The Prescient Chardonnay Report 2018
By Christian Eedes, 16 October 2018
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The eighth annual Chardonnay Report sponsored by multinational financial services company Prescient is now out. There were 117 entries from 81 producers and these were tasted blind (labels out of sight) by a three-person panel, scoring done according to the 100-point quality scale.
Wines to rate 90 or higher were as follows:
94
Delaire Graff Terraced Block Reserve 2016
94
La Bri 2017 – Cybercellar price: R137
94
Le Riche 2017 – Cybercellar price: R155
94
Meerlust 2017 – Cybercellar price: R232
94
Paul Cluver Seven Flags 2017
93
Creation Reserve 2017
93
Delaire Graff Banghoek Reserve 2017
93
DeMorgenzon Reserve 2017 – Cybercellar price: R425
93
Domaine Des Dieux 2014
93
Eikendal 2017 – Cybercellar price: R178
93
Groot Constantia 2017 – Cybercellar price: R240
93
Hartenberg The Eleanor 2016 – Cybercellar price: R380
93
Henri Boillot Meursault 2016
93
Kershaw GPS Lower Duivenhoks River 2017
93
Kruger Family Wines Walker Bay 2017
93
Longridge 2017
93
Malanot Malan Family Reserve 2016
93
Oak Valley Groenlandberg 2017 – Cybercellar price: R260
93
Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 2015
93
Sutherland Elgin 2017 – Cybercellar price: R140
92
Elgin Vintners 2014
92
Groote Post Kapokberg 2017 – R180
92
Journey’s End Destination 2017 – Cybercellar price:R282
92
Kershaw Clonal Selection Elgin 2017
92
La Motte 2017 – Cybercellar price: R140
92
Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch 2017 – Cybercellar price: R195
91
Almenkerk 2017
91
Bartinney Hourglass 2017
91
Eikendal Infused by Earth 2016
91
Goedverwacht Maxim Limited Release 2017
91
Iona 2017
91
Jordan Nine Yards 2016
91
Longridge 2016
91
Neil Ellis Whitehall Elgin 2017
91
Plaisir de Merle 2017
91
Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo 2016
91
Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo 2017
91
Uva Mira The Mira 2017
91
Uva Mira The Single Tree 2016
91
Vrede en Lust Marguerite 2016
90
Aaldering 2017
90
Babylonstoren 2017 – Cybercellar price: R239
90
Badsberg Sur Lie 2017
90
Bersig Barrel Fermented 2016
90
Cape Point Vineyards 2017
90
Creation The Art of Chardonnay 2017
90
Durbanville Hills 2017
90
Edgebaston 2017
90
Esona Single Vineyard 2015
90
Fleur du Cap Series Privée 2017
90
Glen Carlou Quartzstone 2017
90
Haskell Anvil 2017
90
Hazendal 2017
90
Highlands Road 2016
90
Highlands Road 2017
90
Jordan Barrel Fermented 2017 – Cybercellar price: R172
90
Julien Schaal Evidence 2017
90
Julien Schaal Confluence 2017
90
Kershaw The Smuggler’s Boot 2016
90
Kershaw The Smuggler’s Boot 2017
90
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection 2017 – Cybercellar price: R120
90
Kruger Family Wines Klipkop 2017
90
La Vierge Jezebelle 2017 – Cybercellar price: R145
90
Louisvale 2017
90
Lourensford Limited Release 2017
90
Môreson Dr. Reason Why 2017
90
Muratie Isabella Reserve 2017
90
Oldenburg Vineyards 2017
90
Paul Cluver Estate 2017
90
Rustenberg Five Soldiers 2017
90
Stellenbosch Reserve Moederkerk 2018
90
Stonebird 2016
90
Sutherland Elgin Reserve 2016 – Cybercellar price: R300
90
Uva Mira 2016
To read the tasting report in full, download the following: Prescient Chardonnay Report 2018
To view a presentation on trends emerging from the last four years of reports, download the following: Prescient Chardonnay Report Trends
To view a photo album of the awards function, CLICK HERE.
To find out more about Prescient, CLICK HERE.
REGards | 20 October 2018
Please can you compress the results into a page or two for screenshots etc. I do not understand this modern trend of double line spacing and having to scroll through a mile-long vertical banner.
Print each score once and then list all the wines that scored that score in sigle-line spacing.
It will also make it easier for readers to scan up and down the list as they do comparisons.
Just a suggestion!
Donald | 17 October 2018
I think the fact that La Bri and Le Riche both score 94 whilst being less than R150 per bottle (plenty of wines that score less are more than twice the price) is another sign that price and quality are not necessarily directly proportional. A further 3 wines all scoring 90 but costing well less than R100 blows this argument out of the water. You can poo poo the results and scores if you don’t subscribe to this view but I think there’s enough evidence here – and in other reports/competitions – that several estates rest very heavily on their laurels and reputation and like to allude to the quality of their wines by charging high prices. Its up to us as consumers to call them out on it with educated buying decisions helped by reports such as this. Increase quality and the increase in price will follow organically as your wines become more in demand, increase price to imply an increase in quality without it actually being there or mildly commensurate with the price hike and you are sure to get rustled sooner or later.
Bernard | 16 October 2018
Had to laugh at some of the results.
Hennie Taljaard | 16 October 2018
im curious regarding the 87 points for Eikendal Mon Désir 2017. I thought it was a wonderful wine… pure, linear, green tinged, chiseled… so good in fact I bought a case for cellaring.
john | 17 October 2018
so now what ?? u enjoyed it and bought a case , so please will winemag score it higher for u , what a 94 or maybe a 96 ?? anything for your chiseled wines
Hennie Taljaard | 17 October 2018
en die gatvlieg maak weer sy verskyning so na sy aard.
Christian Eedes | 17 October 2018
Hi Hennie, It’s a very particular take on the variety – it has an alcohol of just 11.5% and a total acidity of 7.9g/l. Tasting blind, the panel found it a bit too lean and sour…
john | 17 October 2018
so it was picked unripe hennie , verjuice , use on your salad
Andre V | 16 October 2018
Lots of 90 plus. Should perhaps rather put on who did NOT get 90. List will be shorter.