Top white wines from the Cape
Vinum Report
We are also going full throttle in terms of press work! That’s how we ended up sending over 100 white wines to VINUM magazine for tasting.
The final VINUM report on the top wines of South Africa is proof that there is still good wine to taste.
Vinum magazine has taken a closer look at some of the top white wines, such as the grape varieties Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and many more, compared them with each other and praised them highest terms. Discover the ratings of the top white wines now.
Anyone who has ever been to South Africa knows: the country is considered one of the most beautiful and impressive wine regions in the world. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the west coast and the Indian Ocean on the east coast, these cold ocean currents ensure an ideal climate for viticulture. As much as both influence the climate, the various microclimates are very different.
Basically, however, the northern part is hotter and drier, without artificial irrigation it does not work here. In contrast, the climate in the south, in the broadest sense around Cape Town, is more moderate. It is no different with the existing soils, which can be divided into three basic formations: Granite, sand and shale. Again, with a wide variety of characteristics and local conditions.
especial South Africa’s indigenous flagship Steen, aka Chenin Blanc, reacts differently to each terroir. At this market show, many wines from 2018, 2019 and 2020 were on the table, with the vintage range going back to 2007.
We find that South African winemakers have mastered the uncomplicated basic as well as the top growth and also know how to deal with complicated years. Current 2021s and some of the basic wines from 2020 are easy-going aperitif wines at a good level, they convey drinking pleasure. The crus with potential, demanding and terroir-related, came from the 2018 and 2020 vintages, both impressively confirming their excellent reputation. In the difficult 2019 vintage, which demanded a lot from the wineries, the wines are more accessible and round.
Exceptions confirm the rule. Pure fascination with independence at a high level was shown by exotics like Riesling or Grenache Blanc. Moreover, it seems that new ways of winemaking are being explored and the well-trodden paths are being left behind.
This was especially clear in the Chenin Blanc – wonderfully demanding, long-lasting and following the character of the variety. A real pleasure.
Aktion
LOURENS FAMILY
Skuinskap Steen – Chenin Blanc – 2020
CHF 49.00
18.5/20 Points by Vinum
Finely chiselled nose with walnut, a touch of grape skin and tart quince skin and a slightly woody component. Juicy as well as taut style with good freshness, firm grip and pressure, but balanced. Very coherent in itself and seemingly made for a long life. That’s Chenin blanc!
Special Offer
REYNEKE
Reserve White Organic – Sauvignon Blanc – 2018
CHF 27.90 instead of CHF 35.00
18.5/20 Points by Vinum
Lots of cold smoke, flint, dried camomile and aromas when blocks of stone are sawn. Fascinating. Racy and firm, grippy and mineral. This is how the palate presents itself, stony and with lots of pure aromatics. Very demanding and not an easy to understand Sauvignon Blanc. Acidity and minerality, storage potential and what an annoying acidity. Great class!
Special Offer
DAVID & NADIA
Chenin Blanc – 2020
CHF 27.90 instead of 34.90
18.5/20 Points by Vinum
Still reductive with flint and a touch of sulphur, definitely give air or further maturity. Juicy, at the same time firm and incredibly animating palate with wonderful acidity and freshness, chalky soil and lots of stone spice. There is structure with a mineral base. Lots of backbone and so very clear and unadorned. Does not build on aromas, but structure, freshness and minerality are the strengths.
Special Offer
ALHEIT
Cartology -2020
CHF 34.90 instead of CHF 44.00
18/20 Points by Vinum
Finely acidic, tart as well as herbaceous fruit on the nose, very individual and appealing at the same time. Yellow herbs, lemon balm and dried flowers. Taut and bone-dry palate, which has a lot of drinking pleasure, but at the same time never seems chummy. Wonderful fine acidity and some minerality, saltiness and a super nice balance. Finesse. Still has room to grow!
Special Offer
CARINUS
Rooidraai – Chenin Blanc – 2020
CHF 23.90 instead of 29.90
18/20 Points by Vinum
Light spontaneous stinker with some aged vegetables, hay and grape skins. Racy and with finesse. What a wonderfully juicy style, never thin or flat or banal – simply down-to-earth. Down-to-earth in both senses. Far from the run-of-the-mill style, a lot of character and at the same time an invitation not to bend Chenin blanc. Extremely individual – you either love it or despise it.
Killer Deal – from 6 bottles
DEMORGENZON
Chardonnay Reserve – 2018
CHF 29.90 instead of CHF 39.00
18/20 Points by Vinum
Wonderfully fresh nose reminiscent of wet slate and petrol. Ethereal and grippy, very individual and demanding. Rich style on the palate with minerality, again those flavours of the nose and a chiselled acidity – class. By no means simple, it challenges with its acidity and laser-like minerality. Great class.
Special Offer
REYNEKE
Chenin Blanc – Organic – 2019
CHF 19.90 instead of 27.50
18/20 Points by Vinum
Very own nose with oily slate, wet pebbles, dried hay flowers and a slightly salty aroma in the background. Fine, elegant, with wet pebbles and some ethereal coolness. The palate is one that is overlooked for its lightness and finesse. Again, that slightly earthy mineral and chiselled grip. Great class, restrained and pure.
