“THIS YEAR will be remembered as a world-class Top 10,” said Kleine Zalze winemaker RJ Botha, chairman of Sauvignon Blanc South Africa. There were 157 wines entered by 96 producers in the 2021 edition of the association’s competition, with four of the winning wines having achieved the feat before – from Kleine Zalze and Spier of Stellenbosch, Nitida of Durbanville and Strandveld outside Elim, Cape Agulhas.

Particularly impressive were the glowing reviews for the Family Reserve of Kleine Zalze, the 2020 vintage also a trophy winner at the Michelangelo Awards (SA), and for the 21 Gables Sauvignon Blanc of Spier, whose 2020 earned gold medals at Mundus Vini (DE) and Concours Mondial (BE) in addition to being Highly Recommended in Platter’s SA Wine Guide. Both wines have been among the most consistently good from vintage to vintage, as per the SA Classification spanning the past decade.

On the panel of judges who chose the 2021 Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 were Cape Wine Master Winnie Bowman (convener), winemakers Charles Hopkins (De Grendel), Rüdger van Wyk (Stark-Condé) and Johann Fourie (Benguela Cove), as well as wine writer Fiona McDonald.

 

SAUVIGNON BLANC SA TOP 10

Bellevue Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R99pb ex-cellar, Bottelary-Stellenbosch

Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2021
R115pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Flagstone Free Run Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2020
R200pb ex-cellar, Somerset West

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Sur Lie 2020
R240pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Nitida Wild Child 2020
R160pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Our Darling Pledge Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R130pb from Le Grand Domaine cellar, Devon Valley-Stellenbosch

Spier 21 Gables Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R195pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch

Steenberg Black Swan Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R240pb ex-cellar in Tokai, Constantia Wine Route

Strandveld Pofadderbos Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R160pb ex-cellar, Elim-Cape Agulhas

Sutherland Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R110pb from Thelema cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

 

ALSO AMONG THE FINALISTS

Cape of Good Hope Altima Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R140pb from Rupert cellar, Franschhoek

D’Aria Songbird Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R153pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Franschhoek Cellar Statue de Femme Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R73pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek

Groot Phesantekraal Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R89pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

KWV Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R85pb ex-cellar, Paarl

Maastricht Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R95pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Our Darling Pledge Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R130pb from Le Grand Domaine cellar, Devon Valley-Stellenbosch

Spier 21 Gables Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R195pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch

Stark-Condé Round Mountain Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R205pb ex-cellar, Jonkershoek-Stellenbosch

Thelema Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R110pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch