Thursday, August 14, 2014

Vinimark Trade Show at the Crystal Towers and supper at Knife Restaurant

These trade tastings are always well attended, in fact so well so this time, that at about 5.30 Lynne suggested that one of the wine makers should stand on a chair and say loudly “OK, all Sommeliers back to work please” . (Of course he didn’t).  It was Monday and not many of them were working that night.  It was rather crowded and there were lots of lots of good wines from great producers to taste. There were four wines which stood out for us amongst a very, very good selection.  Shannon’s newly released Sauvignon Blanc is sensational. So much fruit, so many layers, so much elegance and potential.  Constantia Glen’s 3 a blend of has always impressed us, it did so again, in spades.  Very full on soft luscious red fruits with such well balance wood and acids and soft tannins with all that fruit. Reyneke’s 2013 Reserve White Sauvignon Blanc Fumé is very fumé at the moment but that will soften.  It is very giving with limes and lemons and is another food wine. Edgbastons Chardonnay is a real pearl. Lovely minerality, and rich golden fruit held together but not smothered by butterscotch wood
Stephan from the House of Krone shows Shawn Benjamin and Lynne their Chardonnay Pinot Noir
 Ginette de Fleuriot CWM pours a glass of vintage Ayala Champagne
 Bertus Fourie shows his Barista coffee Pinotage
 Jean Smit and Marc Kent of Boekenhoutskloof with their 2004 Semillon
 Gus Allen and Justin van Wyk of Constantia Glen showing their excellent 2014 Sauvignon blanc
 Carolyn Martin and her Creation team
 Katharine Harris of Delaire Graff with Allan Mullins


 A very busy scene
 David Brice of The Wine Cellar with Simon Barlow of Rustenberg
 Jessica Garlick, Reyneke winemaker, with Johan Reyneke
David van Velden pours a taste of Overgaauw Tria Cordia for Rian du Plessis of Pick 'n Pay's Waterfront wine shop
 Hattingh de Villiers and Rijk Melck of Muratie
 Winemaker Luke O'Cuinnegan shows Glenelly's Grand Vin red blend
 Werner Els and Paul de Wet of Zandvliet in Ashton
 After the tasting we went next door to Knife for supper
 Birthday girl and boy - Lynne with sommelier Xolani Mancotywa
 and the wine flowed
 Barend Barnard of L'Avenir

The special of the evening was steak, ribs and fries with a sauce
John just wanted the steak
Lynne ordered the ribs and a salad and was more than mildly surprised at the mini serving. Usually in rib restaurants you get too much to handle. This was just five small pieces.  Not sure why she was served the small bar serving. This was supper.
The bill for three
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2014

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