{"id":26861,"date":"2011-11-09T01:03:52","date_gmt":"2011-11-08T23:03:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=26861"},"modified":"2011-11-09T21:26:54","modified_gmt":"2011-11-09T19:26:54","slug":"platters-2012-franschhoek-becomes-centre-of-fine-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/franschhoek\/platters-2012-franschhoek-becomes-centre-of-fine-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"Platter’s 2012: Franschhoek becomes centre of fine wine!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>After many years of criticism about their quality of wines and terroir, the Franschhoek Vignerons have vindicated themselves, with Chamonix and Boekenhoutskloof named Red Wine of the Year (Cape Chamonix Reserve Pinot Noir 2010) and Winery of the Year, respectively, in the Platter’s South African Wines 2012<\/em>, at The Vineyard Hotel last night. In addition, Boekenhoutskloof’s The Wolftrap White 2010 was named Superquaffer of the Year. \u00a0Badsberg Badslese 2009 was named the White Wine of the Year. Nine of the 45 five-star wines are from Franschhoek this year, the highest number ever.<\/p>\n

The Platter’s Guide, with a ‘Karoo sunshine yellow<\/em>‘ cover, as described by publisher Andrew McDowall, has 620 pages, with 56 more wineries and 1000 more wines evaluated than the 2011 edition. \u00a0More than 7000 wines were tasted by 15 judges, which included David Biggs, Christiaan Eedes, Michael Fridjhon, Tim James, Angela Lloyd (her 26th year of judging), Fiona McDonald, J\u00f6rg Pf\u00fctzner, Christine Rudman, and Cathy van Zyl.<\/p>\n

In its motivation for choosing Boekenhoutskloof as the Winery of the Year, Platter’s\u00a0Guide wrote as follows: “For their remarkable 14 five star ratings stretching back to our 2000 edition – which featured the Syrah 1997, a stylistic window opener for the local industry and one of the most important wines of the modern South African era – and for their understated but highly influential role in placing South Africa in the international fine-fine <\/em>(sic) map, we name Boekenhoutskloof our 2012 Winery of the Year. \u00a0\"\"<\/a>Whilst some top achievers shy away from the entry level, Boekenhoutskloof co-founder and cellarmaster Marc Kent and his partners almost from the outset embraced the popular palate, first with their Porcupine Ridge label and latterly with another exceptionally drinkable and well-priced range, The Wolftrap. The White version of this budget offering is this edition’s Superquaffer of the Year – yet another reason for us to honour and congratulate this consistently exceptional Franschhoek team”. <\/em>Both Boekenhoutskloof’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah 2009 were awarded five stars in the latest Platter’s<\/span>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Badsberg is based in Rawsonville and its Badslese 2009, presented in a beautiful bottle, is described by Platter’s as ‘…outstanding elegantly presented Natural Sweet dessert from chenin. 09 great concentration & spread of flavour, from floral to spicy, huge sweetness concludes on a tangy savoury\/leafy note, which is uncloying & decidely moreish. With 10% hanepoot, unwooded’. <\/em>The Chamonix Pinot Noir Reserve 2010 was described as follows: “…shows savoury cedar whiffs, with bright cherry & strawberry aromas powering through tealeaf cigarbox spice. Plush tannins, sweet berry notes. Integrated 80% new French oak, natural ferment. Even more vibrant & detailed than finely managed ’09”. <\/em>Gottfried Mocke is the winemaker and cellarmaster at Chamonix in Franschhoek.<\/p>\n

Forty-five wines were selected as 5 star wines<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, in a blind tasting of all 5-star candidates, a methodology following continued criticism of Platter’s sighted wine evaluation from wine writers such as Neil Pendock. \u00a0The full list of 2012 5-star wines, with three each for Boekenhoutskloof, Nederburg, and Mullineux Family, is as follows:<\/p>\n

Cabernet Franc<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Warwick<\/a> 2008<\/p>\n

Cabernet Sauvignon<\/strong>
\n\u2022\u00a0Boekenhoutskloof<\/a> 2009
\n\u2022\u00a0Graham Beck<\/a> Chalkboard #3 2007
\n\u2022\u00a0Stark-Cond\u00e9<\/a> Three Pines 2009<\/p>\n

Pinot Noir<\/strong>
\n\u2022\u00a0Cape Chamonix<\/a> Reserve 2010
\n\u2022 Newton Johnson<\/a> Domaine 2010
\n\u2022\u00a0Oak Valley<\/a> 2009<\/p>\n

Shiraz\/Syrah<\/strong>
\n\u2022\u00a0Boekenhoutskloof<\/a> Syrah 2009
\n\u2022\u00a0Fairview<\/a> The Beacon 2008
\n\u2022\u00a0Mont Destin<\/a> Destiny 2007
\n\u2022 Mullineux Family Syrah 2009
\n\u2022\u00a0Saxenburg<\/a> Select 2007<\/p>\n

