Platter’s 2015
By Christian Eedes, 27 October 2014
4
Major achievers in Platter’s 2015:
Winery of the Year
Sadie Family Wines
White Wine of the Year
DeMorgenzon Reserve Chardonnay 2013
Red Wine of the Year
De Trafford Blueprint Syrah 2012
Wines rated Five Stars:
Méthode Cap Classique
Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs Brut 2009
Chardonnay
DeMorgenzon Reserve 2013
Iona 2013
Richard Kershaw Elgin 2013
Sterhuis Barrel Selection 2012
Chenin Blanc
Alheit Vineyards Magnetic North Mountain Makstok 2013
Fram 2013
Kaapzicht The 1947 2013
Grenache Blanc
The Foundry 2013
Sauvignon Blanc
Buitenverwachting Husseys Vlei 2013
Diners Club Bartho Eksteen Academy CWG Auction Reserve Vloekskoot 2013
Reyneke Reserve White 2013
Semillon
Vergelegen Reserve 2013
White Blends
Constantia Uitsig Constantia 2012
David Aristargos 2013
DeMorgenzon Maestro 2013
Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve 2013
Miles Mossop Saskia 2012
Oak Valley Mountain Reserve 2010
Sadie Family Wine Palladius 2012
Sadie Family Wines Die Ouwingerdreeks Skerpioen 2013
Cabernet Franc
Warwick 2011
Cabernet Sauvignon
Groot Constantia 2012
Le Riche Reserve 2011
Nederburg II Centuries 2010
Oldenburg Vineyards 2011
Stark-Condé Three Pines 2012
Cinsaut
Sadie Die Ouwingerdreeks Pofadder 2013
Petit Verdot
Stellenbosch Vineyards Flagship 2010
Pinotage
Flagstone Time Manner Place 2012
Kanonkop Black Label 2012
Pinot Noir
Creation Reserve 2013
Crystallum Cuvée Cinema 2013
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards 2013
Sumaridge 2012
Red Blends
Delaire Graff Botmaskop 2012
Ernie Els CWG Auction Reserve 2012
Hartenberg The Mackenzie 2011
Thelema Rabelais 2010
Vilafonté Series C 2011
Shiraz
Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2012
Boschendal Cecil John Reserve 2012
De Trafford Blueprint Syrah 2012
Fable Mountain Vineyards Syrah 2012
Porseleinberg 2012
Sweet wine, Unfortified
Delheim Edelspatz Noble Late Harvest 2013
Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines Straw Wine 2013
Sweet wine, Fortified
Nuy White Muscadel 2013
Port-style
Boplaas Cape Tawny Reserve NV
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2012
Brandy
KWV 12 Year Old Barrel Select
Platter’s 2015 print version is available from mid-November – recommended retail price R195.
joe | 28 October 2014
Christian: upon first glance, I got the impression that many of the wines listed here in the very high end price brackets (R350 – R1000 per bottle).
In some sense this is good: it seems to suggest that price in the SA market is actually reasonably correlated with quality, which it should be. Unfortunately if all the best wines start being priced at R350+, I’ll be able to drink far fewer of them!
What is your opinion on the value being offered by these really expensive wines? For example, many of the 5* red blends in previous years could be had for R100 – R200. Has there been a significant jump in quality to justify the massive jumps in price? (i.e., would some of the R100-R200 5* winners from 2010 actually be ranked as 4* or 4.5* wines in this 2015 cohort?)
Christian Eedes | 28 October 2014
Hi Joe,
I think what has happened is that top-end South African wine has broken through the glass ceiling after a long time of trying.
There have been quality improvements but there’s been some clever marketing as well. All of a sudden, international critics aren’t scared to give SA wines big scores and this is causing previously conservative buyers both here and abroad to feel confident about jumping into the market. Prices are inevitably being ratcheted up as increased demand meets limited supply.
We shall soon see if producers are capable of sustaining these high prices – at R1000/$100 a bottle, you are up against serious competition and will get a level of scrutiny they perhaps have not yet received.
Hennie Taljaard | 28 October 2014
The Red Wine of the Year sells for R185. Botmaskop – R125, Nuy – R45.
Julian Richfield | 28 October 2014
Being a fan of Petit Verdot, I am thrilled to see Stellenbosch Vineyards Flagship reached 5* heights. Must seek it out….