CWG 2021 auction wines: the bottles to bid on
South Africa's premier wine sale will be held live and online in London for the second year running, and Decanter was among the first to preview the CWG 2021 wines going under the hammer at Bonhams on 2 October.
The 36th annual Cape Winemakers Guild Auction is being held in London for the second year in a row, due to the difficulties facing the South African wine industry in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Auction house Bonhams will host the sale, sponsored by Nedbank, live and online from 10am London time on 2 October.
Scroll down for tasting notes and scores of some of the top CWG 2021 auction wines to bid on
The Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) was founded in 1982, with the first auction in 1985. Membership of the guild is by invitation only, and the 45 winemakers collectively choose the wines for each auction. These exclusive, small-lot wines are only available via the sale.
This year, the 45 wines (see list below) are split into 485 lots of 36, 24 or 12 bottles. There are also a number of magnums available in lots of six and 12 bottles.
As in previous sales, the predicted top lot is Kanonkop’s CWG Paul Sauer, made by Abrie Beeslaar. The 2018 vintage of this iconic Bordeaux blend has a pre-auction estimate of £76-£100 a bottle.
Last year, funds raised by the first case of each auction wine were donated to CWG member Samantha O’Keefe. Her Lismore Estate in Greyton was destroyed by fire in December 2019.
This year O’Keefe makes her CWG auction debut, with an exciting Chenin Blanc–Viognier blend. Here Comes the Sun 2020 has a pre-auction estimate of £32-£40 a bottle.
Strong bidding is also expected for the wines of retiring CWG members Jeff Grier (Villiera), Jeremy Walker (Grangehurst) and Jacques Borman (Boschkloof).
CWG 2021 auction: how to get involved
Bidders can attend the auction in person at 101 New Bond St in London, bid by telephone, or online. They can also leave a commission bid in advance of the sale.
Richard Harvey MW, international director of Bonhams, will hold the main CWG 2021 auction from 10am on 2 October.
‘We are delighted to be able to host this year’s annual CWG auction which is proving an increasingly important way of spreading the word internationally about the quality and diversity of South African wine,’ Harvey said.
‘Last year we had buyers from Asia and Europe as well as from South Africa itself, and I expect a similar level of interest this year.’
Bonhams is also hosting an online-only sale to raise money for the Guild’s Protégé Programme. This auction, now live, closes at 4pm on 4 October.
The 73 lots include rare past auction wines, flagship wines from CWG members and wines made from Protégé graduates as well as bespoke wines and wine-related experiences.
Money raised will go towards education and mentorship to help improve the South African wine industry. A three-year sponsored internship has already produced 16 graduates who are now making wine professionally.
The CWG 2021 auction wines
Sparkling
Silverthorn, Big Dog VII Méthode Cap Classique, Robertson 2016
Villiera, Shooting Star Cap Classique Brut, Stellenbosch 2015
Graham Beck, Synergy Chardonnay-Pinot Noir Extra Brut, Western Cape 2017
White
Raats, The Fountain Terroir Specific Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch 2020
Ataraxia, Under the Gavel Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge 2020
Warwick, The White Lady Auction Chardonnay, Stellenbosch 2019
Lismore Estate, Here Comes the Sun Chenin-Viognier, Cape South Coast 2020
De Grendel, Wooded Sauvignon Blanc, Lutzville Valley 2020
Newton Johnson, Sandford Chardonnay, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley 2019
