Prescient Fund Services Sauvignon Blanc Report 2025: Top 10
By Christian Eedes, 19 August 2025
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Introduction
This year’s Sauvignon Blanc Report sponsored by multinational financial services company Prescient is now out. There were 78 entries received from 55 producers and these were tasted blind (labels out of sight) by a three-person panel, scoring done according to the 100-point quality scale. In addition, there were 19 Sauv-Sem blends entered.
Sauvignon Blanc Top 10
The 10 best are as follows:
95
Diemersdal The Journal 2024
Price: R355
Wine of Origin: Durbanville
Abv: 13.11%
Winner of shipping services worth R10 000 from Aspiring Couriers.
94
The Giant Periwinkle Blanc Fumé South 2022
Price: R310
Wine of Origin: Cape Agulhas
Abv: 12.5%
94
Vergelegen Wild Winds 2024
Price: R155
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.5%
93
Flagstone Free Run 2023
Price: R140
Wine of Origin: Cape Coast
Abv: 13.5%
93
Flagstone The Surge 2024
Price: R230
Wine of Origin: Darling
Abv: 13.5%
93
Groot Phesantekraal 2025
Price: R115
Wine of Origin: Cape Town
Abv: 13.54%
93
Maastricht The Contour 2024
Price: R240
Wine of Origin: Cape Town
Abv: 13.64%
93
Koueberg Bliksembos 2023
Price: R130
Wine of Origin: Cape South Coast
Abv: 13%
93
PaardenKloof Springtide 2024
Price: R210
Wine of Origin: Bot River
Abv: 13.55%
93
Quoin Rock Nicobar 2024
Price: R520
Wine of Origin: Cape Coast
Abv: 13.33%
Sauv-Sem Blends Top Four
The four best are as follows:
95
Wade Bales Regional Series Constantia White 2023
Price: R250
Wine of Origin: Constantia
Abv: 13.33%
Winner of shipping services worth R10 000 from Aspiring Couriers.
94
Constantia Royale Don’s Reserve 2023
Price: R325
Wine of Origin: Constantia
Abv: 13.89%
94
Creation Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2024
Price: R235
Wine of Origin: Walker Bay
Abv: 13.5%
93
Constantia Uitsig Natura Vista 2024
Price: R205
Wine of Origin: Constantia
Abv: 13.5%
Shop online
Online wine shop Getwine is offering all of the top wines for sale – buy wine.
About the category
Sauvignon Blanc is an extremely popular variety that typically makes aromatic, crisp, dry and extremely distinctive wines all over the world. The appellations of Pouilly-Fumé and Sancerre in the central France’s Loire Valley produce benchmark versions of the variety while New Zealand has also become closely associated with it in modern times. In Bordeaux, meanwhile, Sauvignon is frequently blended with Semillon to good effect.
Most Sauvignon Blanc is fermented at relatively low temperatures in stainless steel with the intention of preserving as much primary fruit as possible. Picking dates and winemaking have a huge influence on style, but the best examples provide a recognisable sense of place, too. Barrel fermentation and maturation as well as the addition of Semillon are two ploys to provide the wines from the variety with extra depth and complexity.
What does a top Sauvignon Blanc go for?
The average price of the 33 wines to rate 90-plus is R212 a bottle and of the Top 10 is R241.
Best Buy
Offering best quality relative to price is Zevenwacht 7even 2025 with a rating of 90 points and selling for R95 a bottle.
Citrus and tropical fruit on the nose while the palate is juicy, rich and full, bright acidity lending balance.
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: Prescient Fund Services Sauvignon Blanc Report 2025
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Comments
8 comment(s)
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Kwispedoor | 20 August 2025
I don’t really think one can say that 2024 was generally a better vintage than 2023 – certainly not as far as the earlier ripening grapes are concerned. So I wonder what can be the explanation for the huge 7-point gap between the 2023 and 2024 vintages of the Diemersdal The Journal?
Christian Eedes | 20 August 2025
Hi Kwispedoor, Fair question (the panel was equally surprised once the wines were revealed). Our view was that the 2023 shows more fatigue than finesse – dark in colour, with fruit already faded, oxidation setting in, and oak rather dominant. As a result, it simply didn’t convince to the same degree as the 2024, hence the score gap (even great producers sometimes goof).
Jos | 20 August 2025
Is that not more likely the result of a faulty bottle or were there multiple bottles showing the same issues?
Christian Eedes | 20 August 2025
Hi Jos, Producers are asked to submit two bottles, both of which we tasted in this instance. I spoke with winemaker Juandre Bruwer at the awards event, and he admitted he wasn’t entirely surprised that the wine had underwhelmed.
Jos | 20 August 2025
Thanks, for that context. Given that the Journal is their premium offering, you would think they would skip a vintage if the wine is that underwhelming. Pretty disappointing from an integrity perspective.
Angela Lloyd | 20 August 2025
Jos, The Journal 2023 received 5* in 2025 Platter with a score of 96. As their Platter taster, I can confirm 2024 is also stellar.
Tiaan Erasmus | 23 August 2025
Good to see Groot Phesantekraal coming through in the TOP 10 and as far as I recall one or two other categories as well.
Guy Cunliffe | 24 August 2025
I really like their cab, the Tops near my house usually has it, become something of a “go to”