THE DUIMPIE BAYLY Veritas Vertex Award for “the overall champion” at the 2021 edition of South Africa’s oldest bottled wine [and brandy] show, still one of the biggest competitions of its kind in the country, was presented to Spier of Stellenbosch for the 2018 vintage of their Creative Block 5, a Bordeaux-style red blend. However, special mention was also made of De Grendel Elim Shiraz 2019, which “scored the highest points for a wine with 98”. Turns out that this is what happened first time round, before a final ‘shoot out’ where the scores are not made public.

A record number of double gold medals were presented, 80 in various classes of wine and eight for brandies that included the KWV 15 Year Alambic Blend Potstill Brandy awarded a ‘perfect’ 100-point score, another first at the awards. Double gold (93+) is what Veritas is really all about these days, with a gold medal now defined as 90 to 92.9 points, the equivalent of a low silver at some shows. At the end of the competition, all of the DG medallists with the exception of the fortified and museum class stars were reviewed a second time by a new/different group of judges to decide the Vertex trophy winner. On the panel: Cathy van Zyl MW, Richard Kershaw MW, Raymond Noppé CWM, André van Rensburg (winemaker at Vergelegen), Bennie Howard CWM, Christo Pienaar (SANWS chairperson), De Wet Viljoen (winemaker at Neethlingshof), Samarie Smith-Meletiou (wine writer), Rudger van Wyk (winemaker at Stark-Condé) and Heidi Kritzinger (Kanonkop).

The 2021 Veritas Awards attracted almost 1300 entries, assessed by 64 local specialists over five days – judges were not flown in from overseas on this occasion due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. For all of the double gold medal-winning wines, see below. For more info about the competition and the full results, click here. Winners of the Veritas Vertex Award to date: Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2015 (in 2017), Distell’s Pongrácz Blanc de Blanc NV (in 2018), Des Dieux Chardonnay 2015 (in 2019), KWV’s Mentors Orchestra 2018 (in 2020), Spier Creative Block 5 2018 (in 2021).

 

DOUBLE GOLD – WHITE

CHARDONNAY

Danie De Wet Chardonnay 2021
R90pb from De Wetshof, Robertson
Delaire Graff Estate Banghoek Reserve Chardonnay 2020
R350pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Groot Constantia Chardonnay 2019
R285pb ex-cellar, Constantia
Rietvallei JMB Chardonnay 2020
R225pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Saxenburg Private Collection Chardonnay 2019
R230pb ex-cellar, Kuils River

CHENIN BLANC

Alvi’s Drift 221 Chenin Blanc 2020
R95pb ex-cellar, Worcester
Badsberg Chenin Blanc 2021
R50pb ex-cellar, Rawsonville
Bellingham Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2020
R189pb ex-producer, Franschhoek
De Wet Cellar Chenin Blanc 2021
R56pb ex-cellar, Worcester
Mariëtte Chenin Blanc 2018
R195pb from Le Belle Rebelle, Rawsonville
Simonsig Chenin Blanc 2021
R75pb ex-cellar, Koelenhof-Stellenbosch
Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2015
Museum Class, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch cellar
Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2020
R235pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch ‘1679’ Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2017
Museum Class, Koelenhof Winery, Stellenbosch

RIESLING

Jordan Real McCoy Riesling 2020
R139pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch Kloof

SAUVIGNON BLANC

Benguela Cove Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R170pb ex-cellar, Bot River
Benguela Cove Vinography Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R550pb ex-cellar, Bot River
Brink Family Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R65pb from Pulpit Rock cellar, Riebeek West
Flagstone Free Run Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2020
R200pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Ghost Corner Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R250pb from Cederberg Private Cellar
Groot Constantia Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R174pb ex-cellar, Constantia
Groote Post Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R107pb ex-cellar, Darling
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Sur Lie 2015
Museum Class, Stellenbosch cellar
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Sur Lie 2019
R240pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Sur Lie 2021
R240pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Our Darling Pledge Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R195pb from Le Grand Domaine, Devon Valley-Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R165pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

SEMILLON

Ghost Corner Semillon 2018
R200pb from Cederberg Private Cellar

WHITE BLENDS

Durbanville Hills Tangram White 2016
Museum Class, Durbanville cellar
Frans K Smit White 2018
R505pb from Spier cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
Ghost Corner Bowline 2019
R230pb from Cederberg Private Cellar

