Platter's by Diners Club South African Wine Guide Announces Pinnacle Awards for 2023 Edition

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Wineries of the Year, Wines of the Year and Five Star Wines Platter’s by Diners Club Wine Guide has revealed the recipients of its sought-after and esteemed pinnacle awards – the Wineries of the Year, Wines of the Year and Five Star Wines – for the latest (2023) edition.

Platter's 2023 Top Performing Winery of the Year : Mullineux | Esh Naidoo (Diners Club), Chris & Andrea Mullineux, Philip van Zyl (Platter's MD & editor)

The announcement was made at the launch of the top-selling and collectible hardback guide, featuring a stunning cover design, the first with an elegant white background, with touches of always-stylish rose gold. The new-look hardcover book was introduced at a bespoke function in Stellenbosch on Thursday 17 November 2022.

This 43rd edition of South Africa’s favourite wine guide features well over 900 producers, merchants and brands, including 37 new ones, and over 8,000 locally produced wines, as well as brandies, husk spirits and sherry-style wines.

A highlight of any new edition is the trio of prestigious Winery of the Year awards, the highest accolades bestowed by Platter’s.

The Top Performing Winery of the Year goes to the winery that achieves the most five-star ratings after the annual final tasting round. This year the worthy recipient is Mullineux, with an astonishing run of eight five-star results. This is the stellar Swartland-based venture’s fifth time as Platter’s highest achiever, having been best-performing winery in 2014, 2016, 2019 and 2020.

The Editor’s Award Winery of the Year recognises a winegrowing individual or team who, based on performance in the current edition as well as their track record, are ambassadors par excellence for South African wine. This year the award goes to Cape Winemakers Guild member Duncan Savage and his Cape Town boutique winery Savage Wines. Last year Savage Wines achieved a remarkable seven five-star ratings. An amazing five such rankings this year, once again proving Duncan’s consistency as a trailblazer and undoubtedly one of the Cape’s foremost winemakers.

Platter's 2023 Editor's Award Winery of the Year : Savage Wines - Esh Naidoo (Diners Club), Duncan Savage, Philip van Zyl (Platter's MD & editor)

The Newcomer Winery of the Year is awarded to the producer who debuts in Platter’s this year and achieves the highest scores. The well-deserved recipient of this distinction is Trade Winds Wine, owned by friends and long-time serious wine aficionados Martin Voigt and Richard Wells, with a brilliant five-star Cabernet Sauvignon blended by Colin Frith, an honorary Cape Wine Master and one of the most experienced men-about-the-winelands.

Platter's 2023 Newcomer Winery of the Year : Trade Winds Wine | Esh Naidoo (Diners Club), Colin Frith, Jean & Robin Voigt, Philip van Zyl (Platter's MD & editor)

Wines receiving the sought-after five-star rating in Platter’s must undergo a rigorous process of sighted and blind assessment (i.e. with and without sight of the label) by a team of experienced experts. Bottlings that are judged to be “Superlative, a South African classic” are given the highest ranking of five stars, equal to 95 points or better on the 100-point rating scale.

Of the 5-star-awarded wines, the top performers within each category receive the coveted accolade, Wines of the Year.

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Category winners.

Cabernet Franc Mulderbosch Single Vineyard 2019

Cabernet Sauvignon Le Riche Reserve 2019

Cinsault Rall 2021

Grenache Noir Kruger Old Vines 2020

Merlot Longridge Misterie 2017

Petit Verdot Benguela Cove Vinography 2020

Pinotage Kanonkop Black Label 2020

Pinot Noir Cap Maritime 2021

Shiraz/Syrah Patatsfontein Sons of Sugarland Syrah 2021

Red Blends, Cape Bordeaux Fleur du Cap Laszlo 2019

Red Blends, with Pinotage Beyerskloof Faith 2018

Red Blends, Shiraz/Syrah-based Sadie Columella 2020

Red Blends, Other Leeu Passant Dry Red 2019

Chardonnay Hamilton Russell 2021

Chenin blanc Mullineux CWG Trifecta 2020

Hárslevelü Lemberg 2021

Sauvignon Blanc Bartho Eksteen Houtskool 2021

Semillon Thorne & Daughters Paper Kite 2021

White Blends, Cape Bordeaux Benguela Cove Vinography Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc 2021

