The best from the market
Vinum Report Part 2
At the beginning of the year, we at KapWeine submitted over 100 white wines to Vinum magazine for evaluation. In the second part of the Vinum report, you will find our top 26 value white wines from the Cape.
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 world’s most beautiful and impressive wine regions. Vinum magazine has taken a closer look at some of the top white wines, such as the Chenin Blanc grape variety, compared them and praised them in the highest terms. Discover all the wine ratings now.
However, the northern part is hotter and drier; it does not work here without artificial irrigation. In contrast, the climate in the south, in the broadest sense around Cape Town, is more moderate. It is no different from 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.
Especially South Africa’s indigenous flagship Steen, aka Chenin Blanc, reacts differently to each terroir. Many wines from 2018, 2019 and 2020 were on the table at this market show, with the vintage range going back to 2007.
WWe find that South African winemakers have mastered the uncomplicated basic and the top growth and know-how to deal with complicated years. Current 2021s and some of the essential 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 required a lot from the wineries, the wines are more accessible and round.
Exceptions confirm the rule. Exotics like Riesling or Grenache Blanc showed a pure fascination with independence at a high level. Moreover, 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.
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, it gives air further maturity. Juicy, at the same time, firm and incredibly animating palate with excellent acidity and freshness, chalky soil and lots of stone spice. There is a structure with a mineral base—lots of backbone and so very clear and unadorned. It does not build on aromas, but the strengths are the design, freshness, and minerality.
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REYNEKE
Reserve White – Organic – 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!
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CARINUS
Rooidraai – Chenin Blanc – 2020
CHF 23.90 instead of 29.90
18/20 Points by Vinum
Light spontaneous drinker 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.
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WATERFORD
Chardonnay Single Vineyars – 2018
CHF 29.90
18/20 Points by Vinum
Very discreet, completely closed and showing only minimal fruit. An enormously demanding acidity that glides through the wine straightforwardly and currently still uncompromising. Tart. Straightforward. Pure. Extremely difficult to rate. Unripe lemons, crisp lime and lemon balm. Can go from “will remain so unripe” to “in five years this will be terrific”. Yet so uncompromising. Put it away – that’s the basis of the rating.
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VERGELEGEN
Semillon Reserve – 2017
CHF 23.90 instead of 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.
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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.
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CARINUS
Polkadraai – Chenin Blanc – 2020
CHF 23.90 instead of 29.90
17.5/20 Points by Vinum
Pome fruits and apple cores, chamomile and almonds and all very unadorned and pure. Firm style on the palate with again the notes of the nose plus a fine yeasty and fine bitter note to it. Backbone and structure, freshness and unpretentious aromatics. Long and racy as well as powerful and balanced finish.
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LOURENS FAMILY
Lindi Carien – 2020
CHF 32.00
17.5/20 Points by Vinum
Earthy as well as discreetly floral fruit with hay flowers, lemon balm and yellow stone fruit. Coherent and elegant. Good acidity, chiselled structure and quite pure, chalky and very precise aromatics on the palate. Demanding and grippy, full of character and far away from the usual. Class.
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OAK VALLEY
Groenlandberg – Chardonnay – 2019
CHF 27.90 instead of 35.00
17.5/20 Points by Vinum
Discreetly creamy, yet also herbal aromas with green apple, green asparagus and meadow herbs. Racy and straightforward, fresh and cool. Rich and compact, very fresh and not very round style with the aromas of the nose, lots of grip and still restrained. Full acid freshness despite the power in itself coherent and with very good storage potential.
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VERGELEGEN
Sauvignon Blanc – Reserve – 2018
CHF 26.10 instead of CHF 29.00
17.5/20 Points by Vinum
Chopped grass, fresh mint and some spring onions, all discreet and never loud or banal. There is also minerality, chalkiness and thus a structure, acid freshness and tautness that it needs for power on the palate. Wonderful grip and a lot of unadornedness! Freshness and precision.
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WOLF AND WOMAN
Chenin Blanc – 2020
CHF 29.00
17.5/20 Points by Vinum
Restrained, quite earthy-mineral fruit with peppery and nutmeg spice, fresh grapefruit and a hint of apple. Very fresh, very straightforward and crisp with a taut and somewhat tart style. Great balance with minerality and demanding grippy style, giving it backbone. Long, racy finish.
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BOUCHARD FINLAYSON
Mission Valle – 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.
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CITY ON A HILL
White – 2020
CHF 22.90 instead of 29.00
17/20 Points by Vinum
Very lean nose with stony spiciness, also with mushrooms and fresh ginger on the nose. A lot of character and independence on the palate, too, with this kind of certain coolness, the earthy aromas and a wonderfully animated drinkability that does not come across as banal. Character, that’s what it is.
