Celebratory lunch at Eikendal Estate with winemaker Nico Grobler

The entrance to Eikendal

A small party of media, listening attentively

Healthy green vines with Stellenbosch mountains in the background

Winemaket Nico Grobler took us on a tractor trip through the vineyards

An early ripener

Vines planted mainly East West direction to get the benefit of our prevailing winds

School holidays - time to play among the vines

Petit Verdot which is very fruitful and bunches will have to be sacrificed to enable those left to develop

Young bush vines

Our driver, Willem van Kerwel

We are all set for a tasting with lunch

We begin with the Chardonnay, nicely chilled

We meet the Chef, Mark Radnay and he announces his menu which is designed to best match the wine flavours

Fried sweet potato gnocchi with white and green asparagus, mint and lemon butter and shavings of parmesan matched the 2012 Chardonnay

2011 and 2012 Charisma, an award winning red blend of Shiraz, Petit Verdot and Sangiovese

.. was served with Ostrich carpacchio seasoned with biltong spice, wild rocket and tomato salad and sweet potato crisps and the food picked up the umami flavours in the wine

Stuart Buchan, Eikendal’s Marketing Manager

Tender confited Pork Belly topped with apple and prune compote, on a bed of creamy mash and accompanied by glazed carrots and a really good jus went perfectly with the very soft and approachable meaty 2011 Merlot full of long cherry and umami flavours, which still needs a little time

Mature beef fillet with rosemary and thyme butter, dauphine potatoes and roasted baby beetroot was served with the 2010 and 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

The Raspberry Cardinal gateau with cappuccino parfait and hazelnut tuille was superb. Did it go with the 2011 Classique Bordeaux Blend? We think it needed a sweet wine.

An alternative pure chocolate dessert for a non-gluten eater

This water spout has become a landmark for Eikendal

© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013