White Blends, Other Sadie ‘T Voetpad 2021

Cap Classique Anthonij Rupert L’Ormarins Private Cuvée 2014

Dessert Wine, Fortified De Krans Muscat Blanc 2022

Natural Sweet Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2018

Noble Late Harvest Paul Clüver Riesling 2021

Vin de Paille Mullineux Olerasay Straw Wine NV

Port-style Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2020

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The 196 Five Star Wines:

Cabernet Franc Botanica Big Flower 2020 David Finlayson Camino Africana 2020 Mulderbosch Single Vineyard 2019 Warwick 2019

Cabernet Sauvignon Bartinney Skyfall 2017 Benguela Cove Vinography 2019 Erika Obermeyer Erika O 2019 Kanonkop 2018 Le Riche Reserve 2019 Miles Mossop Maximilian CWG 2019 Nederburg Manor House 2019 Restless River Main Road & Dignity 2019 Reyneke Biodynamic Reserve 2019 Rickety Bridge The Bridge 2020 Stark-Condé Oude Nektar 2019 Trade Winds 2019

Cinsault Kleine Zalze Project Z 2021 Leeu Passant Basson 2020 Rall 2021 Rickety Bridge Paulina’s Reserve Old Vine 2021

Grenache Noir AA Badenhorst Raaigras 2021 David & Nadia 2021 Kruger Old Vines 2020 Mischa Reserve 2021 Momento 2020

Merlot Longridge Misterie 2017

Petit Verdot Benguela Cove Vinography 2020

Pinotage Beeslaar 2020 De Grendel Amandelboord 2020 Diemersdal Prospect 2020 Francois van Niekerk 2020 illimis 2021 Kaapzicht Steytler 2020 Kanonkop Black Label 2020 Survivor Reserve 2020

Pinot Noir Bosman Hermanus 2021 Cap Maritime 2021 Creation The Art of Pinot Noir 2021 Crystallum Bona Fide 2021 Crystallum Cuvée Cinéma 2021 Crystallum Mabalel 2021 Kara-Tara Reserve 2020 Oak Valley South Ridge PN667 2020 Storm Vrede 2021

Shiraz/Syrah Boschkloof Epilogue 2020 De Grendel Elim Shiraz 2020 De Grendel Op die Berg Syrah 2021 Harry Hartman Somesay 2021 Hartenberg The Stork 2019 Keermont Topside Syrah 2017 Mullineux Jakkalsfontein Granite Syrah 2020 Mullineux Iron Kasteelsig Syrah 2020 Mullineux Schist Roundstone Syrah 2020 Mullineux Syrah 2020 Patatsfontein Sons of Sugarland Syrah 2021 Rall Ava Syrah 2021 Savage CWG Syrah 2020 Savage Girl Next Door 2021 Savage Red 2020 Wolf & Woman Syrah 2021

Red Blends, Cape Bordeaux Allée Bleue L’Amour Toujours 2017 Alto MPHS 2016 Darling Cellars Sir Charles Darling 2019 Fleur du Cap Laszlo 2019 Glenelly Lady May 2018 Hartenberg The Mackenzie 2017 Jordan Cobblers Hill 2018 Jordan Sophia 2017 Keet First Verse 2019 Marianne Desirade 2019 Overgaauw Tria Corda 2019 Stellenrust Timeless 2019 Stony Brook The Max 2019 Thelema Rabelais 2020 Van Biljon Cinq 2018 Vondeling Philosophie 2017 Woolworths Cobblers Hill 2018

Red Blends, with Pinotage Beyerskloof Faith 2018

Red Blends, Shiraz/Syrah-based ArtiSons JJ Handmade Eight Pillars 2019 Ellerman House The Ellerman 2020 Sadie Columella 2020

Red Blends, Other Blackwater Sophie Cabernet Franc-Cinsaut 2021 De Trafford Elevation 393 2016 Fairview Homtini 2019 Leeu Passant Dry Red 2019 Leopard’s Leap Pardus 2020 Marianne Floréal 2019 Van Wyk Rebecca May 2021

