Wednesday, February 07, 2018

Franschhoek Summer Wines at Leopard's Leap

We have Time for Franschhoek Summer Wines
We do love attending this annual festival in Franschhoek. It is well organised, well attended, friendly and the wines are always impressive. This year many were more than that. Yes it is hot, it’s the height of summer, but they do put up marquees and lots of umbrellas
It is held on the lawn at Leopards Leap Vineyards where there is plenty of parking. Tickets were a very reasonable R220 pp this year. We were invited to come along and write about it
There was little traffic on Saturday morning, despite the N1 being closed overnight and opened again at 9 am. We arrived for the opening at 12 noon and there was a very short and quick queue as many people had pre-bought their tickets on line. The dress code was white, but some of us rebelled as you can't often wear white a second time and we are trying not to use water in the drought
Holden Manz owner Gerard Holden was on their stand showing their new Chenin Blanc made by their French winemaker, Thierry Harberer
Rickety Bridge winemaker Wynand Grobler, 
who was showcasing his refined 2017 Chenin Blanc which is perfumed, clean and has good depth of flavour 
On the next stand was Topiary with their impressive flagship Chardonnay, a wine of quality. And also close by and impressive was the Mont Rochelle leesy Sauvignon Blanc, rather French in style, and unusually good for a Franschhoek Sauvignon, carefully crafted
Leopard’s Leap had an approachable sparkling NV Chardonnay Pinot Noir, just right for the heat; it reminded us of a Spanish Cava
The Leopards Leap staff, coping well, the stand was busy with this popular wine
La Motte winemaker Michael Langenhoven showed us the La Motte 2017 Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc, made from Elim grapes, which has classic grassy green capsicum nose and palate
A customer enjoying the Lynx Blanc de Noir with Lynx owner/cellarmaster Dieter Sellmeyer, as did we. A lovely pale rosé wine, so good for hot summer days, we took two cases of this home with us; it was at a very special price
A happy conversation and some rehydration time. The profits on the bottled water go to support local schools. Of special mention were two Semillons which do grow so well in the Franschhoek valley: Haut Espoir 2016 is dry and elegant, well made, with a the classic touch of mutton fat, a hint of salt, a quality food wine. The 2015 Semillon from Boekenhoutskloof was simply delicious, elegant and just what we would expect a good Semillon to be..
 La Petite Ferme's Baboon Rock Chardonnay made from Robertson grapes. The baboons ate all their Franschhoek grapes. It has a rounded full palate finishing with minerality and limes. A food wine with lovely long flavours
Anthonij Rupert group winemaker Dawie Botha pours a glass of L'Ormarins Brut Rosé 
Kathy van Niekerk and Marguerite Nel of Boschendal looking cool in the heat
Colmant's classic Pinot Noir Rosé has just a soupçon of Chardonnay and really lets the Pinot fruit shine. Full of strawberries, elegant and dry. Perfection. JP Colmant's daughters were pouring it 
 and cooling each other with ice cubes
Brett Garner and Irene Waller, who was showing her La Bri Chardonnay. It has a beautiful nose and is full of everything you expect and want in a good Chardonnay. It is wooded, but only light smoke and butterscotch hint at it. Another good Chardonnay was that from Bellingham on the next stand. French notes, 2nd fill wood just supporting and very collectable
Dawie Botha and Irene Waller
Temperature control with a slushy cooler
Dawie Botha and Maryna Calow of WOSA
Maryna and her daughters having fun
Under the marquee, people were so enjoying the day
Group selfie time. Hope it was in focus!
Feeling the music the DJ was playing

Just beautiful

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