Platter’s by Diners Club Wine Guide has revealed the eagerly awaited and prestigious list of wines earning the maximum rating of five stars in the new 2022 edition.
The unveiling coincides with the launch of the guide on Platter’s digital platforms – the apps for iOS/Apple and Android, and the website (www.wineonaplatter.com). The best-selling and collectible hardcover version of the new edition will be introduced at a bespoke function in the winelands on Friday 19 November 2021.
Wines receiving the sought-after five-star rating in Platter’s must undergo a rigorous process of sighted and blind assessment (i.e. with and without sight of the label) by a team of experienced experts. Bottlings that are judged to be “Superlative, a South African classic” are given the highest ranking of five stars, equal to 95 points or better on the 100-point rating scale.
The 234 wines that achieve this distinction in the 2022 edition cover the full spectrum of winemaking styles and approaches across 28 different categories. Red and White Blends are the biggest classes, as in previous editions, with 46 and 27 individual labels respectively. Chenin Blanc, which has made remarkable strides in terms of quality in recent years, is the next-biggest category, with 27 exceptional wines.
Chardonnay performs particularly well this year, with 19 bottlings originating in a diverse range of sites. Another strong performer is Cabernet Sauvignon, with 15 wines, the overwhelming majority of which come from the Stellenbosch area.
Reflected in the five-star line-up are many of the key trends shaping South African wine today, such as the revival and reinterpretation of traditional varieties such as Cinsault and Colombard; red wines with lighter textures and lower alcohol; and the use of clay and concrete vessels as alternatives to oak for fermentation and/or ageing.
“Another relatively recent development, which partly accounts for the rising number of five-star wines, is ‘deconstruction’, where different clones of the same grape variety are bottled separately,” says Philip van Zyl, acting managing director and editor of Platter’s. “Sometimes not just different clones but also different sites within an estate are produced and released separately, to showcase the terroir. The Pinot Noir category is an example of this phenomenon, with a single producer releasing four wines from four clones and four sites, each with its own personality and nuance, and each worthy of a five-star rating.
“These are exciting times for South African wine as regards quality and diversity, and the ability of its wines to beguile, fascinate and satisfy wine-lovers and -collectors around the world. We are delighted and very proud of our five-star line-up and would like to take the opportunity to congratulate all the producers on their stellar achievement.”
The five-star wines for 2022 are:
Cabernet Franc
Anthonij Rupert Wyne 2015
Holden Manz Wine Estate Reserve 2018
Jordan Wine Estate Insiders Wine Club Private Collection 2019
Mulderbosch Vineyards 2018
Raats Family Wines CWG Auction The Stella Nova 2017
Raats Family Wines 2019
Warwick Wine Estate 2018
Cabernet Sauvignon
Boekenhoutskloof Winery Stellenbosch 2019
Boekenhoutskloof Winery Franschhoek 2019
Kanonkop Estate 2017
Le Riche Wines Reserve 2018
Leeu Passant 2019
Muratie Wine Estate Martin Melck 2017
Oldenburg Vineyards Per Se 2019
Plaisir 2018
Rust en Vrede Wine Estate Single Vineyard 2018
Simonsig Wine Estate The Garland 2017
Stark-Condé Wines Three Pines 2019
Tokara Reserve 2018
Vergelegen Wines V 2015
Wade Bales Wine Co Stellenbosch 2019
Warwick Wine Estate The Blue Lady 2018
Cinsault
Laarman Wines Focal Point 2019
Rall Wines 2020
Sadie Family Wines Pofadder 2020
Savage Wines Follow The Line 2020
Grenache Noir
ArtiSons The Phantom 2019
Momento Wines 2019
Sadie Family Wines Soldaat 2020
Merlot
Holden Manz Wine Estate Reserve 2018
Shannon Vineyards The Shannon Black 2017
Petit Verdot
Stellenbosch Vineyards 2015
Thelema Mountain Vineyards Sutherland Reserve 2019
Pinotage
Bellevue Estate Stellenbosch 1953 Single Vineyard 2019
Beyerskloof Diesel 2019
Diemersdal Estate The Journal 2019
False Bay Vineyards The Last Of The First 2020
Francois van Niekerk Wines 2019
Kanonkop Estate Black Label 2019
