Wildeberg and Bruce Jack star in Cape White Blend Report

Wildeberg tops Cape White Blend Report, with fireworks from Bruce Jack

04/2021 Mike Froud Leave a comment

Top 10 and R69pb.

AS WINEMAG points out, there is no official definition for a ‘Cape White Blend’, but their proposal is that such wines, as opposed to the Bordeaux-style Semillon-and-Sauvignon-Blanc combos, can be made from any combination of varieties as long as they include a significant Chenin Blanc component, specifically more than 15% and less than 85%. Winemag editor Christian Eedes reasons that as Chenin is South Africa’s most-planted variety by far, he’s all for finding ways to celebrate it. And: “What makes the category so interesting is precisely the lack of a formulaic approach, winemakers seeking out vineyards of interest and then letting their imaginations run wild as to which varieties to combine with one another.”

The panel of judges who assessed the 32 wines submitted for the 2021 Prescient Cape White Blend Report included Eedes (chair) together with James Pietersen and Jolette Steyn of Cape Town-based merchants Wine Cellar. Top scores went to combos from Wildberg of Franschhoek, sourcing fruit from various vineyards in the Western Cape. Best “bang for your buck”? One of Bruce Jack’s wines, using a mix of grapes grown in Wellington, the Breedekloof and Robertson at just R69 a bottle!

See below for all of the panel’s favourites, and for the full report click here.