Shiraz Showcase at the Vineyard

South Africa produces many wonderful wines, but Shiraz or Syrah is one we do better than most. We enjoyed a great tasting at the Shiraz Showcase last Tuesday. It was daunting trying to taste about 88 wines from 70 cellars, but we tried our best and probably tasted two thirds over the 3 hours. 

Both of us were spitting rather than imbibing and found some lovely wines, a few strange, and sadly one or two that were green and stalky or old style, heavily wooded, without fruit and not great. 

David Trafford showed his 2000 shiraz and his 2010 Syrah and both were incredible

We were very happy to catch up with an old, but young, friend, Matthew Parkhurst

Photographer Barry, whom John remembers from Barry's days at Die Burger

Johan Joubert and friend, Kleine Zalze

Happy wine tasters enjoying the evening

Philip Engelen of Brooklands House and Michael Pownall, GM of the Taj

 Photographs are © John Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2012

7 course Dinner special at Myoga

The menu for the seven course tasting menu. Lynne treated John after the Shiraz Showcase wine show at the Vineyard

Lynne's delicious first dish, a ‘Mouth Tickler’ of Sweet corn pannacotta, gooey sweet tomato jam and a salty and crunchy sweet potato crisp. There was also a small drizzle of truffle oil, which makes this a starter to be repeated at home, soon.

John had a salt and pepper prawn on a skewer, embedded in a shot glass of coriander spuma with sweet chilli.  A lovely contrast of Asian flavours and textures.

John's starter of Curried crumbed pork terrine, apple sauce and smoked paprika, Yoghurt and a sour and sweet apple apricot chutney

Lynne had a lightly smoked, tender and moist confit of trout, three steamed prawns, jalapeno emulsion. We think the tail fins should come off prawns unless you are eating prawns with your fingers. There were strips of uncooked grean beans in the garnish which would have been better blanched. No sign of jalapeno chilli.

Because John cannot eat mushrooms, Lynne loves to order mushrooms when out. This porcini mushroom soup with tiny pieces of sautéed mushrooms, lots of dried pieces of bread, sprinkled on top with some dried mushrooms was made with sour cream, so has quite a sharp taste.

John really loved his Thai inspired green curry chowder, whitefish, prawns, lime, truffle

roasted sweet corn and charred red pepper salsa. Lynne tasted it and agreed.

Pasta course was next. Lynne had a pleasant linguine, with small squares of fish, a few pieces of prawn, lots of pine nuts, olive oil, and a herb gremolata. Rather like something Jamie Oliver might do. There was supposed to be chilli and garlic on this but they were not apparent.

John wanted to order the gnocchi, gorgonzola spuma, toasted pistachio, sweet and sour pear but apparently this is the most popular choice and they were sold out so, instead, he had a rather rich pan fried beef ravioli, with onion marmalade, coriander, black beans

From here on we ordered the same dishes

Our palate cleaner of a beautifully perfumed and deeply flavoured elderflower and pear sorbet

Our main course was a truffle flavoured teriyaki; tender and perfectly cooked pink beef fillet, marvellously crisp tempura vegetables, nam jim and spiced cilantro pachadi – a sour cream or yogurt and coriander sauce

Dessert was a crisp apple tart tatin, covered in crème fraiche (sour cream) and chopped pistachio nuts.

We were served the accompanying butterscotch lassi (on the menu as part of the dessert) as an extra with the chef’s compliments. Lassi is a yogurt drink.
Each of the seven courses was small, but, together, they made a very filling meal and we struggled to finish at the end. After tasting (and spitting) as many as we could of the Shirazes made by 80 producers, we decided to forgo wine with the dinner, especially as we were driving a friend's beloved Jeep, lent to us by a very kind friend after the loss of our treasured Sharan.

Photographs are © John Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2012

The 2012 Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction – Wines on Offer

Wine Name                                                                                                                                         Quantity

AA Badenhorst Family Wines Shatoe Ramnasgras 2011                                                         26 x 6 x 750ml

AA Badenhorst Family Wines Shatoe Ramnasgras 2011                                                         10 x 3 x 1.5 L

Ataraxia Under the Gavel Chardonnay 2011                                                                           50 x 6 x 750ml

Beyerskloof Traildust Pinotage 2010                                                                                             42 x 6 x 750ml

Boschkloof Bakhand Shiraz 2010                                                                                                   40 x 6 x 750ml

Bouchard Finlayson Pinot Noir 2009                                                                                             60 x 6 x 750ml

Cape Point Vineyards Auction Reserve White 2011                                                               42 x 6 x 750ml

Carel Nel Cape Vintage Auction Reserve 2010                                                                      30 x 6 x 750ml

Cederberg Ghost Corner Semillon 2011                                                                                    34 x 6 x 750ml

Cederberg Teen Die Hoog Shiraz 2010                                                                                       70 x 6 x 750ml

Chamonix Chardonnay Auction Reserve 2011                                                                        50 x 6 x 750ml

De Grendel Amandelboord Sauvignon Blanc 2012                                                                44 x 6 x 750ml

De Grendel Op Die Berg Pinot Noir 2010                                                                                   26 x 6 x 750ml

De Trafford Perspective 2009                                                                                                        84 x 6 x 750ml

De Trafford Syrah 2009                                                                                                                     30 x 6 x 750ml

Edgebaston Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2010                                                                     70 x 3 x 1.5 L

Ernie Els CWG 2010                                                                                                                            70 x 6 x 750ml

Etienne Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Auction Reserve 2009                                            80 x 6 x 750ml

Graham Beck Non Plus Ultra Cap Classique 2008                                                                   40 x 6 x 750ml

Graham Beck The Catalyst Shiraz Viognier 2010                                                                     66 x 6 x 750ml

Grangehurst Cabernet Sauvignon Auction Reserve 2006                                                    38 x 6 x 750ml

Groot Constantia CWG Shiraz 2009                                                                                             40 x 6 x 750ml

Hartenberg Estate Auction Shiraz 2009                                                                                       58 x 6 x 750ml

Hartenberg Loam Hill Merlot 2009                                                                                                 56 x 6 x 750ml

Haskell The Expatriate 2010                                                                                                             70 x 6 x 750ml

Haskell Paradigm 2008                                                                                                                     40 x 6 x 750ml

John Loubser Garibaldi Nebbiolo 2009                                                                                      42 x 6 x 750ml

Jordan Chardonnay Auction Reserve 2011                                                                              90 x 6 x 750ml

Jordan Sophia 2009                                                                                                                          90 x 6 x 750ml

Kaapzicht Cape Blend 2009                                                                                                           60 x 6 x 750ml

Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2007                                                                                                  40 x 6 x 750ml

Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2009                                                                                                  66 x 6 x 750ml

Kanonkop CWG Pinotage 2010                                                                                                    66 x 6 x 750ml

Kleine Zalze Granite Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2009                                                    20 x 6 x 750ml

Louis Laika 2010                                                                                                                                 40 x 6 x 750ml

Luddite "Oscar" Shiraz Mourvédre 2009                                                                                      80 x 6 x 750ml

Luddite "The Reserve" Shiraz 2008                                                                                                 30 x 6 x 750ml

Neil Ellis Auction Reserve 2007                                                                                                       24 x 6 x 750ml

Overgaauw DC Classic 2009                                                                                                         40 x 6 x 750ml

Paul Cluver Pinot Noir 2010                                                                                                             24 x 6 x 750ml

Paul Cluver The Wagon Trail Chardonnay 2010                                                                        50 x 6 x 750ml

Rijk's CWG Chenin Blanc 2011                                                                                                        50 x 6 x 750ml

Rijk's CWG Pinotage 2010                                                                                                                50 x 6 x 750ml

Rust en Vrede Cabernet Sauvignon 2009                                                                                  50 x 6 x 750ml

Saronsberg CWG Semillon 2008                                                                                                    26 x 6 x 750ml

Simonsig Cuvée Chêne Blanc de Blancs MCC 2007                                                              44 x 6 x 750ml

Simonsig Estate Heirloom Shiraz 2010                                                                                          66 x 6 x 750ml

Spier Merlot 2009                                                                                                                               28 x 6 x 750ml

Spier Pinotage 2009                                                                                                                          28 x 6 x 750ml

Teddy Hall Eva (Krotoa) Muscat de Frontignan 2009 Noble Late Harvest                         30 x 6 x 375ml

Teddy Hall Hendrik Biebouw Auction Reserve Chenin Blanc 2011                                      50 x 6 x 750ml

Tokara Auction Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010                                                               60 x 6 x 750ml

Waterford Estate Auction Reserve BB 2009                                                                               30 x 6 x 750ml