Since its inception, the Cabernet Franc Challenge has appointed ten different winery winners over the same number of years. What makes this even more astonishing is the fact that this competition is tasted totally blind and all judges can see during the tasting, are the numbers on the glasses when tasting through the line-up. Scores are given through to the auditor who sits in the same room as the judges and these scores are captured and calculated.
Chairperson Carrie Adams, Lizette Tolkien – Cape Wine Master and Janine van Zyl – Cape Wine Master candidate, had a total of 37 wines to judge the three categories being Top 6, Best three Blends and the Best Value scoring wine.
The Overall winning wine with the highest score was the Ridgeback Cabernet Franc 2022, winning the Cobie van Oort Cabernet Franc Challenge trophy for 2025.
Rounding out the Top 6 wines, in no specific order, were the Rainbow’s End Limited Release Cabernet Franc 2023, Holden Manz Reserve Cabernet Franc 2020, Holden Manz Reserve Cabernet Franc 2022, Thokozani Cabernet Franc 2022 and the Bellevue Reserve Cabernet Franc 2023. The top three blends for 2025 were the Lozarn Kay’s Legacy 2021, Ridgeback The Journey 2021 and Ridgeback The Journey 2022. The Best Value wine for 2025 is the Thokozani Cabernet Franc 2022.
A total of 25 gold medals were awarded, with Ridgeback achieving gold with all three their entries, including the Blends.
Carrie Adams said in her report that as limited quantities are produced of this varietal by wineries, Cab Franc lovers should be quick to visit and purchase their stock to avoid missing out. “The standard was high and most of the entries demonstrated just what one looks for in a Cabernet Franc…delicately perfumy and aromatic with chocolaty edges and splashes of lead and liquorice” Carrie said.
Cabernet Franc is going from strength to strength with over 90 single varietal Cab Franc’s annually being produced in South Africa. In 2003 there were a mere eight wineries who produced Cab Franc in its purest form.
WINNER
Ridgeback Cabernet Franc 2022
TOP 6 (Alphabetical order)
Bellevue Reserve Cabernet Franc 2023
Holden Manz Reserve Cabernet Franc 2020
Holden Manz Reserve Cabernet Franc 2022
Rainbow’s End Limited Release Cabernet Franc 2023
Thokozani Cabernet Franc 2022
TOP 3 BLENDS
Lozarn Kay’s Legacy 2021
Ridgeback The Journey 2021
Ridgeback The Journey 2022
BEST VALUE
Thokozani Cabernet Franc 2022
GOLD MEDALS (Alphabetical order)
Backsberg Patriarch 2021
Chamonix Reserve Troika 2022
De Meye Cabernet Franc 2021
Druk My Niet Cabernet Franc 2019
Eikendal Infused by Earth Cabernet Franc 2018
Journey’s End V3 Cabernet Franc 2022
Landskroon Paul de Villiers Cabernet Franc 2022
Le Pommier Angel Peur Cabernet Franc 2023
Lozarn Cabernet Franc 2023
Lynx Cabernet Franc 2021
Raats Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2022
Raats Family Cabernet Franc 2021
Rainbow’s End Cabernet Franc 2023
Hermanuspietersfontein Swartskaap 2020
Villiera The Clan 2020
Vrede en Lust Cabernet Franc 2020
SILVER MEDALS (Alphabetical order)
Backsberg Patriarch 2023
Chamonix Reserve Cabernet Franc 2022
Joubert-Tradauw Reserwe Cabernet Franc 2021
Lynx The Cabernet Franc 2021
Mitre’s Edge Cabernet Franc 2022
Mitre’s Ege Cabernet Franc 2017
Morgenster Cabernet Franc 2023
Raats Jasper Blend 2022
Saartjie Single Vineyard Selection Cabernet Franc 2021
Vrede en Lust Cabernet Franc 2021
Wilderkrans Barrel Select Reserve Cabernet Franc 2021