Chardonnay Bartinney Hourglass 2020 Capensis Fijnbosch 2018 Creation Glenn’s Chardonnay 2021 David Finlayson Shale Terraces 2021 Delaire Graff Terraced Block 2021 Draaiboek Onskuld 2021 GlenWood Grand Duc 2020 GlenWood Vigneron’s Selection 2021 Hamilton Russell 2021 Jordan Nine Yards 2021 Leeu Passant Stellenbosch 2020 Longridge Organic Clos du Ciel 2018 Newton Johnson CWG Sandford 2020 Oak Valley South Ridge CY95 2020 Oak Valley Groenlandberg 2021 Oldenburg 2021 Richard Kershaw Elgin 2020 Richard Kershaw Kogelberg Sandstone CY76 2020 Richard Kershaw Lower Duivenhoks River 2020 Storm Ridge 2021 Tokara Reserve 2021 Warwick The White Lady 2021

Chenin Blanc Alheit Cartology 2021 Alheit Fire by Night 2021 Bellingham The Bernard Series 2021 Bosman Family Optenhorst 2021 Botanica Mary Delany Collection 2021 Catherine Marshall Fermented in Clay 2021 Cederberg Five Generations 2021 David & Nadia 2021 David & Nadia Plat’bos 2021 David & Nadia Skaliekop 2021 DeMorgenzon Reserve 2021 Eenzaamheid 2020 JC Wickens Swerwer 2021 Kaapzicht Kliprug 2021 Leeuwenkuil White 2020 Metzer & Holfeld Montane 2021 Mullineux CWG Trifecta 2020 Mullineux Granite Eikelaan 2021 Old Road Wine Company Stone Trail 2020 Raats CWG The Fountain 2021 Rall Ava 2021 Sadie Mev. Kirsten 2021 Sakkie Mouton Revenge Of The Crayfish 2021 Savage Never Been Asked To Dance 2021 Scions of Sinai Granietsteen 2021 Stark-Condé Monk Stone 2021 Stellenrust Old Bushvine 2021 Wade Bales Breedekloof 2021

Hárslevelü Lemberg 2021

Sauvignon Blanc Anthonij Rupert Altima 2022 Bartho Eksteen CWG Vloekskoot 2021 Bartho Eksteen Houtskool 2021 Cederberg David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner Wild Ferment 2021 Diemersdal The Journal 2021 Diemersdal Wild Horseshoe 2021 Marianne 2021 Steenberg The Black Swan 2021 Thorne & Daughters Snakes & Ladders 2021 Trizanne Sondagskloof White 2021 Vergelegen SV Schaapenberg 2020

Semillon Anthonij Rupert Laing Groendruif 2021 Black Elephant Vintners The Dark Side Of The Vine 2019 Boekenhoutskloof 2020 De Kleine Wijn Koöp Debutant White 2021 De Kleine Wijn Koöp Road to Santiago 2021 Gabriëlskloof Magdalena 2021 Rickety Bridge The Pilgrimage 2020 The Vineyard Party I’m Your Huckleberry 2019 Thorne & Daughters Paper Kite 2021

White Blends, Cape Bordeaux Benguela Cove Vinography Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc 2021 Delaire Graff White Reserve 2020 Morgenster White Reserve 2021 Savage White 2021 Wade Bales Constantia Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon 2021

White Blends, Other Alheit Hemelrand Vine Garden 2021 Beaumont New Baby 2021 Bellingham Freda 2021 Creation Viognier-Roussanne 2021 David & Nadia Aristargos 2021 Keermont Terrasse 2021 Mullineux Old Vines White 2021 Rall White 2021 Sadie Skerpioen 2021 Sadie Palladius 2020 Sadie ‘T Voetpad 2021 Stark-Condé The Field Blend 2021 Tempel Kattemaai Chenin Blanc-Semillon 2021 The Ahrens Family The WhiteBlack 2020 The Grapesmith Die Kluisenaar 2019 Vuurberg White 2021

Cap Classique Anthonij Rupert L’Ormarins Blanc de Blancs 2017 Anthonij Rupert L’Ormarins Private Cuvée 2014 Colmant Absolu Zero Dosage NV Saltare Brut Rosé NV Silverthorn CWG Big Dog VIII 2017 Silverthorn Jewel Box 2017

