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  Platter’s by Diners Club launches the 2020 South African Wine Guide

08 Nov 2019

Topics: Platter's Guide, South Africa, South African wine, wine

The 40th Anniversary Edition of the Best-Selling Annual

Platter’s by Diners Club South African Wine Guide 2020 was launched at Cape Town’s Table Bay Hotel on 8 November 2019 with over 230 guests in attendance, the VIPs including the wine producers who achieved the maximum 5-star rating in the new edition. This accolade is reserved for wines that are “South African classics” and score 95 points or more on the internationally recognised 100-point scale.

Since its inception in 1980, Platter’s has offered rich detail on most of the wineries and individual wines produced in the country, as well as useful information for learning about wine and travelling in the winelands. This makes it a book that appeals to wine experts as much as anyone wanting to uncover more about our country’s delightful wines, wine cellars and regions. After 40 years, this proudly independent guide has become an institution in South Africa and highly respected around the globe, with two Best Wine Guide Worldwide awards to its credit.

In the 2020 edition, a total of 125 wines and one brandy achieved the coveted 5-star (95+ point) rating. Publisher of Platter’s by Diners Club, Jean-Pierre Rossouw, says: “Our warm congratulations to all! These represent the pinnacle of South Africa’s wines, as all were highly rated in the initial sighted review and then went into a second round of tasting where they were assessed against their peers. Since this second round was conducted blind (without sight of the label), the stringency of this model means that our 5-star wines truly proved themselves as being best-of-best.”

The ultimate Platter’s accolade, Winery of the Year, is now a trio of pinnacle awards, each saluting excellence in South African winemaking. Firstly, the Editor’s Award Winery of the Year for 2020 goes to Boekenhoutskloof Winery, as editor Philip van Zyl’s personal commendation of this stellar producer’s unrelenting focus on crafting wines that are not only superlative but also produced with enough consistency, depth and scale to be significant internationally.

Newcomer Winery of the Year recognises the cellar that records the best results as a first-time participant in the guide. This honour goes to specialist sparkling-wine producer Pieter Ferreira Cap Classique. While certainly no newcomer as a winemaker, Pieter Ferreira’s brand-new wine label is off to a flying start with a 97-point rating for his debut Blanc de Blancs 2012 méthode cap classique.

The Top Performing Winery of the Year award goes – once more – to Mullineux, giving this Swartland-based powerhouse an incredible and record-breaking fourth title as Platter’s Winery of the Year. In the new guide, Mullineux achieve a remarkable five 5-star ratings plus two Wines of the Year – their Granite Syrah 2017 and Straw Wine 2018.


Platter’s 2020 Wines of the Year

The highest-scoring 5-star wines in their category represent the Platter’s Wines of the Year. In instances where wines were tied with the highest scores, the accolade is shared. The Wines of the Year are:

Cabernet Franc

Anthonij Rupert 2013

De Trafford 2015

Raats 2017

Cabernet Sauvignon

Rust en Vrede Single Vineyard 2016

Cinsaut

Bosman Twyfeling 2017

Savage Follow the Line 2018

Grenache Noir

Sadie Soldaat 2018

Merlot

Shannon Mount Bullet 2016

Pinotage

Flagstone Time Manner Place 2017

Pinot Noir

Storm Ignis 2017

Shiraz/Syrah

Mullineux Granite Syrah 2017

Red Blends, Cape Bordeaux

Van Biljon Cinq 2015

Red Blends, with Pinotage

Beyerskloof Faith 2015

Red Blends, Shiraz/Syrah-based

Erika Obermeyer Erika O Syrah-Grenache Noir-Cinsault 2018

Rust en Vrede 1694 Classification 2016

Saronsberg Full Circle 2017

Méthode Cap Classique

Pieter Ferreira Blanc de Blancs 2012

Natural Sweet

Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2015

Laibach 2019

Noble Late Harvest

Buitenverwachting 1769 / 2017

Tokara 2017

Vin de Paille

Mullineux Straw Wine 2018

Port-style

Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2017

Upland Cape Tawny 2014

Brandy

KWV Centenary

Red Blends, Other

Rust en Vrede Estate 2016

Chardonnay

Leeu Passant Stellenbosch 2017

Restless River Ava Marie 2017

Chenin Blanc

Rall Ava 2018

Grenache Blanc

The Foundry 2018

Sauvignon Blanc

Trizanne Sondagskloof Blanc Fumé 2018

Semillon

Anthonij Rupert Laing Groendruif 2016

Rickety Bridge The Pilgrimage 2017

Viognier

Ridgeback 2018

White Blends, Cape Bordeaux

Delaire Graff White Reserve 2017

White Blends, Other

Sadie Palladius 2017


Platter’s 2020 5-Star Wines

The 5-star wines (95 points and higher) in Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2020 are:

