
NOT MANY wine producers have access to vineyards in the Elandskloof valley of the Overberg district, Western Cape. Anthonij Rupert Wyne of Franschhoek is one of them, and the Chardonnay grapes from Johann Rupert's Altima Estate just north of Villiersdorp make for a winner under the Cape of Good Hope label…
Winemag‘s 2024 Prescient Report on South African Chardonnay involved the assessment of 71 entries from 52 producers throughout the Cape winelands. Of the 45 wines rated 90 or more on a 100-point scale, 14 were scored 93+, and of those, four were rated 95 points and one 96 – the judges' favourite being the 2023 Cape of Good Hope Serruria, WO Elandskloof. On the panel were Winemag's Christian Eedes (chair), wine writer Malu Lambert and James Pietersen of Cape Town merchant Wine Cellar.
“Chardonnay can be steely dry to rather rich and full on the palate,” noted Eedes. “Flavours are often subtle and understated and yet beguiling… This panel was inclined to reward wines that tended to be pure and lean.” See below for the names of the Top 5, and for the full report click here.
Cape of Good Hope Serruria Chardonnay 2023
R235pb ex-Anthonij Rupert cellar, Franschhoek
RATED 95/100
Boschendal Elgin Chardonnay 2023
R500pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Delaire Graff Estate Banghoek Chardonnay 2023
R430pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Kershaw GPS Lower Duivenhoks River Chardonnay 2021
R725pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Quoin Rock Chardonnay 2021
R440pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch