2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Report

It’s often said that Cab is King in Stellenbosch, and that the area is generally considered “Cabernet Country”. I’ve heard winemakers and others in industry mumble the sentiment that if you can’t make a decent Cabernet Sauvignon in Stellenbosch, you have no business being a winemaker. Perhaps a harsh sentiment, but it rings true in many ways. South African wine is going in many different and exciting directions, but perhaps we must be wary of spreading ourselves too thin in a cultivar sense? Of course diversifying and experimenting is great in terms of new offerings and discovering what is possible (and equally, what is not) but there is also no sense in moving rapidly away from our strengths – of which Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely one. The annual Christian Eedes Cabernet Sauvignon Report take a good look at what’s potting with local Cab, and this year continued the showcasing of the top specimens.

The #CabReport2015 was revealed during a casual ceremony at Burrata on Wednesday afternoon. Christian kicked off the proceedings with an introduction and thanked Derek Prout-Jones (thereafter referred to as DPJ) for sponsoring the 2015 report. He went on to explain that for the 2015 report, they moved away from the 20-point/5 star rating system and used the (internationally more standard) 100-point system. They also did away with the Top 10 and instead awarded all wines scoring 90 points and higher a certificate.

DPJ also shared a few thoughts with those gathered. He underlined the importance of the Cab Report, mostly in terms of what it does to raise consumer awareness and – as a result – drive sales, ultimately expanding the wine-drinking footprint. This is specifically important for the cultivar as it’s arguably one of SA’s most important – some would claim it’s our most iconic grape.

The approach to the report as follows (quoted directly from the report):

“The tasting is capped at 60 wines, partly consisting of examples which have fared well in recent local or international competition and partly from those producers I consider to be the best in their field even if somewhat low profile. While other bigger tastings can have a useful talent spotting function, the intention here is very much to do good by what might be called the seeded players, the finite line-up in particular intended to avoid the perils of palate fatigue. The judging panel was chaired by myself – Christian Eedes – and further consisted of two trusted colleagues, namely Roland Peens and James Pietersen, both of Wine Cellar, a Cape Town firm which brokers and cellars fine wine. We tasted blind, scoring done according to the 100-point system.”

If Cabernet is your game, you will want to take note of this report. And to see the consistency with which many of these producers perform, a gander at the report of the previous 3 years illustrates their continuously excellent performance brilliantly – names like Le Riche, Graham Beck, Warwick, de Trafford and Spier (to name but a few) keep popping up in and around the Top 10 and scored 90+ in the 2015 report. It’s a safe assumption to make that these are the winemakers and estates leading the way to top SA Cabernet. If you’re  serious about Cab Sauv, do yourself a favour and page through all the reports to spot the trends and have a squizz of where your favourites rank. All previous years’ reports are available on the WineMag.co.za site.

A special treat was having all the 90+ pointers available for tasting. My favourites – in no particular order – were the Vergelegen V 2011 (unreleased) which is still preposterously young but will shape to be a fantastic number in years to come, the de Trafford 2012 which seemed to me the most elegant and beautiful wine of them all and the Warwick Blue Lady 2012. Warwick also went one step further and had a 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon to taste alongside the Blue Lady. It was exquisite, aged beautifully but with enough life in her to go a few more years yet.

You can read the full 2015 report here. Congratulations to Christian on his valuable contribution. While no single report or document is likely to ever be considered comprehensive (for a given value of comprehensive) by everyone who reads it, the fact that we have these inputs available to the public goes a long way to building and promoting wine in general.

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Ex Animo Wine Co.

I first met David Clarke a few years ago when I traded him lessons on wine (he is a sommelier, after all) for Afrikaans lessons. He’d just moved to SA – married to an Afrikaans-speaking local and he wanted to improve his local lingo. Packed schedules eventually got the better of us both and we only really had a few lessons, but his incredibly knowledge and honest, down-to-earth love for wine stayed with me. Back to present day, David and his wife Jeannette have started Ex Animo Wine Co. and they’ve been bloody busy since. They had their first trade show in early March and it was packed to the rafters with some of the most exciting and enjoyable wines I’ve encountered in ages.

First, a bit of an intro for Ex Animo. I think of them as “not just another wine company”. In their own words: “…work with and represent a select group of producers who are passionate about vineyards and aspire to reflect them in the cellar.” and “Our aim is to get South Africans to drink better wine, thus quality ‘in the glass’ is paramount.”. 

