Prescient Cape White Blend Report 2022: Top 10

By , 10 May 2022

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Introduction

This year’s Cape White Blend Report convened by Winemag.co.za and sponsored by multinational financial services company Prescient is now out. There were 27 entries from 26 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

Beaumont New Baby 2019
Price: R395
Wine of Origin: Bot River, Walker Bay
Abv: 13.07%

94

Meerhof Chenin Blanc Chardonnay Roussanne Grenache Blanc Verdelho Viognier 2021
Price: R155
Wine of Origin: Swartland
Abv: 13%

93

Dornier Donatus White 2018
Price: R255
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.54%

93

Zevenwacht The Tine Mine 2021
Price: R140
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14%

92

Essay Chenin Blanc Roussanne Viognier 2021
Price: R95
Wine of Origin: Coastal Region
Abv: 13.63%

91

Cavalli Cremello 2021
Price: R185
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.5%

91

Coterie by Wildeberg 2021
Price: R170
Wine of Origin: Coastal Region
Abv: 13.5%

91

Retief Reserve Cape White 2020 (Van Loveren)
Price: R104
Wine of Origin: Robertson
Abv: 13.83%

91

Roodekrantz Vineyard Selection Die Messelaar 2020
Price: R160
Wine of Origin: Coastal Region
Abv: 13.98%

91

The Tea Leaf 2021 (Strange Kompanjie)
Price: R121
Wine of Origin: Western Cape
Abv: 13.5%

Beaumont, Bot River.

About the category

Cape White Blends make for an important, if niche, category. No official definition exists but our proposal is that such wines can be made from any combination of varieties as long as they include a significant Chenin Blanc component, specifically more than 15% and less than 85% – Chenin is our most planted variety by far (16 827ha in the ground at the end of 2021, this making up 18.6% of the national vineyard) and we should find ways to celebrate it.

What does a top Cape White Blend go for?

The average price of the Top 10 is R178 a bottle. Offering the best quality relative to price is Essay Chenin Blanc Roussanne Viognier 2021 with a rating of 92 and selling for R95 a bottle.

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: Prescient Cape White Blend Report 2022

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.

Online retailer Wine-of-the-Month Club is offering a six-bottle mixed case selected from the Top 10 – buy now.

Comments

2 comment(s)

Please read our Comments Policy here.

    Rioja | 12 May 2022

    this category , for me , is a favourite. I believe where South Africa is best. Disappointed not to see any of my favourites eg Rocking Horse , SC Field Blend, Vagabond, Mullineux Old Vines, V Babiana , Badenhorst White etc etc

    Izak | 12 May 2022

    I have a problem with categorizing these wines under Cape White Blends. I would rather reserve it for Sauvignon Semillon Blends. The rest is often a concoction of all sorts. Although some could be great.
    Rather call it according to the lead cultivar. Chenin White Blend etc.

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