Neil Ellis Wines Bottelary Hills 2019
Pinot Noir
Creation Wines The Art of Pinot Noir 2020
Creation Wines Reserve 2020
Crystallum Cuvée Cinéma 2020
Crystallum Mabalel 2020
Iona Vineyards Kloof 2018
Newton Johnson Vineyards Windansea 2020
Oak Valley Estate South Ridge PN 777 2018
Oak Valley Estate Fynbos Gorge PN 114 2018
Oak Valley Estate South Ridge PN 115 2018
Oak Valley Estate South Ridge PN 667 2018
Radford Dale Freedom 2020
Richard Kershaw Wines Elgin 2019
Storm Wines Ignis 2020
Storm Wines Vrede 2020
Shiraz/Syrah
Boekenhoutskloof Winery CWG Auction Syrah 2018
Boschkloof Wines Epilogue 2019
De Grendel Wines Elim Shiraz 2019
De Grendel Wines Op Die Berg Syrah 2019
De Trafford Wines Syrah 393 2019
Lomond Conebush Syrah 2018
Mullineux Granite Syrah 2019
Mullineux Schist Roundstone Syrah 2019
Patatsfontein Sons of Sugarland Syrah 2020
Rall Wines Ava Syrah 2020
Savage Wines Red 2019
Savage Wines CWG Auction Syrah 2019
Savage Wines Girl Next Door 2020
Super Single Vineyards Mount Sutherland Syrah 2018
Van Loggerenberg Wines Graft 2020
Tinta Barocca
Sadie Family Wines Treinspoor 2020
Red Blends, Cape Bordeaux
Constantia Glen Five 2017
De Grendel Wines Rubáiyát 2018
De Trafford Wines The Drawing Board 2019
Ernie Els Wines Signature 2015
Glenelly Estate Lady May 2017
Glenelly Estate Lady May 2016
Grangehurst CWG Auction Au Revoir 2017
Groot Constantia Estate Gouverneurs Reserve Red 2018
Jordan Wine Estate CWG Auction Sophia 2018
Keet Wines First Verse 2018
Mvemve Raats MR de Compostella 2018
Plaisir Grand Plaisir 2016
Ridgeback Signature C 2018
Spier Frans K. Smit Red 2017
Spier Frans K. Smit CWG Auction Selection 2018
Super Single Vineyards The King & I 2015
Taaibosch Wines Crescendo 2018
Tokara Director’s Reserve Red 2018
Van Biljon Wines Cinq 2017
Vergelegen Wines GVB Red 2016
Red Blends, with Pinotage
Beyerskloof Faith 2017
David & Nadia Elpidios 2019
KWV Wines Perold 2018
Opstal Estate Carl Everson Cape Blend 2019
Red Blends, Shiraz/Syrah-based
AA Badenhorst Kalmoesfontein Red 2019
ArtiSons JJ Handmade Eight Pillars 2018
Bartho Eksteen Groepsdruk 2019
De Grendel Wines Sir David Graaff First Baronet 2017
Ellerman House Hotel & Villas The Ellerman 2019
Erika Obermeyer Wines Erika O Syrah-Grenache Noir-Cinsault 2019
Radford Dale Black Rock 2019
Rust en Vrede Wine Estate 1694 Classification 2018
Sadie Family Wines Columella 2019
Saronsberg Cellar Full Circle 2019
Sijnn Red 2018
The Liberator God’s Own Country 2017
Red Blends, Other
Anysbos Tesame 2019
Blackwater Wine Sophie Cabernet Franc-Cinsaut 2020
De Trafford Wines Elevation 393 2015
Hogan Wines Divergent 2019
Leeu Passant Dry Red 2018
Lingen 2019
Marianne Wine Estate Floréal 2018
Naudé Wines Oupa Willem 2019
Rust en Vrede Wine Estate 2018
Waterkloof Circle of Life Red 2019
Chardonnay
Bartinney Private Cellar Hourglass 2019
Capensis Silene 2019
Creation Wines The Art of Chardonnay 2020
Creation Wines Reserve 2020
GlenWood Grand Duc 2019
Groot Constantia Estate 2019
Holden Manz Wine Estate Reserve 2019
Iona Vineyards Kloof 2019
Laarman Wines Focal Point 2019
Leeu Passant Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2019
Newton Johnson Vineyards CWG Sandford 2019
Oak Valley Estate Groenlandberg 2020
Restless River Ava Marie 2019
Rhebokskloof Wine Estate Black Marble Hill 2019
Richard Kershaw Wines Elgin 2019
Rustenberg Wines Five Soldiers 2019
Storm Wines Vrede 2020
Trizanne Signature Wines Onderduivenshokrivier 2020
Warwick Wine Estate The White Lady 2020
Chenin Blanc
AA Badenhorst Family Wines Kelder Steen 2020
Alheit Vineyards Nautical Dawn 2020
Beaumont Family Wines Hope Marguerite 2020
David & Nadia Plat’bos 2020
David & Nadia Skaliekop 2020
DeMorgenzon The Divas 2020
JC Wickens Wines Swerwer 2020
Kaapzicht Wine Estate The 1947 2020
Kleine Zalze Wines Project Z 2019
Kleine Zalze Wines Family Reserve 2020
L’Avenir Vineyards Single Block 2020
Luddite Wines 2020
Mulderbosch Vineyards Block W 2020
Mullineux Granite 2020
Paulus Wine Co Bosberaad 2020
Raats Family Wines Eden 2020
Raats Family Wines Old Vine 2020
Raats Family Wines CWG Auction The Fountain 2020
Rall Wines Ava 2020
Sadie Family Wines Mev. Kirsten 2020
Sadie Family Wines Skurfberg 2020
Savage Wines Never Been Asked To Dance 2020