This vision translates into Ex Animo sourcing some of the most exciting, talked about and paradigm-shifting wines, wineries and wine-makers to be involved with. Each partner reflects the core idea that David and Jeannette have in mind: getting SA to drink better wine through service, knowledge and education. It’s impossible to miss the love these two have for the wine industry and it’s hard to not get excited when chatting to either of them about wine. Their trade show was a collection of the new, the unexpected and in some cases (I’m looking at you, Testalonga El Bandito), the downright incomparable. The complete list of producers featured at the trade tasting is at the end of the post. Choosing out special mentions is tricky (the merits of the likes of Julien Schaal, Testalonga El Bandito and Thorne&Daughters is no surprise to anyone), so I’ll just go for the ones I enjoyed the most – which is also tricky because the wines were all exceptional in their own way.

Craven Wines – I fell in love with their Pinot Noir last year, while continuing a stormy and tumultuous relationship with the heart-break grape. I still love it as much as the first time I tasted it. I also had the chance to taste their Clairette Blanche, which I found fresh and fascinating.

Lammershoek – They brought the longest wine list to the show and I worked diligently through all of them. They make a Hárslevelü (the only other winery I’m aware of that makes one is Lemberg in Tulbagh), the unusual nature of the wine is quite noticeable though it’s probably not to everyone’s taste. As recent self-appointed champion for rosé and Blanc de Noir wines, the LAM Rosé 2013 was a great find, good strong acidity and just the faintest hint of spice from the Syrah with a great finish. The Bush Vines Chenin Blanc was by far my favourite though, good body and a complexity that makes it moreish and engaging.

Spioenkop – Elgin based producer, crazy Belgian Koen Roose makes wines in more a French style (though I wouldn’t presume to try and box their wines in too tightly). The vibrant, cool climate Pinotage 2013 stuck with me, an elegant wine made more like a Pinot Noir than it’s progeny normally is.

I adore what Ex Animo are doing, I think it’s exciting to see people with the knowledge and the (ugh…I hate this next word, but in this case it is authentically appropriate) passion of the Clarke’s doing their bit to breathe new life into industry, adding to the mix in ways that ultimately means that we – the wine consumers – are in for a treat.

The Ex Animo Trade Tasting was held on the 9th of March, 2015 and feature the following producers: Craven, Intellego, JH Meyer Signature Wines, Julien Schaal, Lammershoek, Restless River, Skinny Legs, Spioenkop, Testalonga El Bandito, Thorne & Daughters, Trizanne Signature Wines. The Ex Animo website will be launched soon. For more information, contact David or Jeannette.

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Nederburg Estate, Paarl

South African wine farms are diverse with many offering not just wine, but experiences, pairings and world-class gastronomic experiences.  Diversity aside, there is a golden thread that runs through and binds many of our most well-known estates: history. Since the humble beginnings of our country as a halfway station between Europe and India, wine has been an established part of that history. Groot Constantia, Vergelegen, Blaauwklippen, Muratie, Alto (to name a few) were all established within the first century of the Dutch setting foot in the Cape. In 1791, Nederburg was bought by Philippus Bernardus Wolvaardt for 5600 guilders and the estate took its place in SA wine history. And this historical (and oenological) gem is hiding in plain sight.

As with most historic places, a visit to the estate is by far the best way to appreciate the heritage. Walking into the Nederburg tasting room, the history of the farm is set out in panels with beautiful images bringing to life the rich past of the estate. There is also a central display dedicated to their Heritage Heroes, a tribute to the owners and winemasters of the farm, incredible people with incredible stories that are represented by incredible wines.

The Heritage Heroes range consists of five wines. The Anchorman Chenin Blanc represents the first owner and winemaster of the estate, Philippus Wolvaardt, who had the vision and passion to create and establish Nederburg, paving the way for the estate we know today. The Brewmaster (Bordeaux blend) is a tribute to Johannes Graue, who co-owned a brewery in Germany before moving to South Africa to play his part in revolutionising the wine industry through clonal experiments and his attention to improving source material for the vineyards. The Young Airhawk Sauvignon Blanc commemorates Johan Graue’s son, Arnold. Arnold was known for his brilliance in continuing to improve winemaking and viticulture techniques but he died tragically in an a light aircraft crash at the age of 29. After the death of his son, Graue was devastated. He nearly quit the farm, but instead opted to go to Germany and bring back the next winemaster: Günther Brözel. Known for whizzing around the farm on his 250cc motorcycle, a fitting name for the wine to honour him is the Motorcycle Marvel (Rhône blend). The last wine to be released in the series was The Beautiful Lady (Gewürtztraminer), remembering Graue’s wife Ilse, who played an important part in making the estate what it is today. A beautiful wine for a beautiful lady.

