Decanter World Wine AwardsVintage guides
Region: Red South Africa
| Year | Rating | Drinkability | Style | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 |
  |
drink now | Good, concentrated wines but some have remained rather hard and tannic | more... |
| 1992 |
|
drink now | A good vintage for Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage | more... |
| 1993 |
|
drink now | A small and disappointing vintage | more... |
| 1994 |
|
drink soon | A variable year but some good Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage and Shiraz was made | more... |
| 1995 |
|
drink soon | A low-yielding vintage produced good-quality, well-structured wines | more... |
| 1996 |
|
drink soon | An unexciting vintage with few wines of note | more... |
| 1997 |
|
keep | The top producers overcame difficult conditions to make concentrated, yet well-balanced wines | more... |
| 1998 |
|
keep | A tricky, early vintage. Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon produced the most successful wines | more... |
| 1999 |
|
keep | A small crop. Pinotage performed well | more... |
| 2000 |
|
keep | Ripest, most generous vintage in many years, with big, burly, quick-maturing reds | more... |
| 2001 |
|
keep | Excellent structure with a balance of ripe, complex fruit | more... |
| 2002 |
|
keep | Elegant, flavourful reds | more... |
| 2003 |
|
drink soon | Full-bodied, fruity and full of flavour | more... |
| 2004 |
|
drink soon | Variable wines. Some will be elegant with higher acidity and lower alcohol than those from more classic South African vintages; others will be fuller bodied and robust | more... |
| 2005 |
|
keep | Many reports point to the see-saw weather conditions, especially in the weeks running up to the harvest | more... |
| 2006 |
|
drink soon | Bordering on an outstanding vintage. Incredibly well-balanced wines, with great depth and fruit purity for drinking in short to medium-term. | more... |
| 2007 |
|
keep | Challenging season producing wines with great colour and aroma intensity, big, complex structures and the potential for opulence. Rhône styles show great finesse. | more... |
| 2008 |
|
keep | Cool, rainy, labour intensive vintage culminating in ideal ripening weather. Inconsistent quality, but ripe, elegant, well balanced reds from top growers. | more... |
