Prescient Sauvignon Blanc Report 2020: Unwooded Top 10

Introduction

This year’s Sauvignon Blanc Report convened by Winemag.co.za and sponsored by multinational financial services company Prescient is to be released sequentially. There were 115 entries in total and these were tasted blind (labels out of sight) by a three-person panel, scoring done according to the 100-point quality scale.

Unwooded Top 10

The 10 best unwooded wines are as follows:

Bloemendal Waterlily 2019
Price: R95
Wine of Origin: Durbanville
Abv: 14.67%

Cape Point Vineyards Noordhoek 2019
Price: R135
Wine of Origin: Cape Town
Abv: 13.52%

Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve The Cape Mist 2019
Price: R160
Wine of Origin: Durbanville
Abv: 13.91%

Groote Post 2020
Price: R103
Wine of Origin: Darling
Abv: 13.96%

Lanzerac 2019
Price: R95
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.75%

Paul Cluver 2019
Price: R110
Wine of Origin: Elgin
Abv: 13.9%

Rietvallei 2020
Price: R95
Wine of Origin: Robertson
Abv: 12.8%

Vergelegen 2020
Price: R120
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.72%

Wildeberg Terroirs 2019
Price: R240
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14.2%

Zevenwacht 7even 2020
Price: R70
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.5%

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 Unwooded Sauvignon Blanc go for?

The average cellar-door price of the Top 10 is R122,30 a bottle with Zevenwacht 7even 2020 the most affordable at R70 a bottle.

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 Sauvignon Blanc 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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