Vinography Makes Winemag's 2026 Top 10 Twice: TR3S Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 

Two wines from our Vinography collection have earned places in Winemag.co.za's 2026 Top 10 reports, a shortlist of the best South African Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon of the year. The multi-vintage Vinography TR3S Chardonnay and the Vinography Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 each scored 94 points in the Prescient Fund Services Chardonnay Report 2026 and the Prescient Fund Services Cabernet Sauvignon Report 2026. Both wines come from our estate vineyards in Walker Bay, near Hermanus.

How Winemag judges its annual variety reports 

Winemag.co.za publishes a report on each major grape variety every year, with Prescient Fund Services as sponsor. A three-person panel tastes every entry blind, with labels out of sight, and scores each wine on the 100-point quality scale. The panel judges what is in the glass, not the name on the bottle. 

This year's figures: 

• Chardonnay Report 2026: 54 entries from 41 producers
• Cabernet Sauvignon Report 2026: 71 entries from 51 producers
• Publication date: 6 October 2026

A Top 10 debut for Vinography TR3S: what makes it multi-vintage? 

TR3S blends Chardonnay from three Benguela Cove harvests into one still wine, with no single vintage on the label. The blend: 

• 2025: 50%
• 2024: 35%
• 2023: 15% 

Chief Winemaker and Cellar Master, Johann Fourie, matured the wine in French 300-litre barrels, with oak maturation spanning all three vintages. TR3S was the only multi-vintage wine in Winemag's Chardonnay Top 10. 

The fruit comes from adjacent west-facing estate vineyards of CY277 and CY96 clones, on weathered shale with a very high calcium content. Lemon, white peach and grapefruit lead, developing into roasted hazelnut, brioche and oyster shell, with a creamy texture and a long finish. 

Download the Vinography TR3S Chardonnay Multi-Vintage fact sheet (PDF)

Vinography Cabernet Sauvignon 2023: 94 points 

Only one wine in the Cabernet Sauvignon report scored higher than the Vinography 2023. Johann made it from estate-grown CS46 clone vines on north-west facing slopes of weathered shale. 

The team chilled the grapes overnight after harvest, then sorted them by bunch and by berry. After eight days of fermentation and a 10-day extended maceration on the skins, the wine spent 20 months in French 300-litre barrels, 40% of them new. 

In the glass, expect blackcurrant, dried herbs, fynbos (the native shrubland of the Cape) and aniseed, followed by violets, tobacco and a hint of leather. Polished tannins and balanced acidity give the wine its structure. 

Download the Vinography Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 fact sheet (PDF)

Walker Bay: where the Vinography wines grow 

Both wines carry the Walker Bay Wine of Origin. Cool air from the Atlantic and the Benguela current slows ripening on the estate, which helps the grapes hold their natural acidity. The fact sheets note fine acidity in the TR3S and a balance of fruit and acidity in the Cabernet Sauvignon. 

The Winemag results follow seven top scores in Tim Atkin MW's 2026 South Africa Report, including 93 points for TR3S, and a second Pinot Noir trophy at the Michelangelo Awards.

How to taste or buy the Vinography wines 

We made 640 bottles of TR3S, and you can check availability on the TR3S product page. The Vinography Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 is not on sale yet, and production runs to 550 bottles. To try the Vinography range now: 

• Book a wine tasting at our tasting room on the estate
• Shop the current vintages of Vinography online
• Join the wine club through our curated subscriptions

Frequently asked questions 

Where is Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate?

Benguela Cove is a Hermanus wine estate in Walker Bay, 15 km from Hermanus town centre in the Western Cape. Cape Town International Airport is 88 km away, about an hour's drive, so you can visit for a tasting or lunch at Moody Lagoon Restaurant as a day trip from Cape Town. 

How long can I cellar the Vinography wines?

The Vinography range has an ageing potential of 8 to 10 years from vintage.

What food should I serve with them?

The Cabernet Sauvignon fact sheet suggests osso buco, oxtail ragù or chocolate fondant. The TR3S fact sheet recommends hearty foods.

Two wines. Two Top 10 accolades. One proud moment for Benguela Cove.