Publisher of Platter’s by Diners Club, Jean-Pierre Rossouw, says: “All wines that scored 93 points or higher in the primary assessment went into a second round of tasting, conducted blind (without sight of the label) by small panels including experienced palates from outside the team. The stringency of this model means that our Five Star wines showed their consistent brilliance.”
This edition, the ultimate Platter’s accolade, Winery of the Year, has expanded to become a trio of pinnacle awards, each saluting excellence in South African winemaking. The Newcomer Winery of the Year recognises the winery that records the best results as a first-time participant in the guide. This honour went to Erika Obermeyer Wines, with two Five Stars on debut. The Top Performing Winery of the Year award went to Mullineux, who are no strangers to Platter’s accolades, having twice previously been Winery of the Year. In the new guide, they achieve a remarkable four Five Stars plus a Wine of the Year. Finally, the Editor’s Award for 2019 went to Newton Johnson Vineyards, as editor Philip van Zyl’s personal commendation of this family venture’s consistently superb quality over a range of styles of wine.
In a further innovation, the number of Wines of the Year has also been increased, and the expanded lineup now reflects the highest-scoring Five Star wines in their category (or, in instances where wines were tied with the highest scores, the judging panels’ preferred wine).
Another first in this edition is the introduction of 100-point scores, printed alongside the familiar “Platter’s Stars”, for the recently tasted wines. Jean-Pierre Rossouw comments: “100-point scoring is the global standard, and by combining this notation with our own long-standing star-rating system, we hope that our international readers, in particular, will better understand and contextualise our judges’ assessments. We see the two rating systems coexisting in the guide in the future.”
These are the highest-scoring Five Star wines within each tasting category.
Raats Dolomite 2016
Le Riche Reserve 2015
Sadie Soldaat 2017
Shannon The Shannon Black 2013
Thelema Sutherland Reserve 2015
Kanonkop Black Label 2016
Crystallum Cuvée Cinéma 2017
Leeuwenkuil Heritage Syrah 2015
Elemental Bob Graveyard 2017
Plaisir de Merle Signature 2012
Beyerskloof Faith 2014
Saronsberg Full Circle 2016
Ernie Els Proprietor's Blend 2016
Leeu Passant Stellenbosch 2016
DeMorgenzon The Divas 2017
Steenberg The Black Swan 2017
Bartho Eksteen Houtskool 2017
Rickety Bridge Road to Santiago 2016
Vergelegen GVB 2015
Thorne & Daughters Rocking Horse 2017
Villiera Monro Brut 2012
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2014
Paul Cluver Riesling 2017
Mullineux Straw Wine 2017
Overgaauw Cape Vintage 1998
Raats 2016
Raats Dolomite 2016
Van Loggerenberg Breton 2017
Bartinney Cabernet 2015
Erika Obermeyer Erika O 2015
Le Riche Reserve 2015
Reyneke Reserve 2015
Stellenbosch Reserve Ou Hoofgebou 2016
Warwick The Blue Lady 2015
Sadie Soldaat 2017
Oldenburg 2015
Shannon The Shannon Black 2013
Thelema Reserve 2015
Thelema Sutherland Reserve 2015
Beeslaar 2016
Beyerskloof Diesel 2016
Kanonkop Black Label 2016
Crystallum Cuvée Cinéma 2017
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards 2017
Dorrance Syrah Cuvée Ameena 2016
Hartenberg CWG Auction Reserve Shiraz 2015
Leeuwenkuil Heritage Syrah 2015
Luddite Shiraz 2014
Mullineux Iron Syrah 2016
Mullineux Schist Roundstone Syrah 2016
Porseleinberg Syrah 2016
Rall Ava Syrah 2017
Rhebokskloof Black Marble Hill Syrah 2015
Rust en Vrede Single Vineyard Syrah 2015
Elemental Bob Graveyard 2017
Allée Bleue L’Amour Toujours 2014
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2015
Muratie Ansela van de Caab 2015
Plaisir de Merle Signature 2012
Ridgeback Signature C 2016
Beyerskloof Faith 2014
Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block 2017
Erika Obermeyer Erika O Syrah-Grenache Noir-Cinsault 2016
Saronsberg Full Circle 2016
Ernie Els Proprietor’s Blend 2016
Rust en Vrede Estate 2015
Waterford The Jem 2014
Haskell Anvil 2017
Leeu Passant Stellenbosch 2016
Oak Valley Groenlandberg 2017
Restless River Ava Marie 2016
Warwick The White Lady 2017
Beaumont Hope Marguerite 2017
Botanica Mary Delany 2017
Cederberg Five Generations 2016
City on a Hill Wine Company 2017
David & Nadia 2017
David & Nadia Hoë-Steen 2017
David & Nadia Skaliekop 2017
DeMorgenzon Reserve 2017
DeMorgenzon The Divas 2017
Metzer Montane 2017
Rall Ava 2017
Sadie Skurfberg 2017
Savage Never Been Asked To Dance 2017
Spier 21 Gables 2017
Spier Farm House Organic 2016
Spioenkop Sarah Raal 2017
Stellenrust 53 Barrel Fermented 2017
Thistle & Weed Duwweltjie 2017
Steenberg The Black Swan 2017
Bartho Eksteen Houtskool 2017
Alheit La Colline 2017
Benguela Cove Catalina 2017
Rickety Bridge Road to Santiago 2016
Cape Point Isliedh 2017
Shannon Capall Bán 2015
Vergelegen GVB 2015
Warwick Professor Black 2017
B Vintners Vine Exploration Co Harlem to Hope 2017
Lourens Lindi Carien 2017
Mullineux Old Vines 2017
Rall 2017
Sadie Palladius 2016
Savage 2017
Stark-Condé The Field Blend 2017
Thorne & Daughters Rocking Horse 2017
Colmant Absolu Zero Dosage NV
Villiera Monro Brut 2012
Woolworths Vintage Reserve Brut 2012
Klein Constantia Estate Vin de Constance 2014
Paul Cluver Riesling 2017
Mullineux Straw Wine 2017
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2016
Overgaauw Cape Vintage 1998
Boplaas Potstill 20 Years Reserve
Dalla Cia 10 Year Old Celebration Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot Husk Spirit
KWV 10 Year Old Vintage
KWV 12 Year Old Barrel Select
KWV 15 Year Old Alambic
KWV 20 Year Old
KWV Nexus
Oude Meester Souverein
Van Ryn 12 Year Distillers Reserve
Van Ryn 15 Year Fine Cask Reserve
Van Ryn 20 Year Collectors Reserve
