Prescient Chardonnay Report 2023: Top 10

By , 27 October 2023

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:

95

Vriesenhof 2021
Price: R240
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.26%

Winner of a 2BFermControl organic fermentation kit worth R11 000.

94

Blaauwklippen 2022
Price: R200
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.5%

94

Delaire Graff Terraced Block 2022
Price: R915
Wine of Origin: Banghoek
Abv: 13.35%

94

Lothian of Elgin 2021
Price: R370
Wine of Origin: Elgin
Abv: 13.5%

94

Oak Valley Groenlandberg 2022
Price: R280
Wine of Origin: Elgin
Abv: 13.21%

94

Paul Cluver Village 2022
Price: R125
Wine of Origin: Elgin
Abv: 12.8%

93

Bellingham Homestead 2021
Price: R110
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13%

93

Delaire Graff Banghoek Reserve 2022
Price: R410
Wine of Origin: Banghoek
Abv: 13.48%

93

Journey’s End V1 2022
Price: R195
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.5%

92

Cavalli Reserve 2022
Price: R210
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13%

Vriesenhof, Stellenbosch.

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.

In South Africa, Chardonnay is the seventh most widely planted variety overall, making up 7.3% of the total area under vineyard at the end of 2022.

What does top Chardonnay go for?

The average price of the 43 wines to rate 90-plus is R286 a bottle and of the Top 10 is R306.

Best buy

Offering the best quality relative to price is De Wet 2022 with a rating of 90 and selling for R69 a bottle.

Grapes from vineyards that lie 930 meters above sea-level in the Klein Karoo. A top note of blossom before lime, lemon and vanilla. Good fruit concentration and tangy acidity.

 

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 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.

Hermanus boutique wine retailer Wine Village is offering all of the wines in the Top 10 for sale and can deliver internationally – buy now.

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