Top South African red wines to try
Decanter's Tastings team pick out the wines to hunt down...
When you think of South African red wines, different styles come to mind – maybe the national grape, Pinotage, or maybe its Bordeaux-style blends. Or even its elegant Pinot Noirs.
Decanter’s Tastings team recently attended a tasting of over 50 wines that have been awarded five stars in the 2019 edition of the Platter South African Wine Guide, narrowing the selection down to an elite handful of red wines that should be in your cellar or winerack.
The best South African red wines:
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Kanonkop, Black Label Pinotage, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2016
A burly, bold wine that doesn't show the elegance of either the 2015 or 2017 but still provides juicy enjoyment. More earthy, smoky and savoury...
2016
Kanonkop
Porseleinberg, Syrah, Swartland, South Africa, 2016
The seductive, sexy nose draws you in with an alluring perfume of wild raspberries, hints of balsamic strawberries and fynbos. The concentrated yet elegant palate...
2016
Porseleinberg
Mullineux, Schist Roundstone Syrah, Swartland, South Africa, 2016
The most structured and dense of Andrea and Chris Mullineux's wines, this comes from a parcel of 20-year-old vines on the Roundstone farm in Kasteelberg....
2016
Mullineux
Beyerskloof, Diesel Pinotage, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2016
This is made by 'King of Pinotage' Beyers Truter and named after his beloved dog Diesel, a 95kg boerboel who appears on the label. Epic...
2016
Beyerskloof
Waterford Estate, The Jem, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2014
This flagship wine from Waterford combines the sweetness of new world back and red fruits with a savoury, old world dusting of cedar and tobacco....
2014
Waterford Estate
Bartinney, Cabernet Sauvignon, Banghoek, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2015
Founded in 1912, today the 28ha Bartinney farm is owned by the Jordann family. Grapes for this Cabernet come from eight different sites on the...
2015
BartinneyBanghoek
The Stellenbosch Reserve, Ou Hoofgebou Reserve, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2015
A supple and polished red with 14.8% alcohol and toasty oak from 18 months in French oak barrels, 30% new. It shows aromas of sweet...
2015
The Stellenbosch Reserve
Leeuwenkuil, Heritage Syrah, Swartland, South Africa, 2015
The grapes for this wine come from a 16-year-old schist vineyard on Riebeek Mountain, surrounded by fynbos. The brambly and spicy nose has a savoury...
2015
Leeuwenkuil
Crystallum, Cuvée Cinema Pinot Noir, Hemel-en-Aarde, South Africa, 2017
Made with 50% whole bunches, from one of the highest vineyards on Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, this wine has classic cherry aromas plus some richer plum fruit....
2017
Crystallum
