Prescient Minority Report 2020: Niche Red Varieties Top 10
By Christian Eedes, 4 November 2020
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Introduction
This year’s Minority Report convened by winemag.co.za and sponsored by multinational financial services company Prescient is to be released sequentially. There were 65 wines made from niche red varieties entered and these were tasted blind (labels out of sight) by a three-person panel, scoring done according to the 100-point quality scale.
Niche Red Varieties Top 10
The 10 best wines are as follows:
Beaumont Mourvèdre 2017
Price: R315
Wine of Origin: Bot River
Abv: 13.89%
De Krans Touriga Nacional 2018
Price: R115
Wine of Origin: Calitzdorp
Abv: 14%
Dornier Tempranillo Reserve 2016
Price: R225
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.5%
Old Road Wine Co. Pardonnez Moi Cinsault 2019
Price: R115
Wine of Origin: Western Cape
Abv: 13.5%
Piekenierskloof Cinsault 2019
Price: R135
Wine of Origin: Piekenierskloof
Abv: 14.79%
Piekenierskloof Heidedal Old Vine Cinsault 2018
Price: R450
Wine of Origin: Piekenierskloof
Abv: 13.89%
Raats Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2018
Price: R175
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.5%
Raats Family Cabernet Franc 2017
Price: R600
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.5%
Stellenrust Barrel Selection Cabernet Franc 2017
Price: R170
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.2%
Welgegund Grenache Noir 2019
Price: R375
Wine of Origin: Wellington
Abv: 13.5%
About the category
The focus of the Minority Report (previously the Alternative Varieties Report) is on wines from varieties whose respective total plantings do not exceed 2 000ha. South Africa’s nine most widely planted varieties (Chenin Blanc, Colombar, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Pinotage, Merlot and Ruby Cabernet in that order) all have plantings of over 2 000ha and together make up 84% of the national vineyard – this is a chance for the more subordinate varieties to shine!
In-depth analysis
To read the report in full, including key findings, tasting notes for the top wines, buyer’s guide and scores on the 100-point quality scale for all wines entered, download the following: Prescient Minority Report 2020
Shop online
Johannesburg boutique wine retailer Dry Dock Liquor is offering all wines in the Top 10 for sale – buy now.
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De Villiers | 4 November 2020
Surprised to see more Cinsault than Grenache Noir. Maybe they just did not enter the competition.
Claude Felbert | 4 November 2020
Cabernet Franc has become more and more important not only as a single cultivar but as a blend component. It is available in reasonable quantities and excellent quality and should not be considered to be a minority wine.
Christian Eedes | 4 November 2020
Hi Claude, The high quality to be had from Cabernet Franc may not be in question but it certainly is not that widespread – total plantings at the end of 2019 were 789.3ha, the equivalent of 0,86% of the national vineyard. Also the long-term trend is down, what’s in the ground having declined by 17.6% since 2009.