A dilemma for consumers: ★or ♥?

So now the Halloween cat is well and truly out of the bag after the Platter Guide released their annual list of 62 five ★ wines last night at the Vineyard Hotel.  The ★★★★★ wines come from a shortlist nominated sighted by the tasters.  Aníbal Coutinho and I tasted over 2000 wines blind in their home appellations and came up with a list of 147 ♥♥♥♥♥ wines.  Ten differences between the Platter planetarium and our five heart heroes from Neil Pendock’s Winelands Guide 2013 listed here.

A Swartland heart at Bar Bar Black Sheep

  1. John Platter no longer tastes for the guide, having been replaced by a committee of nearly two dozen tasters including importers, educationalists, sommeliers, commentators and retailers.  Neil Pendock is himself and Aníbal Coutinho, winemaker and buyer for Portuguese supermarket chain Continente.
  2. Pendock insists on tasting blind.  Platter tastes sighted, recommends a handful for the ultimate honour and then re-tastes them blind and calls it a blind tasting.
  3. Platter has wines shipped at producer’s expense to tasters.  Pendock travels to appellations and tastes them in situ, even paying wine routes to organize blind tastings, in some cases.
  4. Platter accepts paid-for advertisements from restaurants, B&Bs, retailers and producers; Pendock does not.
  5. Platter accepts wines made from grapes grown in multiple appellations.  In a quest to pin down regionality, an important component of terroir; Pendock does not.
  6. Platter rates non-vintage wines; Pendock does not as the consumer has no way of knowing which one was tasted.
  7. Platter rates tank and barrel samples; Pendock does not as the consumer has no way of knowing if the finished wine will taste like the sample.
  8. Apart from a good-value swoosh, Platter disregards retail prices; Pendock ranks wines within an appellation by price.
  9. Platter gives  ★★★★★ to a couple of CWG Auction wines which is totally ridiculous as the auction is ancient history and the wines are not commercially available; Pendock does not.
  10. Platter is sponsored by Diners Club.  Pendock is not.
Those ♥♥♥♥♥ wines:
  • Allée Bleue Shiraz 2010 from Franschhoek.
  • Allesverloren Tinta Barocca 2009 from the Swartland.
  • Almenkerk Chardonnay 2011 from Elgin.
  • Altydgedacht The Ollo White Blend 2011 from Durbanville.
  • Alvi’s Drift Chardonnay 2011 from Breedekloof.
  • Annexkloof Red Blend 2007 from the Swartland.
  • Annexkloof SMG Red Blend 2010 from the Swartland.
  • Arendsig Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 from Robertson.
  • Ashbourne Sandstone White Blend 2007 from Hemel & Aarde.
  • Avondrood Shiraz 2009 from Breedekloof.
  • Axe Hill Machado Red Blend 2011 from the Klein Karoo.
  • Bellpost Shiraz 2008 from Namaqualand.
  • Bergsig The Family Friend Red Blend 2011 from Breedekloof.
  • Boland Five Climates Chenin Blanc 2012 from Paarl.
  • Boplaas Cape Tawny Port 1995 from the Klein Karoo.
  • Bosman Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2009 from Wellington.
  • Bosman Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2011 from Wellington.
  • Brennaissance King of Clubs Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Stellenbosch.
  • Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from the Cederberg.
  • Chamonix Chardonnay 2011 from Franschhoek.
  • Chamonix Pinot Noir 2010 from Franschhoek.
  • Constantia Uitsig Sémillon 2011 from Constantia.
  • Constantia Uitsig White 2011 from Constantia.
  • D’Aria Red Blend 2010 from Durbanville.
  • Darling Cellars Lime Kilns White Blend 2010 from Darling.
  • De Grendel Merlot 2009 from Durbanville.
  • De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2008 from the Klein Karoo.
  • De Toren Fusion V Red Blend 2010 from Stellenbosch.
  • De Toren Z Red Blend 2010 from Stellenbosch.
  • De Trafford Chenin Blanc 2011 from Stellenbosch.
