Prescient Cabernet Sauvignon Report 2023: Top 10
By Christian Eedes, 27 October 2023
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Introduction
This year’s Cabernet Sauvignon Report sponsored by multinational financial services company Prescient is now out. There were 66 entries received from 50 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:
95
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2019
Price: R450
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.97%
Winner of a 2BFermControl organic fermentation kit worth R11 000.
94
Glenelly Glass Collection 2021
Price: R160
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.26%
94
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection 2021
Price: R199
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 15%
94
Kruger Family Reserve 2020 (Stellenview)
Price: R250
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.47%
93
Alto 2019
Price: R275
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.6%
93
Ernie Els Major Series 2021
Price: R250
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.95%
93
Maastricht 2021
Price: R155
Wine of Origin: Cape Town
Abv: 14.92%
93
Peter Falke Kailani 2019
Price: R800
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14%
93
Peter Falke PF 2021
Price: R300
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.5%
93
Stellenbosch 1679 2020 (Koelenhof)
Price: R425
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.53%
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 10.6% of the total area under vineyard at the end of 2022.
What does top Cabernet Sauvignon go for?
The average price of the 35 wines to rate 90-plus is R322 a bottle and of the Top 10 is R326.
Best buy
Offering the best quality relative to price is Arebeidsgenot 2022 with a rating of 90 and selling for R130 a bottle.
Cherries, plums, musk, a slight herbal note and vanilla on the nose. The palate is medium bodied with fresh acidity and fine tannins, the finish nicely dry.
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 2023
Shop online
Johannesburg boutique wine retailer Dry Dock Liquor is offering all of the wines in the Top 10 for sale and can deliver nationwide – buy now.
Video
Kwispedoor | 29 October 2023
Some might argue that the Charles Lang & Sons (88 points @ R50) offer better value than the Arbeidsgenot (90 points @ R130), especially considering the nature of wine scoring.