Nederburg is one of the Distell brand homes and offers a number of wine ranges, suiting every taste and budget. These include the Foundation range, 5600,  Winemaster’s Reserve, Manor House, Heritage Heroes and Ingenuity. The tasting room offers tastings of the different ranges as well as a “Which wine, which cheese” tasting with gorgeous locally sourced goats cheeses. The Manor House is home to The Red Table restaurant, bistro style fare with jaw-dropping views of the estate.

Tasting through the entire range offered at Nederburg is quite a task, so we skipped the Foundation and 5600 range as well as the Baronne and the Duet (not because of snobbish tendencies but because I’m very familiar with the ranges and wanted to invest time in some of the unknown wines). We ended up tasting 15 wines and I won’t prattle on with a review and overview of each wine, but the ones worth stocking up on include:

• Young Airhawk Sauvignon Blanc – Slightly wooded, zesty with mineral undertones and a smooth finish.
• The Beautiful Lady – Without a doubt, my favourite wine of the day. Inviting, engaging and beautiful and a gentle sweetness on the palate.
• Motorcycle Marvel – Silky, smooth tannins with good structure. Hit of acidity highlights fruit in the wine. Great summer red.
• The Brewmaster – Nicely wooded, complex with dark fruit and savoury notes. A warm, winter wine which would go well with stews, especially those of the French persuasion
• Edelrood (Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend) – Easy drinking, juicy wine. Pine needles, eucalyptus hints from the Cab with great softness from the Merlot.  Great “standby” wine for unexpected braais or pizza evenings. 
• Winemaster’s Reserve Chardonnay – Straightforward. Honey tones on the nose, unassuming, middle-of-the-road Chardonnay. Not overly wooded, not overly fruity.

• Wines, wines and more wines.

  Ingenuity White – 8 varietal blend (Sauvignon Blanc led, with Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Viognier, Semillon and Verdelho). A serious white wine. Rich, creamy finish with Riesling, Gewürtz and even the Viognier coming through on the nose. The 2013 is fantastically balanced, with the varietals not fighting each other in the bottle but rather working together to complement.

• Manor House Sauvignon Blanc – If you like green pepper Sauvignon Blanc, this one is for you. Chill as much as you dare and set it down by the pool to make the hot summer bearable.

To conclude, permit me a little waffle about perceptions. Nederburg is part of Distell and the Boutique-ONLY wine crowd will undoubtedly sniff and grumble at the thought of quaffing anything produced by “big corporate”.  This attitude irks me no end as I am very familiar with many of the Distell brands and I know the quality that can be found in their products. Yes, it’s a massive company. Yes, it produces hundreds of products, some more “commercially accessible” shall we say, than others. It may not have the intimate, boutique-appeal that some farms champion and it may be far from a “hidden gem” but Nederburg caters for nearly all tastes. From the eternally dependable, staple of my student days Baronne (which I can still happily pick up at any wine shop and know exactly what I’m getting – there’s something to be said for consistency!) to the Heritage Heroes range through to the Ingenuity, Noble Late Harvest and the Edelkeur, Nederburg offers a little bit of everything for everyone.

The importance of heritage, history and passion for wine is also evident not only from the Nederburg story, but from each wine produced today. Many estates have the history and the heritage sites, but few make it as part of their every day story as Nederburg, where the essence of the winemasters echoes still in every bottle.

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Lithos Cellar

After one of our most interactive and exciting Twitter tastings with Lithos wines, one of our SuperFANS, Stephen Brierley, went along to the farm to discover where the magic is made. If you want to follow Stephen on Twitter for his magnificent tweets about wine, you can find him at @sbrierley75. If you’d like to visit Lithos, contact them at @wines_lithos or visit their website.

I had a long overdue engagement with Tim Hoek, the winemaker from Lithos wines and just under two hours in traffic from Century City to Somerset West was not going to stop me. The farm is on Old Sir Lowrys Pass Road, on Wedderwill Country Estate. The Estate has another wine farm on its property, but that is a topic for another post. Lithos wine farm is situated between the Schapenberg mountain range to the east, the vistas of False Bay, that go on and on all the way to Cape point, to the west.

Lithos is owned by Sean and Lorraine. Sean is a financier, who still spends time travelling around the country on business, while Lorraine is an artist and a dreamer and conceptualised the name of the farm. Lithos comes from the word Lithosphere which is the outermost shell of our planet. The terroir in the area is excellent, previously being submerged beneath the waves of the Agulhas and now comprises of a top layer of sandy loam, with clay beneath which requires very little or no irrigation during summer months. The vines were planted in 2003 by the previous owners, who made wine for their own consumption, and the farm was bought and developed by Sean and Lorraine in 2011.

