This
was held at La Mouette restaurant in Sea Point on Friday. Media and wine trade
people had a lovely day inside at long tables warmed by the fireplace tasting
through the wines and eating a delicious 5 course meal paired with them.
A warm welcome in the bar with a glass
of the 2015 Cape Crane Chenin Blanc served with La Mouette’s signature truffle
croquettes and a roasted garlic aioli. L to R Neil Proudfoot of Wine Concepts,
Broadcaster Guy McDonald, Luvo Ntezo, Sommelier at The One and Only Hotel,
Blogger Julian Richfield and Lynne
Two warm rooms set up for lunch and
the tasting
The wines to be served
The Doolhof presence
Broadcaster Guy McDonald, Johané Nielson from Tuis/Home magazine and Cathy
Marsden of WSET
Taking our seats
General Manager Johan Fourie tells
us what is happening on Doolhof and about the 10 new wines they are about to
release, which represent the three tiers of Doolhof’s wine portfolio, The
Signature range, The Doolhof Legends of the Labyrinth range, as well as the
Cape Series range
New winemaker Gielie Beukes, who is,
to quote from the press pack "an exceptional winemaker with local and
international winemaking experience, (who) says the wines speak of nature and
man working respectfully together in harmony." He has been in the wine
industry for 13 years and has worked in Paarl, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch , the
Overberg and also spent several years overseas, most notably in Bordeaux
The menu
The first course (of 5) before....
...the soup is added. Celeriac soup,
soft baked celeriac, apple slivers, and king mushrooms with a truffle dressing.
Absolutely perfect, a creamy velouté with lovely added accents and the perfect
match for the 2015 Sauvignon Blanc. We found it fought a bit with the crisp
2015 Chardonnay
The second course from wizard chef
Henry Vigar: House cured duck ham and duck liver parfait served with a rhubarb,
pistachio and port syrup. The dish was topped with long pieces of melba toast. It
was very rich and satisfying and delightful with both the fruity 2012
Signatures Malbec and the savoury 2012 Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc
The 3rd course was a smoky mash, on
top of a small portion of rich concentrated beef shin marmalade with charred
onion slices. It was like the deepest savoury stew you have ever eaten, very
comforting food. It was served with a beef consommé poured on the dish at the
table. This came with the Signatures 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, soft and sweet on
the nose, more grippy tannins on the cassis palate; and the elegant Lady in Red
2009 Bordeaux blend full of violets, cassis, chocolate and mulberries with lots
of dark wood on the end
Making notes as Johan talks about the
wine pairing
The other table enjoying their lunch
and wine
Swirling glasses, reading the notes,
tasting and making notes too
Tasting portions of two wines - we only
taste, we do not get through a lot of wine at these lunches, as many have to
drive afterwards
The 4th course, the main one was
Crispy lamb shoulder and some perfectly cooked fillet. Lynne thought it was a
portion too large to contemplate but is disappeared. It was served with some
pickled turnips, blackened wild garlic, buffalo fromage blanc, a watercress
puree and some puffed barley which added a nice crunch of texture. The paired
wines were the 2011 Legend of the Labyrinth Theseus - amaretto cherries on the
nose, rhubarb fruit with dark wood on the palate. And the 2013 Single Vineyard
Pinotage. Herbaceous and meaty on the nose made it a great match with the lamb
Journalists Graham Howe and Maryna
Strachan in deep discussion
5th and last course was almost the
bridge too far: Warm oozy sticky chocolate brownies with smoked caramel, rich
coffee cream, a hazelnut ice cream and amaretto jelly. Paired with the Legend
of the 2013 Labyrinth Dark Lady, a coffee chocolate Pinotage, with sweet fruit
and a long aftertaste
Johan and Gielie with Pearl Oliver, Sommelier at the Mount Nelson Hotel
The tasting organising team: Winemaker
Gielie Beukes, PRO Nicolette Waterford, Tasting room manager Susan Smit &
General Manager Johan Fourie
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