Platter's by Diners Club unveils 2020 South African Wine Guide

This accolade is reserved for wines that are “South African classics” and score 95 points or more on the internationally recognised 100-point scale. In the 2020 edition, a total of 125 wines and one brandy achieved the coveted five-star (95+ point) rating.

Newcomer Winery of the Year awarded to Pieter Ferreira Cap Classique

The ultimate Platter’s accolade, Winery of the Year, is now a trio of pinnacle awards, each saluting excellence in South African winemaking.

Firstly, the Editor’s Award Winery of the Year for 2020 goes to Boekenhoutskloof Winery. Newcomer Winery of the Year recognises the cellar that records the best results as a first-time participant in the guide. The Top Performing Winery of the Year award goes – once more – to Mullineux.

Top Performing Winery of the Year awarded to Mullineux Wines

Platter’s 2020 Wines of the Year

The highest-scoring five-star wines in their category represent the Platter’s Wines of the Year.  In instances where wines were tied with the highest scores, the accolade is shared.

Diners Club announces national winners of 2019 Winelist Awards

1 Oct 2019

The Wines of the Year are:

Cabernet Franc

• Anthonij Rupert 2013
• De Trafford 2015
• Raats 2017

Cabernet Sauvignon

• Rust en Vrede Single Vineyard 2016

Cinsaut

• Bosman Twyfeling 2017
• Savage Follow the Line 2018

Grenache Noir

• Sadie Soldaat 2018

Merlot

• Shannon Mount Bullet 2016

Pinotage

• Flagstone Time Manner Place 2017

Pinot Noir

• Storm Ignis 2017

Shiraz/Syrah

• Mullineux Granite Syrah 2017

Red Blends, Cape Bordeaux

• Van Biljon Cinq 2015

Red Blends, with Pinotage

• Beyerskloof Faith 2015

Red Blends, Shiraz/Syrah-based

• Erika Obermeyer Erika O Syrah-Grenache
• Noir-Cinsault 2018
• Rust en Vrede 1694 Classification 2016
• Saronsberg Full Circle 2017

Red Blends, Other

• Rust en Vrede Estate 2016

Chardonnay

• Leeu Passant Stellenbosch 2017
• Restless River Ava Marie 2017

Chenin Blanc

• Rall Ava 2018

Grenache Blanc

• The Foundry 2018

Sauvignon Blanc

• Trizanne Sondagskloof Blanc Fumé 2018

Semillon

• Anthonij Rupert Laing Groendruif 2016
• Rickety Bridge The Pilgrimage 2017

Viognier

• Ridgeback 2018

White Blends, Cape Bordeaux

• Delaire Graff White Reserve 2017

White Blends, Other

• Sadie Palladius 2017

Méthode Cap Classique

• Pieter Ferreira Blanc de Blancs 2012

Natural Sweet

• Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2015
• Laibach 2019

Noble Late Harvest

• Buitenverwachting 1769 / 2017
• Tokara 2017

Vin de Paille

• Mullineux Straw Wine 2018

Port-style

• Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2017
• Upland Cape Tawny 2014

Brandy

• KWV Centenary

Platter’s 2020 Five-Star Wines

The five-star wines (95 points and higher) in Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2020 are:

Cabernet Franc

• Anthonij Rupert 2013
• De Trafford 2015
• Raats 2017

Cabernet Sauvignon

• Erika Obermeyer Erika O 2017
• Kanonkop 2015
• Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection 2017
• Miles Mossop CWG Auction Reserve
• Maximilian 2014
• Rust en Vrede Single Vineyard 2016
• Wade Bales Regional Series Stellenbosch 2017

Cinsaut

• Bosman Twyfeling 2017
• Savage Follow the Line 2018
• Grenache Noir
• Sadie Soldaat 2018

Merlot

• Shannon Mount Bullet 2016
• Thelema Reserve 2016

Pinotage

• Beeslaar 2017
• Beyerskloof Diesel 2017
• Diemersdal Reserve 2018
• Flagstone Time Manner Place 2017
• Kanonkop Black Label 2017

Pinot Noir

• Crystallum Mabalel 2018
• Storm Ignis 2018
• Storm Ignis 2017

Shiraz/Syrah

• Blackwater Cultellus Syrah 2017
• Boekenhoutskloof CWG Auction Reserve
• Syrah 2017
• Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2017
• Cederberg Shiraz 2017
• De Grendel Elim Shiraz 2017
• Dorrance Syrah Cuvée Ameena 2017
• Gabriëlskloof Syrah on Shale 2017
• Leeuwenkuil Heritage Syrah 2017
• Mullineux Granite Syrah 2017
• Mullineux Iron Syrah 2017
• Mullineux Schist Syrah Roundstone 2017
• Patatsfontein Sons of Sugarland Syrah 2018
• Rall Ava Syrah 2018
• Reyneke Biodynamic Reserve Red 2017
• Rust en Vrede Single Vineyard Syrah 2016
• Savage Red 2017
• Super Single Vineyards Mount Sutherland
• Continental Syrah 2016
• Van Loggerenberg Graft 2018

