| Vintage | Score | Drink Window | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vintage2019 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionSmallest crop in nearly 20 years, due to post-drought conditions as well as warmer- or wetter-than-average periods during the growing season. Top producers selected high quality fruit, resulting in wines of good intensity and balance |
||||||
DescriptionSmallest crop in nearly 20 years, due to post-drought conditions as well as warmer- or wetter-than-average periods during the growing season. Top producers selected high quality fruit, resulting in wines of good intensity and balance |
|||||||||
Vintage2018 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionDrought was again the primary factor, drastically reducing yields, yet the dry conditions and lower disease pressure, coupled with the lower yields, helped concentrate the berries. Ripe overall, but top producers preserved freshness |
||||||
DescriptionDrought was again the primary factor, drastically reducing yields, yet the dry conditions and lower disease pressure, coupled with the lower yields, helped concentrate the berries. Ripe overall, but top producers preserved freshness |
|||||||||
Vintage2017 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionAnother drought year, with low yields, but without major heat waves. Lower temperatures at night helped retain acidity and slow sugar development, while phenolics kept developing. Wines are graceful yet expressive and complex |
||||||
DescriptionAnother drought year, with low yields, but without major heat waves. Lower temperatures at night helped retain acidity and slow sugar development, while phenolics kept developing. Wines are graceful yet expressive and complex |
|||||||||
Vintage2016 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionWildly hot and extremely dry vintage caused problems, with many growers picking early. Dry-farmed areas suffered; wildfires hurt producers in Simonsberg-Stellenbosch. Inconsistent overall, with some successes; yields markedly lower |
||||||
DescriptionWildly hot and extremely dry vintage caused problems, with many growers picking early. Dry-farmed areas suffered; wildfires hurt producers in Simonsberg-Stellenbosch. Inconsistent overall, with some successes; yields markedly lower |
|||||||||
Vintage2015 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionWarm, dry season throughout the Cape’s myriad regions led to a very consistent vintage, with even ripening and no disease pressure or damaging heat spikes; the only hiccup was producers who picked too early, before phenolic maturity |
||||||
DescriptionWarm, dry season throughout the Cape’s myriad regions led to a very consistent vintage, with even ripening and no disease pressure or damaging heat spikes; the only hiccup was producers who picked too early, before phenolic maturity |
|||||||||
Vintage2014 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionA very wet spring led to a generally cool, wet growing season that resulted in a late-running harvest with many varieties ripening at the same time. Whites harvested under good conditions in February, later-ripening reds more variable |
||||||
DescriptionA very wet spring led to a generally cool, wet growing season that resulted in a late-running harvest with many varieties ripening at the same time. Whites harvested under good conditions in February, later-ripening reds more variable |
|||||||||
Vintage2013 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionA strong start to the season and excellent late-season weather, but humidity midway led to some disease pressure. Reds variable from producer to producer, with the best showing an elegant style; crop about 10 percent larger than usual |
||||||
DescriptionA strong start to the season and excellent late-season weather, but humidity midway led to some disease pressure. Reds variable from producer to producer, with the best showing an elegant style; crop about 10 percent larger than usual |
|||||||||
Vintage2012 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionA cool, dry start led to a smaller-than-usual crop, though ripening occurred under moderate temperatures. Reds show polish and ripeness, with lower alcohols; whites are fresh and delineated. Similar to 2011, with extra concentration |
||||||
DescriptionA cool, dry start led to a smaller-than-usual crop, though ripening occurred under moderate temperatures. Reds show polish and ripeness, with lower alcohols; whites are fresh and delineated. Similar to 2011, with extra concentration |
|||||||||
Vintage2011 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionFollowing another dry winter, windy and dry conditions persisted through the growing season, though temperatures were moderate; wines are concentrated, but still fresh and racy |
||||||
DescriptionFollowing another dry winter, windy and dry conditions persisted through the growing season, though temperatures were moderate; wines are concentrated, but still fresh and racy |
|||||||||
Vintage2010 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionCold, wet winter resulted in late budbreak, with windy weather during flowering leading to reduced yields and a wet growing season causing some disease pressures. Late-season dryness and warmth helped save vintage, but beware of inconsistencies |
||||||
