WHAT TO LIKE about Winemag‘s pick of South Africa’s ‘Top 20 Wines’ in 2021, ‘The Best Wines in South Africa’ and their choice of ‘Winery of the Year’? Well, good to see Vergelegen in the spotlight again: top estate, veteran winemaker, impressive track record. Interesting to see what Winemag rated most highly: Cavalli Filly Chenin Blanc 2020 and DeMorgenzon Maestro Red 2017, both scored 96/100. And they’ve highlighted some reds and whites seldom in the limelight that have delighted wine lovers on the hunt for rewarding discoveries. However, according to their own scoresheets, the list of wines pronounced as the Top 20 amounts to what the panel considered the top wine in each of the 20 categories assessed in 2021, not the top wines overall. Some overlap of course, but still!

There are reds and whites in Winemag’s so-called Top 20 that were scored 92, yet there was no room for some of those scored 95, namely Delaire Graff Swartland Reserve Chenin Blanc 2020, the red blends Overgaauw Tria Corda 2017 and Zevenwacht Z Reserve 2015, as well as the white blends Constantia Uitsig Natura Vista 2019, Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2018 and Vergelegen G.B.V 2019. Sooo, for what rated top out of 990 wines assessed by the panel in 2021, see below, whereas for what they rated top in each report, click here. Apparently, categories where Winemag found it challenging to source liquid pleasures worthy of 95+ included sparkling Cap Classique, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Pinotage and dessert wine.

SCORED 95+ BY WINEMAG IN 2021

WHITE WINES

Cavalli Filly Chenin Blanc 2020
Constantia Uitsig Natura Vista 2019 (Blend)
Delaire Graff Swartland Reserve Chenin Blanc 2020
Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2018
Vergelegen G.V.B White 2019
Vergelegen Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Wade Bales Constantia Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2019

RED WINES

DeMorgenzon Maestro Red 2017
Harry Hartman Somesay Syrah 2020
Overgaauw Tria Corda 2017 (Blend)
Zandvliet Hill of Enon Shiraz 2019 (Van Loveren)
Zevenwacht Z Reserve 2015 (Blend)

PORT STYLE

Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2009

• 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.