10-Year-Old Wine Report 2024
By Christian Eedes, 28 February 2024
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Introduction
This year’s 10-Year-Old Wine Report convened by Winemag.co.za is now out. There were 82 entries from 46 producers and these were tasted blind (labels out of sight) by a three-person panel, scoring done according to the 100-point quality scale.
Top 10
The 10 best wines overall are as follows:
White
96 – Best Overall
Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Wine of Origin: Elgin
Abv: 13.09%
Winemaking team wins a bottle of SFW Stellenbosch Cinsaut 1974 sponsored by Amorim Cork.
95
Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2014
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14%
95
Delaire Graff White Reserve 2014
Wine of Origin: Coastal
Abv: 13.18%
93
Babylonstoren Chardonnay 2014
Wine of Origin: Simonsberg-Paarl
Alc: 13.73%
Red
93
Delaire Graff Merlot 2014
Wine of Origin: Banghoek
Alc: 14.7%
93
Ernie Els Signature 2014
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.96%
93
Keet First Verse 2014
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.5%
93
KWV The Mentors Petit Verdot 2014
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.88%
93
The Drift Moveable Feast 2014
Wine of Origin: Overberg
Abv: 14%
Fortified
94
Boplaas Heritage Collection Muscadel 2014
Wine of Origin: Goudini
Abv: 15.73%
About the Report
Just how well do modern-era South African wines perform as they get older? One of the most important measures of great wine is that it should be age-worthy, that is it should become more pleasurable and more interesting to drink with time in the bottle and the annual 10-Year-Old Wine Report sets out to examine precisely this.
In-depth analysis
To read the report in full, including key findings, tasting notes for the top wines and scores on the 100-point quality scale for all wines entered, download the following: 10-Year-Old Wine Report 2024
Online auction
Seven of the Top 10 wines are on sale as part of the Strauss & Co Vintage 2014 Auction. To bid, click here.
Closes Monday 11 March.
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Stefan Johannes | 29 February 2024
Hi Christian. I recently listened to the SONA 2024 podcast where you and David Clarke briefly touched on closures. One of the points you made was that screw cap closures do not allow for development and if any, prolonged bottle development. However, I can’t help but notice that, if the packshots are of the actual wines tasted, screw cap is very well represented in the top end of the 10-year-old wine report (both white wines scoring best are under screw cap). What are your comments on this? Did the wines develop or were they still primary? Should our high-end producers look more seriously at using screw cap closures potentially?
Christian Eedes | 29 February 2024
Hi Stefan, I hope I didn’t create the impression in the podcast that screw caps prevent development altogether. It’s a relative rather than absolute matter and depends on 1). the sulphur regime at bottling (less required than would be the case with cork) and 2). the amount of oxygen transmission that the liner of the screwcap permits – too low and undesirable sensory outcomes can result (reductive aromas and a “pinched” quality on the palate). Simply put, we want some but not very much oxygen transmission – corks are variable, the bad ones causing oxidation or taint; screw caps can lead to reduction. If the winemaker gets screw cap right, it’s clearly an excellent closure.