A DIFFERENT TAKE on Platter’s absolute favourite wines in the current era… Following on from commentary about the 2015 edition of this South African wine guide that has just gone on sale and a look at the most prolific recipients of the book’s ultimate accolade in recent history (see here), it will interest some to hear that there are only three wines to have been lauded with ratings of either 5 Stars or the ‘Highly Recommended’ 4½ Stars for 10 different vintages over the past 10 years – namely Boekenhoutskloof Syrah, De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve (Port) and Vergelegen GVB (White Blend). Listed below are the wines to have been praised in this way for five or more different vintages over the same period – excluding those made for sale by auction only:
PLATTER’S TOP WHITE RECOMMENDATIONS – 2005 TO 2014
CHARDONNAY
Ataraxia
Chamonix Reserve
Hamilton Russell
Rustenberg Five Soldiers
CHENIN BLANC
Beaumont Hope Marguerite
Botanica
The FMC (Ken Forrester)
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Diemersdal Eight Rows
Graham Beck Pheasants’ Run
Reyneke Reserve
WHITE BLEND
Cape Point Isliedh – Bordeaux Style
Fable Jackal Bird
Mullineux White – Bordeaux Style
Nederburg Ingenuity
Rall
Sadie Palladius
Steenberg Magna Carta – Bordeaux Style
Tokara Director’s Reserve – Bordeaux Style
Vergelegen GVB – Bordeaux Style
PLATTER’S TOP RED RECOMMENDATIONS – 2005 TO 2014
CABERNET FRANC
Raats Family
Warwick
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Boekenhoutskloof
Rustenberg Peter Barlow
Stark-Condé Three Pines
Vergelegen V
PINOT NOIR
Chamonix Reserve
Meerlust
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards
PINOTAGE
Simonsig Redhill
SHIRAZ / SYRAH
Boekenhoutskloof
Boschendal Cecil John Reserve
De Trafford 393
Eagles’ Nest
Hartenberg Gravel Hill
Hartenberg The Stork
Saxenburg Select
RED BLEND
De Toren Fusion V – Bordeaux Style
Ernie Els Signature – Bordeaux Style
Hartenberg The Mackenzie – Bordeaux Style
Kaapzicht Steytler Vision – Cape Blend
Kanonkop Paul Sauer – Bordeaux Style
Morgenster – Bordeaux Style
Sadie Columella – Rhône Style
Vilafonté Series C – Bordeaux Style
Waterford The Jem
PLATTER’S TOP DESSERT RECOMMENDATIONS – 2005 TO 2014
NOBLE LATE HARVEST
Fleur du Cap Bergkelder Selection
Ken Forrester T
Nederburg Private Bin Edelkeur Chenin Blanc
Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve
Paul Cluver Riesling
STRAW WINE
Fairview La Beryl Blanc
Mullineux
PLATTER’S TOP FORTIFIED RECOMMENATIONS – 2005 TO 2014
CAPE TAWNY (PORT)
De Krans
CAPE VINTAGE (PORT)
Axe Hill
Boplaas Reserve
De Krans Reserve