DescriptionCold, wet winter resulted in late budbreak, with windy weather during flowering leading to reduced yields and a wet growing season causing some disease pressures. Late-season dryness and warmth helped save vintage, but beware of inconsistencies |
|||||||||
Vintage2009 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionFollowing the growing season's typical heat wave, moderate temperatures and well-timed rains extended the harvest into April and May. Very consistent for reds and whites in warm inland areas and cooler coastal spots |
||||||
DescriptionFollowing the growing season's typical heat wave, moderate temperatures and well-timed rains extended the harvest into April and May. Very consistent for reds and whites in warm inland areas and cooler coastal spots |
|||||||||
Vintage2008 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionA late-flowering, wet spring and intermittent heat spikes during the growing season led to a challenging year. Vineyard management was crucial for success; reds and whites have lower-than-usual alcohols and lighter-bodied textures |
||||||
DescriptionA late-flowering, wet spring and intermittent heat spikes during the growing season led to a challenging year. Vineyard management was crucial for success; reds and whites have lower-than-usual alcohols and lighter-bodied textures |
|||||||||
Vintage2007 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionUp-and-down growing season marked by a heat wave in late January. Most whites and early-ripening reds (Pinot Noir, Merlot) harvested in sweltering conditions; later-ripening reds (Syrah, Cabernet) benefited from dry, moderate second half of season |
||||||
DescriptionUp-and-down growing season marked by a heat wave in late January. Most whites and early-ripening reds (Pinot Noir, Merlot) harvested in sweltering conditions; later-ripening reds (Syrah, Cabernet) benefited from dry, moderate second half of season |
|||||||||
Vintage2006 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionWet winter replenished vines after three dry seasons. Warm, dry growing season; consistent temperatures in second half led to even ripening. All major varieties performed well |
||||||
DescriptionWet winter replenished vines after three dry seasons. Warm, dry growing season; consistent temperatures in second half led to even ripening. All major varieties performed well |
|||||||||
Vintage2005 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionDry growing season with a hot finish. Whites were picked under cool conditions, but yields were reduced; later-ripening reds are rich, tannic and muscular |
||||||
DescriptionDry growing season with a hot finish. Whites were picked under cool conditions, but yields were reduced; later-ripening reds are rich, tannic and muscular |
|||||||||
Vintage2004 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionMostly cool season interrupted by a heat spike led to some uneven ripening. Those who picked Cabernet and Syrah late did well; others more variable |
||||||
DescriptionMostly cool season interrupted by a heat spike led to some uneven ripening. Those who picked Cabernet and Syrah late did well; others more variable |
|||||||||
Vintage2003 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionEven flowering and a long, dry growing season; many growers feel it's the best in a generation for both reds and whites, though some reds can show a slightly roasted quality |
||||||
DescriptionEven flowering and a long, dry growing season; many growers feel it's the best in a generation for both reds and whites, though some reds can show a slightly roasted quality |
|||||||||
Vintage2002 |
Score84 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionVariable weather, with uneven ripening and reduced yields for whites and reds; some successes, but choose carefully |
||||||
DescriptionVariable weather, with uneven ripening and reduced yields for whites and reds; some successes, but choose carefully |
|||||||||
Vintage2001 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionLate-ripening red varieties have intense fruit, with ripe tannins; whites also good |
||||||
DescriptionLate-ripening red varieties have intense fruit, with ripe tannins; whites also good |
|||||||||
Vintage2000 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionHot and dry conditions brought an early harvest. Reds performed well; whites more variable |
||||||
DescriptionHot and dry conditions brought an early harvest. Reds performed well; whites more variable |
|||||||||
Vintage1999 |
Score87 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionVery warm and dry season. Reds have ripe tannins; good whites |
||||||
DescriptionVery warm and dry season. Reds have ripe tannins; good whites |
|||||||||
|
Note: Most South African white wines should be drunk on release. | |||||||||
Vintage ratings: 95-100, classic; 90-94, outstanding; 85-89, very good; 80-84, good; 75-79, mediocre; 50-74, not recommended
A score range indicates preliminary analysis based on barrel samples and/or a limited sampling; many wines of the vintage not yet reviewed.
Drinkability: "NYR" means the vintage has not yet been released; "drink" means most of the wines of the vintage are ready to drink; "hold" means most of the ageworthy wines have yet to fully mature; "past peak" means most of the wines are declining rather than improving.
SOURCE: WINE SPECTATOR
