Swartland’s Mullineux named Platter’s Winery of the Year for third time
NINETY of the wines reviewed in the 2019 edition of Platter’s South African Wine Guide by Diners Club have been rated as ‘South African Classics’, awarded Five Stars and scored 95 points or more on a 100-point scale. Of these, all assessed by a panel of tasters judging blind (labels out of sight), 25 were honoured as Wines of the Year, the highest-scoring Five Star wines in their categories – see below. And Platter’s ultimate accolades went to: Mullineux of Riebeek Kasteel as Top Performing Winery of the Year (four Five Star wines); Newton Johnson of the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde, winner of the Editor’s Award from Philip van Zyl as his personal commendation of this family venture’s consistently superb quality over a range of styles; and Erika Obermeyer of Stellenbosch, Newcomer of the Year for achieving two Five Star ratings on debut. Mullineux previously won the Winery of the Year award in 2013 (2014 edition) and 2015 (2016 edition).
The tasters for the 2019 edition were: Winnie Bowman, Hennie Coetzee, Greg de Bruyn, Joanne Gibson, Tim James, Angela Lloyd, Cathy Marston, Fiona McDonald, Gregory Mutambe, Christine Rudman, Dave Swingler, Cathy van Zyl and Meryl Weaver. For all of the Five Star laureates and more about the guide from plublisher Jean-Pierre Rossouw, click here.
Platter’s Red Wines of the Year
Cabernet Franc:
Raats Dolomite 2016
Cabernet Sauvignon:
Le Riche Reserve 2015
Grenache Noir:
Sadie Soldaat 2017
Merlot:
The Shannon Black 2013
Petit Verdot:
Sutherland Reserve 2015 (Thelema)
Pinotage:
Kanonkop Black Label 2016
Pinot Noir:
Crystallum Cuvée Cinéma 2017
Shiraz/Syrah:
Leeuwenkuil Heritage Syrah 2015
Tinta Barocca:
Elemental Bob Graveyard 2017
Red Blends, Cape Bordeaux:
Plaisir de Merle Signature 2012
Red Blends, with Pinotage:
Beyerskloof Faith 2014
Red blends, with Shiraz/Syrah:
Saronsberg Full Circle 2016
Red Blends, Other:
Ernie Els Proprietor’s Blend 2016
Platter’s White Wines of the Year
Chardonnay:
Leeu Passant Stellenbosch 2016
Chenin Blanc:
DeMorgenzon Divas 2017
Sauvignon Blanc, Unwooded:
Steenberg Black Swan 2017
Sauvignon Blanc, Wooded:
Bartho Eksteen Houtskool 2017
Semillon:
Rickety Bridge Road to Santiago 2016
White Blends, Cape Bordeaux:
Vergelegen GVB 2015
White Blends, Other:
Thorne & Daughters Rocking Horse 2017
Platter’s Other Wines of the Year
Méthode Cap Classique:
Villiera Monro Brut 2012
Natural Sweet:
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2014
Noble Late Harvest:
Paul Cluver Riesling 2017
Vin de Paille:
Mullineux Straw Wine 2017
Port-Style:
Overgaauw Cape Vintage 1998