South Africa’s most highly rated Cabernet Sauvignon in 2022
‘EXTRAORDINARY. Profound.’ That’s what the Winemag judges thought of Koelenhof Winery’s ‘Stellenbosch 1679’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 when reviewing it for the 2022 Prescient Report. The only wine among the 64 entries from 51 SA producers scored more than 95/100, it’s one of the 24 most highly rated Cape Cabs assessed by top panels locally and internationally during the past year – see below. Quite impressive for only the second vintage of this wine in Koelenhof’s flagship range.
On the Winemag panel: editor Christian Eedes, wine writer Malu Lambert and retailer James Pietersen of Wine Cellar in Cape Town. Their favourites also included the 2018 Jonkershoek Cab from Neil Ellis in Stellenbosch, a gold medallist at the International Wine Challenge (UK) earlier in the year and one of the more pricey wines in Winemag’s Top 10. There are very few top SA Cabs selling at under R300 these days, which makes the 2019 Barrel Selection from Vondeling rather inviting – a 95-pointer at R175 a bottle from the cellar in Voor-Paardeberg, Paarl.
Benguela Cove Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R295pb ex-cellar, Bot River
Cavalli Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R250pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Delaire Graff Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2019
R875pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Ernie Els Major Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R250pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Nederburg Manor House Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R220pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Nederburg Private Bin Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R395pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Neil Ellis Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R520pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch ‘1679’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R375pb from Koelenhof cellar, Stellenbosch
Vondeling Barrel Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R175pb ex-cellar, Voor-Paardeberg, Paarl
Zorgvliet Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R180pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
TOP-RATED SA CABS
Babylonstoren Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
R230pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
Best in Class at National Wine Challenge (SA)
Cavalli Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R250pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
95/100 in Winemag Report (SA)
Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R675pb ex-cellar, Cederberg
96/100 at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)
Grand Gold at Mondial (BE)
Diemersdal Journal Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
R335pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
95/100 at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK)
Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve Castle of Good Hope Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
R145pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
97/100 at Trophy Wine Show (SA)
Jordan Long Fuse Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
R225pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch Kloof
95/100 at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK)
Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Museum Class, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch cellar
97/100 at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK)
Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
R540pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
95/100 at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK)
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R435pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Trophy at Mondial (BE)
Louisvale Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R275pb ex-cellar, Devon Valley-Stellenbosch
97/100 at Trophy Wine Show (SA)
Nederburg Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
R625pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Trophy at Michelangelo Awards (SA)
Nederburg Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R495pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Master Award at Global Masters (UK)
Nederburg Private Bin Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R395pb ex-cellar, Paarl
95/100 at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)
Gold at Global Masters (UK)
Nederburg Private Bin Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R395pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Gold at Global Masters (UK)
Neil Ellis Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R520pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
95/100 at International Wine Challenge (UK)
95/100 in Winemag Report (SA)
Peter Falke Kailani 2018
R750pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
95/100 at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)
PF Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R250pb from Peter Falke, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
95/100 at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)
Plaisir de Merle Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R265pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
95/100 at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK)
Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R320pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
Grand Gold at Mondial (BE)
Stark-Condé Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R550pb ex-cellar, Jonkershoek-Stellenbosch
96/100 at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)
Stellenbosch ‘1679’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R375pb from Koelenhof cellar, Stellenbosch
96/100 in Winemag Report (SA)
Tokara Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R370pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Trophy at Veritas Awards (SA)
Vergelegen V 2015
R1500pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
96/100 at Gilbert & Gaillard (FR)
Vondeling Barrel Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R175pb ex-cellar, Voor-Paardeberg, Paarl
95/100 in Winemag Report (SA)
