PLATTER’S 2020 SOUTH AFRICAN WINE GUIDE LAUNCH

Friday Night the who’s who in the wonderful world of South African wine poured into The Table Bay Hotel for one of the most highly anticipated award shows of the year.  There comes a stage in the year when wine awards and medals start loosing their impact and merit; we become blasé about who won what.  It’s only retail that is has any effect on; people buy bling, whether they know what the sticker stands for, or means, becomes irrelevant. I’m digressing… in my opinion the only South African wine award that doesn’t loose its worth is The Platter’s Guide.  It covers almost the entirety of South African wine producers (except those who choose not to be included).  So it is a true, honest reflection of our wine country as a whole.

Platter’s launched its 40th Edition this year and a look back through its lifespan shows some thought provoking insights into the modern history of winemaking and trends in South Africa.  Its inaugural release in 1980 cost a mere R6,95 and included 1250 wines, only one of which was Chardonnay!  Fast forward 40 years and the latest edition will cost you close to R300 and is comprised of over 8000 wines from more than 900 producers including eleven 5* Chardonnays!

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

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

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

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 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

 

 

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Bubbles Hyland

Bubbles Hyland

Bubbles Hyland, Well Red Wine Magazine Editor and Founder. Wine is her passion and it's also her job; it engrain every aspect of her life. She aims to make wine accessible, and spread the love and knowledge she has in a fun and approachable manner.

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