Archive for the ‘Wine Expo’s’ Category

Franschhoek fizz fest

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Smoked salmon, oysters, plump strawberries, Champagne, Cap Classique and ample sunshine… sounds like the perfect recipe for a great party, right? And it is – with the first weekend in December having become synonymous with Franschhoek’s bubbly celebration. While it’s always a fantastic social event, there seemed to be an extra edge to the 2009 event. Perhaps it was the residual festive effect of the 2010 World Cup draw having taken place the night before, but the festival seemed to really have ramped up a notch.

Yes it was warm – comfortably above 30 degrees – but the organisers had decided not to repeat last year’s folly of having ice sculptures rapidly melt in the sun’s glare… Instead, the focus was on shade, ample chilled bubbly to keep the punters happy, live music and providing the platform for people to relax and enjoy the weather and the fabulous setting of the Franschhoek monument surrounds.

And what’s not to enjoy when it’s obvious that South Africa’s Cap Classique producers have upped their game in a big way too. There were some stunning bubblies available for sampling and drinking.

Pieter Ferreira and the Graham Beck team have introduced a new Brut Rosé non vintage, a 55/45 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with delicious ripe berry flavour. Actually, there were a lot of pink bubblies in evidence – and heaps of festival goers buying them by the bottle to enjoy at leisure with a platter of smoked salmon. Morena, Villiera, Ross Gower, Weltevrede and Simonsig, Methode Cap Classique pioneers, all had pink sparklers but the one which impressed most was that of John Loubser. Loubser, the GM and cellarmaster at Steenberg (which makes the 1682 bubbly) has his own range, Silverthorn, and has added a second wine to his portfolio. Joining The Green Man is the Genie, a Shiraz bubbly which has the palest blush of pink and is utterly delicious.

The alluvial soils of Rawsonville produced my second “find” of the day: Du Preez’s Hendrik Lodewyk Cap Classique. Hennie Du Preez told me it’s a Chardonnay/Pinot Noir blend but by that stage I was beyond making notes of proportions or even time on the lees. I think it was 24 months – but I could be wrong!

It’s rewarding to see people enjoying the event and making the most of SA’s stunning sparklers which offer amazing value for the quality produced. Little surprise that this is one of the biggest growth areas of SA wine…

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Nederburg Auction

Monday, July 20th, 2009

Two interesting tastings this week: the first at Glenelly in Stellenbosch and the second the Nederburg pre-Auction event at the Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town.

Glenelly, a former fruit farm adjacent to Rustenberg, has undergone a total transformation since Madame May-Eliane de Lencquesaing bought it in 2003. The local wine fraternity has eagerly awaited the day that it opened its doors to the public – and one day after Bastille Day it arrived. Madame de Lencquesaing, former chatelaine of Bordeaux ‘Super Second’ Ch. Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande and Decanter Woman of the Year in 1994 (among many other honours), was present to welcome the first guests through the tasting room door.

The sprightly octogenarian was pressing glasses of the 2006 Glenelly Hill blend on her guests and eagerly listening to their comments about its versus the 2003 and 2004. Just as the plantings have matured, so has the blend. The 2004 with its higher proportion of Shiraz (along with Cab and Merlot) is a forceful wine – very in your face while the 2006 is far more genteel, restrained and elegant yet with delicious succulent black fruit.
Madame is unequivocal in her belief in South Africa’s terroir and potential for making great, balanced elegant wines. Already winemaker Luke O’Cuinneagain reports substantial interest by delegations of French visitors…

If the lineup of 50 Nederburg Auction wines presented to media is anything to go by, the 35th anniversary of the event should be a goodie. The wines which impressed most were older – which was, of course, why Nederburg launched the event in 1974, to sell aged South African wines.
Among the whites a 2001 Cape Point Vineyards Semillon and a 2002 Rijk’s Private Cellar Chenin Blanc showed beautifully, the richly smoky apricot-fruited Chenin in particular. Both are small lots – just 20 and 10 cases respectively.

And on the reds a 1994 Kanonkop Paul Sauer, 1998 Stellenzicht Pinotage and 2000 Saxenburg SSS Shiraz – the latter being particularly striking. Still juicy with blackberry, pepper, structure, grip, texture, balance, length… everything in the right place.
It remains to be seen how buyers feel about the selection although there are stories circulating about hotels and lodges being bullish about purchases in advance of the anticipated 2010 influx.

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