.: Keet and van Biljon wines with lunch at Aubergine

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Keet and van Biljon wines with lunch at Aubergine

To say we are big fans of Christopher Keet and his wines is an understatement. We first met Chris in the mid 90s, when we both were beginning to get involved in the wine industry – he lectured in our Wine Academy Diploma course - and we have loved his wines ever since. His intelligent and precise winemaking produces classic wines. They are brought out from our cellar on high days and holidays to be enjoyed and his 1997 Crescendo is still drinking beautifully. We were distressed when Cordoba closed and he had to go out on his own, so we were excited to buy some of his First Verse 2009 when he released it. Last Friday, we attended the launch of his 2010 First Verse, an extremely elegant red blend of Cab Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and a soupçon of Malbec, together with the launch of another wine, Van Biljon Cinq 2011, which he has made for Anton and Julia van Biljon - a powerful, classic Bordeaux blend. They are very different, but both excellent. Both need time. Then we had the pleasure of a lovely Aubergine lunch, prepared by chef patron Harald Bresselschmidt.

Both wines were decanted beforehand, as they need time to open up. Lynne’s notes on the First Verse 2010 read “Intense cooked red fruit, very French style, forest floor, mulberries, cherries, cassis and umami. Great fruit, tannin, wood balance made to last. Silky mouthfeel. A great mouthful of elegant fruit. So concentrated one sip is ‘almost’ enough. Needs decanting and long cellaring. Will last 10 to 20 years. It's a blend of 32% Cab Franc, 27% Merlot, 23% Cab Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec, sourced from some of the finest vineyards in Stellenbosch. R350 and 1000 x 6 bottles.

On the van Biljon Cinq 2011, she wrote: Unusual nose of fresh warm linen and sesame with wine deep below, then cassis leaves and berries, good wood, mushrooms and some spice. Sweet fruit on palate, lots of smoky wood, some coriander seed, spice and black currants leave long flavours ending in dark liquorice and chocolate. Not ready, but will be in 10 years. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Cab Franc and 15% Malbec, all grown on the farm.

The guests enjoyed a welcoming glass of bubbly

To prepare our palates: Miso soup with a fried prawn

Cured Ostrich with mango chutney

Chris Keet chatting to Winifred Bowman CWM

Winnie and Chris

Keet First Verse 2010 and van Biljon Cinq 2011

Khuselo Mputa, sommelier at Aubergine, pours for Martin Drotsky, Cape Grace restaurant manager, and food writers Nelia Vivier and Greg Landman

A room full of happy people

Anton van Biljon tells us his part of the story

Léanne and Christopher Keet

Chris tells us about his wines

Two wonderful young wines, with potential to develop over a long time

Julia van Biljon is a swimsuit designer

Good conversation always flows with a superior glassful

The menu

Chef patron Harald Bresselschmidt in his kitchen

Springbok Carpaccio, seared in a white pepper crust with cherry guavas, plated and ready to serve

and on the table, paired with the van Biljon Cinq 2011

Lamb Rack and Involtini of Lamb & Aubergine with chickpea purée and pomegranate, paired with Keet First Verse 2010

Savoury Tarte of Three Hard Cheeses with pumpernickel crème anglaise - an amazingly good match with both wines

A sublime coincidence: we had met Veronique Drouhin-Boss the previous day. She was a judge at the Old Mutual Trophy competition. We spoke over lunch at the Grande Roche about this event and about Chris Keet, and wished that she could have been able to join us. David Brice, of The Wine Cellar, brought her to Aubergine for lunch and she was able to taste the wines.