Top SA Sauvignon Blanc producers over the past 12 months
WITH SO MUCH hype around Sauvignon Blanc during the first quarter of 2023 and extending into May with many South African wine producers engaged in Sauvignon Blanc Day/Weekend celebrations, what better time to reflect on the top expressions from the Cape. Over 60 SA Sauvignons have been very highly rated by wine panels internationally during the past 12 months, and of these 20 or so (highlighted below) are in a class apart. The best priced of the Top 20 and still on sale at the time of writing include De Grendel 2022 (Panorama), Diemersdal Reserve 2022 (Durbanville), Franschhoek Cellar 2022, Gustus 2020 (Darling Cellars), KWV Cathedral Cellar 2021 (Paarl cellar) and Paul Cluver Village 2022 (Elgin), all at under R150pb. (For those Sauvignons that have been most highly fancied across a span of vintages over the past 10 years, see the Classification).
Best Pairings: seafood, salads, zesty chicken, creamy soup, goats milk cheese.
TOP SA SAUVIGNON BLANC
MAY 2022 – APRIL 2023
Aaldering 2021 : R240
Almenkerk 2021 : R195
Alvi’s Drift Reserve 2022 : R140
Bartho Eksteen Houtskool 2021 : R477
Bellingham Homestead 2022 : R95
Blaauwklippen 2022 : R160
Boland Cellar 2022 : R82
Bonnievale River Collection 2022 : R73
Brampton 2022 : R80
Cape of Good Hope Altima 2022 (Rupert) : R155
Cape Point Reserve 2021 : R230
Cilmor Winemaker’s Selection 2021 : R95
Constantia Glen 2021 : R195
Constantia Uitsig 2021 : R130
De Grendel Koetshuis 2022 : R225
De Grendel 2022 : R120
Die Kat se Snor 2022 : R130
Diemersdal Journal 2021 : R240
Diemersdal Reserve 2022 : R130
Diemersdal Wild Horseshoe 2021 : R265
Du Toitskloof Old Vine 2022 : R190
Durbanville Hills 2022 : R90
Elgin Vintners Sandstone 2021 : R385
Erika Obermeyer 2021 : R380
Flagstone Free Run Reserve 2020 : R240
Franschhoek Cellar Statue de Femme 2022 : R80
Fryer’s Cove 2022 : R139
Ghost Corner 2022 (Cederberg Cellar) : R260
Ghost Corner Wild Ferment 2021 (Cederberg Cellar) : R310
Grand Vin de Stellenbosch 2022 (Le Grand Domaine) : R156
Groot Phesantekraal 2022 : R94
Gustus 2020 (Darling Cellars) : R105
Hermanuspietersfontein Kat met die Houtbeen 2021 : R185
Iona Wild Ferment 2021 : R240
Klein Constantia 2020/21 : R185
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2020/21 : R270
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection 2022 : R148
KWV Cathedral Cellar 2020/21 : R99
La Motte Pierneef 2022 : R170
Land’s End Cape Agulhas 2021 (Du Toitskloof) : R165
Lomond Ben Nevis 2021 : R250
Maastricht 2022 : R105
Marianne 2021 : R245
Nederburg Private Bin Two Centuries 2016 : R340
Painted Wolf Lightning 2022 : R240
Paul Cluver Village 2021/22 : R110
Perdeberg 2022 : R65
Reyneke Reserve White 2020 : R375
Rustenberg Stellenbosch 2022 : R110
Rustenberg Wild Ferment 2022 : R140
Simonsig Sunbird 2022 : R115
Sondagskloof White (Trizanne) 2021 : R380
Spier 21 Gables 2021 : R230
Spier Good Natured 2022 : R109
Spier 2022 : R80
Spier Seaward 2022 : R135
Steenberg Black Swan 2021 : R260
Strandveld Pofadderbos 2021/22 : R180
The Pledge Our Origin 2021 (Le Grand Domaine) : R150
Thorne & Daughters Snakes & Ladders 2021 : R350
Tokara Reserve Elgin 2021 : R165
Trade Winds 2021 : R160
Uva Mira The Mira 2022 : R170
Vergelegen Schaapenberg Reserve 2020/21 : R280
Villiera Bush Vine 2022 : R210
Vrede en Lust Artisan Blanc Fumé 2020/21 : R200
Wildeberg Terroirs 2021 : R260
Zevenwacht Z 2021 : R270
Zorgvliet Single Vineyard 2022 : R160
* All prices ex-cellar
Perhaps a notable omission here is Buitenverwachting, especially Hussey’s Vlei?
The last top-rated Sauvignon Blanc from Butenverwachting was the 2020 vintage of Hussey’s Vlei, a 97-pointer in the 2022 edition of Platter’s SA Wine Guide, published end-2021.