The 2021 edition of the Platter wine guide has been
launched. We have had the privilege, for a good number of years, of being invited to
the gala presentation of the guide and giving you an illustrated story of the
event. Sadly, this is another event which has had to be taken to the internet.
There has been a dearth of media information, so we have had to use a back door
to give you the list of the Five Star awards. Many of these have gone to some
of our favourite wineries and some to interesting newcomers. There is a large
number of wines which received the coveted Five Stars and it reflects the
ongoing improvements in quality of South African wines, especially in such
challenging times. It seems that the online launch was only for those who have
paid for a subscription. The rest of us, media included, will have to wait for
the book to appear in early December.
A Five Star rating in Platter means that the wine has scored at least 95/100 points in a blind tasting
conducted by the Platter tasting panel
The Five Star Platter Wines, listed alphabetically by producer
AA Badenhorst Family
Kelder Steen 2019
Red 2018
Raaigras Grenache 2019
Alheit Vineyards
Cartology 2019
Magnetic North 2019
Hemelrand Vine Garden 2019
Lost & Found 2019
Nautical Dawn 2019
Anthonij Rupert
Wyne
Cabernet Franc 2014
Laing Groendruif Semillon 2017
Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Anwilka
Anwilka 2017
Aristea
Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
ArtiSons
The Mothership Chenin Blanc 2019
JJ Handmade Eight Pillars 2017
B Vintners
Vine Exploration Co
Harlem to Hope 2019
Bartho Eksteen
Vloekskoot 2019
Houtskool 2019
Beaumont Family
Wines
Hope Marguerite 2019
Vitruvian 2017
Bellevue
1953 Single Vineyard Pinotage 2018
Pinotage Reserve 2017
Beyerskloof
Diesel Pinotage 2018
Faith 2016
Boekenhoutskloof
Winery
Franschhoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Noble Late Harvest 2017
Bon Courage Estate
Jacques Bruére Brut Reserve 2012
Boplaas Family
Vineyards
Cape Vintage Reserve 2018
Boschkloof
Epilogue 2018
Botanica
Three Barrels Pinot Noir 2019
Bouchard Finlayson
Tête de Cuvée Pinot Noir 2019
Cape Point Vineyards
Isliedh 2019
Capensis
Fijnbosch Chardonnay 2015
Carinus Family
Vineyards
Polkadraai Heuwels Chenin Blanc 2018
Polkadraai Heuwels Chenin Blanc 2019
Catherine Marshall
Chenin Blanc Fermented in Clay 2019
Cederberg Private
Cellar
Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Charles Fox Cap
Classique
Prestige Cuvée Cipher 2015
Prestige Cuvée Blanc de Blancs 2016
City on a Hill Wine
Company
White 2019
Crystallum
Cuvée Cinéma 2019
Mabalel 2019
David & Nadia
Elpidios 2018
Hoë-Steen Chenin Blanc 2019
Skaliekop Chenin Blanc 2019
Plat’bos Chenin Blanc 2019
De Grendel
Op Die Berg Chardonnay 2019
Elim Shiraz 2018
Sir David Graaff First Baronet 2016
Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2019
De Kleine Wijn Koöp
Debutant White 2019
Road to Santiago 2019
De Krans
Cape Vintage Reserve 2018
Delaire Graff Estate
Laurence Graff Reserve 2017
Delheim
Grand Reserve 2017
Vera Cruz Pinotage 2017
Edelspatz Noble Late Harvest 2019
DeMorgenzon
Chenin Blanc Reserve 2019
De Morgenzon Divas Chenin 2017
De Trafford Wines
Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Syrah 393 2018
Merlot 2016
Straw Wine 2017
Chenin Blanc Reserve 2018
Elevation 393 2014
Dewaldt Heyns
Family Shiraz 2017
Diemersdal
Pinotage The Journal 2018
Pinotage Reserve 2019
Sauvignon Blanc The Journal 2019
Dorrance
Syrah Cuvée Ameena 2019
Ellerman House Hotel
& Villas
The Ellerman 2018
Fairview
Cyril Back 2016
La Beryl Blanc 2019
Glenelly
Lady May 2015
GlenWood
Noblesse 2017
Hartenberg
Gravel Hill Shiraz 2016
Illimis
Chenin Blanc 2019
JC Wickens
Swartland Red Blend 2019
Jordan Wine Estate
Nine Yards Chardonnay 2019
Cabernet Franc 2018
