The 2009 edition of Platter's Guide, South Africa's original and still best-selling wine annual, was unwrapped in Stellenbosch on the 13th of November along with the names of the five-star wines and the coveted awards of Superquaffer, Wine and Winery of the Year.
Now in its 29th year, Platter's is the definitive guide to who's who and what's what in South African wine, with comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of most currently available brands, as well as wine cellars, winelands restaurants and accommodation, tourist attractions and more.
For the new edition, the guide's tasting panel reviewd some 6400 individual wines and in the process identified 85 wines as potentially worthy of the maximum five star rating. After a further round of tasting, a record 33 labels received the sought-after top grading, making them truly the crème de la crème of South African wines for 2009. The five star recipients are:
Cabernet Franc
• Buitenverwachting 2005
Cabernet Sauvignon
• Boekenhoutskloof 2006
• Kanonkop 2004
• Thelema The Mint 2006
Pinot Noir
• Meerlust 2004
Pinotage
• Simonsig Redhill 2006
Shiraz
• Boekenhoutskloof 2006
• De Trafford 2006
• Eagles' Nest 2006
• Hartenberg The Stork 2005
• Signal Hill Clos d'Oranje 2006
Red Blends
• De Toren Fusion V 2006
• De Trafford CWG Perspective 2005
• Kaapzicht Steytler Vision 2005
• Morgenster 2005
• Vilafonté Series C 2006
• Waterford CWG Auction Reserve 2004
Chardonnay
• Ataraxia 2007
• Jordan CWG Auction Reserve 2006
• Uva Mira Single Vineyard 2007
Chenin Blanc
• Ken Forrester The FMC 2006
Sauvignon Blanc
• Quoin Rock The Nicobar 2007
Semillon
• Constantia Uitsig 2007
White Blends
• Cape Point Isliedh 2007
• Nederburg Ingenuity White 2007
• Sterhuis Astra White 2006
• Tokara White 2007
Dessert Wine, Unfortified
• Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest 2007
• Klein Constantia Rhine Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2006
• Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards Vin Pi Two NV
Desset Wine, Fortified
• Mons Ruber Muscat d'Alexandrie Jerepigo 1997
Port
• Boplaas Vintage Reserve 2006
• De Krans Vintage Reserve 2006