Wow! Platter’s 35 superstars include a Viognier, and a Wellington Port!

LONG GONE are the days when a 5 Star rating was the ultimate accolade in Platter’s South African Wine guide, one of the very few publications in the world of wine still carrying stars to signify levels of distinction. The book and the online platform now also include scores according to a 100-point system but the powers that be can’t bring themselves to quit trumpeting about that which has served them and the local wine industry well for decades – Platter’s 5 Star rating equating to a score of 95 or higher. Some time ago, however, they began presenting a special award for the Winery of the Year, then one for the Editor’s commendation and another for the Newcomer of the Year. They also introduced Wine of the Year awards, which have evolved to become tantamount to trophies for the most highly rated bottling in each red, white, sparkling and sweet wine category where 5 Star ratings have been achieved.

The most-applauded producer in Platter’s 40th Anniversary 2020 edition is Mullineux & Leeu, with one foot on the Roundstone farm near Riebeek Kasteel in the Swartland, and the other in a smart setup among the Leeu Collection of venues in Franschhoek. Boekenhoutskloof of Franschhoek and Cap Classique maestro Pieter Ferreira of Robertson received special mention too, with David & Nadia (Swartland), Rust en Vrede (Stellenbosch) and Sadie (Swartland) also among the most notable award winners. This after tastings conducted blind in distinguishing which of the critics’ favourites were deserving of Highly Recommended or 5 Star ratings – all other ratings in the guide given on the basis of sighted tastings, usually by one of the critics in each instance.

In terms of Platter’s top-scoring Wines of the Year, three hail from the red wine cellar of Rust en Vrede, although perhaps the biggest impression at the podium was made by the ‘giant’ Donovan Rall, congratulated for his Swartland Chenin Blanc in particular. Raising eyebrows was an Upland Tawny of Wellington sharing the fortified wine honours with a Boplaas Vintage Reserve of Calitzdorp, the Cape Port Capital. And who would have thought that of the 35 most-celebrated beauties, one would be a Viognier? Hats off to Ridgeback of Paarl!

The judges: Winnie Bowman CWM, Greg de Bruyn CWM, Christine Rudman CWM, Cathy van Zyl MW & CWM and Meryl Weaver CWM, wine writers Tim James CWM,  Joanne Gibson, Angela Lloyd, Cathy Marston and Fiona McDonald, Dave Swingler and sommelier Gregory Mutambe.

See below for the panel’s absolute favourites. Click here for all of the 5 Star laureates listed alphabetically according to the producers’ names, and for more about Platter’s 2020 guide with all 125 of the top-rated wines presented category by category, click here.

 

Top Whites in Platter’s 2020

CHARDONNAY

Leeu Passant Stellenbosch 2017
Franschhoek Cellar

Restless River Ava Marie 2017
Hemel-en-Aarde Cellar

CHENIN BLANC

Rall Ava 2018
Swartland Producer

GRENACHE BLANC

Foundry 2018
Paarl Producer

SAUVIGNON BLANC

Sondagskloof White 2018
Cape Town Producer (Blanc Fumé, Trizanne)

SEMILLON

Cape of Good Hope Laing Groendruif 2016
Franschhoek Cellar (Anthonij Rupert)

Pilgrimage Old Vine Semillon 2017
Franschhoek Cellar (Rickety Bridge)

VIOGNIER

Ridgeback 2018
Paarl Cellar

WHITE BLENDS

Delaire Graff White Reserve 2017
Bordeaux Style, Stellenbosch Cellar

Sadie Palladius 2017
Swartland Cellar

 

Top Sparkling in Platter’s 2020

CAP CLASSIQUE

Pieter Ferreira Blanc de Blancs 2012
Robertson Producer

 

Top Reds in Platter’s 2020

CABERNET FRANC

Anthonij Rupert 2013
Franschhoek Cellar

De Trafford 2015
Franschhoek Cellar

Raats Family 2017
Stellenbosch Producer

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Rust en Vrede Single Vineyard 2016
Stellenbosch Cellar

CINSAUT

Bosman Twyfeling 2017
Wellington Cellar

Savage Follow the Line 2018
Cape Town Cellar

GRENACHE NOIR

Sadie Soldaat 2018
Swartland Cellar

MERLOT

Shannon Mount Bullet 2016
Elgin Producer

PINOT NOIR

Storm Ignis 2017
Hemel-en-Aarde Producer

PINOTAGE

Flagstone Time Manner Place 2017
Somerset West Cellar

SHIRAZ / SYRAH

Mullineux Granite 2017
Swartland Producer

RED BLENDS

Beyerskloof Faith 2015
Cape Blend, Stellenbosch Cellar

Erika Obermeyer Syrah Grenache Noir Cinsault 2018
Stellenbosch Producer

Rust en Vrede 1694 Classification 2016
Shiraz-Based, Stellenbosch Cellar

Rust en Vrede Estate 2016
Stellenbosch Cellar

Saronsberg Full Circle 2017
Shiraz-Based, Tulbagh Cellar

Van Biljon Cinq 2015
Bordeaux Style, Stellenbosch Producer

 

Top Desserts in Platter’s 2020

NATURAL SWEET

Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2015
Constantia Cellar

Laibach 2019
Stellenbosch Cellar

NOBLE LATE HARVEST

Buitenverwachting ‘1769’ 2017
Constantia Cellar

Tokara Reserve Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Constantia Cellar

STRAW WINE

Mullineux 2018
Swartland Producer

 

Top Fortifieds in Platter’s 2020

CAPE PORT

Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2017
Calitzdorp Cellar

Upland Cape Tawny 2014
Wellington Cellar

 

 

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2 comments

  • Jordan and Paul Cluver consistently rate as the best Rieslings from South Africa.

  • Wilfried Goessens

    Platter’s 2020 top white wines selection does not include a Riesling. Which is the best Riesling from South Africa according to most professional tasters?

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