FIVE-STAR FAVOURITE

Garnering four 5-star ratings in the 2014 Platter’s South African Wine Guide, launched last week, Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines has been named winery of the year. Since starting their boutique cellar in Riebeek-Kasteel in 2007, Chris Mullineux (who originally studied accounting) and wife Andrea (who once planned to be an astronaut) have achieved an astonishing 11 5-star ratings. “This places them firmly in the league of the greatest modern-era South African wineries,” says Platter’s editor Philip van Zyl.

Two other producers received four 5-star ratings: Cederberg Private Cellar and Nederburg Wines. Newton Johnson Vineyards got three, most notably for its Windansea Pinot Noir 2012, which was named red wine of the year. White wine of the year is the DeMorgenzon Maestro White 2012.

A record 80 wines are awarded 5 stars in this latest guide, with 11 wineries receiving the highest honour for the first time. I’m most chuffed for two wineries anderkant die berg — Alvi’s Drift Private Cellar in Worcester, for its Muscat de Frontignan 2010, and Opstal Estate in the Breedekloof for its Carl Everson Chenin Blanc 2012. The latter is possibly the wine I’ve enjoyed most (so far) this year.

For winemaker Attie Louw, the aim was simply “to put chenin blanc from the Slanghoek valley into a bottle without really tampering with this pure and precious juice”. He has achieved an exceptionally balanced wine: fullbodied with ripe apple, pear and peach flavours, yet fresh, elegant and completely dry on the finish. It is the first wine in Opstal’s Heritage range (R120 ex-cellar). ........................................ Platter’s 2014 is available at selected bookstores and retail outlets nationwide, at around R170, or from www.wineonaplatter.com.