Tim Hoek found his way as winemaker to the farm from Jordan, where he was the assistant winemaker for five years. Tim and his wife, also a winemaker, have spent time in Bordeaux, Napa, New Zealand and have also made sparkling wine in the UK. Tim was born in Swellendam and obtained his agricultural degree in Wellington.

Tim’s manner is cool, calm and collected. He had previous aspirations to make beer, if the wine industry turned out not to be for him. But fate dealt him good hand and he now produces both wine and beer for the farm. An unusual occurrence; a wine farm that produces beer, but as Lorraine states: “We make and sell beer during the off season when we are not focused solely on the wines”. Nothing wrong with a dual income, I say! The beer is bottled under the Lithos labels: a haunting set of winged designs which were conceptualised by Lorraine, but designed by Vim Botha.

The beer is an interesting offering and ranges from 3.5% to 5% in alcohol. The lightest is a Raspberry Weiss which Lorraine thinks should be aimed at the female market. It is clean and refreshing with the obvious hint of rasberries, which is by no means sweet and overpowering. Sunset Ale is their pale ale, which is snappish and has slightly more a finish to it than the previous. The Midnight Stout is sharp and bitter and was my favourite. I took a carry bag of this home with me. All the beers are fairly light and would go down well with a range of food dishes.

After the beer tasting (apt for recovering from a Friday spent in too traffic), we moved onto their wines. They offer a range of 3 wines. The first was a Blanc De Noir, made with Pinotage, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. It offers a strawberry fruit jam nose, light acidity and a layered freshness which was drier in terms of sugar content than a more typical rosé, but presents a good balanced between the three cultivars. This wine would go very well with a cream based pasta, or even a big hunk of salmon where the acidity would cut through the fat and oil.

Their Cape Blend, of which a limited quantity is available as they produced only 2100 bottles, is clean and balanced with Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinotage and Cabernet Franc grapes. The wine is fermented in 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th fill barrels, so it only had a hint of tannins and wood to it.

Their last wine on offer was the Syrah, which they referred to us such rather than a Shiraz as it was grown in the cooler climate of the area, which is generally 2-3 degrees colder than Stellenbosch. The wine gave me a wonderful delivery of plums on the nose, slightly moist biltong too and the mouth delivered a subtle smack of white pepper. It is a wine that is light on the palate with 40% matured in new oak.

Tim has recently produced a Cabernet Sauvignon with grapes bought in from Stellenbosch, which he matured in barrels for 28 months. He is not ready to release this yet, but the excitement of this new addition was evident.

I only managed to catch a glimpse of the landscape views on arriving at the Estate, but what I did see was breathtaking and worth a visit earlier in the day. Lorraine is an aspiring cook and offers food and wine evenings, where clients can sample the beer and wine with a hearty meal alongside. I could have spent more time with the family but sadly after 90 minutes I had to drag myself out and home, just catching glimpses of the most impressive scenery below before the sun disappeared from sight.

The farm is well worth the visit and is along the same road as other impressive estates in Journeys End and Waterkloof. The wines are available from Wine Concepts and Vino Pronto, but I would suggest a visit to the farm for the sights, sounds and warmth of Lithos wines.

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CWG Auction Showcase 2014

For the most part, I feel that day-to-day winos don’t really think much about wine auctions. Personally, I’m not too phased by the amounts spent on wine at auctions, it’s just that I don’t have that type of cash to spend (at least, not all at once), so the word “auction” inspires a mental separation of sorts. A bit of “that’s nice” and then I move on to something more relevant to me. Like the bottle of bubbly in my fridge. I started taking notice of the Cape Winemaker’s Guild auction last year when I attended my first CWG Auction Showcase. It was exciting, engaging and excellent. It’s almost time for the 2014 CWG Showcase, so let me tell you a bit more about what to expect.

But first, let me tell you about the Cape Winemakers Guild. It is made up of 45 members, representing arguably some of the top winemakers in the country. Not only are they often on the forefront of innovation and promotion of South African wines, but they also have a development trust supporting social development in the winelands, as well as a protégé programme which allows young, aspiring winemakers to work alongside the guild members, all masters in their field.

2014 will see the 30th CWG auction, so this has been around for a while. A well-known event in industry, the auction itself has enjoyed a growing popularity in the public eye over the past few years.  This is likely due  to the public tasting of the auctions wines, serving to not only introduce consumers to the guild and their wines but also drum up some excitement for the auction itself.