Methode Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs 2015
Journey’s End
Cape Doctor 2015
JP Bredell
Cape Vintage Reserve 2017
Kanonkop Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Paul Sauer 2017
Keet
First Verse 2017
Ken Forrester Wines
Roussanne 2018
Klein Constantia
Estate
Vin de Constance 2016
Kleine Zalze Wines
Chenin Blanc (Vineyard Selection) 2019
Chenin Blanc Amphora 2018
Chenin Blanc (Family Reserve) 2019
Whole Bunch Shiraz 2017
Cabernet Sauvignon (Family Reserve) 2017
Sauvignon Blanc (Family Reserve) 2019
Grenache Amphora 2017
Kumusha
The Flame Lily 2019
KWV
The Mentors Canvas 2017
The Mentors Perold 2017
The Mentors Grenache Blanc 2018
Cape Tawny NV
La Bri
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Le Riche Wines
Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2017
Leeu Passant
Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Radicales Libres 2015
Lomond
Pincushion Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Longridge Wine
Organic Clos du Ciel 2017
Lourens Family Wines
Blouklip Steen 2019
Lua Ilse 2019
Marianne Wine Estate
Floreal 2017
Meerlust Estate
Rubicon 2017
Metzer & Holfeld
Family
Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Michaella Chenin Blanc 2019
Miles Mossop Wines
Saskia-Jo 2018
Minimalist Stars In The Dark 2019
Mischa Estate
Grenache 2018
Morgenster Estate
Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Mullineux
Granite Chenin Blanc 2019
Granite Syrah 2018
Schist Syrah 2018
Olerasay Straw Wine NV
Muratie Wine Estate
Ansela van de Caab 2017
Naudé Wines
Oupa Willem 2018
Nederburg
Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Neil Ellis Wines
Jonkershoek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Whitehall Chardonnay 2019
Newstead Lund Family
Vineyards
Méthode Cap Classique Brut 2015
Newton Johnson
Vineyards
Pinot Noir 2019
Windansea Pinot Noir 2019
Chardonnay 2019
Oak Valley Estate
South Ridge CY548 Chardonnay 2017
Chardonnay Groenlandberg 2019
South Ridge CY95 Chardonnay 2017
Opstal Estate
Carl Everson Cape Blend 2018
Paserene
Marathon 2018
Patatsfontein
Sons of Sugarland Syrah 2019
Paulus Wine Co
Bosberaad 2019
Pieter Ferreira
Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs 2013
Porseleinberg
Porseleinberg 2018
Raats Family Wines
Cabernet Franc 2018
Eden High Density Single Vineyard Chenin 2019
The Fountain Terroir Specific Chenin 2019
Rall Wines
Ava Chenin Blanc 2019
White 2019
Grenache Blanc 2019
Ava Syrah 2019
Restless River
Main Road & Dignity 2017
Ava Marie 2018
Reyneke Wines
White 2018
Rickety Bridge
Winery
The Pilgrimage 2018
Ridgeback
Viognier 2019
Rustenberg Wines
John X Merriman 2017
Rust en Vrede Wine
Estate
1694 Classification 2017
Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Single Vineyard Syrah 2017
Rust en Vrede
Estate Wine 2017
Sadie Family Wines
Mev. Kirsten 2019
Skerpioen 2019
Kokerboom 2019
Skurfberg 2019
Pofadder 2019
Soldaat 2019
Saronsberg Cellar
Full Circle 2018
Savage Wines
Red 2018
Girl Next Door 2019
White 2019
Follow The Line 2019
Schultz Family Wines
Dungeons Cabernet Sauvignon
2017
Scions of Sinai
Swanesang 2019
Shannon Vineyards
Mount Bullet Merlot 2017
Sijnn
Sijnn Red 2017
Silverthorn Wines
The Green Man 2017
Simonsig Wine Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon The Garland 2015
Mediterraneo 2015
Spier
Chenin Blanc 21 Gables 2019
Frans K. Smit Red 2015
Frans K. Smit CWG Auction Selection 2017
Stark-Condé
Oude Nektar High Altitude 2017
Stellenrust
Old Bushvine Chenin Blanc 2019
55 Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2019
Storm Wines
Vrede Pinot Noir 2019
Ignis Pinot Noir 2019
Strandveld Wines
Pofadderbos Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Super Single
Vineyards
Verlatenkloof Merlot 2017
Terracura Trinity Syrah 2017
The Fledge & Co
Vagabond 2018
The Foundry
Grenache Blanc 2019
The High Road
