Feeling of déjà vu about latest competition involving ‘heartbreak grape’
THE SECOND annual Mosaic Top 5 Pinot Noir Wine Awards were contested by 42 producers who submitted 64 entries from various areas in South Africa, primarily from the Walker Bay district (24), Elgin (16) and Stellenbosch (6). Incredibly, four of the five winning producers in 2021 (see below) were among the previous winners in 2020, albeit with just a couple represented among the Top 20 in the SA Pinot Classification. The most successful winemaker was Johann Fourie, he of the Benguela Lagoon Wine Estate between Bot River and Hermanus, who in his spare time also makes a range under The Brew Cru label.
On the panel of judges: Cape Wine Masters Winnie Bowman (chair) and Anton Swarts (Spier), wine writer Fiona McDonald and sommelier Gregory Mutambe (Twelve Apostles). “There are very few wine lovers who do not succumb to the lure and charm of this grape to be forever under its spell,” says Bowman. “With its origin firmly in France, the ‘heartbreak grape’ has slowly but surely made its mark in other parts of the world as well: the wines from Oregon, USA; Mornington Peninsula, Australia; Central Otago in New Zealand; the San Antonio and Casablanca valleys in Chile. And now South Africa!” For her tasting report, click here.
THE PANEL’S FAVOURITES
Benguela Cove Vinography Pinot Noir 2019
R550pb ex-cellar, Bot River
Brew Cru Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge Pinot Noir 2019
R360pb approximate retail price
Elgin Vintners Pinot Noir 2020
R234pb ex-cellar, Elgin
La Vierge Noir Pinot Noir 2017
R250pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Smuggler’s Boot Pinot Noir 2019
R235pb from Richard Kershaw, Elgin
THE RUNNERS-UP
Benguela Cove Pinot Noir 2020
R250pb ex-cellar, Bot River
Brew Cru Walker Bay Pinot Noir 2020
R240pb approximate retail price
Bosman Magnum Opus Pinot Noir 2018
R240pb ex-cellar, Wellington / Upper Hemel-en-Aarde
Bouchard Finlayson Tête de Cuvée Pinot Noir 2019
R1130pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
De Grendel Op die Berg Pinot Noir 2019
R245pb ex-cellar on Durbanville Wine Route (Ceres grapes)
Ghost Corner Pinot Noir 2019
R230pb from Cederberg Private Cellar (Elim grapes)
Iona Pinot Noir 2018
R300pb ex-cellar, Elgin Highlands
Lothian Pinot Noir 2019
R295pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Lothian Pinot Noir 2020
R295pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Nitida Pinot Noir 2020
R165pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Paul Cluver Estate Pinot Noir 2020
R275pb ex-cellar, Elgin
The Vinography Pinot Noir is unfortunetaly sold out. Vinography wines are small-batch single-vineyard productions that are quite high in demand and usually sell out 3-4 months from release… This years Vinography Pinot and Chardonnay sold out in 2 months – when we entered the Pinot in the Top 5 competition we were still good on stock, but between then and now orders flooded in.
The Brew Cru wines are made at Benguela Cove from grapes I buy in from selected Walker Bay parcels. Almost the entire production gets exported, but since last year’s Top 5 spot they have built up a bit of a private client following locally.
Elgin Vintners 2020 sold out just prior to the announcement of the 2021 winners, on continued momentum from their 2020 Top 5 placement. Benguela Cove Vinography is made in tiny quantities and the release of Richard Kershaw [Smuggler’s Boot 2019] is scheduled for September. The other wines in the Top 5 and the 90+ wines are all available.