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STELLENBOSCH
Hangbrug Reserve – Chenin Blanc – 2019
CHF 15.90 instead of CHF 19.90
17/20 Points by Vinum
Earthy and chalky, slate and exotic fruits, individual and exciting, always very precise and clear on the nose. Present but not very powerful style on the palate, there is almost a saltiness, rich acidity and minerality. Bone dry at the same time with a certain charm and a nice balance. Character.
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KLEINE ZALZE
Selection – Chenin Blanc – Screw Cap – 2020
CHF 15.20 instead of 16.90
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.
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NEIL ELLIS
Amica – Sauvignon Blanc – Reserve – 2018
CHF 22.00
17/20 Points by Vinum
Fine chiselled coolness with stored grass, a stone spicy freshness and some artichoke. Rich and powerful style with freshness and grip, bone dry and with structure, which it also needs with the power. No ballerina, but with balance and demanding nature on the palate. Beautiful acidity, classy style.
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OAK VALLEY
Beneath the Clouds – Screw Cap – 2019
CHF 19.00 instead of 24.90
17/20 Points by Vinum
Flint, some green kiwi, tart apple and a coolness paired with lemon, lime and stony spice. Immensely drinkable palate with juice and balanced power, medium acidity as well as a certain ripe and creamy fruit alongside. The finish is also chalky and salty. Has something!
Killer Deal – from 6 bottles
WATERKLOOF
Circle of Life White – Screw Cap – 2017
CHF 13.90 instead of 24.00
17/20 Points by Vinum
Earthy as well as fruity nose with crunchy vegetables and fresh herbs, very coherent and quite polished. Also on the palate a juicy and drinkable, at the same time serious style with fine phenolic grip and a matching fierce note to the nose. Could be overlooked.
Killer Deal – from 6 bottles
THELEMA
Chardonnay – Screw Cap – 2018
CHF 13.90 instead of 21.90
16.5/20 Points by Vinum
With a slightly reductive nose, Granny Smith, lime and some mint show up with a little air in the glass. Ditto the palate, which is very crisp, very wiry, yet incredibly coherent and finely meshed. No make-up and still good. Down-to-earth.
Killer Deal – from 6 bottles
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE
Altima – Sauvignon Blanc – 2019
CHF 12.90 instead of CHF 19.90
16/20 Points by Vinum
Very vegetal-spicy style with aged nettles, fully ripe gooseberries and apple seeds. Deep and dense. Very powerful, even the freshness doesn’t quite help. Absolutely clean, enormously powerful and not playing with residual sweetness.
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STELLENBOSCH
Moederkerk Reserve Chardonnay – 2019
CHF 15.90 instead of 19.90
16/20 Points by Vinum
Still laced with flint and some cold smoke, slate and artichokes. Will open up with air and time. Straightforward and direct, there is nothing highly complex or deep, but it shows what it is. Notes of hay on the nose.
Killer Deal – from 6 bottles
KEN FORRESTER
Old Vine – Chenin Blanc – 2019
CHF 13.90 instead of CHF 17.90
16/20 Points by Vinum
Somewhat restrained but with rich citrus fruit, grapefruit and herbal notes. Racy and straightforward. Drinking and juicy style with freshness, straightforward, fresh and uncomplicated, at the same time with quality and a certain claim.
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STELLENRUST
Chenin Blanc – Screw Cap – 2020
CHF 10.90 instead of 13.90
16/20 Points by Vinum
Animating fruit with flint, menthol, white pepper and some currant blossom. Wonderfully juicy and fresh on the palate despite the power. An ideal aperitif wine on a good level that will also last a few years.
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KLEIN CONSTANTIA
Sauvignon Blanc – Screw Cap – 2019
CHF 12.90 instead of CHF 19.90
16/20 Points by Vinum
Delicate fruit, restrained and with some vegetable and tart fruit notes. Dry and not playing with residual sweetness, fresh acidity, straightforward and very earthy on the palate. Crisp and down-to-earth style.
Killer Deal – from 6 bottles
VERGELEGEN
Chardonnay – Screw Cap – 2018
CHF 11.90 instead of 19.90
16/20 Points by Vinum
The nose is restrained and somewhat reductive. Slightly more open palate with juice and power, acidity and earthiness and some lemon zest. Very coherent, perhaps lacking a little depth and complexity. Crisp and fresh, yet never banal.
Special Offer
WOLFTRAP
Assemblage White – Screw Cap – 2020
CHF 9.90 instead of CHF 13.90
15.5/20 Points by Vinum
Buttoned up and with some flint and wet pebbles. So too the palate with a juicy, quaffable style and a pleasing style, some CO2 playing with the residual sweetness. Crowdpleaser.
Report by Vinum, April 2022
All prices in CHF incl. VAT. Daily price as of 21.04.2022. Offers valid while stocks last. Fehler und Preisänderungen unter Vorbehalt.
