The moment all wine enthusiasts and South African Wine producers have been waiting for has arrived! Tim Atkin has released his annual South Africa Report and results are in - South African Wine did it again.
Tim Atkin, a Master of Wine and internationally renowned critic, is highly regarded in the wine industry, not only in South Africa, but across the world.
His annual report on South African wine is akin to the Oscars of the wine world. Over the years, his comprehensive evaluation of South African wines has become a benchmark for quality and innovation. For his twelfth annual overview, he tasted 2,256 wines from 425 wineries, highlighting the exceptional vintage.
This year, Tim spent a month and a half traveling through the Cape Winelands, tasting 2,259 wines from 427 wineries. His report is a 332-page compendium featuring his ten key findings on South African wine, what he deems the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth Growths, and Cru Bourgeois of the Cape Winelands, along with tasting notes for all wines rated 90+ points.
With one 100-point wine ( Alheit Vineyards Nautical Dawn ), three 99-point wines ( Sadie Family Mev Kirsten 2023 ), and thirteen 98-point wines, this report is one of the most comprehensive produced annually by a single critic.
For the full details, click here.
Among the standout wines, Tim Atkin MW awarded a perfect score to the 2023 Alheit Vineyards Nautical Dawn, a single-origin, dry-farmed, old vine Chenin Blanc. Atkin describes this wine as “a reflection of place and vintage rather than the imposition of style in the cellar. By sublimating his ego, Chris Alheit has succeeded in expressing authenticity in the bottle.” Alheit himself describes his approach as “zeroing out the winemaking.”
Atkin praises the Chenin Blanc, saying: “A perfect wine in every sense, this Chenin Blanc—the variety South Africa has made its own—is emblematic of the terroir-driven approach I associate with the country’s most exciting winemakers and see as a crucial feature of the new post-modern Cape wine scene.”
Alheit Vineyards earned the title of 2024 Overall White Wine of the Year, while the Porseleinberg Syrah and the Sadie Family Columella, both from Swartland, share the Overall Red Wine of the Year honor. Callie Louw of Porseleinberg has been named Winemaker of the Year.
Capensis Chardonnay has been celebrated as one of the "Wines of the Year," showcasing its elegance and complexity.
In the realm of reds, two iconic South African wines have particularly stood out. The legendary Meerlust Rubicon 2021 has achieved an outstanding 98 points, reaffirming its place as a benchmark of excellence.
Meanwhile, the Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2021, another powerhouse, has been awarded 97 points, a testament to its depth, balance, and aging potential.
The Podium 2024:
- Winemaker of the Year: Callie Louw of Porseleinberg
- Young Winemaker of the Year: Stephanie Wiid of Thistle & Weed
- Viticulturist of the Year: Bosman Family Vineyards
- Producers’ Cellar of the Year: Perdeberg Wines
- Winemaking Legend: Günter Brözel
- Best Cellar Door Experience: Ernie Els Wines
- Overall White Wine of the Year: 2023 Alheit Vineyards Nautical Dawn Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch
- Overall Red Wines of the Year: 2022 Porseleinberg Syrah, Swartland; 2022 Sadie Family Columella, Swartland
- Overall Rosé of the Year: 2023 Terblanche Family Vineyards Elmie Rosé, Stellenbosch
- Overall Sparkling Wine of the Year: 2018 Graham Beck Cuvée Clive Cap Classique, Western Cape
- Overall Sweet Wine of the Year: 2021 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance, Constantia
- Overall Fortified Wine of the Year: 2022 Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve, Calitzdorp
- Red Wine Discovery of the Year: 2021 Fairview Lanner Hill Syrah, Darling
- White Wine Discovery of the Year: 2023 Kruger Family Wines Karoo Chardonnay, Sutherland
- Rosé Wine Discovery of the Year: NV Vinevenom Shining Rosé No. 2, Swartland
- Sparkling Wine Discovery of the Year: 2016 Villiera Pithos CC, Stellenbosch
- Best Value White of the Year: 2024 AA Badenhorst Secateurs Chenin Blanc, Swartland
- Best Value Red of the Year: 2022 Mullineux Kloof Street Rouge, Swartland
- Best Value Rosé of the Year: 2023 Noble Hill Mourvèdre Rosé, Simonsberg-Paarl
- Best Value Sparkling Wine of the Year: NV Pongrácz Blanc de Blancs Cap Classique, Western Cape
- Best Value Sweet Wine of the Year: 2023 Van Loveren VRL Special Late Harvest Gewürztraminer, Robertson
- Best Value Fortified Wine of the Year: NV KWV Classic Collection Cape Tawny, Western Cape
For more details, purchase the full report at www.timatkin.com.
Credit:
-Tim Atkin MW
- www.exanimo.co.za
- News24