  • De Trafford Shiraz 2010 from Stellenbosch.
  • De Wetshof Finesse Chardonnay 2010 from Robertson.
  • Deetlefs Hanepoot 2009 from Breedekloof.
  • Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Malbec 2010 from Wellington.
  • Diemersfontein Viognier 2011 from Wellington.
  • Domaine des Dieux Chardonnay 2010 from Hemel & Aarde.
  • Domaine des Dieux Red Blend 2010 from Hemel & Aarde.
  • Druk My Niet Invictus Red Blend 2009 from Paarl.
  • Eagle’s Cliff Arendskloof Pinot Grigio 2012 from Breedekloof.
  • Eagle’s Nest Little Eagle Red Blend 2010 from Constantia.
  • Eagle’s Nest Verreaux Red Blend 2009 from Constantia.
  • Esona Shiraz 2010 from Robertson.
  • Fairview Beacon Shiraz 2009 from Paarl.
  • Fairview Eenzaamheid Shiraz 2010 from Paarl.
  • Fairview Nurok White Blend 2011 from Paarl.
  • Fairview Primo Pinotage 2010 from Paarl.
  • Gabrielskloof Five Arches Red Blend 2008 from Bot River.
  • Gabrielskloof The Blend Red Blend 2010 from Bot River.
  • Gabrielskloof Viognier 2010 from Bot River.
  • Glen Carlou Grand Classique Red Blend 2009 from Paarl.
  • Glen Carlou Gravel Quarry Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Paarl.
  • Glen Carlou Quartz Stone Chardonnay 2010 from Paarl.
  • Goedvertrouw Pinot Noir 2009 from Bot River.
  • Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2007 from Robertson.
  • Graham Beck MCC Rosé 2009 from Robertson.
  • Graham Beck The Ridge Syrah 2009 from Robertson.
  • Grand vin de Glenelly Chardonnay 2011 from Stellenbosch.
  • Grande Provence Red Blend 2007 from Franschhoek.
  • Groote Post Pinot Noir 2009 from Darling.
  • Guardian Peak Lapa Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Stellenbosch.
  • Guardian Peak SMG Red Blend 2010 from Stellenbosch.
  • Haut Espoir Shiraz 2006 from Franschhoek.
  • Jacques Bruére Cuveé Rosé 2006 from Robertson.
  • Jordan Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2010 from Stellenbosch.
  • Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay 2011 from Stellenbosch.
  • Jordan The Outlier Sauvignon Blanc 2009 from Stellenbosch.
  • Kanonkop Pinotage 2010 from Stellenbosch.
  • Karusa Terre Noire Shiraz 2011 from the Klein Karoo.
  • Kasteelberg Chenin Blanc 2010 from the Swartland.
  • Klein Constantia Perdeblokke Sauvignon Blanc 2010 from Constantia.
  • Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2007 from Constantia.
  • Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Stellenbosch.
  • Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Stellenbosch.
  • La Vierge Pinot Noir 2010 from Hemel & Aarde.
  • La Vigne Shiraz 2007 from Franschhoek.
  • Landau du Val Sémillon 2008 from Franschhoek.
  • Lanzerac le General Red Blend 2008 from Stellenbosch.
  • Lemberg Surin Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from Tulbagh.
  • Lothian Vineyards Chardonnay 2011 from Elgin.
  • Lutzville Diamond Collection Chenin (wood) 2011 from Namaqualand.
  • Lutzville Diamond Collection Shiraz 2010 from Namaqualand.
  • Major’s Hill Shiraz 2008 from Robertson.
  • Meerendal Chenin Blanc Natural Sweet 2009 from Durbanville.
  • Mellasat Chardonnay 2010 from Paarl.
  • Mellasat Tuinwyn Chenin Blanc Straw Wine 2010 from Paarl.
  • Merwida Sauvignon Blanc 2012 from Breedekloof.
  • Mimosa Shiraz 2011 from Robertson.
  • Mont du Toit Mont du Toit Red Blend 2007 from Wellington.