Last year’s auction smashed previous records, bringing in more than R8 million. 82% of the wines on offer were bought by local buyers, of which the biggest spender was Alan Pick of The Butcher Shop and Grill in Sandton. He shelled out R1 357 600 to claim his share of the loot. The auction also raised a shade under R200 000 on they day for their protégé programme, including a R60 000 price fetched for  a special 18-litre once-off blend called the 2011 Members’ Reserve at the Charity Auction.

Some of my personal highlights from the 2013 showcase included the following wines:

• AA Badenhorst Family White Grenache – Vuilgoed 2012
• Vriesenhof Pinot Noir 2008
• Saronsberg CWG Viognier 2011
• Mullineux Family White Blend 2011
• Boplaas Ox Wagon Auction Reserve Potstill Brandy 8 Year

The 2014 CWG Auction Showcase will be held in Cape Town on Thursday 21 August at the CTICC and in Johannesburg on Wednesday 27 August at The Atrium, Nedbank Head Offices. Tickets are R170 pp and includes a tasting glass. You can book for both events on WebTickets. Wines that have been selected for the auction will be on offer from the 45 member farms (see the full list below).

For more information, check out the Cape Winemakers Guild website or contact their head office on 021 852 0408. Images courtesy of GC Communications.

CWG member farms are: Kanonkop, AA Badenhorst Family Wines, Mullineux Family Wines, Paul Cluver Estate Wines, Hermanuspietersfontein, Nitida, Beyerskloof, Groot Constantia, Overgaauw, The Drift Fram, Boplaas, Hartenberg, De Grendel, Rust en Vrede, Kaapzicht, Edgbaston, Cederberg Private Cellar, De Trafford, Saronsberg Cellar, Cape Point Vineyards, Le Riche Wines, Spier, Jordan, Cape Chamonix, Boschkloof, Vriesenhof, Villiera, Grangehurst, Kleine Zalze, Simonsig, Steenberg, Waterford, Ataraxia, Louis Wines, Ernie Els, Boekenhoutskloof, Tokara, Neil Ellis, Lanner Hill, Luddite Wines, Bouchard Finlayson, Rijk’s Private Cellar, Graham Beck, Strydom Vineyards, Teddy Hall Wines.

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Wine Concepts

As someone who attempts to blog about their full-time hobby while holding down a full-time (unrelated) job, I’m the first to admit writing when you’re working 10-12 hour days is pretty tough at times. As a wine lover with the occasional opportunity to attend really exceptional events, I’m stubborn about putting content I care about out there, even if it is a couple of weeks after the fact. The Wine Concepts Burgundy Lover’s Festival is one of those events. I was aiming for a more constructive, informative and generally well composed piece, but in truth I adore Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir stole my heart years ago, so my analytical mind shut down shortly after the first drop of heavenly liquid hit my glass. For this round, I’ll leave the proper wine reviewing aside for a bit and just run through some of the more interesting and downright divine finds of the evening.

Knowing where my favourite wines were to be found and also which new ones wanted to try, I plunged into the fray randomly, approaching the first stand with a gap for me to fill my glass. This led me to Lothian Vineyards. I found their Chardonnay to be perfectly pleasant, hints of melon and lime and the most delicate touch of oak. Their Pinot Noir is well balanced, a mouthful of strawberry with a hint of tobacco on the other end of the spectrum.

The next new find was Winters Drift. Also from the Elgin Valley, I’ve seen the label around but had never tried their wines. The Chardonnay is very nice, smooth and lightly wooded with a honeydew fresh taste and good, soft acidity. The Pinot Noir is quite fruity, light and drinkable.

With great anticipation, I made my way to the Springfield stand to indulge in my longstanding love affair with their Wild Yeast and Methode Ancienne Chardonnay. Upon arrival, I was surprised to see they had a Pinot Noir on offer. I’m a great proponent of out-of-character wines in terms of styles, cultivars and where they are grown and made, but even so I wasn’t expecting a Pinot Noir (typically better suited to cooler areas) from Robertson, where summers can be merciless. I was delighted to find a sexy Pinot Noir in that bottle, slightly more muted and less fresh and fruity than others but with lots going on and lots to appreciate.

It was shortly after my stop at the Springfield station that I stopped taking pictures, finding conversing with my companions while discussing the exquisite wines far too consuming to keep snapping away with my phone. Other more than notable mentions include Vriesenhof, Creation (both their Pinot Noir and Reserve Pinot Noir are excellent) and Ataraxia (they had a sort of micro-flighted tasting, with their 2010 and 2013 Chardonnay available for tasting, a solid indication of what the younger wine could potentially grow into).

