Prescient Sauvignon Blanc Report 2021: 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 125 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:

 

95

Vergelegen 2021
Price: R130
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.6%

94

Delaire Graff Coastal Cuvée 2021
Price: R175
Wine of Origin: Coastal Region
Abv: 13.78%

Buy from Dry Dock

93

Dombeya 2021 (Haskell Vineyards)
Price: R120
Wine of Origin: Western Cape
Abv: 13.4%

Buy from Dry Dock

93

Groote Post 2021
Price: R107
Wine of Origin: Darling
Abv: 13.66%

Buy from Dry Dock

93

La Vierge Original Sin 2020
Price: R115
Wine of Origin: Walker Bay
Abv: 13.55%

93

Nitida 2021
Price: R105
Wine of Origin: Durbanville, Cape Town
Abv: 14.38%

Buy from Dry Dock

93

South Hill 2021
Price: R115
Wine of Origin: Elgin
Abv: 13.81%

Buy from Dry Dock

92

Strandveld Pofadderbos 2021
Price: R160
Wine of Origin: Elim
Abv: 13.66%

Buy from Dry Dock

91

Paul Cluver 2021
Price: R100
Wine of Origin: Elgin
Abv: 13.54%

Buy from Dry Dock

91

Zevenwacht 2021
Price: R100
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 14%

Buy from Dry Dock

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 R122,70 a bottle.

Best Buy

Offering the best quality relative to price is John B 2021 with a rating of 91 and selling for R55 a bottle.

John B is the “lifestyle” range from Robertson property Rietvallei and this particular wine provides great everyday drinking. The nose shows a little flinty reduction before citrus, white peach and fresh herbs while the palate shows pure fruit, racy acidity and a dry finish.

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 Sauvignon Blanc Report 2021

Shop online

Johannesburg boutique wine retailer Dry Dock Liquor is offering most of the wines in the Top 10 for sale and can deliver nationwide.  Spend R500 or more and get R150 off. Use code WINEMAG150 at checkout – buy now.

Online retailer Wine-of-the-Month Club is offering a six-bottle mixed case selected from the Top 10 – buy now.

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