After The
Eedes Cabernet event, we were off that evening to Paarl to the awards dinner for
the top Muscadels. It was held at Noop restaurant which we must admit to having
passed by for a few years and this was our first visit. We were suitably
impressed with the food and the company was a lovely selection of people in the
industry who make good Muscadels. There were five awards and we got to taste
all of these wines, including a very exciting KWV 1968 Muscadel. And this wine
and another featured again at the Old Mutual Trophy awards this week
Noop
Restaurant is on Paarl Main Street, still the longest main street in the world
Their specials of the day menu
We meet everyone involved
And sip wicked muscadel cocktails with
other media, Anel Grobler and Jan Laubscher of Spit or Swallow
Two sauvignons from Rooiberg and Badsberg were served at dinner
The red wines served
Master of Ceremonies, Lolly Louwrens, made a short introductory address
Steven Baard from Enartis SA, was the sponsor for the evening
The interesting menu
The starter was something South
Africans hardly ever see – Abalone - as most of these are poached and sold in
Asia. They used to be very prolific around our coast., now they are scarce and
very expensive. This morsel was crisp and tender and nicely flavoured with
lemon on a spoonful of risotto
We really really liked and enjoyed
this cauliflower and Gorgonzola soup and hope to attempt our own soon. Great
depth of flavour
We had the presentation of the awards between starter and main course
Master of Ceremonies, Lolly Louwrens, announcing the 6 awards
Badsberg Cellar was crowned king of the Muscadel kingdom at
the 12th annual 2014 Muskadel SA awards function, sponsored by Enartis SA and
hosted on 22nd May at Noop Restaurant in Paarl. Out of 25 entries, the 2013
Badsberg Red Muscadel won the only platinum award. Here Henri Swiegers, Chairperson of Muskadel SA, presents the award
to Willie Burger, cellar master at Badsberg Wine Cellar.
KWV won gold with a very
special entry - a 1968 White Muscadel Jerepigo. This aged
wine was quite extraordinary in its power and intensity. With a huge balsamic
nose, this wine lasts and lasts in the glass and on the palate. There are spicy hints
of turmeric, rich prune tart and a toasty end. This wine also took the Trophy
for the Best Museum Class Fortified Fine at the Old Mutual Trophy Awards this
week. Here, winemaker Anneke du Plessis accepts the award
Orange River Cellars built on their
2013 Muskadel SA success by winning gold medal for their 2013 White Muscadel.
They also won the Old Mutual Trophy trophy this week for the Best Fortified Red
Muscadel. Other winners from the Breede River Valley are Nuy Cellar with two
gold awards for their 2013 Rooi and 2013 Wit Muskadel, while Bon Courage
won gold for their 2013 Red Muscadel.
Delightful Honey and Soy basted pork belly with an unusual curry flavour cashew nut cream and a tempura litchi. Very unusual treatment for this fruit, but most of us like it a lot
There were two main Courses – this was the second one. Deboned lamb neck with a rich jus mash and a muscadel jus
And dessert was a huge but classic Muscadel Malva pudding with crème anglaise and ice cream
After dinner we all had a chance to taste the winning Muscadels
The line up
The winners pose for a group shot
Back l to r: Henri Swiegers (Muskadel SA chairperson), Steven Baard (Sales Manager at Enartis SA)
Front: Willie Burger (Badsberg), Steven Smuts (Bon Courage), Stefan Steenkamp (Orange River Cellars), Anneke du Plessis (KWV), Christo Pienaar (Nuy), Charl Myburgh (Nuy)
Back l to r: Henri Swiegers (Muskadel SA chairperson), Steven Baard (Sales Manager at Enartis SA)
Front: Willie Burger (Badsberg), Steven Smuts (Bon Courage), Stefan Steenkamp (Orange River Cellars), Anneke du Plessis (KWV), Christo Pienaar (Nuy), Charl Myburgh (Nuy)
Lynne and Linley Schultz, Managing director of from Alvi’s Drift, taste
through the prizewinning wines
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