SA Red Wines of the Year! South Africa’s Most Highly Rated in 2021
SOME AWARDS carry more weight than others, and there’s something to be said for a wine that ticks the boxes for a number of top tasting panels. Over 1500 South African wines were highly rated around the world in 2021, and the following are the red wines among them that received the most glowing reviews of the year – Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Pinotage, Shiraz and Red Blends:
TOP CAB FRANC
Thokozani Cabernet Franc 2019
R115pb from Diemersfontein cellar, Wellington
Double Gold Medal at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)
97/100 and Best in Class at Trophy Wine Show (SA)
Best in Class at National Wine Challenge (SA)
Mentors Cabernet Franc 2018
R280pb from KWV cellar, Paarl
Double Gold Medal at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)
Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards (SA)
TOP CABERNET < R400
Niel Joubert Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
R160pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
Trophy at Michelangelo Awards (SA)
Flagstone Music Room Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R330pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards (SA)
Double Gold Medal at Michelangelo Awards (SA)
Tokara Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R350pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Double Gold Medal at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)
96/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
96/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)
Vergelegen Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
R390pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Gold Medal at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)
96/100 by Gilbert & Gaillard (FR)
TOP CABERNET < R600
Muratie Martin Melck Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve 2017
R490pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Double Gold Medal at Michelangelo Awards (SA)
96/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Nederburg Private Bin Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
R500pb ex-cellar, Paarl
95/100 at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK)
Gold Medal at Drinks Business Masters (UK)
Oldenburg Rondekop Per Se Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R500pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
97/100 and Best in Class at Trophy Wine Show (SA)
96/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Boekenhoutskloof Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R545pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R575pb ex-cellar, Cederberg
97/100 at Decanter Awards (SA)
TOP CABERNET > R600
Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R720pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
96/100 at Decanter Awards (SA)
95/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Trophy at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)
TOP GRENACHE NOIR
Dunstone Reserve Grenache 2018
R245pb ex-cellar, Wellington
96/100 and Best in Class at Trophy Wine Show (SA)
TOP MERLOT
Holden Manz Merlot Reserve 2018
R535pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Shannon Black 2017
R1500pb ex-cellar, Elgin
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
TOP PINOT NOIR
Lothian Pinot Noir 2020
R295pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Trophy at International Wine Challenge (SA)
Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak Pinot Noir 2019
R394pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
95/100 at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK)
Double Gold at Michelangelo Awards (SA)
Benguela Cove Vinography Pinot Noir 2019
R550pb ex-cellar, Bot River
Trophy at Michelangelo Awards (SA)
A Winner at Top 5 Pinot Noir Awards (SA)
TOP PINOTAGE < R200
Rooiberg Pinotage Reserve 2019
R125pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Trophy at Michelangelo Awards.(SA)
Diemersdal Pinotage Reserve 2019
R170pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
96/100 and Best in Class at Trophy Wine Show (SA)
5 Stars in Platter’s Guide (SA)
TOP PINOTAGE > R200
Stellenbosch ‘1679’ Pinotage 2019
R270pb from Koelenhof cellar, Stellenbosch
Double Gold Medal at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)
A Winner in Top 10 Pinotage Competition (SA)
Grand Gold Medal at Concours Mondial (BE)
Best in Class at National Wine Challenge (SA)
Diemersdal Journal Pinotage 2019
R335pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
A Winner in Top 10 Pinotage Competition (SA)
96/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)
95/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Francois van Niekerk Pinotage 2019
R500pb ex-producer, Wellington
A Winner in Top 10 Pinotage Competition (SA)
96/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)
95/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
TOP SHIRAZ/SYRAH < R200
Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Shiraz 2018
R165pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Platinum Medal at Michelangelo Awards (SA)
One of Top 12 in Shiraz SA Challenge
Glen Carlou Syrah 2019
R180pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
95/100 at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK)
One of Top 12 in Shiraz SA Challenge
Strandveld Syrah 2019
R200pb ex-cellar, Elim-Cape Agulhas
Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards (SA)
Double Gold Medal at Michelangelo Awards (SA)
TOP SHIRAZ/SYRAH < R300
Old Road 12 Mile Syrah 2018
R233pb ex-producer, Franschhoek
96/100 at Internation Wine & Spirit Competition (UK)
Cederberg Shiraz 2018
R250pb ex-cellar, Cederberg
One of Top 12 in Shiraz SA Challenge
96/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)
One of Top 10 Gold Medallists at Syrah du Monde (FR)
Gold Medal at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)
Kruger Family Reserve Shiraz 2017
R250pb from Stellenview cellar, Stellenbosch
Trophy at Michelangelo Awards (SA)
Trizanne Reserve Syrah 2019
R250pb ex-producer, Noordhoek
97/100 and Best in Class at Trophy Wine Show (SA)
TOP SHIRAZ/SYRAH < R500
Flagstone Dark Horse Shiraz 2017
R330pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
One of Top 12 in Shiraz SA Challenge
Best in Class at National Wine Challenge (SA)
Sons of Sugarland Syrah 2020
R375pb from Boschkloof cellar, Polkadraai Hills-Stellenbosch
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Mount Sutherland Syrah 2018
R420pb from Super Single Vineyards, Stellenbosch Kloof
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
De Grendel Elim Shiraz 2019
R900pb (1.5L) ex-cellar, Panorama-Durbanville
98/100 at Veritas Awards (SA)
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Van Loggerenberg Graft 2020
R450pb ex-cellar, Paarl
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
TOP SHIRAZ/SYRAH > R700
Boschkloof Epilogue 2019
R795pb ex-cellar, Polkadraai Hills-Stellenbosch
98/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Mullineux Granite Syrah 2019
R1060pb ex-cellar, Riebeek Kasteel-Swartland
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
TOP RED BLENDS < R200
Buitenverwacthing Meifort 2018
R140pb ex-cellar, Constantia
97/100 and Best in Class at Trophy Wine Show (SA)
Saronsberg Seismic 2018
R160pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh
96/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)
Grand Gold at Concours Mondial (BE)
Spier Creative Block 5 2018 (Red Blend)
R185pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
Veritas Trophy at Veritas Awards (SA)
TOP RED BLENDS < R400
Aslina Umsasane 2019
R225pb ex-producer, Somerset West
Trophy at Michelangelo Awards (SA)
Mentors Canvas 2018
R279pb from KWV cellar, Paarl
95/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)
Grand Gold Medal at Concours Mondial (BE)
Endura Winemaker’s Selection Cape Blend 2017
R350pb from Perdeberg cellar, Paarl
Trophy at Michelangelo Awards (SA)
TOP RED BLENDS < R500
Sijnn Red 2018
R410pb ex-cellar, Malgas-Swellendam
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Tokara Director’s Reserve Red 2018
R425pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
95/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Double Gold at Michelangelo Awards (SA)
Trophy at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)
Constantia Glen Five 2017
R490pb ex-cellar, Constantia
97/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)
96/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Marianne Floreal 2018
R490pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
TOP RED BLENDS < R700
Mentors Perold 2017
R500pb from KWV cellar, Paarl
Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards (SA)
97/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)
Mentors Perold 2018
R500pb from KWV cellar, Paarl
Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards (SA)
Trophy at Concours Mondial (BE)
96/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Stellenbosch ‘1679’ Legacy 2017 (Koelenhof)
R525pb from Koelenhof cellar, Stellenbosch
Wine of the Year at National Wine Challenge (SA)
Saronsberg Full Circle 2019
R550pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh
96/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
95/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)
Best in Class at National Wine Challenge (SA)
Glenelly Lady May 2017
R630pb ex-cellar, Ida’s Valley-Stellenbosch
Double Gold Medal at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)
96/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
TOP RED BLENDS > R800
Beyerskloof Faith 2019
R800pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Columella 2019
R955pb from Sadie Family cellar, Paardeberg-Swartland
98/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Rust en Vrede 1694 Classification 2018
R1600pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
