WELL HOW about that! Following the announcement of the “pinnacle” awards in Platter’s 2023 South African Wine Guide and still in advance of the 744-page printed version becoming available, the publishers have divulged the scores of the 8000-plus wines reviewed in this, the 43rd edition of the book retailing at R399. Whereas at first we were told the names of 196 Five Star award winners including 26 Wines of the Year, they then went public with how much the judges had rated each wine out of 100 – the scores available online via their website and app for a subscription fee of R170.

On the team of tasters who assessed the wines were: Master of Wine Cathy van Zyl, Cape Wine Masters Winnie Bowman, Greg de Bruyn, Tim James, Christine Rudman and Meryl Weaver, wine writers Fiona McDonald, Angela Lloyd and Malu Lambert, sommelier Penelope Setti and Dave Swingler, member of the International Wine & Food Society. Most of Platter’s wine ratings are done with full knowledge of what is being reviewed, however scores of 95 or higher involve a final round of ‘blind’ tastings, labels out of sight. The following then are the most highly rated of the 5 Star laureates in Platter’s 2023:

98/100

Columella 2020 (Red Blend)
R919pb from Sadie Family cellar, Paardeberg-Malmesbury

Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage 2020
R2200pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

97/100

David & Nadia Plat’bos Chenin Blanc 2021
R680pb ex-cellar, Paardeberg-Malmesbury

Mullineux CWG Trifecta Chenin Blanc 2020
Auction wine, Riebeek-Kasteel cellar

Mullineux Olerasay Straw Wine NV
R1175pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Riebeek-Kasteel

Sons of Sugarland Syrah 2021
R390pb ex-producer (Patatsfontein, Boschkloof cellar, Stellenbosch)

96/100

Bartho Eksteen Houtskool 2021 (Sauvignon Blanc)
R475pb ex-cellar, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

Benguela Cove Vinography Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R600pb ex-cellar, Bot River

Benguela Cove Vinography Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R550pb ex-cellar, Bot River

Bosman Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2021
R375pb ex-cellar, Wellington

Cap Maritime Pinot Noir 2021
R445pb from Boekenhoutskloof cellar, Franschhoek

Creation Art of Pinot Noir 2021
R925pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge

David & Nadia Skaliekop Chenin Blanc 2021
R680pb ex-cellar, Paardeberg-Malmesbury

De Grendel Op die Berg Syrah 2021
R310pb ex-cellar, Panorama-Durbanville

Fleur du Cap Laszlo 2019 (Red Blend)
R500pb approx retail, Distell brand

Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2021
R543pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

Harry Hartman Somesay Syrah 2021
R330pb ex-producer, Somerset West

Jordan Sophia 2017 (Red Blend)
R1600pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch Kloof

Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2018
R1450pb (500ml) ex-cellar, Constantia

Kruger Old Vines Grenache Noir 2020
R325pb ex-producer, Somerset West

Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R850pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch

L’Ormarins Private Cuvée 2014 (Cap Classique)
R430pb from Rupert Wines, Franschhoek

Metzer Montane Chenin Blanc 2021
R330pb ex-cellar, Somerset West

Miles Mossop CWG Maximilian 2019 (Cabernet Sauvignon)
Auction wine, Banghoek-Stellenbosch cellar

Mulderbosch Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2019
R420pb ex-cellar, Polkadraai-Stellenbosch

Mullineux Granite Chenin Blanc 2021
R630pb ex-cellar, Riebeek-Kasteel

Mullineux Granite Syrah 2020
R1175pb ex-cellar, Riebeek-Kasteel

Newton Johnson CWG Sandford Chardonnay 2020
Auction wine, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde cellar

Onskuld 2021 (Chardonnay)
R390pb from Draaiboek, Paarl

Paul Cluver Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2021
R450pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Elgin

Rall Ava Syrah 2021
R265pb ex-producer, Malmesbury

Thorne & Daughters Paper Kite 2021 (Semillon)
R365pb ex-producer, Bot River

Vondeling Philosophie 2017 (Red Blend)
R975pb ex-cellar, Voor-Paardeberg, Paarl

Warwick Cabernet Franc 2019
R420pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

 

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