“Be careful,” warns Villion

THE ONLINE award presentation was a rather dumbed-down affair, not without technical hiccups, but the panel of judges for the 2021 Challenge convened by the industry association Shiraz SA was strong on experience. Among the selectors were Cape Wine Masters Andy Roediger (chair for the ninth year) and Paul Benadé, cellarmasters Frans Smit (Spier) and Richard Kershaw MW, as well as winemaker Elzette du Preez. Their favourites (below) included delights from some of South Africa’s leading producers, with the Cederberg Private Cellar, Flagstone and Saronsberg having particularly good track records in the league of Shiraz and Syrah.

Cederberg’s 2018 vintage also got the attention of panels calling the shots for the Decanter World Wine Awards, Platter’s SA Wine Guide and Syrah du Monde. Flagstone’s 2017 Dark Horse was also a class winner at the SA National Wine Challenge. Nice to see a return to the spotlight of Stellenzicht, producer of a famous Syrah back in the day, now under new ownership and fielding a blend of Shiraz, Cab and Cinsaut – albeit it at a price that would suggest most is destined for export. And how about that, a “captivating” Rosé on the radar, from Villion: a very affordable, “seductive” combination of Shiraz and Viognier with “perfumed confidence” and accompanied by a cautionary note to “be careful”!

CHALLENGE WINNERS

Cederberg Shiraz 2018
R250pb ex-cellar, Cederberg

Driehoek Shiraz 2019
R250 approx retail price, Cederberg farm

Flagstone Dark Horse Shiraz 2017
R330pb ex-cellar, Somerset West

Glen Carlou Syrah 2019
R180pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Shiraz 2017
R425pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Shiraz 2018
R162pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Koelfontein Shiraz 2019
R195pb from the producer, Ceres

Landskroon Paul de Villiers Shiraz 2019
R150pb ex-cellar, Paarl

Neil Ellis Groenekloof Shiraz 2019
R140pb ex-cellar, Helshoogte, Stellenbosch

Rooiberg Reserve Shiraz 2019
R125pb ex-cellar, Robertson

Saronsberg Shiraz 2019
R260pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh

Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Shiraz 2018
R165pb ex-cellar, Lynedoch, Stellenbosch

TOP SHIRAZ BLENDS

Anura Syrah Mourvèdre Grenache Reserve 2018
R175pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Roodeberg Dr Charles Niehaus 2018
R280pb from KWV cellar, Paarl

Stellenzicht Acheulean Red 2018
R875pb ex-cellar, Helderberg, Stellenbosch

TOP SHIRAZ ROSÉ

Villion Rosa Rabbedoe Rosé 2021
R85pb from Barton Vineyards outside Bot River where Villion rents cellar space