THE FOLLOWING are the most highly rated wines of the Cape over the past 10 years – those with the best track records involving numerous vintages in over 30 local and international forums for the assessment of wine quality and interest value between 2009 and 2018 (inclusive) as celebrated in the annual South African Wine & Cellar Classifications.
To be eligible for the Classification, updated annually since 2004, wines must have earned good to excellent reviews from one or more of the top panels of judges for at least three vintages during the 10-year period under review. The focus is on the country’s leading outfits, those regularly on top form, their wines judged top-notch again and again, year after year. The critics include experts appointed for the Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), the International Wine Challenge (UK) and IWSC (UK), Platter's SA Wine Guide (5 Stars and Highly Recommended), the Six Nations Wine Challenge (AU), the Trophy Wine Show (SA), the Veritas Awards (SA) and the Michelangelo awards (SA) – to mention just some of the panels.
The full Classifications and more information about the selection criteria can be viewed at www.topwinesa.com and are also available on request via email to mike@topwinesa.com
Top 100 South African Wines – 2019 Classification
THE MOST HIGHLY RATED WINES OF THE CAPE OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS
CHARDONNAY
Chamonix Reserve
Fleur du Cap Unfiltered (Bergkelder)
Groot Constantia
Hamilton Russell
Jordan Barrel Fermented
Jordan Nine Yards
Oak Valley Groenlandberg
Paul Cluver Estate
Rustenberg Five Soldiers
Rustenberg Stellenbosch
Sumaridge
Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch
Uva Mira Single Tree
CHENIN BLANC
Beaumont Hope Marguerite
Botanica
DeMorgenzon Reserve
Ken Forrester FMC
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection
Spier 21 Gables
Stellenrust Barrel Fermented
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Cape Point Reserve
Cederberg
Diemersdal Eight Rows
Diemersdal MM Louw
Ghost Corner (Cederberg)
Graham Beck Pheasants' Run
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sur Lie
Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin
SEMILLON
Ghost Corner (Cederberg)
WHITE BLENDS
Cape Point Isliedh
Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
Nederburg Ingenuity
Nitida Coronata Integration
Sadie Palladius
Spier Creative Block 2
Strandveld Adamastor
Tokara Director's Reserve
Vergelegen G.V.B
CAP CLASSIQUE SPARKLING
Graham Beck Brut Blanc de Blancs
Villiera Monro Brut
CABERNET FRANC
Raats Family
Warwick
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Cederberg Five Generations
Eikendal
Flagstone Music Room
Kanonkop
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection
Le Riche Reserve
Nederburg Two Centuries
Rustenberg Peter Barlow
Stark-Condé Three Pines
MERLOT
Shannon Mount Bullet
PETIT VERDOT
KWV Mentors
PINOT NOIR
Chamonix Reserve
Hamilton Russell
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards
Paul Cluver Seven Flags
PINOTAGE
Beyerskloof Diesel
Diemersdal Reserve
Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Reserve
Flagstone Writer's Block
Kanonkop
KWV Mentors
Rijk's Reserve
Simonsig Redhill
Spier 21 Gables
Wildekrans Barrel Select Reserve
Windmeul Reserve
SHIRAZ / SYRAH
Cederberg
De Grendel
Eagles' Nest
Groot Constantia
Hartenberg Stork
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve
Rustenberg Buzzard Kloof Syrah
Saronsberg
Saronsberg Provenance
RED BLENDS
Delaire Graff Botmaskop
Diemersdal Private Collection
Ernie Els Signature
Kanonkop Paul Sauer
KWV Mentors Orchestra
La Motte Pierneef Syrah Viognier
Morgenster Estate Reserve
Rust en Vrede Estate
Saronsberg Full Circle
Spier Creative Block 3
Spier Creative Block 5
Tokara Director's Reserve
UNFORTIFIED DESSERT
Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest (Bergkelder)
Groot Constantia Grand Constance
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance
Mullineux Straw Wine
Nederburg Edelkeur Chenin Blanc Noble Late
Nederburg Eminence Noble Late Muscadel
Nederburg Winemasters Noble Late Harvest
Paul Cluver Riesling Noble Late Harvest
FORTIFIED DESSERT
Nuy White Muscadel
Orange River Cellars White Muscadel
CAPE PORT
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve