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