CABERNET Franc from the southern hemisphere. 112 wines tasted for the report in the UK’s Decanter Magazine, December ’25 issue. Ten wines rated 95–97 points, including four from South Africa. Top-scoring wine: Warwick’s 2022 vintage, WO Stellenbosch – with the Cape’s Damascene, Lisha Nelson and Raats also among the panel’s
THE BEST track records over the past 10 years… South Africa’s top wines on a consistent basis, rather than according to a single vintage or two, based on reviews by the top panels judging in the fairest way possible to counter positive or negative bias, i.e. without knowing the identities
FAIR AND SQUARE. No punches pulled… The trouble with best value competitions specifically for wines below a particular price ceiling concerns the preconceptions and bias associated with judging such categories, which can lead to lauding wines that aren’t quite as good as we’re led to believe. Instead, let’s look at
SEVEN CATEGORIES of top wines from South Africa as rated 96+ locally or internationally in 2025 by one or more of the respected panels tasting ‘blind’, i.e. labels out of sight… Click on the links below for the country’s most highly rated Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc… The Cape’s
THE TOP Cap Classique sparkling wine from South Africa as rated 96+ locally or internationally in 2025 by one or more of the respected panels tasting ‘blind’, i.e. labels out of sight – excluding wines made specifically for sale on auction, export-only wines and museum-class wines. For details of the ratings
THE TOP Shiraz/Syrah from South Africa as rated 96+ locally or internationally in 2025 by one or more of the respected panels tasting ‘blind’, i.e. labels out of sight – excluding wines made specifically for sale on auction, export-only wines and museum-class wines. For details of the ratings and for all
THE TOP Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa as rated 96+ locally or internationally in 2025 by one or more of the respected panels tasting ‘blind’, i.e. labels out of sight – excluding wines made specifically for sale on auction, export-only wines and museum-class wines. For details of the ratings and for
THE TOP Pinotage from South Africa as rated 96+ locally or internationally in 2025 by one or more of the respected panels tasting ‘blind’, i.e. labels out of sight – excluding wines made specifically for sale on auction, export-only wines and museum-class wines. For details of the ratings and for
THE TOP Chenin Blanc from South Africa as rated 96+ locally or internationally in 2025 by one or more of the respected panels tasting ‘blind’, i.e. labels out of sight – excluding wines made specifically for sale on auction, export-only wines and museum-class wines. For details of the ratings and
THE TOP Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa as rated 96+ locally or internationally in 2025 by one or more of the respected panels tasting ‘blind’, i.e. labels out of sight – excluding wines made specifically for sale on auction, export-only wines and museum-class wines. For details of the ratings and
THE TOP Chardonnay from South Africa as rated 96+ locally or internationally in 2025 by one or more of the respected panels tasting ‘blind’, i.e. labels out of sight – excluding wines made specifically for sale on auction, export-only wines and museum-class wines. For details of the ratings and for
TWO WINES scored 99 points on their 100-point scale. A first for Platter’s South African Wine Guide. Most highly rated in the 2026 edition, the hardcover version available in book stores from December 2025: A Chenin Blanc, Botanica Mary Delany 2024, grapes from the Citrusdal Mountain district in the Olifants
