Three wine brands are the star wines this year, having each achieved three sought-after 5-stars in the 2012 Platter’s South African Wine Guide, announced yesterday. Only 45 wines were awarded 5-stars, down from the record list of 58 last year, out of a record total of 7000 wines evaluated.
Nederburg, the 2011 Platter’s Winery of the Year, was awarded 5 stars for its Edelkeur 2010, Eminence 2010, and Ingenuity White 2010. Boekenhoutskloof won 5-stars for its Syrah 2009, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, and Noble Late Harvest 2008. Mullineux Family Wines was awarded 5-stars for its Syrah 2009, 
White Blend 2010, and Straw Wine 2010. The highest ever number of Franschhoek five-stars (9) went to Boekenhoutskloof (as above), Colmant Brut Chardonnay NV, Topiary Blanc de Blancs Brut 2009, La Motte Pierneef Shiraz-Viognier 2009, Graham Beck Pheasant’s Run 2011 and Graham Beck Chalkboard #3 2007, and Chamonix Reserve Pinot Noir 2010. First time 5-star winners include Mont Destin, Colmant, Fable, Glenelly Cellars, Badsberg, Miles Mossop Wines, and Oak Valley Wines.
The full list of 2012 5-star Platter’s wines follows, according to Food24:
Cabernet Franc
• Warwick 2008
Cabernet Sauvignon
• Boekenhoutskloof 2009
• Graham Beck Chalkboard #3 2007
• Stark-Condé Three Pines 2009
Pinot Noir
• Cape Chamonix Reserve 2010
• Newton Johnson Domaine 2010
• Oak Valley 2009
Shiraz/Syrah
• Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2009
• Fairview The Beacon 2008
• Mont Destin Destiny 2007
• Mullineux Family 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 2010
Méthode Cap Classique Sparkling
• Colmant Brut Chardonnay NV
• Topiary Blanc de Blancs Brut 2009
Natural Sweet
• Badsberg Badslese 2009
Dessert Wine Unfortified
• Boekenhoutskloof Noble Late Harvest 2008
• Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest 2010
• Mullineux Family Straw Wine 2010
• Nederburg Edelkeur 2010
• Nederburg Eminence 2010
Port
• Boplaas Family Cape Vintage Reserve 2009
• De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2009
Platter’s South African Wine Guide: www.wineonaplatter.com
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage
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nice to see that evil RSA invention “Pinotage” didnt get a 5 star….
Think we are also seeing a trend for mainly expensive end of the market winning the 5 stars
Other than than no real surprises, will be interesting to see what winery gets the nod and also best white and red when its announced in Nov.
Hi Chris, is there any news when Boekenhoutskloof 2009 wines will be released for sale please? I realise that most wine shops get limited allocations but it would be nice to know when that actually may be. Thanks.
Dear Bryan
Ludwig Maske of La Cotte Wine Sales in Franschhoek does the marketing and sales of Boekenhoutskloof wines, as far as I know – call him on 021 876-3775.
Chris
Thank you Darren from Hout Bay.
Cathy Marston has predicted Boekenhoutskloof as Winery of the Year.
There clearly must be a correlation between stars awarded and higher price.
Chris
Hi Chris
If you look at previous years for platter 5 star winners it wasnt necesarily so that there was some correlation between the 5 stars and the high price.
its also quite interesting to see the price hikes on wines that earn the 5 stars, example the graham beck pheasant run used to be 100-110 a bottle and then they win awards and its now 150 a bottle, no wonder wine sales are down both locally and especially overseas.
wine inflation is pretty high compared to RPI but i still love it and remind myself that if i was back in the UK i would be paying a lot more for the same wine.
Maybe I shouldn’t have made an (unresearched) statement like that Darren (from Hout Bay) – thanks for the correction!
I like your positive closing paragraph.
Chris