Red Blends, Cape Bordeaux

• De Trafford CWG Auction Reserve Perspective 2017
• Glenelly Lady May 2014
• Hidden Valley Hidden Gems 2016
• Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2016
• Tokara Director’s Reserve Red 2015
• Van Biljon Cinq 2015
• Vergelegen GVB 2014

Red Blends, with Pinotage

• Beyerskloof Faith 2015
• Kaapzicht Vision 2017

Red Blends, Shiraz/Syrah-based

• Erika Obermeyer Erika O Syrah-Grenache
• Noir-Cinsault 2018
• Rust en Vrede 1694 Classification 2016
• Saronsberg Full Circle 2017

Red Blends, Other

• De Trafford Elevation 393 2013
• Glenelly Reserve Red 2014
• Rust en Vrede Estate 2016

Chardonnay

• Capensis Silene 2017
• Hamilton Russell 2018
• Jordan CWG Auction Reserve 2018
• Leeu Passant CWG Radicales Libres 2014
• Leeu Passant Stellenbosch 2017
• Oak Valley Groenlandberg 2018
• Restless River Ava Marie 2017
• Rhebokskloof Sandstone Grove 2017
• Richard Kershaw Clonal Selection Elgin 2018
• Richard Kershaw GPS Series Lower
• Duivenhoks River 2018
• Warwick The White Lady 2018

Chenin Blanc

• AA Badenhorst Kelder Steen 2018
• AA Badenhorst Dassiekop Steen 2018
• Alheit Magnetic North 2018
• ArtiSons The Mothership 2018
• Axle 2018
• Beaumont Hope Marguerite 2018
• Botanica Mary Delany 2018
• David & Nadia 2018
• David & Nadia Hoë-Steen 2018
• David & Nadia Plat’bos 2018
• David & Nadia Skaliekop 2018
• Gabriëlskloof Elodie 2018
• Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2018
• Kruger Family Wines Old Vines 2018
• Longridge Ou Steen Enkel Wingerd 2017
• Metzer & Holfeld Montane 2018
• Mount Abora Koggelbos 2017
• Raats Eden High Density Single Vineyard 2018
• Rall Ava 2018
• Sadie Mev Kirsten 2018
• Sadie Skurfberg 2018
• Spier 21 Gables 2018
• Stellenrust 54 Barrel Fermented 2018
• Stellenrust Old Bushvine 2018
• Thistle & Weed Duwweltjie 2018
• Van Loggerenberg Kameradarie 2018

Grenache Blanc

• KWV The Mentors 2017
• The Foundry 2018

Sauvignon Blanc

• Neil Ellis Amica 2018
• Tokara Reserve 2018
• Trizanne Signature Sondagskloof Blanc Fumé 2018

Semillon

• Anthonij Rupert Cape of Good Hope Laing Groendruif 2016
• Rickety Bridge The Pilgrimage 2017

Viognier

• Ridgeback 2018

White Blends, Cape Bordeaux

• Cape Point Isliedh 2018
• Delaire Graff White Reserve 2017
• Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve 2017

White Blends, Other

• B Vintners Harlem to Hope 2018
• Leeuwenkuil Reserve White 2017
• Mullineux Old Vines 2018
• Rall White 2018
• Sadie Palladius 2017
• Sadie ‘T Voetpad 2018
• Thorne & Daughters Rocking Horse 2018

Méthode Cap Classique

• Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Cuvée Brut Rosé 2011
• Le Lude Agrafe 2013
• Le Lude Vintage Magnum 2013
• Pieter Ferreira Blanc de Blancs 2012
• Saltare Blanc de Noirs Cuvée Camille NV

Natural Sweet

• Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2015
• Laibach 2019

Noble Late Harvest

• Buitenverwachting 1769 / 2017
• Tokara 2017

Vin de Paille

• Fairview La Beryl Blanc 2018
• Mullineux Straw Wine 2018

Port-style

• Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2017
• De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2017
• KWV Cape Tawny NV
• Upland Cape Tawny 2014

Brandy

• KWV 10 Year Old Vintage
• KWV 12 Year Old Barrel Select
• KWV 15 Year Old Alambic
• KWV 20 Year Old
• KWV Nexus
• KWV Centenary
• Van Ryn 12 Year Distillers Reserve
• Van Ryn 15 Year Fine Cask Reserve
• Van Ryn 20 Year Collectors Reserve

Husk Spirit

• Dalla Cia 10-Year-Old Celebration Cabernet
• Sauvignon-Merlot