Director’s Reserve 2017
Thelema Mountain
Vineyards
Merlot Reserve 2018
Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Rabelais 2017
Reserve Petit Verdot Sutherland 2017
Thistle & Weed
Duwweltjie 2019
Thorne &
Daughters
Rocking Horse 2019
Tokara
Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2017
Director’s Reserve Red 2017
Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Noble Late Harvest 2019
Van Loggerenberg
Kameradarie 2019
Graft 2019
Vergelegen
Vergelegen GVB Red 2015
Villiera Wines
Drip Barrel Cabernet Franc 2018
The Clan 2017
Vondeling
Babiana 2019
Wade Bales Wine Co
Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Breedekloof Chenin Blanc 2019
Warwick Wine Estate
The Blue Lady 2017
Cabernet Franc 2017
The White Lady 2017
Waterford Estate
The Jem 2015
Wildekrans Wine
Estate
Cape Blend 2017
Woolworths
Ferricrete Riesling 2018
Platter's
by Diners Club South African Wine Guide
Announces the Top Performing Winery of the Year 2021
Kleine
Zalze Wines Achieves South Africa’s Highest Wine Accolade
JP Rossouw, Alastair Rimmer, Kobus Basson and RJ Botha (picture supplied) Kleine Zalze Wines, the well-known and very popular
landmark winery in Stellenbosch, have just been announced Platter’s Top
Performing Winery of the Year for the 2021 guide. A remarkable seven wines
achieving the top honours of Five Stars, saw them rise to the top against a very
strong field of contenders.
Owner Kobus Basson is justly proud of his team, or
what all on the property refer to as “the family”. “This is a ‘wow’ – being
the Winery of the Year in Platter’s is huge for us. We have the highest respect
for the Platter’s Guide and this is why we cherish the moment and the
achievement. Platter’s is the best guide for South African wine by far and this
is why we are extremely proud to be the Winery of the Year.”
Alastair Rimmer, the cellarmaster, is very proud to
see their drive to evolution of the brand pay dividends: “It’s awesome!
We’re super chuffed, this is as good as it gets! We are on a strong journey to
evolve – we want to stay relevant and you need to go forward.” Referring to
the new “Project Z” range of wines, three of which achieved Five Stars, he
said: “This new group of wines are born out of this desire to evolve… and to
improve all our ranges.” He adds that “we are Brand SA and we need the whole
industry to focus on more premium wines and good price points for sustainability
in the industry”
Head winemaker RJ Botha could not contain his
excitement: “This is probably one of those things that will happen once in
my life… most wineries dream of becoming Winery of the Year! For us it’s been
an amazing year, who would have thought 2020 would have a silver lining! What
an amazing privilege to work for a family-owned business in Stellenbosch – we
love this place. There is a massive team here, everybody plays a key role, so
my big thanks to everybody, to the whole Kleine Zalze team. We are all super
proud!”
Editor of Platter’s South African Wine Guide, Philip
van Zyl, made the important point in describing Platter’s Winery of the Year
2021: “It’s remarkable that this Stellenbosch estate was a neglected
corporate-owned cellar and vineyard only 25 years ago... now the wines are
superlative and rather brilliantly taking on the avant-garde at its own game.
Their strong commitment to sustainability, including the creation of local
community opportunities and sound ecological management here, is highly
commendable.
All Platter’s 2021 ratings and results are now
available for subscribers at wineonaplatter.com
Platter’s 2021, the printed guide, will be available
in retail around mid-December 2020.
Please watch our video clip on our Facebook page where
we interview the Kleine Zalze team and explain the Platter’s tasting method:
https://fb.watch/1IzsM6duPK/
