Thursday, November 22, 2012

Doolhof wines paired with lunch at the Cape Grace

Sitting down for the formal tasting of the wines in the conservatory of the Cape Grace Hotel are going up on the left Alan Mullins, James Pietersen, Kim Maxwell, Angela Lloyd, and coming down on the right Chris von Ulmenstein, winemaker Friedrich Kühne, Dennis Kerrison, Nelia Vivier, Juli Huisamen,  De Waal Steyn, Lynne, Joanne Simon, Graham Howe and Gregory Mutambe
One white and four interesting red wines to taste
Owner Dennis Kerrison talking about Doolhof and its history
Kathy Marston listens attentively
The winemaker Friedrich Kühne talks us through the wines
And we taste and discuss
Cathy Marston, Chris von Ulmenstein, Anel Grobler, the winemaker, Dennis Kerrison and Nelia Vivier,  Kim Maxwell and Angela Lloyd seated in the dining room awaiting the first course
Media packs of two of the top Doolhof wines with some chocolates
The first course was interesting and went well with the Lady in White Sauvignon Blanc which is very sharp and lemony. It is Pan fried scallop wrapped in black forest ham with a cauliflower purée, ham velouté, charred sweet corn and pea tendrils
One of the huge crystal chandeliers
The menu
The main course of Chalmar beef fillet perfectly cooked and pink in the centre, with roasted garlic mashed potato, a smidgen of baby spinach and a suspicion of a wild mushroom and truffle sauce which was the perfect match to the Doolhof  2009 Theseus a Bordeaux Blend
Dessert was a deliciously wicked rich chocolate tart in a crisp chocolate shell, covered in ripe cherries and served with a beautiful praline ice cream.  Sadly, many thought its sweetness fought with the red wine, The Dark Lady, a coffee mocca pinotage
The winemaker, Friedrich Kühne
©John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus cc, 2012

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