Paul Cluver, The Wagon Trail Chardonnay, Elgin 2020
Simonsig, Die Dop Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch 2019
Miles Mossop, Saskia-Jo Chenin Blend, Swartland 2018
Rijk’s, CWG Chenin Blanc, Tulbagh 2018
Red
Kanonkop, CWG Paul Sauer Cabernet Blend, Simonsig-Stellenbosch 2018
Boekenhoutskloof, Auction Reserve Syrah, Coastal Region 2018
Rust en Vrede, CWG Auction Estate Cabernet-Syrah, Stellenbosch 2017 (bottles and magnums)
Beaumont, Whole Bunch Mourvèdre, Bot River 2017
Miles Mossop Wines, Maximilian Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch 2018
Bouchard Finlayson, Pinot Noir, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley 2019
Groot Constantia, CWG Gouverneurs Reserve Cabernet Blend, Constantia 2018
Hartenberg, CWG Auction Merlot, Stellenbosch 2018
Rijk’s, CWG Pinotage, Tulbagh 2017
Boschkloof, Epilogue Syrah, Stellenbosch 2019
Gottfried Mocke, Pinot Noir, Cape South Coast 2019
Jordan, Sophia Cabernet Blend, Stellenbosch 2018
Savage Wines, Auction Syrah, Swartland 2019
Grangehurst, Heritage Pinotage Blend, Stellenbosch 2018
Luddite, The Lone Stranger Mark II Mourvèdre Blend, Bot River 2018
Spier, Frans K Smit CWG Special Edition Cabernet Blend, Stellenbosch 2018
Simonsig, Heirloom Shiraz, Stellenbosch 2018
Delaire Graff, Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet Franc, Banghoek-Stellenbosch 2017
Saronsberg, Inner Circle Shiraz Blend, Tulbagh 2017
Neil Ellis, Amper Bo Tempranillo, Bottelary 2017 (bottles and magnums)
Boplass, Daniel’s Legacy Shiraz Blend, Western Cape 2017
Ernie Els, CWG Cabernet Blend, Stellenbosch 2018
Cederberg, Teen Die Hoog Shiraz, Cederberg 2019
Kanonkop, CWG Pinotage, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch 2018
Rust en Vrede, CWG Auction Estate Cabernet-Syrah, Stellenbosch 2016
Saronsberg, Die Erf Shiraz, Tulbagh 2018
Delaire Graff, Cabernet Franc-Cabernet Sauvignon, Banghoek-Stellenbosch 2016
Grangehurst, Au Revoir Cabernet Blend, Stellenbosch 2017
De Grendel, Op Die Berg Pinot Noir, Ceres Plateau 2018
Raats, Stella Nova Cabernet Franc, Stellenbosch 2017
Hartenberg, CWG Auction Shiraz, Stellenbosch 2018
Fortified
Boplass, Cape Vintage Reserve Fortified Touriga Blend, Western Cape 2017
CWG 2021 auction wines: top lots to bid on
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Graham Beck, Synergy Chardonnay-Pinot Noir Extra Brut, Western Cape, South Africa, 2017
Winemaker: Pieter Ferreira. Soft mousse, fine perle and aromas of green apple and citrus. The creamy, textured palate (from 48 months on lees) shows red...
2017
Graham Beck
Paul Cluver, The Wagon Trail Chardonnay, Elgin, South Africa, 2020
Winemaker: Andries Burger. The 10th vintage of this wine at the CWG, from Elgin's oldest Chardonnay vineyard, planted in 1987, fermented and aged nine months...
2020
Paul Cluver
Ataraxia, The Gavel Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Walker Bay, South Africa, 2020
Winemaker: Kevin Grant. An organic, single-vineyard, terroir-driven wine made using a traditional method where the juice is hyper-oxidised before fermentation. Beautifully linear, bone-dry and savoury,...
2020
AtaraxiaHemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Lismore, Here Comes the Sun, Cape South Coast, South Africa, 2020
Winemaker: Samantha O'Keefe. A blend of Walker Bay Chenin Blanc (15% fermented on skins) and Elgin Viognier, oxidatively handled then wild-yeast fermented and aged 12...
2020
Lismore
Simonsig, Die Dop Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2019
Winemaker: Johan Malan. An 'orange wine with a twist', where whole-bunch, old-vine fruit goes through carbonic maceration in tank (as in Beaujolais) and then lees...
