
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