs Familie – Breedekloof
Fleur du Cap Unfiltered (Bergkelder) – Stellenbosch
• Ghost Corner (Cederberg)
• Mentors (KWV) – Paarl
• Ondine (Ormonde) – Darling
• Pilgrimage Old Vine (Rickety Bridge) – Franschhoek
• Sadie Kokerboom – Paardeberg, Malmesbury
• Shannon Triangle Block – Elgin
Steenberg – Tokai / Constantia
• Vergelegen Reserve – Somerset West

TOP SA NICHE WHITE VARIETIES

• Bon Courage André's Fame Colombard – Robertson

• Neethlingshof Gewürztraminer – Stellenbosch
• Paul Cluver Gewürztraminer – Elgin

• Mentors Grenache Blanc (KWV) – Paarl
• Foundry Grenache Blanc – Voor Paardeberg, Paarl

• Jordan Real McCoy Riesling – Stellenbosch Kloof
• Nitida Riesling – Durbanville
• Paul Cluver Riesling – Elgin
• Paul Cluver Dry Encounter Riesling – Elgin
• Paul Cluver Marks & Spencer Ferricrete Riesling – Elgin
• Vrede en Lust Early Mist Riesling – Simondium, Paarl

• Bellingham Bernard Series Whole Bunch Roussanne – Franschhoek

• Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Verdelho

• Alvi's Drift ADS Viognier – Worcester
• Eagles' Nest Viognier – Constantia
• Lourensford Limited Release Viognier – Somerset West
• Ridgeback Viognier – Windmeul, Paarl
• Saronsberg Viognier – Tulbagh

TOP 10 SA WHITE BLENDS

Cape Point Isliedh – Noordhoek
• Constantia Glen Two – Constantia
• Delaire Graff Reserve – Helshoogte, Stellenbosch
• DeMorgenzon Maestro – Stellenbosch Kloof
• Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve – Somerset West
Nederburg Ingenuity – Paarl
Sadie Palladius – Paardeberg, Malmesbury
• Spier Creative Block 2 – Vlottenburg, Stellenbosch
Tokara Director's Reserve – Helshoogte, Stellenbosch
Vergelegen G.V.B – Somerset West


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TOP SA RED WINES

TOP 10 CABERNET FRANC

• Hermanuspietersfontein Swartskaap – Hermanus
• Holden Manz Reserve – Franschhoek
• Mentors (KWV) – Paarl
• My Wyn – Franschhoek
• Oldenburg – Banghoek, Stellenbosch
• Raats Dolomite – Stellenbosch
• Raats Family – Stellenbosch
• Uva Mira The Dance – Helderberg, Stellenbosch
• Warwick – Simonsberg, Stellenbosch
• Whalehaven – Hermanus

TOP 10 CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Cederberg Five Generations – Cederberg
• Eikendal – Helderberg, Stellenbosch
• Flagstone Music Room – Somerset West
Jordan Long Fuse – Stellenbosch Kloof
• Kleine Zalze Family Reserve – Stellenbosch
• Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection – Stellenbosch
• Nederburg Two Centuries – Paarl
Neil Ellis Jonkershoek – Helshoogte, Stellenbosch
• Rustenberg Peter Barlow – Stellenbosch
• Stark-Condé Three Pines – Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch

TOP 10 MERLOT

• D'Aria – Durbanville
• De Grendel – Panorama / Durbanville
• Eagles' Nest – Constantia
• Eikendal – Helderberg, Stellenbosch
Fleur du Cap Series Privée (Bergkelder) – Stellenbosch
• Groot Constantia – Constantia
• Laibach Claypot – Simonsberg, Stellenbosch
• Nederburg Private Bin R181 – Paarl
• Oldenburg – Banghoek, Stellenbosch
• Shannon Mount Bullet – Elgin
Thelema Reserve – Helshoogte, Stellenbosch

TOP 10 PINOT NOIR

Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak – Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Bouchard Finlayson Tête de Cuvée – Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Chamonix Reserve – Franschhoek
• Crystallum Cuvée Cinéma – Bot River / Hemel-en-Aarde
• Elgin Vintners – Elgin
• Lothian – Elgin
• Newton Johnson Family Vineyards – Upper Hemel-en-Aarde
• Newton Johnson Windansea – Upper Hemel-en-Aarde
Paul Cluver Estate – Elgin
• Paul Cluver Seven Flags – Elgin

TOP 10 PINOTAGE

• Beyerskloof Diesel – Stellenbosch
• Diemersdal Reserve – Durbanville
• Flagstone Writer's Block – Somerset West
Kanonkop – Simonsberg, Stellenbosch
• Mentors (KWV) – Paarl
Rijk's Reserve – Tulbagh
Simonsig Redhill – Koelenhof, Stellenbosch
• Spier 21 Gables – Vlottenburg, Stellenbosch
• Wildekrans Barrel Select Reserve – Bot River
• Windmeul Reserve – Paarl

