Prescient Signature Red Blend Report 2023: Top 10

Introduction

This year’s Signature Red Blend Report convened by Winemag.co.za and sponsored by multinational financial services company Prescient is now out. There were 60 entries from 46 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

Ernie Els Proprietor’s Blend 2018
Price: R300
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv:14.31%

94

Fairview Goats Do Roam Red Blend 2021
Price: R73
Wine of Origin: Western Cape
Abv: 13.76%

93

Babylonstoren Babel 2021
Price: R185
Wine of Origin: Simonsberg-Paarl
Abv: 14%

93

Coterie by Wildeberg Grenache & Syrah 2022
Price: R181
Wine of Origin: Coastal Region
Abv: 14%

93

Fairview Extraño 2020
Price: R150
Wine of Origin: Western Cape
Abv: 14.24%

93

Harry Hartman Finn 2022
Price: R195
Wine of Origin: Western Cape
Abv: 13.6%

93

Strandveld The Navigator 2020
Price: R250
Wine of Origin: Elim
Abv: 13.32%

92

Boschendal Black Angus 2019
Price: R450
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14%

91

Boplaas Ring of Rocks 2021
Price: R160
Wine of Origin: Western Cape
Abv: 14%

91

Stellenzicht Thunderstone Red 2019
Price: R165
Wine of Origin: Coastal Region
Abv: 13.67%

About the category

Why should South Africa be bound by the Bordeaux model when it comes to creating great blended red wine? Perhaps the Rhône is a better reference point given local growing conditions while the so-called “Cape Blend” incorporating Pinotage potentially gives us a unique selling proposition. Then, of course, there are the red blends of yesteryear – Alto Rouge, Chateau Libertas and Rustenberg Dry Red to name but three – which conformed to no particular model but are revered for their complexity and longevity.

Once again, we called for wines which were “distinctive of their originators” and instead of the usual practice of dividing them into various sub-groups according to style (Pinotage-based vs Shiraz-based being the differentiation most usually made), we tasted them as one continuous line-up – the thinking being that the fundamentals of wine appreciation such as complexity and balance should apply when it came to making quality assessments.

What do top Signature Red Blends go for?

The average price of the 34 wines to rate 90-plus is R244 a bottle and of the Top 10 is R211.

Best buy

Offering the best quality relative to price is Koelenhof Koelenberg 2021 with a rating of 90 and selling for R65 a bottle.

62% Merlot and 38% Shiraz. Red berries, smoked meat and spice on the nose. Medium bodied with good freshness and mellow tannins.

Discovery of Report

The “Discovery of Report” serves to recognise previously unsung wines.

90

Rietvallei Estate 2016
Price: R800
Wine of Origin: Roberston
Abv: 13.84%

31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Shiraz 15% Petit Verdot, 12% Tinta Barocca, 12% Cinsault, 10% Roobernet and 3% Cabernet Franc – representing all that is Rietvallei. Red and black berries, earth, undergrowth and spice on the nose. Medium bodied with fresh acidity and fine tannins. Good detail and drinking very well.

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 Signature Red Blend 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 wine shop Wine Village is offering most of the wines in the Top 10 for sale and can ship all over the world – buy now.

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