OF THE 95 wines judged worthy of double gold medals at South Africa’s 2022 Veritas Awards, there are 19 standouts on the basis of various tasting results… 95 is a big number, and the organisers won’t publish the scores, which range from 93 to 100, i.e. they tell the respective wine producers who entered the wines, but they won’t tell the public who may want to buy the wines. So how else to distinguish the best from the rest, unless the producers choose to disclose the scores, which they’re permitted to do, at their discretion?!

When Veritas announced the names of all the winners, one wine was applauded particularly loudly: the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 from Tokara, winner of the Vertex Award as the overall champion at one of the country’s biggest wine competitions, involving numerous winemakers as well as critics on the various panels and with a history dating back to 1991. On being told that the scores of the wines would not be made freely available, we focused on those double gold medallists selling at under R150 a bottle (click here), looking for best value. Below is another take on things, focusing on those of the 95 that have earned very good reviews from more than one panel:

TOP VERITAS DOUBLE GOLDS

Cilmor Winemaker’s Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2021 @ R85pb ex-cellar, Worcester
Also a winner in the Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 competition

Cilmor Winemaker’s Selection Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2021 @ R85pb ex-cellar, Worcester
Also a 97pt gold medallist at the Trophy Wine Show (SA)

De Grendel Op die Berg Syrah 2020 @ R310pb ex-cellar, Panorama-Durbanville
Also a winner at the Shiraz SA Challenge

Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2022 @ R120pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Also a winner in the Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 competition

Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2019 @ R130pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Also best in class at the National Wine Challenge (SA) and a trophy winner at the Terroir Wine Awards (SA)

Flagstone Word of Mouth Viognier 2020 @ R130pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Also a double gold medallist at the SA Wine Awards London

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sur Lie Sauvignon Blanc 2020 @ R260pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Also a winner in the Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 competition and a trophy winner at the Michelangelo Awards (SA)

KWV Cape Tawny NV (Port) @ R99pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Also a gold medallist at the Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU) and a 96pt 5 Star laureate in Platter’s SA Wine Guide

KWV’s Mentors Cabernet Franc 2019 @ R319pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Also 97 points and one of the ‘Best In Show’ at the Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)

Nederburg Private Bin Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 a Museum Class wine, Paarl cellar
Also a trophy winner at the Michelangelo Awards (SA)

Neil Ellis Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 @ R520pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Also a 95pt gold medallist at the International Wine Challenge (SA)

Perdeberg Vineyard Collection Grenache Blanc 2021 @ R95pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Also a 95pt gold medallist at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK)

Rainbow’s End Cabernet Franc 2020 @ R250pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Also a Top 6 gold medallist at the Cab Franc Challenge (SA)

Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2020 @ R260pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
Also a Grand Gold winner at Mondial (BE) and a 96pt 5 Star laureate in Platter’s SA Wine Guide

Spier 21 Gables Sauvignon Blanc 2021 @ R210pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
Also a winner in the Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 competition

Tokara Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 @ R370pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Winner of the Vertex Trophy, involving the re-judging of all Veritas double gold medallists by a different panel relative to round one

Villiera Monro Brut 2015 (Cap Classique Sparkling) @ R330pb ex-cellar, Koelenhof-Stellenbosch
Also a 97pt gold medallist at the Trophy Wine Show (SA)

Vondeling’s Bowwood Pinotage 2019 @ R390pb ex-cellar, Voor Paardeberg-Paarl
Also a winner in the Top 10 Pinotage Competition

Windmeul Chenin Blanc 2022 @ R65pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Also a trophy winner at the Michelangelo Awards (SA)