A number of records were broken last night when 94 wines and one brandy were awarded 5 star status at the launch of the Platter’s by Diners Club South African Wine Guide 2017 at the Table Bay Hotel, a new venue, the event having been held at the Mount Nelson for years. The colour of the 2017 Platter’s Guide is Harvest Green.
A total of 740 wines, out of the more than 8000 wines evaluated, scored 4,5 or 5 out of five points on a 
sighted evaluation during a two-day tasting. These wines were then put through a blind evaluation to select the five-star wines. The 95 wines selected in total in achieving 5 stars is a record. Platter’s publisher JP Rossouw highlighted that the 2015 vintage was a very good one, especially for Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, and white blends. The number of first-time 5 star wines at seventeen scored was a record as well. Judges included Angela Lloyd, Cathy Van Zyl, Winnie Bowman, Greg de Bruyn, Tim James, Christine Rudman, Meryl Weaver, David Biggs, Hennie Coetzee, Joanne Gibson, Cathy Marston, Fiona McDonald, Gregory Mutambe, Samarie Smith, and Dave Swingler.
Rossouw thanked all present, especially the winemakers who had achieved the highest 5 score for their wines. He thanked his tasters, and especially Platter’s editor Philip van Zyl, whom he described as ‘underpaid and overworked‘. He acknowledged that his tasters did not only evaluate wines on tastings, but also supplied background information around the wines and wineries. Diners Club was also praised for its support. Rossouw announced that the website has been upgraded, as have their Android and iOS Apps. The Platter team has written a book ‘Everything you wanted to know about wine but 
were too afraid to ask’.
The Winery of the Year was named as Nederburg, the second time that it has been named Winery of the Year, last having won the same accolade six years ago. The winery won four 5 star wines this year, the only winery to do so, for its Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2015, Private Bin D234 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Heritage Heroes The Brewery 
Master 2014 Red Blend, and Private Bin R163 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon. Only two other winners have won the Winery of the Year accolade twice (Sadie Family and Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines).
The White Wine of the Year was announced as Stellenrust 51 Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2015. The source of the wine is a 51-year old single block vineyard.
The Red Wine of the Year was named as The Winery of Good Hope Radford Dale Black Rock 2014. Led by Alex Dale, the Winery of Good Hope recognised the quality of grapes coming out of the Swartland. The major blends in the wine are Carignan and Shiraz.
The Dessert Wine of the Year was the Mullineux Straw Wine 2015. Grapes come from the Swartland, and are 
slowly fermented with indigenous yeasts, in old oak barrels.
Maiden 5 star wine winners this year are Artisanal Boutique Winery, Bartinney Private Cellar, Bosman Family Vineyards, Diemersdal Estate, Donkiesbaai, La Vierge Private Cellar, Laibach Vineyards, Môreson, Mount Abora Vineyards, Olifantsberg Family Vineyards, Perdeberg Winery, Restless River, Ronnie B Wines, Skaap Wines, Stellar Winery, Thorne & Daughters Wines, and Trizanne Signature Wines.
Rossouw praised the five wine brands which won three 5 star ratings each, being Cape Chamonix, David & Nadia, Kleine Zalze Wines, Newton Johnson, and Sadie Family Wines.
