The annual John Platter South African Wine Guide has always been exceptional among specialist wine guides in that it provides useful background, a tasting note and a rating on every single wine that this particular country produces. Quite how long the team behind the Guide – very much more numerous than John and Erica Platter nowadays – can keep this up, I know not. (They must miss the odd wine shipped out in bulk to be bottled abroad but show every semblance of trying to keep on top even of these.)
This pocket guide has therefore grown from slim to exceedingly fat (almost an inch for the 2003) but it's just as useful and I wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone with an interest in the often extremely well priced wines of South Africa. It rarely condemns wines explicitly, but it doesn't take too much reading between the lines to detect criticism and the reasons behind it.
The 2003 Guide can be bought in the UK from Richard Kelley MW at richard@r-w.co.uk or 45 Main Street, Whissendine, Rutland LE15 7ES for £11.45 including post and packing. Others can buy the 2003 edition through www.platterwineguide.co.za whose material is still based on the 2002 version although highlights from the new edition are included on the site.
Others can buy the 2003 edition through www.platterwineguide.co.za whose material is still based on the 2002 version although highlights from the new edition are included on the site.