At a launch last night at Capelands restaurant, the 2011 Platter Wine Guide announced the five star wines of the year, the Winery of the year and the Red and White Wines of the Year. All the winners below followed by a few interesting points about them and the occasion!
Winery of the Year – Nederburg
Wines of the Year
Five Stars & Red Wine of the Year
• De Trafford Shiraz 2008
Five Stars & White Wine of the Year
• Fleur du Cap Bergkelder Selection Noble Late Harvest 2009
Five Stars
Cabernet Sauvignon
• Boekenhoutskloof 2008
• Delaire Graff Reserve 2008
• Kanonkop 2007
• Klein Constantia 2008
• Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2007
• Le Riche CWG Auction Reserve 2007
Grenache
• Neil Ellis Vineyard Selection 2008
Pinot Noir
• Meerlust 2008
• Newton Johnson Domaine 2009
Pinotage
• Beyerskloof Diesel 2008
Shiraz
• Boschendal Cecil John Reserve 2008
• Eagle’s Nest 2008
• Haskell Pillars 2008
• Rijk’s Private Cellar 2005
• Saxenburg Select Limited Release 2006
Merlot
• Shannon Mount Bullet 2008
Red Blends
• Ernie Els Signature 2007
• Graham Beck Ad Honorem 2007
• Hartenberg The Mackenzie Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot 2007
• Nederburg Ingenuity Red 2007
• Reyneke Reserve Red 2008
• Spier Frans K. Smit 2006
• Vergelegen Red 2005
Chardonnay
• Groot Constantia Gouverneurs 2009
• Julien Schaal 2009
• Mulderbosch 2008
• Rustenberg Five Soldiers 2008
Chenin Blanc
• Botanica 2009
• StellenRust ‘45’ Barrel Fermented 2009
Grenache Blanc
• The Foundry 2009
Sauvignon Blanc
• Graham Beck Pheasants’ Run 2010
• Klein Constantia Perdeblokke 2009
• Klein Zalze Family Reserve 2009
• The Berrio 2009
• Zevenwacht 360 2009
White Blends
• Cape Point Isleidh 2009
• Hermanuspietersfontein Die Bartho 2009
• Lammershoek Roulette Blanc 2009
• Nederburg Ingenuity White 2009
• Nederburg Sauvignon Blanc-Chardonnay Private Bin D253 2009
• Rall White 2009
• Sadie Family Palladius 2009
• Steenberg Magna Carta 2009
• Steenberg CWG Auction Reserve The Magus 2009
• Strandveld Adamastor 2009
• Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2009
Methode Cap Classique
• Topiary Blanc de Blanc Brut 2008
• Villiera Monro Brut 2005
Dessert Wine, Unfortified
• Fairview La Beryl Blanc 2009
• Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2006
• Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2009
• Nederburg Private Bin Edelkeur 2009
Port
• Boplaas Family Cape Vintage Reserve 2008
• De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2008
• De Krans Cape Tawny NV
• JP Bredell Cape Vintage Reserve 2007
Interesting points of note
• The number of Five Star wines has risen dramatically over recent years, increasing almost threefold from just over 20 in 2008. See Neil Pendock’s blog for more details.
• There are 10 producers attaining a Five star rating for the first time.
• In my opinion and in the opinion of several of the judges and other tasters on the night, the white wines are vastly superior to the reds.
• For the first time in several years, Cap Classique has been awarded Five stars – in fact, there are 2 of them.
• Although most wine fundis still maintain that Chenin will be SA’s greatest white, only 2 attained Five Star ratings as opposed to Sauvignon which got 5 plus a further 7 of the white blends included it as a major part of the blend.
• For the first time in several years, a Five Star Merlot has been named – Shannon’s Mount Bullet.
• If Platter is to be believed, a grape variety to follow for the future would be Grenache, in both its red and white forms.
• Wine consumption in SA is decreasing locally – down to only 6.9l per annum whilst beer, brandy and whisky continue to rise.
• For the third time this year, wine awards were beaten in real life by Twitter, with the Winery of the Year being tweeted out and retweeted approximately 10 minutes before the announcement was made! Follow me on @CathyMarston