Fantastic Results from the Tim Atkin's 2025 South Africa Report
ABS Wine Agencies, Wed 01 Oct 2025
Congratulations to all our South African Producers for their fantastic results in the recent Special Report from Tim Atkin.
A special mention goes to Tokara for their spot on The Podium this year:
“Our own Stuart Botha was named Young Winemaker of the Year and Tokara has joined the very select company of First Growth wineries - a milestone we are deeply honoured to achieve.”
Visit each winery's producer pages to find out more:
Tokara | Jordan Wine Estate | Bon Courage | Chamonix | Sophie & Julien Schaal | Zevenwacht | David Finlayson
Wines of the year
WHITE BORDEAUX BLEND
2022 Tokara Director's Reserve White, Stellenbosch - 95 pts
Cheaper than the Director's Reserve Red, but every bit as good in 2022, this is a superb Stellenbosch cuvée of Sauvignon Blanc and 28% Semillon that wouldn’t look out of place in a tasting of Pessac-Léognan whites. Toasty, waxy and intense, it has aromas of vanilla and roasted almonds, subtle wood spices and a palate of lemongrass and pink grapefruit.
SAUVIGNON BLANC
2024 Jordan Timepiece OVP Sauvignon Blanc, Stellenbosch - 95 pts
For me, this is the best vintage of Timepiece yet, sourced from a single, old-vine block. Using wooded, amphora and a smaller stainless-steel component, this has effortless concentration, layers of rock salt, lime and grapefruit, scented wood spices and some mid-palate texture from 92% malolactic.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2022 Tokara Simonsberg Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch - 96 pts
Even better than the maiden release, this is a barrel selection of Cabernet Sauvignon that uses grapes from three different quartz-rich sites. Elegant, racy and beautifully layered, it has lots of energy and minerality, granular tannins, blueberry and blackberry fruit and a granitic finish. Very classy indeed
RED BORDEAUX BLEND
2019 Tokara Telos, Stellenbosch - 96 pts
The price is certainly ambitious, but that's part of the justification for the wine. Sourced from a 0.3-hectare parcel of Cabernet Sauvignon, it's a red that tastes as good as it looks. Now into its fifth iteration, Telos handles its new oak lightly, revealing a palate of cassis, Asian spices and dark chocolate embellished by fine tannins.
2021 Jordan Sophia, Stellenbosch - 96 Pts
The top Stellenbosch producers had a field day in 2021, as proven by the superb quality of this cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc. Sappy, refined and refreshing, it's a wine for lovers of fine Bordeaux style blends, with lots of texture and minerality, cassis, mint and tarragon flavours and the concentration to develop slowly in bottle.
2022 Tokara Director's Reserve Red, Stellenbosch - 95 pts
The latest in a run of very polished releases from Stuart Botha under the Director's Reserve banner, this is a seamlessly poised assemblage of Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot, 10% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec. Adroitly wooded in 45% new oak, it has leafy, coffee bean and tarragon aromas, sculpted tannins and a core of damson, cassis and red berries.
Other Awards
Bon Courage Jacques Bruère Blanc de Blancs CC 2013 - 94 Points
Tokara Limited Release Chardonnay 2023 - 94 Points
Jordan Assyrtiko 2024 - 94 Points
Jordan Timepiece OVP Chardonnay 2023 - 94 Points
Jordan Timepiece OVP Chenin Blanc 2023 - 94 Points
Chamonix Estate Chardonnay Reserve 2023 - 94 Points
Tokara Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 - 94 Points
Tokara Reserve Collection Syrah 2022 - 94 Points
Jordan Cobblers Hill 2022 - 94 Points
Bon Courage Jacques Bruère Brut Reserve CC 2016 - 93 Points
Jordan Inspector Péringuey Chenin Blanc 2024 - 93 Points
Julien Schaal Evidence Chardonnay 2024 - 93 Points
Julien Schaal Mountain Vineyards Chardonnay 2024 - 93 Points
Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay 2023 - 93 Points
Chamonix Estate Old Vine OVP Steen 2024 - 93 Points
Jordan The Outlier Sauvignon Blanc 2024 - 93 Points
Tokara Reserve Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2024 - 93 Points
Jordan The Prospector Syrah 2022 - 93 Points
Zevenwacht The Tin Mine White 2024 - 92 Points
Zevenwacht Z Collection Chenin Blanc 2024 - 92 Points
Zevenwacht Z Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2024 - 92 Points
Tokara Reserve Collection Chardonnay 2024 - 92 Points
Sophie Schaal Born of Fire Chenin Blanc 2024 - 92 Points
Jordan The Real McCoy Riesling 2024 - 92 Points
Zevenwacht Z Collection Reserve 2022 - 92 Points
Sophie Schaal Born of Fire Syrah 2024 - 92 Points
Julien Schaal Influence Pinot Noir 2024 - 92 Points
Jordan Barrel-Fermented Chardonnay 2024 - 91 Points
Zevenwacht Estate Chardonnay 2024 - 91 Points
Bon Courage Jacques Bruère Cuvée Rosé Brut MCC 2016 - 91 Points
Jordan Dry Rosé 2024 - 91 Points
Zevenwacht Z Collection Syrah 2024 - 91 Points
Zevenwacht Chenin Blanc 2024 - 90 Points
David Finlayson Chardonnay 2024 - 90 Points
Chamonix Estate Greywacke Chardonnay 2023 - 90 Points
Zevenwacht The Tin Mine Red 2022 - 90 Points
Chamonix Estate Pinot Noir Reserve 2023 - 90 Points
David Finlayson GS Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 - 90 Points