Red Blends<\/strong>
\n\u2022\u00a0Bouchard Finlayson<\/a> Hannibal 2010
\n\u2022\u00a0De Toren<\/a> Fusion V 2009
\n\u2022 Glenelly Lady May 2009
\n\u2022 La Motte<\/a> Pierneef Shiraz-Viognier 2009
\n\u2022\u00a0Meerlust<\/a> Rubicon 2007
\n\u2022 Miles Mossop Max 2008
\n\u2022\u00a0Sadie Family<\/a> Columella 2009<\/p>\n

Chardonnay<\/strong>
\n\u2022\u00a0De Wetshof<\/a> The Site 2009
\n\u2022\u00a0Jordan<\/a> CWG Auction Reserve 2010<\/p>\n

Chenin Blanc<\/strong>
\n\u2022\u00a0Beaumont<\/a> Hope Marguerite 2010
\n\u2022\u00a0Diemersfontein<\/a> Carpe Diem 2010
\n\u2022 Vins d\u2019Orrance Kama 2010<\/p>\n

Grenache Blanc<\/strong>
\n\u2022 KWV<\/a> Mentors 2010<\/p>\n

Sauvignon Blanc<\/strong>
\n\u2022\u00a0Graham Beck<\/a> Pheasants\u2019 Run 2011
\n\u2022\u00a0Hermanuspietersfontein<\/a> No 5 2010
\n\u2022 Kleine Zalze<\/a> Family Reserve 2010
\n\u2022\u00a0Steenberg <\/a>CWG Auction Reserve The Magus 2010
\n\u2022\u00a0Strandveld<\/a> 2010<\/p>\n

White Blends<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Fable Jackal Bird 2010
\n\u2022 Flagstone<\/a> CWG Auction Reserve Happy Hour 2009
\n\u2022 Mullineux White Blend 2010
\n\u2022\u00a0Nederburg<\/a> Ingenuity 2010
\n\u2022\u00a0Tokara<\/a> Director\u2019s Reserve 2010<\/p>\n

M\u00e9thode Cap Classique Sparkling<\/strong>
\n\u2022\u00a0Colmant<\/a> Brut Chardonnay NV
\n\u2022\u00a0Topiary<\/a> Blanc de Blancs Brut 2009<\/p>\n

Natural Sweet<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Badsberg<\/a> Badslese 2009
\n
\nDessert Wine Unfortified<\/strong>
\n\u2022\u00a0Boekenhoutskloof<\/a> Noble Late Harvest 2008
\n\u2022\u00a0Fleur du Cap<\/a> Noble Late Harvest 2010
\n\u2022 Mullineux Family Straw Wine 2010
\n\u2022\u00a0Nederburg<\/a> Edelkeur 2010
\n\u2022 Nederburg<\/a> Eminence 2010
\n
\nPort<\/strong>
\n\u2022\u00a0Boplaas<\/a> Family Cape Vintage Reserve 2009
\n\u2022\u00a0De Krans<\/a> Cape Vintage Reserve 2009<\/p>\n

The 95 wines that did not make the 5-star rating after the blind-tasting were designated ‘Highly Recommended’<\/em>, and include Shannon Mount Bullet 2009, Hartenberg Gravel Hill 2007, Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2010, Sadie Family Palladius 2010, Steenberg Magna Carta 2010, and Ken Forrester ‘T’ Noble Late Harvest 2009<\/strong><\/span>.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Platter’s launches, of which I have only attended the last two, could do with more ‘5-star quality’, both the Vineyard Hotel and Capelands not being ideal venues, both in respect of acoustics and snacks! \u00a0It was noticeable how many of the 2012 top 5-star winemakers, including Eben Sadie (Sadie Family Wines), Hein Koegelenberg (La Motte), and Bartho Eksteen (Hermanuspietersfontein) did not attend the function last night.<\/p>\n

Platter’s South African Wines 2012<\/strong>, R159,95. \u00a0www.kalahari.com<\/a> and www.sawinesonline.co.uk<\/a>,\u00a0www.wineonaplatter.com<\/a> Tel (028) 316-3210. iPhone application available.<\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com<\/a> Twitter: @WhaleCottage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After many years of criticism about their quality of wines and terroir, the Franschhoek Vignerons have vindicated themselves, with Chamonix and Boekenhoutskloof named Red Wine of the Year (Cape Chamonix Reserve Pinot Noir 2010) and Winery of the Year, respectively, in the Platter’s South African Wines 2012, at The Vineyard Hotel last night. In addition, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[124,14,21,19,293],"tags":[13967,8574,13973,8848,4895,389,416,2506,425,13964,8646,13971,1386,32378,13969,10070,224,13968,417,404,3212,9723,8917,13977,270,13970,7104,412,32369,11243,13975,7806,1533,1958,410,4508,3438,13980,606,395,13979,1335,884,1540,390,401,2924,9356,13974,399,497,2510,2676,13963,13981,4721,8663,3957,13978,13673,231,8664,1925,3244,13965,13972,59,2836,3598,32373],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t