As you would expect, this year’s Platter’s Wine Guide is bigger than ever with over 900 producers and over 7000 wines listed. There is no other guide that is this comprehensive.
I attended the launch of the new guide this week at the Vineyard hotel. The 5 star wines were all available for tasting, which guaranteed a well attended event. As usual, the 5 star wines were all very impressive (taking into account my personal wine preferences). However, this year I found them to be generally more ready to drink than last year’s 5 star wines. Obviously most of the wines at this level will age well, but last year I felt many of them needed to age while this year they seemed to be drinking well currently.
Highlights for me were the Warwick cabernet franc, Boekenhoutskloof syrah, Mullineaux white blend and the Colmant MCC. Bear in mind that I didn’t try every wine there, all of the ones I tried were absolutely fantastic but these I’ve mentioned stood out for me.
There is a big push to make the Platter’s guide available electronically with an iPhone app due for imminent release and an Android app and mobi site to follow.
Read more about the Platter’s guide on the Platter’s website and you can purchase the guide online from Kalahari.net.
Below is the list of 5 star wines in the 2012 guide:
Cabernet Franc
• Warwick 2008
Cabernet Sauvignon
• Boekenhoutskloof 2009
• Graham Beck Chalkboard #3 2007
• Stark-Condé Three Pines 2009
Pinot Noir
• Chamonix Reserve 2010
• Newton Johnson Domaine 2010
• Oak Valley 2009
Shiraz/Syrah
• Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2009
• Fairview The Beacon 2008
• Mont Destin Destiny 2007
• Mullineux Syrah 2009
• Saxenburg Select 2007
Red Blends
• Bouchard Finlayson Hannibal 2010
• De Toren Fusion V 2009
• Glenelly Lady May 2009
• La Motte Pierneef Shiraz-Viognier 2009
• Meerlust Rubicon 2007
• Miles Mossop Max 2008
• Sadie Family Columella 2009
Chardonnay
• De Wetshof The Site 2009
• Jordan CWG Auction Reserve 2010
Chenin Blanc
• Beaumont Hope Marguerite 2010
• Diemersfontein Carpe Diem 2010
• Vins d’Orrance Kama 2010
Grenache Blanc
• KWV Mentors 2010
Sauvignon Blanc
• Graham Beck Pheasants’ Run 2011
• Hermanuspietersfontein No 5 2010
• Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2010
• Steenberg CWG Auction Reserve The Magus 2010
• Strandveld 2010
White Blends
• Fable Jackal Bird 2010
• Flagstone CWG Auction Reserve Happy Hour 2009
• Mullineux White Blend 2010
• Nederburg Ingenuity 2010
• Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2010
Méthode Cap Classique Sparkling
• Colmant Brut Chardonnay NV
• Topiary Blanc de Blancs Brut 2009
Natural Sweet
• Badsberg Badslese 2009
Dessert Wine Unfortified
• Boekenhoutskloof Semillon Noble Late Harvest 2008
• Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest 2010
• Mullineux Straw Wine 2010
• Nederburg Edelkeur 2010
• Nederburg Eminence 2010
Port
• Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2009
• De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2009