IWSC reveals medal results of 2024 Wine Judging in South Africa
Last week our 2024 Global Judging events continued in South Africa. Our judges spent several days in Stellenbosch tasting and assessing over 500 entries and immersing themselves in the rich South African wine culture. The judging team comprised of on-trade and off-trade wine professionals, both international and local, and was led by the IWSC Wine Judging Committee member John Hoskins MW who stated that “the level of quality shown has been extraordinary.”
Indeed, this year’s results are a testament to the high quality of South African wines. Over 95% of wines that entered the judging were awarded with medals. A total of over 520 medals were awarded to South African wines, including as many as 36 golds.
One of the highlights this year was the Cap Classique category, which, according to our judges, has great potential on the global stage, delivering fantastic value and complexity. A vintage sparkling, Villiera Monro Brut 2017, was among the top scorers, earning 97 points and a gold medal, the judges admiring the “concentrated palate, defined flavours and creamy complexity, which lingers on the finish”.
Chardonnays performed brilliantly, with several strong gold medals and plenty of bronze and silvers awarded. The standouts included Capensis Wines Silene Chardonnay 2022 that scored 97 points and earned a gold. The judges were impressed with the well-integrated oak and the “enchanting aromas of golden apples, fresh pears and a hint of tropical mango led to a palate bursting with lively lemon and quince”.
Another top performer was Kershaw Wines Clonal Selection Chardonnay 2020 which received 97 points and gold from our judges: “The palate enjoys a judicious balance of vibrant citrus and pistachio shell. The finish is impressively taut and linear”.
This year’s Cabernet Sauvignon entries stood out to our judges for their elegance and structure. One of the highlights was Peter Falke Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 scoring 96 points and earning a strong gold. The judges described it as having “aromas of mocha, dark chocolate, juicy black plums on the nose. Rich fruit and grippy tannins lead to an elegantly vibrant finish.”
The judges noted the “solid performance from Shiraz, showing how reliable the grape variety is and how well it adapts, especially on the western side of the Cape. The Cape Town winemakers have understood and mastered it, we expect even more complexity in the future”. One of the the gold winners, Reserve Syrah 2021 by De Morgenzon (Pty) Ltd revealed “mocha and dark plums on the palate with ripe tannins and a hint of spice, revealing an elegant, well-structured character. The finish is elevated, showcasing great oak integration and a refreshing vibrancy”.
Our experts appreciated “a great range of styles of Pinotage, from the lighter, fresher styles to warmer, richer wines all demonstrating good varietal character”.Writer's Block Pinotage 2021 by Flagstone Winery was awarded 95 points and a gold medals, with our judges applauding the wine's "delicate nose of cinnamon and dark fruit. On the palate, an intense blend of black and blue fruit and red cherries, complemented by well-integrated oak and a touch of pepper."
Another South African specialty, Chenin Blanc, showed a step up in quality with many medals awarded, including 4 golds. Perdeberg Wines Endura Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2022 particularly stood out to our judges who scored it 96 points and awarded a gold, admiring the “rich and fresh” character with “fine-grained texture and ripe fruits harmonise with citrus, baked apples, and a touch of crème brûlée.”
Congratulations to all winners. Full medal results of the IWSC 2024 Wine Judging in South Africa can be viewed here.
Gold-medal winning wines from South Africa
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