Results of the Prescient Chardonnay Report 2019 are now out

Friday, 18 October, 2019
Winemag.co.za
Chardonnay is an extremely important category within the South African wine industry – it is the seventh most widely planted variety with 6 660ha in the ground, the equivalent of 7.16% of the national vineyard and because of its well established credentials around the world, the best examples are able to demand a price premium and ensure profitability that so often eludes producers.

Winemag.co.za in conjunction with multinational financial services company Prescient has undertaken a detailed examination of the category on an annual basis since 2010 and this year’s findings in the form of a report sponsored by multinational financial services company Prescient are now out. There were 93 entries from 65 producers and these were tasted blind (labels out of sight) by a three-person panel, scoring done according to the 100-point quality scale.

On Tuesday 15 October, we celebrated the Top10 performers in the Prescient Chardonnay Report 2019De Grendel is overall top performer with its Op Die Berg 2018 being the wine to pick up the highest rating of 95-point in this years competition. This Durbanville cellar with Charles Hopkins as head winemaker is enjoying an impressive run of form, its Elim 2017 coming up trumps in the Shiraz Report and its Op Die Berg 2017 likewise in the Tonnellerie Saint Martin Pinot Noir Report earlier this year. 

The top 10 wines (with rating alongside) are as follows:

Creation Reserve 2018 – 93
De Grendel Op die Berg 2018 – 95
Delaire Graff Banghoek Reserve 2018 – 94
Highlands Road 2017 – 94
Journey's End 2018 – 93
Kershaw Clonal Selection Elgin 2018 – 93
Paul Cluver Estate 2017 – 94
Simonsig 2017 – 93
Stellenbosch Vineyards Unwooded 2018 – 94
Stellenrust Barrel Fermented 2018 – 93

To read the report in full, including key findings, tasting notes for the top seven and scores on the 100-point quality scale for all wines entered, go to Winemag.co.za.

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