Wineblog

by Elona Hesseling

Wine tasting along the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is one of my favourite pastimes in Hermanus and with the rainy weather over Easter weekend, it seemed everyone had the same idea – a good thing for Pinot sales.

Even though we waited quite long at all three visited (and very busy) wineries, the service was good and the personnel kept their cool, amidst a flurry of thirsty, wet and cold vinophiles. The Valley’s wineries are known for their high quality wines, so instead of rambling down tasting notes of the approximately 30 wines we tasted, I will rather focus on the day’s most memorable wine-moments.

1. Location, location, location

As true in viticulture as with property development, the team at Bouchard Finlayson knows how to play their cards – if you can’t beat them, source grapes from an isolated vineyard in Kaaimansgat, behind Villiersdorp, and produce an outstanding Chardonnay.

One of four Chardonnays on offer from this winery, the Kaaimansgat 2010 was top of my list – delicate white fruit, citrus and well-integrated oak, it is a ripe but elegant wine. The Missionvale, from Hemel-en-Aarde grapes, is quite different with a prominent yeasty and creamy character.

Vineyards at Bouchard Finlayson

2. In two minds

Being spoiled for choice is not something to complain about – especially when deciding between two very different, but intriguing Pinot Noirs from Newton Johnson. This Burgundian red is the perfect antidote to being soaking wet and cold in this chic tasting room.

The Elgin Pinot Noir 2010 is fuller and richer, with a minerally, earthy side and savoury, almost smoky, finish. In my other glass, the Family Vineyards Pinot Noir 2010, with grapes from the property itself, is delicate, fresh and soft – fruit driven and perfumy, with cherries and peppery notes. Although I preferred the Family Vineyards, it is a difficult choice to make. My proposed solution? Get both.

The Newton Johnson tasting room

3. Now that’s my kind of dessert

What better way to finish a wine tour than with some bubbly. The vibe at La Vierge reminded of a classy night on the town and even though I enjoyed the crisp and enticing Redemption Sauvignon Blanc 2008, as well as the smooth and opulent 2009 Anthelia, a Shiraz/Mourvedre blend, the highlight for me came from the Domaine des Dieux range.

Produced and available for tasting at La Vierge, the 2007 Claudia MCC was my cherry on the cake. Chardonnay-led with Pinot Noir, it is fresh, yet creamy with lovely berry-hints and fine bubbles. Even in cold and rainy weather, there is no better way to end off a day than with a glass of well-made bubbly.

by Elona Hesseling

Known for their oceanic influences, misty mornings and classy wines, Walker Bay and Elgin seem to be shooting at the same hoop. So, when visiting Elgin last week, the inevitable comparisons between these two areas were especially evident when talking and tasting Pinot Noir.

Although some critics can be very critical about the local offerings of this noble variety, compared to the iconic Burgundies, there’s no arguing that many of the good quality local Pinots hail from Elgin and Walker Bay.

Paul Cluver has in recent years been on the forefront of producing top-notch Pinot and the newly released 2009 Seven Flags Pinot Noir does not disappoint. Very delicate and balanced, it is a showcase of elegance and according to Paul Cluver junior, “the 2009 vintage was the best to date.”

With the grapes form Burgundian-clone vineyards, fermented with a Burgundian yeast and matured in special Burgundian oak barrels for 11 months, this hits close to home. The wine is clean and fresh, with intriguing fruity and earthy aromas, a fine-grained tannin structure and good balance.

Paul Cluver winemaker, Andries Burger, discussing the newly released 2009 Seven Flags Pinot Noir.

deur Edo Heyns

Met meer as 500 Tops at Spar takke landswyd is hierdie die grootste drankwinkel-groep in die land. Dit is waarskynlik hoekom die jaarlikse kolossale Spar media middagete ook een van die grootste geleenthede op die wynmedia-kalender is – veral wat porsies betref!

Ek het twee jaar gelede vir die eerste keer die tog na Ritrovo Restaurant in Waterkloof Hoogte aangepak en vanjaar voorbereid opgedaag vir hierdie ses-gang maaltyd. Want kyk, dit word sterk aanbeveel om liewers die SAL-ontbyt ’n mis te gee, om plek te hou vir die hedonisme wat voorlê.

Sjef  Fortunato Mazzone is Italiaans in murg en been en die kos wat hy voorsit is so ryk en opvallend soos sy stem en persoonlikheid. Met salm, tuna, wildsfillet en ’n stuk foie gras wat jou lewer verewig sal onthou – alles in een middagete – is hierdie nie ’n liggewig geveg nie! ’n Hoogtepunt van die Ritrovo-ervaring is ’n tenoor nagereg uitvoering deur Forti self. (Sien gerus die video en verskoon die kwaliteit – as almal sit kan almal sien…)

YouTube Direkt

Wat die wyne betref, hou die Spar-Groep ook nie terug nie. Wynkonsultant Tinus van Niekerk het van die land se voorste wynmakers betrek om dié winkelgroep se Olive Brook-wyne te produseer en  daar is heelwat meer omtrent hierdie wyne as wat die ietwat oudedoos verpakking laat blyk.

Kleine Zalze se Johan Joubert is betrokke by die maak van die Sauvignon Blanc, sowel as die vlagskip wit Bordeaux-styl versnit, die Geminus 2010. Laasgenoemde was my gunsteling witwyn in die reeks – dit het 15 maande in Franse eik spandeer en het bene om ’n hele paar jaar in die bottel te verouder. Dié komplekse versnit van Sauvignon Blanc (52%) en Sémillon (48%) het ’n verfrissende suur en heelwat lemmetjiegeure, terwyl die hout sorg vir ’n vol mondgevoel en speseryagtige kompleksiteit.

Tinus van Niekerk, Etienne le Riche, Johan Joubert and Fortunato Mazzone

Suid-Afrika se Cabernet-meester, Etienne le Riche, se hand wys duidelik in die 2011 Quintette, wat eers later in die mark uitgereik sal word.
Hoewel steeds baie jonk, toon die wyn merkwaardige finesse en elegansie. Petit Verdot beslaan die grootste gedeelte van hierdie Bordeaux-versnit en met ’n tipiese inkswart kleur en indrukwekkende struktuur, is hierdie verseker ’n wyn om voor uit te kyk.

My hoogtepunt van die wyne was egter ’n 2010 Pinot Noir/Chardonnay versnit wat soos die enkel-variëteit Chardonnay by De Wetshof geproduseer is. Dit is waarskynlik omdat dié wyn in foie gras-ryk geselskap gedrink was, maar dit is ’n vars en verfrissende kelkie soos min!

Die Pinot Noir komponent, wat die grootste deel van die versnit uitmaak, is in hout verouder.  Delikate aarbeigeure is opvallend, terwyl die aardse geure van Pinot Noir ook sterk deurkom. Die wyn verkoop teen R59,95 en is duidelik geposisioneer om heelwat meer as ’n liggewig rosé te wees. Dit kom egter nie as ’n verrassing nie, want kyk, of dit nou kom by wynverkope, rosé of middagete – hierdie ouens speel nie rond nie!