 

DOUBLE GOLD – SPARKLING

CAP CLASSIQUE

Babylonstoren Sprankel 2016
R650pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
Benguela Cove Joie de Vivre Brut 2017
R230pb ex-cellar, Bot River
Durbanville Hills Blanc de Blancs 2017
R165pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2017
R780pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Graham Beck Pinot Noir Rosé 2017
R280pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Mariëtte Chardonnay Brut 2015
R225pb from Le Belle Rebelle, Rawsonville
Paul René Chardonnay Brut 2017
R220pb from Wonderfontein cellar, Robertson
Simonsig Cuvée Royale Blanc de Blancs 2017
R375pb ex-cellar, Koelenhof-Stellenbosch

 

DOUBLE GOLD – RED

CABERNET FRANC

Mentors Cabernet Franc 2018
R280PB from KWV cellar, Paarl

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Boschendal 1685 Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
R165pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Brampton Roxton Black Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
R170pb ex-producer, Stellenbosch
Flagstone Music Room Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R330pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Museum Class, Stellenbosch cellar
Knorhoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R250pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Neil Ellis Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
R500pb ex-cellar, Helshoogte-Stellenbosch
Stellenzicht Tristone Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R225pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch

GRENACHE NOIR

One Formation Grenache Noir 2019
R124pb from Boland Cellar, Paarl

MERLOT

Almenkerk Merlot 2017
R240p ex-cellar, Elgin
Glenelly Glass Collection Merlot 2018
R135pb ex-cellar, Ida’s Valley-Stellenbosch

PINOTAGE

Glen Carlou Collection Pinotage 2020
R295pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
Bellevue Reserve Collection Pinotage 2017
R220pb ex-cellar, Bottelary-Stellenbosch
Kaapzicht Steytler Pinotage 2018
R630pb ex-cellar, Bottelary-Stellenbosch
Passione Pinotage 2017
R350pb from Asara cellar, Stellenbosch

RED BLENDS

Babylonstoren Nebukadnesar 2019
R540pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
Durbanville Hills Caapmans Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2006
Museum Class, Durbanville cellar
Flagstone Velvet 2017
R700pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Glenelly Estate Reserve 2015
R290pb ex-cellar, Ida’s Valley-Stellenbosch
Meerhof Shiraz Grenache Noir 2020
R180pb ex-cellar, Riebeek Kasteel
Mentors Canvas 2019
R280pb from KWV cellar, Paarl
Mentors Orchestra 2011
Museum Class, KWV, Paarl
Mentors Perold 2017
R500pb from KWV cellar, Paarl
Mentors Perold 2018
R500pb from KWV cellar, Paarl
Roodeberg Dr Charles Niehaus 2017
R280 from KWV cellar, Paarl
Spier Creative Block 5 2018
R185pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch Hills 1707 Reserve Red 2018
R205pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch Hills Suikerboschrand Cape Blend 2017
R425pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
Zonnebloem Lauréat 2018
R180pb from Distell, Stellenbosch

SHIRAZ / SYRAH

De Grendel Elim Shiraz 2019
R900pb (1.5L) ex-cellar, Panorama-Durbanville
Strandveld Syrah 2019
R200pb ex-cellar, Elim

 

DOUBLE GOLD – SWEET

UNFORTIFIED DESSERT

Durbanville Hills Rhinofields Noble Late Harvest 2014
Muesum Class, Durbanville cellar
Nederburg Noble Late Harvest 2012
Museum Class, Paarl cellar

FORTIFIED DESSERT

Nuy Barbieri Idro Red Muscadel 2015
R317pb (500ml) ex-cellar, Worcester
Nuy Red Muscadel 1990
Museum Class, Worcester cellar
Nuy White Muscadel 2007
Museum Class, Worcester cellar
Nuy White Muscadel 2014
Museum Class, Worcester cellar
Van Loveren Red Muscadel 2020
R72pb ex-cellar, Robertson

PORT STYLE

Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2006
Museum Class, Calitzdorp cellar
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2015
Museum Class, Calitzdorp cellar
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2017
R295pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp cellar

 

• For door-to-door delivery of award-winners in all major centres of South Africa, click here to order from specialist wine shop Norman Goodfellows.