South Africa’s most highly rated Chardonnays in 2022 to date |

South Africa’s most highly rated Chardonnays in 2022 to date

11/2022 Mike Froud Leave a comment

NOT A SINGLE Chardonnay considered better than 94/100 in Winemag’s 2022 Prescient Report on the category in South Africa? In the collective opinion of editor Christian Eedes and his fellow judges on the panel, James Pietersen and Jolette Steyn of retailer Wine Cellar in Cape Town, there weren’t any ‘extraordinary’ or ‘profound’ examples among the 80 wines from the 59 producers who participated. On the other hand, Winemag did come up with a couple of good-value recommendations at under R150 a bottle in their Top 10: Backsberg Smuggled Vines Chardonnay 2021 at R125pb ex-producer, Franschhoek, and Oak Valley Beneath the Clouds Chardonnay 2021 at R130pb ex-cellar, Elgin.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the country and around the world there were nearly 30 SA Chardonnays that impressed various top panels of experts big time in 2022, with De Wetshof (Robertson), Jordan, Neil Ellis, Oldenburg (all of Stellenbosch) and Paul Cluver (Elgin) particularly highly praised on more than one occasion. Not all of these cellars (below) are members of the Chardonnay Forum, but wine lovers who want to learn more about the “relative late-comer to the South African vineyard landscape” might be interested in the info being put out there by this industry association.

Alvi’s Drift Reserve Chardonnay 2021
R130pb ex-cellar, Worcester
Platinum at Michelangelo Awards (SA)

Arabella Chardonnay 2022
R75pb ex-cellar, Ashton
Platinum at Michelangelo Awards (SA)

Babylonstoren Chardonnay 2021
R325pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
97/100 at Trophy Wine Show (SA)

Benguela Cove Vinography Chardonnay 2021
R550pb ex-cellar, Bot River
Platinum at Michelangelo Awards (SA)

Boland Cellar Reserve Chardonnay 2021
R142pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Gold at Mundus Vini (DE)

Christiena Trousseau Chardonnay 2021
R175pb from Van Loveren, Robertson
Platinum at Michelangelo Awards (SA)

Constantia Uitsig Reserve Chardonnay 2021
R200pb ex-cellar, Constantia
Trophy at Michelangelo Awards (SA)

David Finlayson Chardonnay 2021
R161pb from Edgebaston, Stellenbosch
96/100 Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)

De Grendel Op die Berg Chardonnay 2021
R275pb ex-cellar, Panorama-Durbanville
Platinum at Michelangelo Awards (SA)

De Wetshof Bateleur Chardonnay 2020
R625pb ex-cellar, Robertson
97/100 at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)
Top 10 at Chardonnay du Monde (FR)

De Wetshof The Site Chardonnay 2019
R325pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Gold at Mundus Vini (DE)

Delaire Graff Estate Banghoek Reserve Chardonnay 2020
R360pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
96/100 at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)

Doolhof Môrestond Chardonnay 2018
R420pb ex-cellar, Wellington
96/100 at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)

GlenWood Grand Duc Chardonnay 2020
R605pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
95/100 at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)

Jordan Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2020
R225pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch Kloof
95/100 at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK)

Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay 2020
R470pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch Kloof
96/100 at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK)
95/100 at International Wine Challenge (UK)

Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chardonnay 2021
R136pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Gold at Chardonnay du Monde (FR)
Gold at Mundus Vini (DE)

La Vierge Jezebelle Chardonnay 2021
R170pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
97/100 at Trophy Wine Show (SA)

Lothian Chardonnay 2020
R310pb ex-cellar, Elgin
95/100 at International Wine Challenge (UK)

Lothian Chardonnay 2021
R310pb ex-cellar, Elgin
95/100 at International Wine Challenge (UK)

Neil Ellis Whitehall Chardonnay 2020
R325pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
95/100 at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)
96/100 at International Wine Challenge (UK)

Oldenburg Chardonnay 2021
R260pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
95/100 at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)
97/100 at Trophy Wine Show (SA)

Paul Cluver Estate Chardonnay 2020
R280pb ex-cellar, Elgin
98/100 at Trophy Wine Show (SA)

Paul Cluver Seven Flags Chardonnay 2020
R850pb ex-cellar, Elgin
97/100 at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)
Best in Class at National Wine Challenge (SA)
95/100 at International Wine Challenge (UK)

Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay 2020
R500pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
95/100 at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)

Survivor Chardonnay 2020
R250pb from Overhex, Worcester
Gold at Mundus Vini (DE)

Thelema Chardonnay 2019
R200pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
95/100 at International Wine Challenge (UK)

Uva Mira Single Tree Chardonnay 2019
R690pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
95/100 at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK)