Press Release
Nov 9, 20196 min
Platter’s by Diners Club launches the 2020 South African Wine Guide
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
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
Publication notes for Platter’s by Diners Club 2020
Published by: John Platter SA Wineguide (Pty) Ltd
Publisher: Jean-Pierre Rossouw (jpr@wineonaplatter.com)
Editor: Philip van Zyl (pvz@wineonaplatter.com)
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: R295ISBN 978-0-9870046-9-7
SEE BELOW THREE PHOTOGRAPHS WITH CAPTIONS
PICTURE 1: Platter’s 2020 Editor’s Award Winery of the Year awarded to Boekenhoutskloof Winery Left to Right: Awarded by JP Rossouw to Marc Kent alongside Ethel Nyembe (Head: Card Issuing Standard Bank) and Esh Naidoo (Managing Director Diners Club Pan Africa)
PICTURE 2: Platter’s 2020 Newcomer Winery of the Year: Awarded to Pieter Ferreira Cap Classique Left to Right: Awarded by JP Rossouw to Ann Ferreira standing alongside Ethel Nyembe (Head: Card Issuing Standard Bank) and Esh Naidoo (Managing Director Diners Club Pan Africa)
PICTURE 3: Platter’s 2020 Top Performing Winery of the Year: Awarded to Mullineux Wines
Left to Right: Awarded by JP Rossouw to Chris and Andrea Mullineux standing alongside Ethel Nyembe (Head: Card Issuing Standard Bank) and Esh Naidoo (Managing Director Diners Club Pan Africa)