WineMag Prescient Cabernet Report 2019

Last week, the 8th Annual Winemag.co.za Cabernet Sauvignon Report was held, sponsored by Prescient

Business Manager, Jacqueline (Jax) Lahoud said that from today, besides publishing the scores earned by the wines that entered, they will be awarding certificates to only the top 10 wines in this category. You can download the full report online at https://winemag.co.za/

Controversial!

Awaiting the results with bated breath

The awards event was held at Harrington’s restaurant on the eastern edge of central Cape Town

It's always interesting to see who has been invited to attend

Prescient CEO Craig Moxford shared his thoughts about the competition. This is their 4th year of sponsorship of the event

He thanked clients and partners and welcomed the winemakers. There were 194 entries this year from 76 producers

Prescient is 21 years old this year and is now a multinational global financial service provider

Editor of Winemag.co.za Christian Eedes told us that the three judges had not changed: Himself, James Petersen and Roland Peens. There were 43 wines that scored 90 points, and 15 scoring over 90. The standard of wine continues on a top curve, so it is not an easy job tasting and judging.  All this competition's data is on line. Leaf roll virus remains a huge issue. The best producers are managing it very well, also pyrazines, which do enhance the wines a bit. After 8 years, the panel has become more accepting of some greenness which adds freshness. They avoid overripe and over-oaked wines. There is a sub-set of light and fruity wines, more commercial he thinks. Christian thinks lighter bodied Cabernet is a contradiction. They score on the 100 point scale and are impressed with palate density, freshness and tension. Stellenbosch had 70% of the 90 plus point wines, so very well done. and there were two of exceptional quality.  The top wines have endured the competition many times and are very consistent

These were the 90 point wines

the 91 points

and the 92 point wines

Time to reveal the top 10 and taste them. Fleur du Cap 2016. It is herbal on the nose with green leaves, even forest floor aromas

Classic Cabernet nose with cassis and wood on the end; on the palate, cassis fruit, wood and soft chalky tannins

Neil Ellis 2017. Nice fruit on the nose; cherry, cassis, hint of wood. Grippy tannins, lovely intense cassis fruit, very long flavours,

all indicating a long life, so one to buy and put away

Blaauwklippen 2017, made by Narina Cloete. Forest floor with very dark berry fruit on the nose, sweet fruit on the palate;

so unlike the nose, mouth puckering grippy tannins, needs time

Delaire Graff 2017 Very good, with a classic Cabernet nose and incense wood

Good fruit, long flavours and freshness on the end

We were so impressed with the Kleine Zalze 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon that it was our Wine of the Week last week

Lovely mulberry fruit on the rich nose. Silky soft on the palate, with layers of cassis, cherry and mulberry fruit;

very soft chalky tannins, freshness and good wood support. This wine is already very accessible

and will continue to impress and improve with age. It has just been released

The Le Riche 2016 has an amazing richness on the nose; a signature of Le Riche wines

Warm fruit and alcohol, cassis and cherry flavours with tight tannins and great potential. This needs lots of time

Strydom 2017 Cabernet has lovely perfume on the nose and is full of cassis and incense wood

Dark intense fruit, a food wine with with many layers of dark cherry & berries

Plaisir de Merle 2015 has the classic cassis leaf and fruit with incense wood on the nose,

lighter in style with some licorice, cherries and cassis

Rust and Vrede Estate 2017 scored an impressive 94 points. Its a cassis bomb on the nose with perfume and lovely wood hints

in the background. Juicy, dark berries on the palate with a licorice end, drinking well now, but huge ageing potential

And the highest scoring wine of the competition is the 2017 Croydon Covenant Cabernet Sauvignon

Their first time in the competition and not often seen. A classic cabernet nose with incense wood and a hint of violets

- rather different from the others. Jammy fruit, cassis and blackberry, long fresh flavours with soft fruit and chalky tannins

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