Cabernet Franc

Anthonij Rupert 2013

De Trafford 2015

Raats 2017

Cabernet Sauvignon

Erika Obermeyer Erika O 2017

Kanonkop 2015

Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection 2017

Miles Mossop CWG Auction Reserve Maximilian 2014

Rust en Vrede Single Vineyard 2016

Wade Bales Regional Series Stellenbosch 2017

Cinsaut

Bosman Twyfeling 2017

Savage Follow the Line 2018

Grenache Noir

Sadie Soldaat 2018

Merlot

Shannon Mount Bullet 2016

Thelema Reserve 2016

Pinotage

Beeslaar 2017

Beyerskloof Diesel 2017

Diemersdal Reserve 2018

Flagstone Time Manner Place 2017

Kanonkop Black Label 2017

Pinot Noir

Crystallum Mabalel 2018

Storm Ignis 2018

Storm Ignis 2017

Shiraz/Syrah

Blackwater Cultellus Syrah 2017

Boekenhoutskloof CWG Auction Reserve Syrah 2017

Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2017

Cederberg Shiraz 2017

De Grendel Elim Shiraz 2017

Dorrance Syrah Cuvée Ameena 2017

Gabriëlskloof Syrah on Shale 2017

Leeuwenkuil Heritage Syrah 2017

Mullineux Granite Syrah 2017

Mullineux Iron Syrah 2017

Mullineux Schist Syrah Roundstone 2017

Patatsfontein Sons of Sugarland Syrah 2018

Rall Ava Syrah 2018

Reyneke Biodynamic Reserve Red 2017

Rust en Vrede Single Vineyard Syrah 2016

Savage Red 2017

Super Single Vineyards Mount Sutherland Continental Syrah 2016

Van Loggerenberg Graft 2018

Red Blends, Cape Bordeaux

De Trafford CWG Auction Reserve Perspective 2017

Glenelly Lady May 2014

Hidden Valley Hidden Gems 2016

Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2016

Tokara Director’s Reserve Red 2015

Van Biljon Cinq 2015

Vergelegen GVB 2014

Red Blends, with Pinotage

Beyerskloof Faith 2015

Kaapzicht Steytler Vision 2017

Red Blends, Shiraz/Syrah-based

Erika Obermeyer Erika O Syrah-Grenache Noir-Cinsault 2018

Rust en Vrede 1694 Classification 2016

Saronsberg Full Circle 2017

Red Blends, Other

De Trafford Elevation 393 2013

Glenelly Reserve Red 2014

Rust en Vrede Estate 2016

Chardonnay

Capensis Silene 2017

Hamilton Russell 2018

Jordan CWG Auction Reserve 2018

Leeu Passant CWG Radicales Libres 2014

Leeu Passant Stellenbosch 2017

Oak Valley Groenlandberg 2018

Restless River Ava Marie 2017

Rhebokskloof Sandstone Grove 2017

Richard Kershaw Clonal Selection Elgin 2018

Richard Kershaw GPS Series Lower Duivenhoks River 2018

Warwick The White Lady 2018

Chenin Blanc

AA Badenhorst Kelder Steen 2018

AA Badenhorst Dassiekop Steen 2018

Alheit Magnetic North 2018

ArtiSons The Mothership 2018

Axle 2018

Beaumont Hope Marguerite 2018

Botanica Mary Delany 2018

David & Nadia 2018

David & Nadia Hoë-Steen 2018

David & Nadia Plat’bos 2018

David & Nadia Skaliekop 2018

Gabriëlskloof Elodie 2018

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2018

Kruger Family Wines Old Vines 2018

Longridge Ou Steen Enkel Wingerd 2017

Metzer & Holfeld Montane 2018

Mount Abora Koggelbos 2017

Raats Eden High Density Single Vineyard 2018

Rall Ava 2018

Sadie Mev Kirsten 2018

Sadie Skurfberg 2018

Spier 21 Gables 2018

Stellenrust 54 Barrel Fermented 2018

Stellenrust Old Bushvine 2018

Thistle & Weed Duwweltjie 2018

Van Loggerenberg Kameradarie 2018

Grenache Blanc

KWV The Mentors 2017

The Foundry 2018

Sauvignon Blanc

Neil Ellis Amica 2018

Tokara Reserve 2018

Trizanne Signature Sondagskloof Blanc Fumé 2018

Semillon

Anthonij Rupert Cape of Good Hope Laing Groendruif 2016

Rickety Bridge The Pilgrimage 2017

Viognier

Ridgeback 2018

White Blends, Cape Bordeaux

Cape Point Isliedh 2018

Delaire Graff White Reserve 2017

Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve 2017

White Blends, Other

B Vintners Harlem to Hope 2018

Leeuwenkuil Reserve White 2017

Mullineux Old Vines 2018

Rall White 2018

Sadie Palladius 2017

Sadie ‘T Voetpad 2018

Thorne & Daughters Rocking Horse 2018

Méthode Cap Classique

Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Cuvée Brut Rosé 2011

Le Lude Agrafe 2013

Le Lude Vintage Magnum 2013

Pieter Ferreira Blanc de Blancs 2012

Saltare Blanc de Noirs Cuvée Camille NV

Natural Sweet

Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2015

Laibach 2019

Noble Late Harvest

Buitenverwachting 1769 / 2017

Tokara 2017

Vin de Paille

Fairview La Beryl Blanc 2018

Mullineux Straw Wine 2018

Port-style

Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2017

De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2017

KWV Cape Tawny NV

Upland Cape Tawny 2014

Brandy

KWV 10 Year Old Vintage

KWV 12 Year Old Barrel Select

KWV 15 Year Old Alambic

KWV 20 Year Old

KWV Nexus

KWV Centenary

Van Ryn 12 Year Distillers Reserve

Van Ryn 15 Year Fine Cask Reserve

Van Ryn 20 Year Collectors Reserve

Husk Spirit

Dalla Cia 10 Year Old Celebration Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot


Publication notes for Platter’s by Diners Club 2020

Published by: John Platter SA Wineguide (Pty) Ltd

Publisher: Jean-Pierre Rossouw

Editor: Philip van Zyl

Tasters for this edition: Winnie Bowman, Greg de Bruyn, Joanne Gibson, Tim James, Angela Lloyd, Cathy Marston, Fiona McDonald, Gregory Mutambe, Christine Rudman, Dave Swingler, Cathy van Zyl and Meryl Weaver.

Suggested retail price: R295              ISBN 978-0-9870046-9-7




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