Special Offer
VERGELEGEN
Semillon Reserve – 2017
CHF 23.90 instead of CHF 29.00
18/20 Points by Vinum
Discreet nose with cold smoke, quince jelly, camomile and lots of breed and straightforward, enormously fresh fruit. Ditto the palate, but there is enormous power, lots of grip, bitter grapefruit and amazing acidity. Calcareous, grippy and it brings the power really well to the ground. No flatterer, no lightweight, a powerhouse in a tailor-made suit. Great.
Killer Deal – from 6 bottles
VERGELEGEN
Chardonnay – Screw Cap – 2018
CHF 11.90 instead of 19.90
18/20 Points by Vinum
Racy, because mineral-spicy, puristic citrus fruit, enormously fresh and straightforward, but also very coherent and close-meshed nose. Reminiscent of Burgundy. Full palate with power and firm structure, good acid freshness and crystal clear flavours. Minerality, acidity, measured wood and nothing that is pleasing. Should mature perfectly!
Special Offer
ALHEIT VINEYARS
Hereafter Here – Chenin Blanc – 2020
CHF 24.90 instead of CHF 29.90
17.5/20 Points by Vinum
Very chiselled spice with subtle floral aromas, tart quince skin and apple notes. Rich and very compact palate with acid freshness, good phenolic grip and a firm core. Underneath cool yellow fruits, some white pepper and discreet apple pips. Enormously coherent.
Killer Deal – from 6 bottles
ATARAXIA
Chardonnay – 2019
CHF 26.90 instead of 39.00
17.5/20 Points by Vinum
Quite nutty, tobacco and slightly smoky nose with elegance and finesse. Elegant style on the palate too, with great balance and very nervy grip, juicy yet also firm acidity and a teeth-misting mineral note. Still some wood spice, which integrates perfectly with air and the right temperature.
Special Offer
BOUCHARD FINLAYSON
Missionvale – Chardonnay – 2019
CHF 24.90 instead of CHF 32.00
17.5/20 Points by Vinum
Slightly smoky, some ripe stone fruit, a hint of meadow mushroom and a wet mineral note. Individual, deep and complex. Continues like this on the palate, finely yeasty and slightly creamy underpinnings with sufficient freshness and acidity against it – has something. A mix of flatterer and character type.
Special Offer
LISMORE
Sauvignon Blanc – Barrel Fermented – 2018
CHF 23.20 instead of 29.00
17.5/20 Points by Vinum
Reductive, with air rather chiselled and delicate and just needing a lot of air! Then with earthy and slightly cool freshness, some citron and the touch of seasoned, cut grass. Juicy and firm palate with straightforward acidity and a firm core and structure. Here, too, the reductive still shows a little. With really good potential. Storage potential.
Special Offer
RALL
White – 2020
CHF 31.90 instead of CHF 39.00
17.5/20 Points by Vinum
Still restrained and subdued nose, with air breed, minerality and slightly vegetal nuances emerge. Precise and polished. Not really finished on the palate either, but again with minerality, a very grippy and firm style with a great acidity. Gripping, very earthy and fresh. Wonderfully assembled cuvée with a lot of character! Class.
Special Offer
KEN FORRESTER
Chenin Blanc – The FMC – 2019
CHF 49.00 instead of 59.00
17/20 Points by Vinum
Needs a lot of air, then quince skin, some apricot, Boskop apple and discreet wood spice paired with a slightly vanilla note. Quite idiosyncratic style on the palate with creamy and fierce underpinnings, a very dense fruit and a lot of charm. Currently it seems a bit overloaded and plump.
Special Offer
KLEIN CONSTANTIA
Metis – Sauvignon Blanc – 2017
CHF 23.20 instead of CHF 29.00
17/20 Points by Vinum
Freshly cut grass, ethereal spring onion and fresh ginger and it needs air so that it loses the reductive. On the palate, there are also nettles and artichokes, a juicy freshness of acidity, from the first ripeness onwards, always grippy and crisp with a demanding acidity. Anything but a crowd pleaser.
Special Offer
MONT BLOIS
Kweekkamp – Chardonnay – 2017
CHF 29.90 instead of 39.00
17/20 Points by Vinum
Rich, slightly sweet and spicy nose with cloves, fresh vanilla bean, marzipan and ripe yellow melon fruit. The palate is brutally different, there is nothing of the nose, there is freshness, structure with a lot of grip and still wood spice. Bone dry and a great acid freshness. Very difficult to rate. Nose with 16, palate with 18. Give it air, then it could still improve.
NEIL ELLIS
White Hall – Chardonnay – 2020
CHF 29.00
17/20 Points by Vinum
Quite dense and compact fruit with ripe pears and limes, but also with flint and fresh vegetal notes. Almost light-footed on the palate with enormous drinking pleasure, yet it remains serious and also shows storage potential. Fine, grippy style, somewhat phenolic and yet very balanced with coolness on the finish..
Special offer
TOKARA
Director’s Reserve White – Screw Cap – 2017
CHF 23.90 instead of 36.00
17/20 Points by Vinum
Very mineral coolness, wet slate, earthy soil and spring onions. Racy and earthy ethereal and subtle fresh ginger. Demanding nose. Wonderfully juicy and drinkable palate with structure and freshness, fitting acidity and herbal flavours. Not an all-world sauvignon blanc, the opposite. Lots of character and style and firm grip.
Report by Vinum, April 2022
All prices in CHF incl. VAT. Daily price from 07.04.2022.
Offers valid while stocks last. Errors and price changes subject to change.
