The new edition of the Platter Wine Guide was launched tonight at a tasting of all the Five Star wines at the Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town.
62 wines – more than ever before – received the coveted 5 Star rating with, remarkably, one producer (Cape Chamonix) garnering four 5 star ratings, three cellars (Fairview, Mullineux Family and Nederburg) each amassing three 5 stars, and a further six wineries (Boschendal, Fleur du Cap, Jordan, Raka, Sadie Family and Tokara) each raking in two 5 stars.
Twelve wineries received 5 star ratings for the first time, namely AA Badenhorst Family, Alheit, Bon Courage, Cederberg, Dalla Cia, David, Fryer’s Cove, Keets, Mvemve Raats, Nitida, Saronsberg and Von Ortloff.
The big winners:
Winery of the Year goes to Cape Chamonix Wine Farm, White Wine of the Year is Paul Cluver Noble Late Harvest 2011 and Red Wine of the Year is Mullineux Family Syrah 2010. Superquaffer of the Year for Best Value/Highest rated wine goes to Muratie Melck’s Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon 2011.
Interesting things thrown up by the list include the fact that only one Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded 5 Stars whilst 3 Cabernet Francs made the grade – possible proof that SA really is making the most of this previously underrated variety.
Only 3 Sauvignon Blancs got 5 Stars but the number of white Bordeaux Blends confirmed again the importance of this variety when mixed with Semillon. A pleasing number of both Chardonnays and Chenin Blancs also got top marks this year, proving South Africa’s strength in these two varieties.
Surprise of the year has to be no 5 Stars for Boekenhoutskloof after their stellar year last year when they had three 5 Star wines, Superquaffer of the Year and were named Winery of the Year. Apparently there were nominations for 5 stars but the wines for some reason didn’t make it through the blind tasting. Let’s hope Marc Kent reaps consolation from the Diners Club Winemaker of the Year competition this weekend instead!
Platter 5 Star wines for 2013:
Cabernet Franc
Raka 2009
Von Ortloff Quintessence 2008
Warwick 2009
Cabernet Sauvignon
Delaire Graff Laurence Graff Reserve 2009
Pinotage
Cape Chamonix Greywacke 2010
Kanonkop 2010
Pinot Noir
Cape Chamonix Reserve 2011
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards 2011
Shiraz/Syrah
Boschendal Cecil John Reserve 2010
Cederberg CWG Auction Reserve Teen die Hoog 2010
Delheim Vera Cruz 2009
Fable Bobbejaan 2010
Fairview Jakkalsfontein 2009
Mullineux Family Schist 2010
Mullineux Family Syrah 2010
Raka Biography 2010
Saronsberg 2010
Simonsig Merindol Syrah 2010
Red Blends
Dalla Cia Wine & Spirit Company Giorgio 2007
Fleur de Cap Lazlo 2008
Keets First Verse 2010
Ken Forrester The Gypsy 2009
La Motte Pierneef Shiraz-Viognier 2010
Mvemve Raats MR De Compostella 2009
Nico van der Merwe Mas Nicolas Cape 2007
Sadie Family Columella 2010
Chardonnay
Boschendal Reserve 2011
Cape Chamonix Reserve 2011
Hamilton Russell 2011
Jordan CWG Auction Reserve 2011
Jordan Nine Yards 2011
Chenin Blanc
Alheit Cartology 2011
Beaumont Hope Marguerite 2011
Botanica 2011
DeMorgenzon Reserve 2010
Jean Daneel Signature 2011
KWV Cathedral Cellar 2011
Sadie Family Skurfberg 2011
Spice Route 2011
Sauvignon Blanc
Fryer’s Cove 2011
Graham Beck Pheasant’s Run 2012
Tokara Walker Bay 2012
White Blends
AA Badenhorst Family 2010
Cape Chamonix Reserve 2011
Cape Point CWG Auction Reserve 2011
David Aristargos 2011
Fairview Nurok 2011
Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve 2010
Miles Mossop Saskia 2011
Nederburg Ingenuity 2011
Nederberg Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon Private Bin D252 2012
Nitida Coronata Integration 2011
Rall 2011
Tokara Director’s Reserve 2011
Méthode Cap Classique
Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Brut Reserve 2008
Villiera Monro Brut 2007
Dessert Wine Unfortified
Fairview La Beryl Blanc 2011
Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest 2011
Mullineux Family Straw Wine 2011
Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2011
Paul Cluver Noble Late Harvest 2011
Fortified Wine
De Krans The Last Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2010