THERE WERE 125 entries from various parts of the South African winelands submitted for Winemag’s 2021 Prescient Sauvignon Blanc Report. Most were unwooded, some were wooded and some comprised blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon (albeit that this isn’t always disclosed on the labels). And there were plenty that delighted the panel of tasters including Winemag editor Christian Eedes (chair), retailer James Pieterson of Wine Cellar in Cape Town and Ndabezinhle Dube, Food & Beverage Operations Manager at the President Hotel in the Mother City.

“Some think of Sauvignon Blanc as only capable of easy-drinking and nothing more,” said Eedes, “but when it’s grown on the right site and is handled thoughtfully in the cellar, then some very smart wines result.” Top-scoring wine in the report is Wade Bales’ Constantia White, an ‘extraordinary, profound’ blend of Sauvignon and Semillon from nine wine farms in the area. Also putting on a good show was Vergelegen of Somerset West, with two wines regarded as particularly ‘outstanding’. Tokara of Stellenbosch and Constantia Uitsig were near the top of the rankings too, and there’s quite a selection of delights to choose from by those looking to discover something new or different, such as the ‘Wikus’ combo from La Petite Ferme in Franschhoek and the ‘Original Sin’ from La Vierge in the Hemel-en-Aarde. See below for every wine in the report rated 93/100 or higher, and for the full story click here.

Interestingly, in the same week that Winemag published their Sauvignon Report they also posted a new talk show ‘Spittoon Saloon’, with the first guest, top boutique/artisanal winemaker Chris Alheit, apparently unimpressed with most SA versions of the variety and not inclined to come up with one of his own anytime soon. That said, Alheit is more of a Chenin ambassador, and the interview was light-hearted, sorta…

 

WINEMAG FAVOURITES

Brunia White 2019
R250p ex-cellar, Stanford, WO Sondagskloof – 93/100

Cape Point Noordhoek Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R135pb ex-cellar, Noordhoek, WO Cape Town – 93/100

Carmen Stevens Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R120pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch, WO Cape Town – 94/100

Constantia Uitsig Natura Vista 2019
R185pb ex-cellar, Constantia – 95/100

Delaire Graff Coastal Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R175pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch, WO Coastal Region – 94/100

Delaire Graff White Reserve 2019
R425pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch, WO Western Cape – 93/100

Dombeya Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R120pb from Haskell cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch, WO Western Cape – 93/100

Groot Phesantekraal Marizanne 2021
R205pb ex-cellar, Durbanville, WO Cape Town – 94/100

Groote Post Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R107pb ex-cellar, Darling – 93/100

Kruger Old Vines Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R225pb ex-producer, Somerset West, WO Stellenbosch – 93/100

La Petite Ferme Wikus Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R230pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek, WO Western Cape – 94/100

La Vierge Original Sin Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R115pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, WO Walker Bay – 93/100

Le Bonheur Blanc Fumé 2020
R350pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch – 93/100

Neil Ellis Amica Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R275pb ex-cellar, Helshoogte-Stellenbosch, WO Jonkershoek – 94/100

Nitida Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R105pb ex-cellar, Durbanville – 93/100

South Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R115pb ex-cellar, Elgin – 93/100

Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2018
R300pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch – 95/100

Vergelegen G.V.B White 2019
R440pb ex-cellar, Somerset West – 95/100

Vergelegen Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R130pb ex-cellar, Somerset West – 95/100

Wade Bales Constantia Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2019
R220pb ex-producer, Constantia – 96/100