Platter’s 5 Star Mixed Case 2026

Chi means “life force” and is a blend of two Riesling vineyards, one from the cold Elgin WO and the other from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus.

For the first time, 40% of grapes were sourced from Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in addition to 60% from Elgin as has been the case in the past. Hints of jasmine, pear, lime and green apple on the nose. Good fruit concentration, driving acidity and a pithy finish. Lovely balance and vibrancy without being too insubstantial.
Christian, Winemag.co.za 93/100.

Single Vineyard Certified (100% Grenache blanc)
W.O. Klein Karoo
Welgevonden (Middelplaas/De Rust) - JD Grinister (Farmer) Planted: 2009
Decomposed Schist and Shale clay loams. Red brown and hard when dry. Close to the nearby mountain rock pools, which supplies water when needed in tough dry spells.

Christian Eedes, Winemag
“Grapes from a Klein Karoo vineyard 345km east of Stellenbosch on schist and shale soils. Matured for nine months in older 228- and 400-litre barrels. Floral perfume, peach, sweet citrus and a hint of ginger. The palate is light yet intensely flavourful, zesty acidity playing off against pithy texture. Super-elegant. 93/100.”

The marquis wine from The Foundry and a multiple Platter's 5 Star winner.

Awarded 5 stars and category winner in the 2024 Platter's South African Wine Guide. This Grenache Blanc from the Voor Paardeberg showcases lifted floral notes, lemon cream, white stone fruit, and a distinct crushed rock minerality. The palate is linear and focused, offering clean grapefruit and quince flavours, a minerally mid-palate, rich texture, and a long, pithy finish.

Viticulture: Sourced from two adjacent vineyards on different slopes in the Voor Paardeberg, grown on Malmesbury shale and decomposed granite. Trellised vines allow for precise canopy management.

Vinification: Hand-harvested and cooled, whole-bunch pressed. Fermented with a high percentage of solids in seasoned French oak (Allier & Compiègne hogsheads), stainless steel tanks, and terracotta clay doliums (500L & 1000L). 10 months of lees aging before bottling.

"This is a Sauvignon Blanc for people who like old vine Chenins" quips John.

Christian Eedes, Winemag:
"Grapes from Citrusdal Mountain. Subtle aromatics of blackcurrant, white peach and nectarine, with a touch of reduction. Lovely fruit concentration and bright acidity precede a super-long, savoury finish. The most refined vintage to date—still powerful, as always, but now also purer and more taut. A precise expression of a remarkable site. 96/100"

Paper Kite is picked from an old block of Semillon with some natural Semillon Gris mutations, first planted in 1963 (Gris cuttings from this vineyard were planted for The Tin Soldier vineyard). Layers of umami, honey and salty sea breeze in this elegant, powerful wine.

Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za:
“Grapes from a 1963 Swartland vineyard. Expressive but not overly primary aromatics of peach and nectarine, with subtle notes of hay and wax. The palate shows impressive fruit weight and layers of flavour, the texture thick and mouthcoating, the acidity seamlessly integrated. A distinct umami quality marks the finish. Powerful and sophisticated – built to last. 95/100"

From handpicked old bush vines grown on decomposed granite in Joubertskloof. In the cellar, the cooled and hand-sorted grapes underwent a gentle whole bunch press with no initial sulphur additions. Natural fermentation occurred in 225L and 300L barrels, followed by natural malolactic fermentation before the first sulphur addition. The wine was then racked off its gross lees in late November.

"Grapes from two Paardeberg vineyards, planted in 1979 and 1987 respectively. Matured for 10 months in old oak. The nose is detailed and expressive, with notes of pear, peach, citrus, floral perfume, herbs and a touch of flinty reduction. The palate is precise and pure, combining vivid fruit and snappy acidity with a savoury, gently bitter finish. Restrained, lean and effortlessly elegant – picking concluded before the end of January, something that appears to have only aided the wine. Alc: 13%. 96/100" - Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za