2019
Simonsig
De Grendel, Wooded Sauvignon Blanc, Lutzville Valley, Olifants River, South Africa, 2020
Winemaker: Charles Hopkins. Always a great-value, reliable CWG bid, with a pre-auction mid estimate of £18/bottle. The oak (four months fermentation and ageing in old...
2020
De GrendelLutzville Valley
Kanonkop, CWG Paul Sauer, Simonsberg, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2018
Winemaker: Abrie Beeslaar. A favourite of collectors and perennially the top lot in the CWG auction, this year's pre-auction mid estimate is £92/bottle. This vintage...
2018
KanonkopSimonsberg
Boekenhoutskloof, Auction Reserve Syrah, Coastal Region, South Africa, 2018
Winemaker: Marc Kent. Bursts out of the glass with an intense kaleidoscope of aromas that build in complex layers on the textured, silky palate: violets,...
2018
Boekenhoutskloof
Delaire Graff, Cabernet Franc-Cabernet Sauvignon, Banghoek, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2016
Winemaker: Morné Vrey. A brilliant Bordeaux blend from relatively young vines (16 years), leading with 55% Cabernet Franc. (The 2017 also in the auction is...
2016
Delaire GraffBanghoek
Savage, Auction Syrah, Swartland, South Africa, 2019
Winemaker: Duncan Savage. Incredibly vibrant and aromatic, showing a lighter yet still ageworthy style of Swartland Syrah. Left unoaked to preserve the fruit purity, it...
2019
Savage
Cederberg, Teen die Hoog Shiraz, Cederberg, South Africa, 2019
Winemaker: David Nieuwoudt. Concentrated, mouthstaining Syrah that, despite its primary fruit power, has a core of minty freshness and balancing acidity to keep the supple...
2019
Cederberg
Gottfried Mocke, Pinot Noir, Cape South Coast, South Africa, 2018
Winemaker: Gottfried Mocke. Parcels from a high-altitude and a maritime vineyard make up this two-barrel selection, fermented in concrete vates then aged 14 months in...
2018
Gottfried Mocke
Miles Mossop Wines, Maximilian, Bottelary, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2018
Winemaker: Miles Mossop. A gorgeous 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, matured for 22 months in small French oak barrels, 50% new and bottled unfiled and unfiltered. Classic...
2018
Miles Mossop WinesBottelary
Rust en Vrede, CWG Auction Estate, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2016
Winemaker: Coenie Snyman. The 2017 is also in the auction, but this is the pick. A beautifully crafted, chocolatey-smooth blend where each grape plays its...
2016
Rust en Vrede
Beaumont, Whole Bunch Mourvèdre, Bot River, Western Cape, South Africa, 2017
Winemaker: Sebastian Beaumont. Whole-bunch fermentation has given lovely sappiness, freshness and elegance to what is often a heavy, dense variety. There's still the classic meaty,...
2017
BeaumontBot River
Boschkloof, Epilogue Syrah, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2019
Winemaker: Jacques Borman. The swansong from this stalwart of the CWG is not quite as impressive as last year's 2018, but still offers a concentrated...
2019
Boschkloof
Ernie Els, CWG, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2018
Winemaker: Louis Strydom. A sumptuous, succulent and quite showy blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon plus Shiraz and Cinsault that will find great appeal now and...
2018
Ernie Els
Rijk's, CWG Pinotage, Tulbagh, South Africa, 2017
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl. A pretty, strawberry-driven Pinotage from relatively young bush vines (12 years) that is already drinking well now but will gain further savoury...
2017
Rijk's
Saronsberg, Die Erf Shiraz, Tulbagh, South Africa, 2018
Winemaker: Dewaldt Heyns. A big, bold spicy Shiraz that needs several years before being ready to broach, representing the best barrel of this rocky single...
2018
Saronsberg
Spier, Frans K Smit CWG Special Edition, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2018
Winemaker: Frans Smit. The unnecessarily heavy bottle is a bit of a turn-off, but the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant (52%) Bordeaux blend inside is impressive. Lots of...
2018
Spier
