DAYS IN ADVANCE of launching the 2022 edition of their book and presenting awards for their choice of Wines and Wineries of the Year, the publishers of Platter’s South African Wine Guide teased followers by divulging the names of their 5 Star laureates – 234 of them, each considered to be ‘Superlative, a South African classic’. However, also disclosed on Platter’s website is how much each of these wines were scored out of 100, which revealed that of all the beauties reviewed for the guide which were considered worthy of 95 points plus, 22 were scored 97 and three 98: Boschkloof’s 2019 Epilogue Shiraz (WO Stellenbosch) and two Sadie Family Wines, their red blend Columella 2019 (WO Swartland) and their 2020 Chenin Blanc that goes by the name of Mev Kirsten (WO Stellenbosch).

Wines receiving a five-star rating have undergone a rigorous process involving blind assessments (without sight of the label) by a team of experts. Platter’s tasters this time round included: Cape Wine Masters Winnie Bowman, Greg de Bruyn, Tim James, Christine Rudman, Meryl Weaver and and Cathy van Zyl, who is also a Master of Wine (UK), MW student Cathy Marston, wine writers Malu Lambert, Angela Lloyd, Fiona McDonald and Dave Swingler, as well as sommeliers Gregory Mutambe and Penelope Setti.

“These are exciting times for South African wine as regards quality and diversity, and the ability of its wines to beguile, fascinate and satisfy wine-lovers and -collectors around the world” – Platter’s editor Philip van Zyl.

98/100 IN PLATTER’S 2022

Boschkloof Epilogue 2019 (Shiraz)
R795pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Columella 2019 (Red Blend, Sadie Family)
R955pb approx retail, Swartland cellar

Mev Kirsten 2020 (Chenin, Sadie Family)
R940 approx retail, Swartland cellar

97/100 IN PLATTER’S 2022

Beyerskloof Faith 2017 (Red Blend)
R800 ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Boekenhoutskloof Noble Late Harvest 2018
R360pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Franschhoek

Boekenhoutskloof Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R545pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek

Buitenverwachting Hussey’s Vlei Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R197pb ex-cellar, Constantia

Cape of Good Hope Laing Groendruif 2020 (Semillon)
R125pb from Rupert Wines, Franschhoek

Cape Point Isliedh 2020 (White Blend)
R350pb ex-cellar, Noordhoek

Creation Art of Chardonnay 2020
R920pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge

De Grendel Elim Shiraz 2019
R900pb (1.5 litre) ex-cellar, Panorama-Durbanville

Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2015 (MCC)
R780pb ex-cellar, Robertson

Holden Manz Merlot Reserve 2018
R535pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek

Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet 2017
R1250pb (500ml) ex-cellar, Constantia

Marianne Floreal 2018 (Red Blend)
R490pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Mount Sutherland Syrah 2018
R420pb from Super Single Vyds, Stellenbosch Kloof

Mullineux Granite Chenin Blanc 2020
R575pb from Mullineux & Leeu, Franschhoek

Mullineux Granite Syrah 2019
R1060 from Mullineux & Leeu, Franschhoek

Rall Ava Chenin Blanc 2020
R475pb approx retail, Swartland producer

Rust en Vrede 1694 Classification 2018 (Red Blend)
R1600pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch

Savage Not Tonight Josephine 2020 (Straw Wine)
R405pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Cape Town

Shannon Black 2017 (Merlot)
R1500pb ex-cellar, Elgin

Sijnn Red 2018 (Blend)
R410pb ex-cellar, Malgas-Agulhas Triangle

Sons of Sugarland Syrah 2020 (Boschkloof)
R425pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Van Loggerenberg Graft 2020 (Shiraz)
R450pb ex-cellar, Paarl

 

For the Winery and Wine of the Year award winners announced subsequently, click here.

 

• For door-to-door delivery of award-winners in all major centres of South Africa, click here to order from specialist wine shop Norman Goodfellows.