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)