TOP 10 SHIRAZ / SYRAH

• Alto – Helderberg, Stellenboshc
Cederberg – Cederberg
• De Grendel – Panorama / Durbanville
• Driehoek – Cederberg
• Eagles' Nest – Constantia
• Flagstone Dark Horse – Somerset West
• Hartenberg Gravel Hill – Bottelary, Stellenbosch
• Rustenberg Buzzard Kloof Syrah – Stellenbosch
• Saronsberg – Tulbagh
• Saronsberg Provenance – Tulbagh

TOP NICHE RED VARIETIES

• Bosman Twyfeling Cinsaut – Wellington
• Sadie Pofadder Cinsaut – Paardeberg, Malmesbury

• Sadie Soldaat Grenache – Paardeberg, Malmesbury
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Grenache

• Diemersdal Malbec – Durbanville
• Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Malbec – Wellington
• Mt Vernon Malbec – Klapmuts, Paarl

• Mentors Petit Verdot (KWV) – Paarl
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Flagship Petit Verdot
• Sutherland Reserve Petit Verdot (Thelema) – Helshoogte, Stellenbosch

• De Krans Touriga Naçional – Calitzdorp

TOP 10 RED BLENDS

• Beyerskloof Faith – Stellenbosch
• Delaire Graff Botmaskop – Helshoogte, Stellenbosch
Kanonkop Paul Sauer – Simonsberg, Stellenbosch
• La Motte Pierneef Syrah Viognier – Franschhoek
• Mentors Orchestra (KWV) – Paarl
• Mentors Perold (KWV) – Paarl
• Saronsberg Full Circle – Tulbagh
• Spier Creative Block 3 – Vlottenburg, Stellenbosch
• Spier Creative Block 5 – Vlottenburg, Stellenbosch
• Tokara Director's Reserve – Helshoogte, Stellenbosch


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TOP SA SPARKLING WINES

TOP 10 CAP CLASSIQUE

Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Brut Reserve – Robertson
• Des Dieux Claudia Brut – Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Desiderius Pongrácz (JC Le Roux) – Devon Valley, Stellenbosch
Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs – Robertson
• Graham Beck Cuvée Clive – Robertson
• Graham Beck Pinot Noir Rosé – Robertson
• JC Le Roux Scintilla Vintage Reserve – Devon Valley, Stellenbosch
• Laborie Blanc de Blancs (KWV) – Paarl
Simonsig Cuvée Royale Blanc de Blancs – Koelenhof, Stellenbosch
Villiera Monro Brut – Koelenhof, Stellenbosch


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TOP SA SWEET WINES

TOP 10 DESSERT, UNFORTIFIED

• Delheim Edelspatz Noble Late Harvest – Simonsberg, Stellenbosch
Fairview La Beryl Blanc (Straw Wine) – Agter-Paarl
Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest (Bergkelder) – Stellenbosch
• Groot Constantia Grand Constance (Natural Sweet) – Constantia
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet – Constantia
• Mullineux Straw Wine – Franschhoek / Riebeek-Kasteel
Nederburg Edelkeur Noble Late Harvest – Paarl
Nederburg Eminence Noble Late Harvest – Paarl
Nederburg Winemasters Noble Late Harvest – Paarl
Paul Cluver Riesling Noble Late Harvest – Elgin

TOP 10 DESSERT, FORTIFIED

• Alvi's Drift Muscat de Frontignan – Worcester
• Bon Courage Red Muscadel – Robertson
Bon Courage White Muscadel – Robertson
• Boplaas Heritage Collection White Muscadel – Calitzdorp
• Du Toitskloof Red Muscadel – Rawsonville, Breedekloof
• Merwida White Muscadel – Rawsonville, Breedekloof
Nuy Red Muscadel – Worcester
Nuy White Muscadel – Worcester
• Orange River Cellars Red Muscadel – Upington
Orange River Cellars White Muscadel – Upington
• Slanghoek Red Muscadel – Breedekloof

TOP 10 PORT-STYLE, FORTIFIED

Axe Hill Cape Vintage – Calitzdorp
• Bergsig Cape LBV – Breerivier, Breedekloof
Boplaas Cape Tawny NV – Calitzdorp
• Boplaas Cape Vintage – Calitzdorp
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve – Calitzdorp
• De Krans Cape Vintage – Calitzdorp
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve – Calitzdorp
• Delaire Graff Cape Vintage – Helshoogte, Stellenbosch
• KWV Cape Tawny NV – Paarl
Landskroon Cape Vintage – Agter-Paarl
• Peter Bayly Cape Vintage – Calitzdorp

 


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