The Swartland is firmly on the top of the South African wine map, with its Mullineux and Leeu Family Wines announced as producer of the Red Wine of the Year, Dessert wine of the Year, winners of five 5-star wines, and Winery of the Year this evening.  It is the second time that they have won Winery of the Year.

In receiving the eight awards Chris Mullineux thanked Platter’s, describing it as a respected publication. He said that he and his wife Andrea are so excited to be part of our country’s wine industry, and at a recent tasting event in London they were blown away to be in the same room as other great wines from our country! Speaking to them afterwards, about whether they could have achieved the same success in America or in Europe, they said that South Africa is the country they have chosen, and that they are grateful for all the success which they have achieved.

A total of 83 wines, three brandies, and a new husk spirit received 5-star recognition (achieving scores of 95+ points out of 100) in the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel event. Stringent tasting was done blind of all 4,5 and 5 star evaluated wines by the Platter’s judging panel, and retasted with the help of additional independent tasters. A total of 640 wines went through the rigorous tasting process, resulting in the final 83 5-star wines. A number of debutante 5-star wines was announced by Philip van Zyl: Anura, Beeselaar, Bloemendal, Constantia Glen, Eenzaamheid, GlenWood, Guardian Peak, Keermont, La Couronne, Leeuwenkuil, Luddite, MVH Signature Wine, Savage Wine, Vondeling, Vuurberg, and Waterkloof.  Spier won four 5-star wines, and David and Nadia Sadie and Newton Johnson Family Vineyards won three 5-star wine awards each.

The colour ‘Cooling Seabreeze‘ blue was chosen as the cover of the Platter’s Guide for the latest issue. A new red bottle sticker has been released for the 5-star wines.  Platter’s Publisher JP Rossouw shared that the tasting was done over a two month period, ‘a task of note’ he said.  Red ink to differentiate 4,5 and 5 star wines in the Guide has been reintroduced, he announced. They also have re-included restaurants and accommodation in the Platter’s Guide, which had been removed for space reasons last year. Space constraints were stretched this year, with the addition of 50 new producers, a sign of how healthy the wine industry is. A total of 8000 wines from 900 producers were evaluated for the Guide. The website is being updated, with a better search ability. A new iOS App has been developed, while that for Android will be launched soon.

The winning 5-star wines in the Platter’s Wine Guide are as follows:

Winery of the Year

Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines

White Wine of  The Year

Warwick The White Lady  Chardonnay 2014

Red Wine of the Year

Mullineux Iron Syrah 2013

Dessert Wine of the Year

Mullineux Olerasay Straw Wine NV

Cabernet Franc

• Chamonix 2013

Cabernet Sauvignon

• Delaire Graff Laurence Graff Reserve 2012
• Guardian Peak Lapa 2013
• Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection 2012

Cinsaut

• AA Badenhorst Ramnasgras 2014

Grenache Noir

• David & Nadia Sadie 2014

Pinotage

• Beeslaar 2013
• Rijk’s Reserve 2011
• Spier 21 Gables 2013
• Windmeul Reserve 2014

Pinot Noir

• Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak 2013
• Newton Johnson Family Vineyards 2014

Shiraz/Syrah

• Bellingham Basket Press Syrah 2013
• Eagles’ Nest Shiraz 2012
• Leeuwenkuil Heritage Syrah 2013
• Mullineux Iron Syrah 2013
• Reyneke Syrah 2013
• Richard Kershaw Elgin Clonal Selections Syrah 2013

Red Blends

• AA Badenhorst Red 2013
• Delaire Graff Botmaskop 2013
• Ernie Els CWG Auction Reserve 2013
• Fleur du Cap Laszlo 2012
• Haskell IV 2010
• Kaapzicht Steytler Vision 2012
• Luddite Saboteur 2012
• Meerlust Rubicon 2010
• Miles Mossop Max 2012
• Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2013
• Mvemve Raats MR de Compostella 2013
• Nico van der Merwe Mas Nicolas Cape 2013
• Savage Wines CWG Auction Reserve Follow the Line 2013
• Spier CWG Auction Reserve Frans K Smit 2011
• The Winery of Good Hope Black Rock 2013
• Vondeling Erica 2012
• Vuurberg Reserve 2012

Chardonnay

• Buitenverwachting 2014
• Dorrance Cuvée Anaïs 2014
• GlenWood Grand Duc 2013
• Graham Beck Lonehill 2014
• Haskell Anvil 2014
• MVH Signature 2014
• Newton Johnson Family Vineyards 2014
• Paul Cluver Seven Flags 2014
• Sterhuis Barrel Selection 2013
• Sumaridge 2013
• Warwick The White Lady Chardonnay 2014

Chenin Blanc

• Botanica Mary Delany 2014
• David & Nadia Sadie Hoë-Steen 2014
• Eenzaamheid 2013
• Kaapzicht The 1947 2014
• Keermont Riverside 2014
• Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve 2014
• Mullineux Granite 2014

Roussanne

• Bellingham Whole Bunch 2015

Sauvignon Blanc

• Cederberg David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner 2014
• Nederburg The Young Airhawk 2014
• Neil Ellis Groenekloof 2015
• Spier 21 Gables 2014

Semillon

• Constantia Uitsig 2014
• Mullineux CWG Auction Reserve The Gris 2014

Viognier

• The Foundry 2014

White Blends

• Bloemendal Kanonberg 2014
• Cape Point CWG Auction Reserve White 2014
• Constantia Glen Two 2014
• Constantia Uitsig Natura Vista 2014
• David & Nadia Sadie Aristargos 2014
• Mullineux White Blend 2014
• Newton Johnson Resonance 2014
• Nitida Coronata Integration 2014
• Oak Valley Mountain Reserve White Blend 2011
• Sadie ‘T Voetpad 2014
• Spier Creative Block 2 2014
• Waterkloof Circle of Life White 2013

Méthode Cap Classique

• Anura Brut 2011
• Cederberg Blanc de Blancs Brut 2010

Dessert Wine, Unfortified

• Miles Mossop Kika Noble Late Harvest 2014
• Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2014
• Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet 2011
• Mullineux Olerasay Straw Wine NV

Dessert Wine, Fortified

• La Couronne Muscadel NV
• Boplaas Heritage White Muscadel 2012

Port-style

• Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2012
• De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2013

Brandy/husk spirit

• Dalla Cia 10 Year Old Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot Husk Spirit
• KWV 10 Year Old Vintage
• KWV Nexus
• Van Ryn 15 Year Fine Cask Reserve

Judges for the 2016 Platter’s Wine Guide were Angela Lloyd, Master of Wine Cathy Van Zyl; Cape Wine Masters Winnie Bowman, Greg de Bruyn, Tim James, Christine Rudman, and Meryl Weaver; Joanne Gibson; Higgo Jacobs; Cathy Marston; Fiona McDonald; Ingrid Motteaux; Gregory Mutambe; Jörg Pfützner; and Dave Swingler.

Platters by Diners Club International 2016 South African Wine Guide, Tel (028) 316-3049 www.wineonaplatter.com  Twitter : @wineonaplatter R215.

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whalecottage.com/blog  Tel 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@WhaleCottage  Facebook:  click here

Credit: Mullineux photograph by John Ford.