Cape crusaders

Anyone visiting South Africa to discover its wines need take just one book, Platter's Wine Guide, which gives a star rating to some 6,000 wines, all of which are "blind" tasted.

"It's the definitive and only guide to Cape wines," says Mike Antony of Champany Cellars.

According to publisher Andrew McDowell, the Port style was the best this year, with the Boplass winery particularly credited. Others to look for are white blends and Chenin Blancs.

This year a new super-award, Winery of the Year, went to up-and-coming Cape Point Vineyards, which won three five-star ratings, for their Semillon 2006, Sauvignon Blanc Limited Release 2007 and Isliedh White Blend 2006.

Wine of the Year went to Bouchard Finlayson Tête de Cuvée Galpin Peak 2005 (£42.50, magnum) and Superquaffer of the Year to Simonsig's Chenin Blanc 2007 (£6.99 bt, or £5.59 each for a case). Both these wines and the guide are available at Champany Cellars, near Linlithgow.

Platter's South African Wine Guide 2008 (tel: [phone], www.champany.com), £13.50, incl p&p, or £10.99 with wine purchase.

Taste test

White

GLEN CARLOU QUARTZ STONE CHARDONNAY 2006

(£14.49, www.sawinesonline.com)

Delicious creamy toasty, marzipan notes, tangy fleshy mouthfiller. 16/20

VERGELEGEN PRESTIGE WHITE 2006

(£19.99, Champany Cellars)

Unusual Sauvignon Blanc/ Semillon blend: limey aromas, minerally backbone. 17/20

KEN FORRESTER THE FMC CHENIN BLANC 2005

(£16.99, Waitrose)

Full throttle Chenin – a limey honeyed gem. 17.5/20

Red

GLEN CARLOU SYRAH 2005

(£13.99, Oddbins)

Extremely ripe, liquorice tones. Sweet spice. 16/20

THELEMA THE MINT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005

(£20-£23.99, Champany Cellars; Henderson Wines, Edinburgh, 0131-447 8580)

Cassis mint, fine grained tannins, lovely Cabernet. 17/20

WATERFORD ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2004

(£15, www.bbr.com)

Buxom style, cassis notes, tight tannins, claret-like. 15.5/20

RUSTENBERG STELLENBOSCH SYRAH 2004

(£14.99, Great Grog, Edinburgh, 0131-662 4777)

First vintage: spice, pepper, Rhone-like tightness; promising. 15/20

KAAPZICHT STEYTLER PINOTAGE 2004

(£19.99, Great Grog; Champany)

Restrained spicy, tight structure and lovely balance. 17/20

The best value

White DE GRENDEL SAUVIGNON BLANC 2006

(£7.99, Oddbins; Mostly Wine, Kirkcaldy, 01592 644184)

Tropical fruits, white peach; steely, lively Sauvignon from clonal-mix from four Durbanville vineyards.

White OAK VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC 2006

(£9.95, Abbey Fine Wines, Melrose, 01896 823224)

Flinty, dry, clean, subtle, grassy/green fruit from South African apple-growing area, Elgin.

Red SIMONSIG ESTATE REDHILL PINOTAGE 2005

(£11.99, www.sawines online.com)

Highly recommended: curranty, restrained, vanilla American oak from a winery on great form.