In some methods previous, in different methods new, South Africa occupies a novel place within the wine world. The nation has a number of the oldest soils on the planet and a historical past of wine manufacturing extending again greater than 360 years, but it’s solely within the final 30 or in order that the wine-producing nation has skilled a rebirth.
South Africa’s wine business has seen an explosion of well-qualified winemakers exploit the nation’s huge range of terroirs, and quality-driven purple Bordeaux blends have confirmed to be among the many nation’s greatest, with attribute New World fruit and focus balanced by Outdated World complexity.
Scroll all the way down to see the top-scoring Bordeaux blends from South Africa
Setting a world benchmark for high quality, outcomes from the Decanter World Wine Awards supply annual insights into the calibre of wine areas and nations, and in 2021 South Africa noticed standout outcomes, together with a file breaking variety of Gold medals awarded. In 2022, the nation managed to equal its prime Gold medal depend, with nearly 50% awarded to purple wines, and a large range of grape varieties and types on present.
From top-quality Pinotage to Cinsault and Pinot Noir to Shiraz, there’s not one clear identifier of what South Africa does greatest – however Bordeaux blends did achieve a foothold in 2022.
On the judging, DWWA Regional Chair for South Africa Fiona McDonald commented: “What makes a wine a Gold is it’s acquired to be true to its varietal character. It’s acquired to have steadiness, to be elegant, to be harmonious – but it surely additionally has to have an X-factor. That X-factor is that indefinable pixie mud.”
Under, uncover 15 Bordeaux blends that stand out amid 2022 outcomes, with many extra award-winning South African wines to find at awards.decanter.com
South Africa Focus: Bordeaux blends
Cape City
Groot Constantia, Gouverneurs Reserve, Constantia 2018
95 Gold
£32-£36 Broadly out there through impartial retailers
48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 7% Malbec.
A classical Cape Bordeaux mix with engaging hints of cherry cola, blackcurrant and grilled herbs. Creamy and plush, deliciously vibrant fleshy fruit and a sublime end. Alcohol 14.2%
Durbanville Hills, The Tangram, Durbanville 2018
93 Silver
POA Cape Wine
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot.
Black plum, blackcurrant, cherry and chai tea nostril. The feel is smooth and polished, very elegant and funky with a beautiful recent blueberry-fruited end. Alc 14.6%
Constantia Glen, 5, Constantia 2019
92 Silver
£35.25 NY Wines
31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 17% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec.
Aromas of cedar spice, grilled herbs and black plums. Elegant and finely poised with silky tannins, candy tobacco,
blackcurrant and a protracted, finessed end. Alc 14.5%
Paarl
Babylonstoren, Nebukadnesar, Simonsberg-Paarl 2019
95 Gold
£28.75-£32.99 Banstead Vintners, Glug, Novel Wines, Vinotopia, Wanderlust
46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec.
Brooding, ripe darkish fruit, cedarwood and mint. Opulent and extracted, but balanced. Polished tannins and savoury. Alc 14.5%
Glen Carlou, The Assortment Pink Mix, Simonsberg-Paarl 2019
95 Gold
£26.90 Okay&LWines, Port2Port
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot.
Cacao nib, smoke, baked cherry pie and low mingle on a youthful, structured palate. Christmas pudding richness, cranberry acidity and savoury, spicy highlights. A sensible, softly textured wine. Alc 14.5%
Stellenbosch
Ridgeback, Signature C 2018
95 Gold
£66.25 (2017) Charles Mitchell
58% Cabernet Franc, 17% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot.
Wealthy, advanced ripe black fruit, Christmas cake, previous leather-based books, juniper and liquorice. The creamy palate is recent
and sophisticated. Spicy vibrancy and touches of herb add complexity to a cohesive, layered palate. Alc 14.5%
Stellenbosch 1679, The Legacy 2018
97 Platinum
koelenhof.co.za
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12.5% every of Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Mild plum pudding and spice on the nostril open right into a deeper palate of blackcurrant, cherry, clove and cigar smoke. Tannin is balanced by fruit focus and freshness. Alc 14%
Franschhoek Cellar, The Final Elephant 2019
96 Gold
£34-£38 Broadly out there through impartial retailers
48% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 12% Malbec.
Alluring perfumes of fruitcake, black cherry coulis, tobacco, clove, bay leaf and cocoa, echoed on the palate. Succulent, with ripe, pure fruit, layered and nuanced, with inky depth and a protracted tail. Alc 14%
Jordan, Cobblers Hill 2018
95 Gold
£35.55 ABS Wine Businesses
73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot.
Gamey characters accompany leafy blackcurrant notes, cassis, damson, leather-based and tobacco. The palate exhibits a posh granite earthiness with accents of potpourri, pencil shaving, cedarwood and deep black fruits. Nice potential. Alc 14%
Uva Mira Mountain Vineyards, OTV 2018
95 Gold
£125 Museum Wines
59% Cabernet Franc, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Brambles, damson, black cherry, and prunes in brandy, some curry leaf spice. A succulent palate has a silky texture with a whip of gravelly acidity. Lengthy and refined with a sexy cherry-
pip end. Alc 14.5%
Spier, Inventive Block 5 2019
93 Silver
POA Freixenet Copestick
42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec.
Chocolatey oak with bramble and toffee notes be a part of cherry tobacco and a touch of forest ground. Finishes with a agency grip. Alc 14.4%
Aslina, Umsasane 2020
92 Silver
£19 The Wine Society
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot.
Black fruit flows from the glass offset by capsicum, rosemary, bay leaf and hedgerow. Properly-integrated heat oak
spice and tannin. Alc 14.5%
Delheim, Grand Reserve 2018
92 Silver
£26 The Wine Society
63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot.
Fruitcake richness with notes of juniper, boozy purple cherries, blackcurrant pastilles and a beautiful mint elevate. A promising
future. Alc 14.5%
Oldenburg Vineyards, Rhodium 2020
92 Silver
£35 (2018) Wine & One thing
60% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Rose, musk, candy baking spice, violet, talcum powder and black fruit with a brush of dried herbs. A chic and
nuanced wine. Alc 14%
Western Cape
Vilafonté, Significantly Outdated Filth 2020
92 Silver
£27-£29.99 Handford, Laborious to Discover Wines, Port2Port, Roberson, Wine Direct
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 4% Malbec and a couple of% Cabernet Franc.
Bramble and hedgerow fruit, a brush of herbs, incense and sandalwood, a contact of milk chocolate. Savoury class,
with agency tannins. Alc 13.5%
