JUST WEEKS after Kleine Zalze was awarded a trophy for their 2021 Family Reserve Cab at the 2026 International Wine Challenge in the UK, the Stellenbosch producer won gold for this wine at the Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters competition hosted by London publication The Drinks Business. Kleine Zalze was one of seven gold medallists from South Africa at the Masters that involved 151 entries judged by three panels of judges, with the USA the most successful country (one Grand Master award, one Master award and 14 golds), followed by Australia (10 golds), Chile and South Africa (seven golds each), Spain (three golds) and Argentina (one gold).
At the Masters, gold = 93 to 96 points, Master Award = 97+, Grand Master = Best of the Master Award winners.
Alto M.P.H.S. and Idiom B, both Cabernet-driven blends, as well as the Cabs Kleine Zalze Family Reserve, Warwick Blue Lady and Zevenwacht Estate have good track records in terms of panel tasting results over the past 10 years, with Kleine Zalze and Warwick two of the country's most highly rated across a span of vintages. The Capensis Silene and Tokara Simonsberg were launched fairly recently – just a couple of vintages released to date.
Best value-for-money on this occasion? Hard to beat the 2022 Cabernet from Zevenwacht in Kuils River, made using grapes from the Polkadraai Hills in Stellenbosch and going for R200 a bottle ex-cellar.
SA GOLD MEDALLISTS
Alto M.P.H.S. 2022
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Cabernet Franc
R1150pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Capensis Silene Cabernet Sauvignon 2024
R450pb ex-producer, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Idiom B Bordicon Blend 2022
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec
R600pb ex-cellar, Sir Lowry's Pass-Somerset West
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
R510pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Tokara Simonsberg Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
R1950pb ex-cellar, Helshoogte-Stellenbosch
Warwick Blue Lady 2022 (Cabernet Sauvignon)
R600pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Zevenwacht Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
R200pb ex-cellar, Kuils River-Stellenbosch