  • Morgenhof Red Blend 2005 from Stellenbsoch.
  • Morgenster White Blend 2011 from Stellenbosch.
  • Namaqua Wines Spencer Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Namaqualand.
  • Nicolas Charles Krone Marque I from Tulbagh.
  • Oak Valley Chardonnay 2011 from Elgin.
  • Oak Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from Elgin.
  • Oldenburg Cabernet Franc 2009 from Stellenbosch.
  • Oldenburg Vineyards Chardonnay 2011 from Stellenbosch.
  • Oldenburg Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2011 from Stellenbosch.
  • Ormonde Ondine Cabernet Franc 2008 from Darling.
  • Palesa Chenin Blanc 2012 from Breedekloof.
  • Paul Cluver Riesling NLH 2011 from Elgin.
  • Prospect Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Robertson.
  • Pulpit Rock Shiraz 2009 from the Swartland.
  • Rhebokskloof Red Blend 2010 from Paarl.
  • Rickety Bridge Chardonnay 2011 from Franschhoek.
  • Rickety Bridge Sémillon 2008 from Franschhoek.
  • Riebeek Cellars Rosé 2012 from the Swartland.
  • Rietvallei Classic Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from Robertson.
  • Rietvallei Classic Estate Pinot Noir 2010 from Robertson.
  • Rietvallei Special Select Esteanna Red Blend 2009 from Robertson.
  • Rijk’s Touch of Oak Chenin Blanc 2010 from Tulbagh.
  • Rust en Vrede 1694 Classification Red Blend 2007 from Stellenbosch.
  • Rust en Vrede Estate Red Blend 2009 from Stellenbosch.
  • Rust en Vrede Shiraz 2010 from Stellenbosch.
  • Rust en Vrede Single Vineyard Shiraz 2009 from Stellenbosch.
  • Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay 2010 from Stellenbosch.
  • Rustenberg Peter Barlow Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Stellenbosch.
  • Saxenburg Private Collection Merlot 2009 from Stellenbosch.
  • Shannon Vineyards Mount Bullet Merlot 2010 from Elgin.
  • Shannon Vineyards Rockview Ridge Pinot Noir 2011 from Elgin.
  • Sir Lambert Sauvignon Blanc 2012 from Namaqualand.
  • Spioenkop “1900” Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from Elgin.
  • Springfield Methode Ancienne Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 from Robertson.
  • Springfield Methode Ancienne Chardonnay 2009 from Robertson.
  • Stark-Condé Oude Nektar Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Stellenbosch.
  • Stark-Condé Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Stellenbosch.
  • Sumaridge Maritimus White Blend 2010 from Hemel & Aarde.
  • Swartland Winery Bush Vines Shiraz 2010 from the Swartland.
  • The Berrio Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from Elim.
  • Thelema Rabelais Red Blend 2008 from Stellenbosch.
  • Thelema Reserve Merlot 2009 from Stellenbosch.
  • Thelema Sutherland Red Blend 2009 from Elgin.
  • Thelema The Mint Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Stellenbosch.
  • Veenwouden Classic Red Blend 2009 from Paarl.
  • Veenwouden Merlot 2011 from Paarl.
  • Villiera Monro Brut 2007 from Stellenbosch.
  • Vrede en Lust Artisan Chenin Blanc 2011 from Elgin.
  • Vrede en Lust Barrique White Blend 2011 from Elgin.
  • Waboomsrivier Arborea Red Blend 2010 from Breedekloof.
  • Warwick Trilogy Red Blend 2009 from Stellenbosch.
  • Waterkloof Circle of Life White Blend 2011 from Stellenbosch.
  • Waterkloof Circumstance Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Stellenbosch.
  • Waterkloof Circumstance Chenin Blanc 2011 from Stellenbosch.
  • Webersburg Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from Stellenbosch.
  • Wildekrans Reserve Pinotage 2010 from Bot River.
  • Wildekrans Shiraz 2009 from Bot River.
  • Windfall Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Robertson.
  • Yonder Hill Merlot 2009 from Stellenbosch.