My absolute top finds of the evening were without question the Richard Kershaw Wines Chardonnay and both the Crystallum and Craven Wines Pinot Noirs. The Kershaw Chardonnay stops you dead in your tracks. A more composed, elegant and truly beautiful Chardonnay I have never encountered. Exquisitely wooded, complex fruit and a grounded character that invites you to just finish the bottle and make sure you pack a case in the car to take hom.

The Crystallum Pinot Noir is the stuff of dreams. If you love Pinot Noir, this is the one to seek out. And the Craven Wines Pinot Noir is magnificently exciting, a breath of fresh air from the seemingly new trend of “Young Guns” winemakers on the SA wine scene. Incredibly wine makers doing fantastically exciting things, shaking up the wine scene and producing tastebud-blowing stuff.

I’ll say it again. I love Chardonnay and I adore Pinot Noir. The Burgundy Lover’s festival was a treat, well organised and presented by the team from Wine Concepts. And if Sauvignon is more your thing, then you should keep an eye on their website for the Seductive Sauvignon festival coming up in September. It promises to be a spectacular collection of the best Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon around. I’m saving the date.

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Last night’s debauchery that was #SirisAboutWineUnderground – four floors below the #UpperEastsideHotel http://t.co/zfO6dRLSsJ

— Darryn van der Walt (@darrynvdwalt) June 3, 2014

I chatted to Bubbles Hyland to suss out where they came up with the idea for #SirisAboutWineUnderground:

“Siris Vintners like to set them selves apart from other wine merchants.  

We are very passionate about wine but don’t take ourselves too seriously.  We want to break some boundaries that are set within the wine industry.  The only difference between every wine/trade show is the wine; why is the wine industry the only industry that stagnates and doesn’t move forward with the times? We want to attract a new generation of wine lovers; make it interesting, appealing to people of all ages, races, genders etc.  We didn’t want to put on a mundane wine show.

Every year we want to do something a little unexpected.  Last year we did a pop up wine show.  So the underground theme really came from that.  Building up some excitement and speculation about the event, the venue was decided first and dictated the theme.  We wanted to isolate ourselves with no distractions from the outside world including no phone reception. It created a feeling of a cellar. A certain appealing mustiness! “

 I couldn’t have said it better myself. A brilliant push towards the unusual, the exciting and the downright fantastic, the event was extremely well received by attendees and everyone was tweeting about it (after the fact, as the reception down below was practically non-existent).  

My favourite for sure Anura Cabernet Sauvignon #sirisselfie #sirisaboutwineunderground http://t.co/LJbURVeVfm — Leslie Maliepaard (@mydesio) June 2, 2014

Lukas #winehottie @grootepost showing one of Darlings finest pinot noirs #sirisaboutwineunderground pic.twitter.com/x0qeIrr0Qh

— Spit or Swallow (@spitorswallow) June 3, 2014

Siris Vintners annual event is open to the trade and press and showcases all the wines in their portfolio. The 2014 producers were Alphabetical, Anura, Arendsig, D’Aria, De Meye, De Waal, Groote Post, Moreson, Mullineux, Nico van Der Merwe, Nitida, Post House, Quando, Seven Springs, Signal Hill and Waverley Hills. The winemakers all attend, adding another level of interaction for everyone there beyond just tasting the wines.

Siris Vintners seems to have the right idea about wine, the industry and most importantly the type of people who buy and drink the wine. I am dying to see what they have up their sleeves for the 2015 event.

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Wine Concepts Burgundy Lover’s Festival 2014

If you love wine (surely everyone reading this does?), and you love the Burgundies, then you’ll love this: Wine Concepts is hosting the fourth annual Burgundy Lover’s Festival. And I can assure you, this year we are all in for a treat. Definitely an event all lovers of fine Pinot Noir and Chardonnay need to take note of.

The Cape Town event will be hosted at the Vineyard Hotel & Spa in Newlands on Friday 13 June 2014, from 17:00 to 20:00. Incogvino has gotten a sneak preview of what’s in store at this year’s popular event.

The festival is all about getting the big names in the business of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in one room and offering tasters some undiscovered gems in between.

The 2014 Festival promises to have the very best in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on offer. 40 of the country’s top producers of these varietals will be offering their finest wines to festival goers. The wines will be complimented by snacks suited to the style of wine, enhancing the overall experience.