Dessert Wine, Fortified De Krans Muscat Blanc 2022

Natural Sweet Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2018

Noble Late Harvest Delheim Edelspatz 2020 Miles Mossop Kika 2021 Paul Clüver Riesling 2021

Vin de Paille Fairview La Beryl Blanc 2022 Mullineux Olerasay Straw Wine NV Zevenwacht Vine Dried Muscat Blanc 2019

Port-style Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2020 KWV Cape Tawny NV

Brandy Boplaas Potstill Reserve 20 Years KWV Centenary KWV Nexus KWV 20 Year Old KWV 15 Year Old Alambic KWV 12 Year Old Barrel Select KWV 10 Year Old Vintage Tokara XO Potstill Van Ryn 20 Year Old Potstill Van Ryn 15 Year Old Potstill Van Ryn 12 Year Old Potstill Husk Spirit Dalla Cia 10 Year Old Celebration Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot

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With 28 five stars, Chenin Blanc continues its remarkable performance of recent years and, in a significant development, now not only equals the number of five-star Red Blends but also surpasses the White Blends category’s 21 maximum ratings.

Together, however, the Blended class (Red and White) remains a powerhouse of quality, responsible for a quarter of all the five-star ratings.

Another category building on an improved base is Chardonnay, adding three 95+ ratings to last year’s 19. Other strong performers are Shiraz/Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, with 16 and 12 wines respectively.

Reflected in the five-star line-up are many of the key trends shaping South African wine today, such as the revival and reinterpretation of traditional varieties such as Cinsault and Semillon, and adoption of heat-tolerant varieties like Grenache Noir; red wines with lighter textures and lower alcohol; clay and concrete vessels as alternatives to oak for ferment and/or ageing; and ‘deconstruction’, where different sites and even clones of the same grape variety are bottled separately.

“Another relatively recent development mirrored in the ratings is the release of minuscule special bottlings of an experimental nature, sometimes literally one barrel, intended to explore a particular grape variety, site and/or winegrowing technique, or sometimes simply express the winemakers’ personality or vision,” says Philip van Zyl, managing director and editor of Platter’s.

“It’s always a pleasure to see new names make their debut in the guide at the highest levels of quality, and established ones achieve their first Platter’s five-star rating.

“South Africa continues to impress wine-lovers and -collectors around the world with its outstanding quality, along with diversity, character and interest. The fact that many pinnacle wines in our guide are tagged as good value is a massive plus for consumers in challenging economic times.

Also noteworthy are the 291 Highly Recommended wines and brandies, which narrowly missed five stars but are nonetheless extremely fine and collectable, earning a rating of 94 on the 100-point scale.

Philip van Zyl continues: “The guide’s descriptions and ratings, compiled in association with a team of leading experts, make it easy to find the right wine for any occasion, while the good-value indicators highlight those bottlings which are especially budget friendly across all quality levels.

“Red and white wines showing potential for cellaring are flagged by means of the Cellar Worthy icon, while wines which tasters feel are particularly worthy of note, being interesting, attractive, unique or representative of an important trend are highlighted with the Hidden Gems icon.

“This edition, we are very pleased to be reintroducing the Superquaffers, wines that we feel are exceptionally drinkable and well-priced. These uber-affordable and easy-drinking bottlings are identified by the smiley-faced icon.”

Fully updated notes on the major winegrowing regions, grape varieties, winemaking styles, winetasting terms, and the major wine competitions and awards, as well as listings of wine educators country-wide form part of a wide-ranging offering.

As always, the guide is prefaced by an insightful and thought-provoking overview of important developments and trends in South Africa and the wider wine world.

Platter’s 2023 hardcover is available from selected bookstores and retailers nationwide from the end of November 2022. The recommended retail price is R399.00 inclusive of VAT.

To view the list of five-star wines online, visit www.wineonaplatter.com/blog/news

For the tasting notes on the five-star wines, as well as the reviews and ratings for the other wines featured in the 2023 edition, go to www.wineonaplatter.com/products and purchase a digital subscription.