Plett bubble does it again, this time in Winemag Report

Plett producer does it again, this time in Winemag bubbly Report

03/2021 Mike Froud Leave a comment

THERE WERE 83 entries received from 43 producers for Winemag’s 2021 Prescient Cap Classique Report. Seven of the Top 10 were 100% Chardonnay, including the most highly rated duo in the line-up from Môreson of Franschhoek (Miss Molly) and Newstead of Plettenberg Bay, both vintage 2015. In fact only one of the standouts was made using grapes other than the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier typically associated with Champagne, namely the non-vintage, Chenin-led Sunrise Brut from Stellenbosch cellar Delaire Graff.

It was 50 years ago that another Stellenbosch farm – the Malan family’s Simonsig – launched the category of South African sparkling wines made according to the traditional method. They were among the few benchmark producers who chose not to submit their wine for consideration by the Winemag panel comprising editor Christian Eedes (chair), merchant James Pietersen of Cape Town’s Wine Cellar and Master of Wine Cathy van Zyl. However, a number of the local bubbly houses with the best track records were on the tasting bench, and one of the judges’ favourites in this instance, the Newstead, was the winner of the 2020 Amorim Cap Classique Challenge, and achieved a 5 Star rating in Platter’s SA Wine Guide.

See below for Winemag’s Top 10 for 2021, and for the full report click here. The name of the outright winner will be announced at an end-of-the-year gala event, after which it will be shown together with other top Winemag laureates at public tastings in Johannesburg and London.