Spier 21 Gables 2020
Stellenrust Old Bushvine 2020
Stellenrust 56 Barrel Fermented 2020
Thistle & Weed Springdoring 2020
Thistle & Weed Duwweltjie 2020
Colombard
Naudé Wines Langpad 2021
Grenache Blanc
Rall Wines 2020
Sauvignon Blanc
Anthonij Rupert Wyne Altima 2020
Buitenverwachting Hussey’s Vlei 2020
Cape Point Vineyards Reserve 2020
Cederberg Private Cellar David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner Wild Ferment 2020
Die Kat se Snor 2021
Diemersdal Estate The Journal 2020
Highlands Road Estate White Reserve 2018
Lomond Pincushion 2020
Lomond Ben Nevis 2020
Reyneke Wines Biodynamic Reserve White 2019
Rickety Bridge Winery Paulina’s Reserve 2020
Stellenbosch Vineyards Darling 2019
Tokara Reserve 2020
Trizanne Signature Wines Sondagskloof White 2020
Semillon
Anthonij Rupert Wyne Laing Groendruif 2020
Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate Catalina 2019
De Kleine Wijn Koöp Debutant White 2020
Rickety Bridge Winery The Pilgrimage 2019
Sadie Family Wines Kokerboom 2020
The Vineyard Party Here Be Dragons 2018
Thorne & Daughters Wines Paper Kite 2020
Vergelegen Wines Reserve 2019
White Blends, Cape Bordeaux
Cape Point Vineyards Isliedh 2020
Constantia Glen Two 2020
Groot Constantia Estate Gouverneurs Reserve White 2018
Savage Wines White 2020
Spier Frans K. Smit White 2019
Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2018
Trizanne Signature Wines Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Vergelegen Wines GVB White 2019
Wade Bales Wine Co Constantia Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon 2020
White Blends, Other
AA Badenhorst Family Wines Kalmoesfontein White 2019
Alheit Vineyards Hemelrand Vine Garden 2020
Beaumont family Wines New Baby 2020
Leeuwenkuil Family Vineyards White 2019
Lemberg Wine Estate Lady 2020
Miles Mossop Wines Saskia 2019
Momento Wines Chenin Blanc-Verdelho 2020
Mullineux Old Vines White 2020
Olifantsberg Family Vineyards Blanc 2020
Rall Wines White 2020
Sadie Family Wines Palladius 2019
Sadie Family Wines ‘T Voetpad 2020
Sadie Family Wines Skerpioen 2020
Stark-Condé Wines The Field Blend 2020
The Ahrens Family The WhiteBlack 2019
Thistle & Weed Khakibos 2020
Thorne & Daughters Wines Rocking Horse 2020
Vuurberg White 2020
Méthode Cap Classique
Anthonij Rupert Wyne Brut Rosé 2016
Black Elephant Vintners Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs NV
Colmant Cap Classique & Champagne Absolu Zero Dosage NV
Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2015
Newstead Lund Family Vineyards Brut 2016
Pieter Ferreira Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs 2015
Silverthorn Wines CWG Auction Big Dog VII 2016
Spier Brut RD 2013
Dessert Wine, Fortified
Orange River Cellars Omstaan Wit Muskadel NV
Natural Sweet
Black Elephant Vintners The Honey Thief NV
Klein Constantia Estate Vin de Constance 2017
Noble Late Harvest
Boekenhoutskloof Winery 2018
Buitenverwachting 1769 2020
Vin de Paille/Straw Wine
De Trafford Wines Straw Wine 2018
Meerhof Wines Mooistrooi 2020
Savage Wines Not Tonight Josephine 2020
Port-style
Boplaas Family Vineyards Cape Vintage Reserve 2019
Boplaas Family Vineyards Cape Tawny Reserve 2005
De Krans Wines Cape Vintage Reserve 2019
KWV Wines Cape Tawny NV
Sijnn 2019
Brandy
Boplaas Family Vineyards Potstill Reserve 20 Years
Boplaas Family Vineyards Potstill Reserve 12 Years
KWV Brandies Centenary
KWV Brandies Nexus
KWV Brandies 20 Year Old
KWV Brandies 15 Year Old Alambic
KWV Brandies 12 Year Old Barrel Select
KWV Brandies 10 Year Old Vintage
Tokara XO Potstill
Van Ryn 20 Year Old Potstill
Van Ryn 15 Year Old Potstill
Van Ryn 12 Year Old Potstill
Husk Spirit
Dalla Cia Wine & Spirit Company 10-Year-Old Celebration Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot
To view the list of five-star wines online, visit www.wineonaplatter.com/blog/news
For the tasting notes on the five-star wines, as well as the reviews and ratings for the other wines featured in the 2022 edition, go to www.wineonaplatter.com/products and purchase a digital subscription, then download the app from one of these stores:
Apple App Store: https://apple.co/3hLy0z4
Google Android Play Store: https://bit.ly/3zrJHRg
or go to www.wineonaplatter.com/login to use the web-based guide.
