Prescient Fund Services Signature Red Blend Report 2026: Top 10

Introduction

This year’s Signature Red Blend Report sponsored by financial services company Prescient Fund Services is now out. There were 55 entries from 45 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 – Best overall

Boschendal Nicolas 2023
Price: R265
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.5%

Wins R10,000 in shipping from Aspiring Couriers.

95

Nederburg Baronne 2024
Price: R105
Wine of Origin: Western Cape
Abv: 13.67%

94

De Wet Vintage MashUp Shiraz Pinotage Durif 2023
Price: R105
Wine of Origin: Worcester
Abv: 14.3%

94

Donkiesbaai Suiderkruis 2024
Price: R389
Wine of Origin: Piekenierskloof
Abv: 13.11%

94

Florence by Aaldering Winemakers Selection Cape Blend 2024
Price: R179
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.17%

94

Koelenbosch Nineteenfortyone 2023 (Koelenhof)
Price: R97.50
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.04%

94

Rust en Vrede Estate 2022
Price: R699
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.32%

93

Baleia Limitados Calcerea 2022
Price: R395
Wine of Origin: Lower Duivenshok River
Abv: 14%

93

Boschendal Black Angus 2022
Price: R599
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14%

93 – Best buy

Chateau Libertas 2025
Price: R89
Wine of Origin: Western Cape
Abv: 13.52%

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About Signature Red Blends

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 32 wines to rate 90-plus is R303 a bottle and of the Top 10 is R292.

In-depth analysis

To read the report in full, including key findings, tasting notes for the top wines, buying guide (wines ranked by quality relative to price) and scores on the 100-point quality scale for all wines entered, download the following: PFS Signature Red Blend Report 2026