Exceptional at under R100 a bottle – according to two panels or more!

BEFORE considering the majority vote… Upon conclusion of the 2021 Ultra Value Wine Challenge, the guys and gals at BuyBetterWine.com announced their SA red and white wines of the year to be the 2018 vintage of Stellenbosch Hills Merlot, at the cellar-door price of R92 per bottle, and the 2021 Goudini Chenin Blanc at R60pb from uniWines in Rawsonville. Also among their 10 most highly recommended wines at the lower end of the price spectrum were Meander Shiraz 2020 (R60pb from uniWines), Leopard’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (R60pb ex-cellar in Franschhoek), de Liefde Chenin Blanc 2021 (R55pb from Mountain Ridge in Wolseley), Van Loveren Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (R80pb ex-cellar in Robertson), Allée Bleue Chenin Blanc 2020 (R100pb ex-cellar in Franschhoek), Sixpence Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2021 (R66pb from Opstal in the Breedekloof), Rhino Run Pinotage 2020 (R85pb from Van Loveren) and Van Loveren Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (R80pb ex-cellar).

The Ultra panel was looking for South Africa’s best buys at under R130 a bottle, and obviously below this it’s even more challenging to find better-than-average wine with some interest value. The price ceiling on Top Wine SA’s page for bargain hunters seeking ‘best bang for their buck’ was recently raised from R100 to R120pb because of inflation etc and looked set to climb to R150pb within a couple of years given current trends.

That said, there are seven whites and a pink that shone as particularly good value, still at below R100 and highly recommended in 2021 to date by not just one of the top panels but by two or more:

Arendskloof Chardonnay 2020
R84pb from Eagle’s Cliff, Worcester: trophy winner at Michelangelo Awards (SA) and among Top 100 at National Wine Challenge (SA)

Bellevue Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R99pb ex-cellar, Bottelary-Stellenbosch: among Top 10 at Sauvignon Blanc SA competition and double gold medallist at Michelangelo Awards (SA)

Boland Cellar Classic Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R78pb ex-cellar, Paarl: gold medallist at Mundus Vini (DE) and double gold medallist at Michelangelo Awards (SA)

Douglas Green Chenin Blanc 2020
R62pb approximate retail price, Wellington cellar: gold medallist at Mundus Vini (DE) and 93/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)

Groot Phesantekraal Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R89pb ex-cellar, Durbanville: 93/100 at Trophy Wine Show (SA) and among Top 20 at Sauvignon Blanc SA competition

KWV Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R85pb ex-cellar, Paarl: 97/100 at Decanter Awards (UK), 94/100 at Trophy Wine Show (SA) and gold medallist at

Piekenierskloof Chardonnay 2020
R98pb ex-cellar, Citrusdal: 95/100 at Decanter Awards (UK) and 93/100 by Gilbert & Gaillard (FR)

Stettyn Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2021
R69pb ex-cellar, Villiersdorp: National Winner at Terroir Wine Awards (SA) and double gold medallist at Rosé Rocks (SA)

 

At the time of writing, there were no red wines from the Cape at under R100 a bottle that had been highly recommended by more than one of the top panels in 2021. At under R120, however, a Shiraz and a Cab Franc stood out:

Saronsberg Provenance Shiraz 2019
R110pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh: gold medallist at Syrah du Monde (FR) and among Top 100 at National Wine Challenge (SA)

Thokozani Cabernet Franc 2019
R115pb from Diemersfontein cellar, Wellington: 97/100 at Trophy Wine Show (SA) and best in class at National Wine Challenge (SA)

 

 

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