The 94 wines and one brandy to win a 5 star rating are the following:
Cabernet Sauvignon
1. Delaire Graff Laurence Graff Reserve 2013
2. Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2012
3. Nederburg Private Bin R163 2013
4. Tokara Reserve 2013
Cinsaut
1. Bosman Family Twyfeling 2015
2. Kaapzicht Skuinsberg 2015
Grenache Noir
1. Spice Route 2014
2. Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Limited Release 2015
Merlot
1. Laibach Claypot 2014
2. Shannon Mount Bullet 2013
Pinotage
1. Beeslaar 2014
2. Flagstone Time Manner Place 2014
Pinot Noir
1. Hamilton Russell 2015
2. Newton Johnson Family Vineyards CWG Auction Reserve Seadragon 2015
3. Newton Johnson Family Vineyards 2015
Shiraz/Syrah
1. Fable Syrah 2014
2. Iona Solace Syrah 2014
3. Keermont Topside Syrah 2014
4. La Motte Pierneef Syrah-Viognier 2014
5. Porseleinberg 2014
6. Reyneke Reserve Red 2014
7. Richard Kershaw Clonal Selection Elgin Syrah 2014
8. Ronnie B Sons of Sugarland Syrah 2015
9. Trizanne Reserve Syrah 2015
Red blends
1. Artisanal Boutique Winery JJ Handmade Eight Pillars 2013
2. Chamonix Troika 2014
3. Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve 2013
4. Mvemve Raats MR de Compostella 2014
5. Nederburg Heritage Heroes The Brew Master 2014
6. Olifantsberg Silhouette 2014
Chardonnay
1. Bartinney 2015
2. Chamonix 2015
3. Chamonix Reserve 2015
4. Delaire Graff Banghoek Reserve 2015
5. DeMorgenzon Reserve 2015
6. Groot Constantia 2015
7. Hamilton Russell 2015
8. Haskell Anvil 2015
9. Iona 2015
10. Jordan Barrel Fermented 2015
11. Jordan CWG Auction Reserve 2015
12. La Vierge Apogée 2015
13. Meerlust 2015
14. Môreson Mercator Premium 2014
15. Newton Johnson Family Vineyards 2015
16. Restless River Ava Marie 2014
17. Richard Kershaw Deconstructed Lake District Bokkeveld Shales CY95 2015
Chenin Blanc
1. AA Badenhorst Dassiekop Steen 2015
2. Alheit Radio Lazarus 2015
3. Beaumont Hope Marguerite 2015
4. Bellingham Bernard Series Old Vine 2015
5. Botanica Mary Delany 2015
6. David & Nadia 2015
7. David & Nadia Hoë-Steen 2015
8. Edgebaston Camino Africa David Finlayson 2015
9. Fram 2015
10. Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2015
11. Mount Abora Koggelbos 2014
12. Opstal Carl Everson 2015
13. Ronnie B Patatsfontein Steen 2015
14. Sadie Family Skurfberg 2015
15. Spioenkop 1900 2015
Sauvignon Blanc
1. Bloemendal Suider Terras 2015
2. Diemersdal 8 Rows 2016
3. Diemersdal MM Louw 2015
4. Fleur du Cap Unfiltered 2015
5. Hermanuspietersfontein Nr 5 Kat Met Die Houtbeen 2014
6. Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2015
7. Mulderbosch 1000 Miles 2015
8. Nederburg Private Bin D234 2015
9. Skaap 44 2015
Semillon
1. Botanica Mary Delany 2015
2. Opstal The Barber 2015
3. Sadie Family Kokerboom 2015
4. Shannon 2015
White Blends
1. Alheit Hemelrand Vine Garden 2015
2. Beaumont ‘New Baby’ 2015
3. David & Nadia Aristargos 2015
4. GlenWood Vigneron’s Selection Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc 2015
5. Sadie Family Palladius 2014
6. Thorne & Daughters Rocking Horse 2015
7. Tokara Director’s Reserve 2015
8. Vondeling Babiana 2015
Dessert Wine, Unfortified
1. Delheim Edelspatz Noble Late Harvest 2015
2. Donkiesbaai Hooiwijn Vin de Paille 2015
3. Fleur du Cap Bergkelder Selection Noble Late Harvest 2015
4. Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet 2012
5. Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2015
6. Perdeberg Speciality Natural Sweet Chenin Blanc 2014
7. Stellar Heaven on Earth Natural Sweet NV
Brandy
1. Boplaas Potstill Reserve 12 Years
The Platter’s by Diners Club South African Wine Guide 2017 evaluates more than 8000 locally produced wines. The Guide signals good-value wines as well as Hidden Gems. ‘Buy Now, Drink Later‘ wines are also identified.
Platter’s by Diners Club 2017 South African Wine Guide. Tel (028) 316-3049. www.wineonaplatter.com Twitter: @wineonaplatter Instagram: @wineonaplatter Available online and at leading bookstores and specialist wine retailers. Cost R255
Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whalecottage.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: click here Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein
20
3070
27k
20