The Johannesburg festival was held on the 29th of May at The Wanderers Club in Illovo. One of our SuperFANS, Brian Arentsen attended the event and had the following to say about it:

“If you love small, focused, niche, boutique wine fests and enjoy Chards and Pinot then you would have died and gone to heaven at the Wanderers last Thursday! All the classiest Pinots were there, rubbing shoulders with a few French Bourgogne’s (shown off by Great Domaines). I could imagine driving from Elgin to Hermanus and up the Hemel and Aarde with all my favourite stops catered for. From Hamilton Russell to Creation and most inbetween, just heavenly Pinot Noir treats. The Chardonnays were a lot more diverse in location and in finished product. Big oak was present, but a good spread of lightly oak kissed and unoaked were all worthy of being thoroughly tested. My picks of the Pinot Noirs that offer good value were the new La Vierge and Oak Valley vintages while in the Chards I couldn’t look beyond the Jordan offerings, all 9 yards of them.

Think I’ll try the Cape Town Burgundy Festival on the 13^th just in case I missed something.”

I think that testimonial speaks for itself, ladies and gentlemen. A wino traveling from Johannesburg to Cape Town just so he can experience the festival again.

Other offerings to keep an eye out for include Richard Kershaw’s Chardonnay, Andy Mitchell Crooked Path Pinot Noir, Groote Post Kapokberg Pinot Noir, Craven Pinot Noir and De Grendel Op Die Berg Chardonnay.

If by now you are as excited to be part of this delicious event as we are, go to Webtickets to book your spots. You can also buy tickets directly from Wine Concepts Newlands (021 671 9030 or [email protected]) and Wine Concepts on Kloof (021 426 4401). Tickets are R160 pp pre-booked and R170 at the door (subject to availability, of course). Best of all, wines will be on offer at 10% discount, so be ready to stock up on some hot buys for the cold winter. There’s even a lucky draw with some great prizes up for grabs.

And if you’re feeling lucky, you can click on over to wine.co.za where you can win tickets to the festival simply by naming a South African wine made in the Burgundy style. Two tickets up for grabs!

Watch this space, as we will be reporting back on the event and all the delectable finds.

The post Wine Concepts Burgundy Lover’s Festival appeared first on Incogvino.

One of the first wine farms to be established in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley, Bouchard Finlayson has become synonymous with the production of outstanding Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Winemaker Peter Finlayson remembers starting to make wine there before it was the buzzing wine route of today. Mostly dirt roads and largely underdeveloped for viticulture, it became apparent that the area had the ideal soil for vineyards. 

As we sat down to begin the tasting, a glance at the tasting sheet revealed a flighted tasting of four wines, all different vintages, with a Hamilton Russel Sauvignon Blanc and an Australian Chardonnay thrown in for good measure.

The first flight was three vintages of the Bouchard Finlayson Blanc de Mer, a Riesling-based blend, with Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. The make-up of the blend is vintage dependant. According to Peter, wine blending is like a Rubix cube. He also mentioned the advantage of smaller wineries, not being so limited with regards to time restraints as larger operations often are.

We tasted the 1998, 2003 and 2012. The 1998 had been the last vintage to be hand bottled, possibly contributing to it ageing exceptionally well. Peter refers to it as a star performer and it’s not difficult to see why. Softly aged, straw on the nose and a fresh, crisp acidity one would expect from a young wine. The 2012 vintage was the first non-French wine to be sold at the Moulin Rouge. 

The next flight was Sauvignon Blanc, including the Bouchard Finlayson 2006, the Reserve 2010 and the Hamilton Russell Ashbourne 2006. Sauvignon Blanc is usually consumed within 18 months, but there is no reason for it not to keep, as it can age quite well. 

The third flight was what I was eagerly awaiting all evening; the showstoppers as far as I am concerned: Tête de Cuvée Pinot Noir.  Not considered a typical Pinot Noir in the classical sense, but then very few people will ever have the opportunity to taste a Grand Crux Pinot Noir. This will do quite nicely as a replacement. “A white wine grape variety that only makes red wine under certain conditions” – Peter Finlayson on Pinot Noir. 

The 2000, 2009 and 2010 vintages were on offer. It was nearly impossible to choose a favourite. The 2000 was a work of art, elegant tannins and overall balance that can make grown men weep. The 2010 (current release) was slightly meatier and ripe but the 2009 was positively infatuating, with fine, balanced tannins, fruit and the slightest hint of jamminess that doesn’t detract but rather adds to the wine.

