And then there were 20… The 2021 Top 10 Pinotage Competition Finalists
IN A SOMEWHAT quiet build-up, the names of the finalists in the Pinotage Association’s 2021 Absa Top 10 competition were disclosed via social media without so much as a tweet! Twenty wines from 16 producers – Beeslaar, Beyerskloof, Diemersdal and Rijk’s each making the cut with two of their beauties among the many entries from various parts of the Cape winelands. The ‘trumpet-blowing’ and ‘fireworks’ were scheduled for the afternoon of 31 August, with the Top 10 awards ceremony to be hosted on facebook.
TOP 20 FINALISTS
• Beeslaar Pinotage 2018
WO Stellenbosch
• Beeslaar Pinotage 2019
WO Stellenbosch
• Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2018
WO Stellenbosch
• Beyerskloof Winemakers Reserve 2018
WO Stellenbosch
• Bowwood Pinotage 2017 (Vondeling)
WO Voor-Paardeberg, Paarl
• Diemersdal Pinotage Reserve 2020
WO Durbanville
• Diemersdal The Journal Pinotage 2019
WO Durbanville
• Flagstone Writer’s Block Pinotage 2018
WO Breedekloof, Somerset West Cellar
• Francois van Niekerk Pinotage 2019
WO Coastal
• Kanonkop Pinotage 2019
WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
• La Cave Pinotage 2018
WO Wellington, Wellington Wines
• Môreson The Widow Maker Pinotage 2018
WO Stellenbosch, Franschhoek Cellar
• Neethlingshof Estate Pinotage 2020
WO Stellenbosch
• Neil Ellis Bottelary Hills Pinotage 2019
WO Bottelary, Stellenbosch
• Piekenierskloof Johan van Zyl 2019
WO Piekenierskloof, Citrusdal
• Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage 2015
WO Tulbagh
• Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage 2016
WO Tulbagh
• Simonsig Redhill Pinotage 2018
WO Stellenbosch
• Stellenbosch 1679 Pinotage 2019
WO Stellenbosch, Koelenhof Winery
• Stellenrust Corner Stone Pinotage 2019
WO Stellenbosch
It is as though the Pinotage Association is embarrassed with these [Top 10] results. Why so quiet?
This association has definitely lost its energy and enthusiasm – Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc groups showing the PA up. And what’s happened to the Cape Blend category – faded into the sunset, it seems.