Prescient Chardonnay Report 2022: Top 10
By Christian Eedes, 11 November 2022
Introduction
This year’s Chardonnay Report convened by Winemag.co.za and sponsored by multinational financial services company Prescient is now out. There were 80 entries from 59 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
Backsberg Smuggled Vines 2021
Price: R125
Wine of Origin: Coastal Region
Abv: 13.5%
Winner of a 2B FermControl kit worth R10 000.
94
Delaire Graff Summercourt 2021
Price: R205
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.6%
94
La Petite Ferme Barrel Fermented 2021
Price: R235
Wine of Origin: Franschhoek
Abv: 12.37%
93
Oak Value Tabula Rasa CY548 2020
Price: R700
Wine of Origin: Elgin
Abv: 13.54%
93
Waterford Single Vineyard 2019
Price: R320
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 12%
About Chardonnay
Chardonnay is widely planted throughout the world but its traditional home is Burgundy in the east of France, and it fares particularly well in the Côte de Beaune and Chablis where it thrives on the predominantly chalky soils.
It’s relatively easy to grow and winemakers love it for how readily it responds to a variety of techniques. As to what constitutes a good example is hard to define clearly, however. It can vary in colour from very pale to pronounced straw-yellow while it can be steely dry to rather rich and full on the palate. Flavours are often subtle and understated and yet beguiling.
What does top Chardonnay go for?
The average price of the 40 wines to rate 90-plus is R272 a bottle and of the Top 10 is R267.
Best buy
Offering the best quality relative to price is Kleine Zalze Cellar Selection Unoaked 2022 with a rating of 92 and selling for R77 a bottle.
Lovely primary aromatics of pear, peach lime and lemon plus herbs and flowers. Pure and energetic – good depth of fruit, bright acidity and a savoury finish.
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 Chardonnay Report 2022
Shop online
Johannesburg boutique wine retailer Dry Dock Liquor is offering some 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.
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