Monday, 18 November, 2019
Wines of South Africa, Fiona McDonald
The first week in November saw the release of the 40th annual Platter Guide to South African wines, now published under the Diners Club International banner, as it has been for the past few years.
So what does the edited highlights package for this issue hold? Quite simply an astonishing fourth Winery of the Year for Swartland producer Mullineux, along with five 5 star wines and two category winners with their Vin de Paille and 2017 vintage Granite Syrah. But is it really a surprise since the husband and wife team of Chris and Andrew Mullineux are so very focussed on terroir and quality? (And the timing of this success could not have been better since a terrible traffic accident saw a delivery truck loaded with a large chunk of Mullineux’s annual production of Old Vines White wiped out just weeks earlier!)
Hard to believe that he falls into the Newcomer of the Year category after 30 years at the helm of Graham Beck’s bubbly production, but Pieter Ferreira was singled out for the maiden release of his eponymous Cap Classique sparkling wine.
But probably the most quietly significant top award went to Boekenhoutskloof winery of Franschhoek, the Editor’s Award.
Click HERE to read the full article.