South Africa’s most highly rated red wines in 2023 to date
FROM JANUARY to August 2023, the top panels of wine experts judged some 700 of South Africa’s finest to be at least high silver or gold medal standard. Of these, around 140 were considered 96 points or higher, Best in Class, Top 10 or 12, worthy of grand gold, platinum or master awards, trophy laureates, competition winners or Wines of the Year. And of these, over 80 are red wines – click on the links below for the names and vintages, together with the cellar-door prices and winery locations, presented alphabetically and according to variety.
For South Africa’s white wines most highly rated between January and August 2023, click here. For details of the ratings and all of the other Cape wines that have been highly recommended so far this year, click here. And for those with the best track records over the past 10 years, see the SA Wine Classification.
• CABERNET FRANC
• CABERNET SAUVIGNON
• CARIGNAN
• GRENACHE NOIR
• MALBEC
• MERLOT
• PINOTAGE
CABERNET FRANC
Anthology Cabernet Franc 2020
R400pb ex-producer, Stellenbosch
Lynx Cabernet Franc 2020
R450pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Morgenster Cabernet Franc 2021
R165pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Raats Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2020
R215pb ex-producer, Stellenbosch
Ridgeback Cabernet Franc 2020
R250pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Rietvallei JMB Cabernet Franc 2019
R450pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Thokozani Cabernet Franc 2021
R150pb from Diemersfontein cellar, Wellington
Zorgvliet Cabernet Franc 2020
R190pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R275pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
R750pb ex-cellar, Cederberg
Daniel Pesat My Story 2019
Export only, Stellenbosch cellar
Dornier Equanimity Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R201pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Eikendal Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
R165pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
R199pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
R940pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Louisvale Five Barrels Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
R470pb ex-cellar, Devon Valley, Stellenbosch
Neil Ellis Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R250pb ex-cellar, Helshoogte-Stellenbosch
Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R350pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
Spier Woolworths Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R210pb from retail chain, Stellenbosch cellar
CARIGNAN
Painted Wolf Darius Carignan 2021
R220pb ex-cellar, Simondium-Paarl
GRENACHE NOIR
Saronsberg Grenache 2020
R270pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh
MALBEC
Paul Wallace Black Dog Malbec 2019
R260pb ex-cellar, Elgin
MERLOT
Bein Merlot 2020
R230pb ex-cellar, Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch
Carmen Stevens Merlot 2021
R253pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
De Grendel Merlot 2019
R170pb ex-cellar, Panorama
Holden Manz Merlot Reserve 2019
R610pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Jordan Black Magic Merlot 2021
R231pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch Kloof
Nabygelegen Merlot 2022
R125pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Rainbow’s End Merlot 2020
R220pb ex-cellar, Sir Lowry’s Pass
Ridgeback Merlot 2020
R235pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Vondeling Barrel Selection Merlot 2020
R195pb ex-cellar, Voor Paardeberg, Paarl
Zorgvliet Merlot 2020
R190pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
MOURVEDRE
Painted Wolf Black Tip Mourvèdre 2020
R260pb ex-cellar, Simondium-Paarl
PETIT VERDOT
Stellenbosch Vineyards Flagship Petit Verdot 2018
R550pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
PETITE SIRAH
Fairview Petite Sirah 2020
R140pb ex-cellar, Paarl
PINOT NOIR
David Finlayson Camino Africana Pinot Noir Reserve 2022
R365pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Driehoek Mieke Pinot Noir 2020
R225pb ex-producer, Cederberg
Emily’s Pinot Noir 2022 (Urle Hansen)
R400pb from Creation cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
La Vierge Apogée Pinot Noir 2020, 2021
R305pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Lothian Pinot Noir 2020
R310pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Paul Cluver Seven Flags Pinot Noir 2018
R950pb ex-cellar, Elgin
PINOTAGE
Alvi’s Drift Verreaux Pinotage 2020
R550pb ex-cellar, Worcester
Bellingham Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage 2019
R280pb ex-producer, Franschhoek
Groot Phesantekraal Berliet Pinotage 2021
R250pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
SHIRAZ / SYRAH
Bloemendal Tyger Syrah 2016
R255pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Cape of Good Hope Riebeeksrivier Syrah 2018
R150pb from Rupert cellar, Franschhoek
Cederberg CWG Teen die Hoog Shiraz 2020
Auction wine, Cederberg cellar
De Grendel Op die Berg Syrah 2021
R310pb ex-cellar, Panorama
Dewaldt Heyns Weathered Hands Shiraz 2020
R260pb ex-producer, Swartland
Diemersdal Syrah 2022
R190pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Fairview Beacon Shiraz 2020
R475pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Flagstone Dark Horse Shiraz 2019
R380pb ex-cellar, Strand / Somerset West
Groenland Premium Syrah 2018
R190pb ex-cellar, Bottelary-Stellenbosch
Gustus Shiraz 2021
R135pb from Darling Cellars
Hartenberg Stork 2019
R1000pb ex-cellar, Bottelary-Stellenbosch
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Shiraz 2019
R450pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Land’s End Cape South Coast Shiraz 2020
R95pb from DTK cellar, Rawsonville
Old Road 12 Mile Syrah 2021
R270pb ex-producer, Franschhoek
Oldenburg Rondekop Stone Axe Syrah 2021
R650pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Stellenzicht Arenite Syrah 2019
R225pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Uva Mira The Mira Shiraz 2020
R295pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Villiersdorp Winery Syrah 2020
R100pb ex-cellar
RED BLENDS
Alvi’s Drift Reserve Drift Fusion 2021
R165pb ex-cellar, Worcester
Babylonstoren Babel 2021
R180pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
Babylonstoren Nebukadnesar 2020
R605pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
Bouchard Finlayson Hannibal 2020
R399pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Constantia Glen Five 2020
R620pb ex-cellar, Constantia Nek
Delaire Graff Banghoek 2018
R2200pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Essay Syrah Cinsault & Grenache & Mourvèdre 2021
R105pb from MAN cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Fairview Cyril Back 2020
R995pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Flagstone Velvet 2017
R700pb ex-cellar, Strand / Somerset West
Groot Constantia Lady of Abundance 2020
R175pb ex-cellar, Constantia
High Road Director’s Reserve 2019
R475pb ex-cellar, Bosman’s Crossing, Stellenbosch
Lourensford Limited Release SMV 2021
R245pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Mitre’s Edge The Mitre 2019
R235pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Quoin Rock Simonsberg Blend 2020
R220pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Raats Family Jasper Red Blend 2020
R305pb ex-producer, Stellenbosch
Roodeberg Dr Charles Niehaus 2020
R339pb from KWV cellar, Paarl
Rust en Vrede ‘1694 Classification’ 2018
R1700pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Saronsberg Full Circle 2021
R620pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh
Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo SMV 2020
R175pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Wildeberg Red 2022
R403pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
