Prescient Cabernet Sauvignon Report 2024: Top 10
By Christian Eedes, 18 October 2024
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Introduction
This year’s Cabernet Sauvignon Report sponsored by multinational financial services company Prescient is now out. There were 61 entries received from 48 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:
94
Delaire Graff Reserve 2021
Price: R1 200
Wine of Origin: Banghoek
Abv: 14.83%
94
Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve The Castle of Good Hope 2022
Price: R156
Wine of Origin: Durbanville, Cape Town
Abv: 14.26%
94
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection 2022
Price: R210
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.84%
94 – Best Overall
Tokara Reserve Collection 2021
Price: R395
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.43%
Winner of a 2BFermControl organic fermentation kit worth R12 500.
93
Boschendal Stellenbosch 2021
Price: R300
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14%
93
Cederberg Nieuwoudt Five Generations 2021
Price: R825
Wine of Origin: Cederberg
Abv: 13.5%
93
The Pledge Our Stellie 2021 (Le Grand Domaine)
Price: R150
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.4%
93
Spier 21 Gables 2020
Price: R380
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14%
92
Flagstone Music Room 2020
Price: R380
Wine of Origin: 14.5%
Abv: Cape Coast
92
Zorgvliet 2021
Price: R195
Wine of Origin: Banghoek
Abv: 14.31%
About the category
The traditional home of Cabernet Sauvignon is Bordeaux, particularly the so-called Left Bank vineyards situated west of the Gironde river and incorporating such famous appelations as Margaux, Pauillac, St-Estèphe, St-Julien and, further south, Graves.
Because Cabernet Sauvignon can be difficult to ripen fully, making for lean and astringent wines, it is often blended with plumper Merlot. However, the best wines from this variety display exceptionally deep colour, the characteristic aroma of blackcurrants (cassis) and a high level of tannins. In addition, they have an almost unequalled capacity to age in bottle.
In South Africa, Cabernet Sauvignon is the fourth most widely planted variety overall, making up 10.4% of the total area under vineyard at the end of 2023.
What does top Cabernet Sauvignon go for?
The average price of the 35 wines to rate 90-plus is R384 a bottle and of the Top 10 is R419.
Best buy
Offering the best quality relative to price is Nederburg The Winemasters 2022 with a rating of 91 and selling for R115 a bottle.
Red and black berries, some leafiness, vanilla and spice. Medium bodied with fresh acidity and fine tannins, the finish persistent.
In-depth analysis
To read the report in full, including key findings, tasting notes for the top wines, buyers guide and scores on the 100-point quality scale for all wines entered, download the following: Prescient Cabernet Sauvignon Report 2024
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Mike Froud of Top Wine SA | 21 October 2024
Ag nee! Nothing better than a ‘high silver’ for top SA Cab?!
Christian Eedes | 21 October 2024
Hi Mike, By way of response: 1). Winemag.co.za defines 93 – 95 as “outstanding”; 2) To the extent that the 100-point system can be converted back into medals, setting 95 as the threshold for gold (as many do) is part of the key factors driving score inflation; and 3). you may be correct in worrying that scores aren’t higher for SA Cab and maybe this late-ripening variety is being compromised more than most by the erratic weather conditions of recent years.
Jos | 21 October 2024
Known colloquially as man made climate change.