Rather unusually, we ended off with the Chardonnay flight. A 2004 Seppelt Jaluka from Australia, the 2004 BF Missionvale and the 2003 BF Crocodile’s Lair. The Australian offering had aged well, even with a screw top and being only very lightly wooded. The Missionvale showed a gorgeous amber colour, rich and dreamy. The Crocodile’s Lair took the cake with a caramel and toffee nose, smooth as velvet and perfectly drinkable. While the Pinot Noir has my eternal love and devotion, the Chardonnay seduced me into an delicious tryst, one I would gladly fall into again and again and again…

The marvellous wines were complemented excellently by tapas dishes, prepared by Chef Oliver Cattermole and his team. Special thanks to Peter Finlayson for hosting a marvellous tasting and Janie van der Spuy and Five Star PR for inviting us.

The post Bouchard Finlayson – Fabulous Flighted Tasting appeared first on Incogvino.

Earlier in the year, SuperFAN Charl Engels and I were invited by another SuperFAN, Charlotte Spicer, to head over to De Toren for a special VIP tasting with them. The De Toren tasting is already pretty special, so I was extra excited for this one. I had absolutely no idea it would turn into what it did… This is my attempt at an enthralling “recap” of the afternoon’s events.

We’re on our way to De Toren Wine Estate for a VIP tasting courtesy of our high-level status on the popular social wine review app, Real Time Wine. My expectations are well and truly through the roof and I’m beginning to doubt whether the unsuspecting marketing manager will have any chance of meeting them. Cutting to the chase, I soon realise that I am indeed going to be disappointed. There is no Book XVII lined up for the tasting this evening.

For those of you not in the know, Book XVII is a limited production wine made by De Toren that retails at a cool R1800 a bottle. How do you like them apples?

However, as we are taken through the recently developed cellar space where the Book XVII elixir is brought to life, the consulting winemaker/viticulturist/project leader/big-boss-man comes strolling into the room. After a brief introduction, Gregor Drescher questions our knowledge of French wines. Visibly unimpressed by our meek “hmms” and “uhms”, he reaches for a magnificent bottle standing open on the table in the centre of the cellar.

“You guys ever heard of this?” he asks as he pours a tasting into a wine glass the size of my head. It is the 2010 Visionnaire. A French wine falling under the Expression Unique portfolio managed by De Toren owner, Emil den Dulk, and Gregor Drescher. I’m assuming there are other players involved as well. The De Toren Book XVII, another wine called Red Granite (from somewhere in Europe) and the Visionnaire make up the portfolio of site specific wines of a nature and form you have never imagined.

The Visionnaire is a wine made from grapes that have received the kind of attention that numerous families would never even dream of giving their firstborn. In fact, from Gregor’s explanation of “diva” viticulture, the image in my mind is of him spending every waking moment with the vines as they go through their yearly cycle, with him being extra careful not to spit out his mouthwash on to the soil or roll into them as he’s tossing and turning in his sleeping bag every night.

If I’m honest, smelling the wine does not prompt the nervous little girl inside of me to wet her panties with delight, and it seems rather uninviting. The wine’s caretaker dutifully informs us that this is simply a result of the wine still being a bit “closed off”, kind of like your girlfriend should you forget that thing she’s been reminding you about before you even started dating.

Yet lo and behold, as the wine graces my lips and tongue with it’s almighty presence, something far above and beyond a simple wine tasting experience emerges from my sensory organs. What seems like the Closing Ceremony fireworks from the 2010 FIFA World Cup combined with all the purple and black berries from every LiquiFruit advert ever made explode all over my mouth and my tongue just falls limp in joyous drunken shock. When I finally gather the courage to swallow the fluid that surely stems from the Fountain of Youth, I am anything but relieved of the moment of Utopian bliss from just a second ago. As if ghost wine now resides in my mouth, all the tastes and sensations remain, if not even heightened as a result of the influx of oxygen into the crevice that will no doubt ever be the same again, even should I be blessed with but one brief tongue tickling session with Rachel McAdams.

Whilst my brain and soul are dealing with sensory overload, there is some talking in the background and we move on to taste a few other wines. Needless to say, at that stage I was but a jealous lover who had no interest in any other vinous specimen, as they were in no way suitable to even think of being able to be sipped upon by me.

And thus, as a result, that day shall forever be known as “Unsurpassable wine drinking experience benchmark day that will never ever be beaten by anything ever in the world ever niki touch-backs, touch black can’t give back” day.

On a side note, I have tasted the De Toren wines in another setting, and they are superb.

So that’s my story! Turns out this foray into Real Time Wine has its perks!

Ciao for now.

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