.: Wine tasting at Yonder Hill, lunch at Cuccina di Giovanni, Eikendal

Tuesday, October 09, 2018

Wine tasting at Yonder Hill, lunch at Cuccina di Giovanni, Eikendal

We visited Yonder Hill in the Helderberg ward of Stellenbosch on Saturday with our wine club. The Cellarmaster here is Abé Beukes

They made room for our large party in their tasting room and we had a wonderful time tasting the wines. They had also laid on a lovely cheese platter for us and we were given gifts of their olive oil from the farm owner, Mr Naude, who has recently sold his Olyfberg farm, whiuch has always produced a great oil. A lovely warm welcome

We loved the 2018 Rosé made from Merlot and Grenache, juicy, elegant and dry, R75. The crisp Sauvignon blanc is a typical one from Stellenbosch; lots of tropical fruit with some crispness, R70. The Merlot 2013 is a big wine with lots of tannins for ageability, R200. Warm and complex on the palate, layered, with some green cassis leaves on the end. The 2014 is lighter, less grippy with some chalk on the end. The Inanda blend 2014 is soft and sweet on entry, dark liquorice, burnt caramel wood in the middle, toast on the end, R130. The 2015 is light and sweet with green leaves and berry fruit. The Nicola 2015 is the star of the show: Rich on the nose, lovely sweet ripe fruit, layered, dark berries, licorice, salt, dark toast on the end. Scored 18/20, R400. And the 2016 is a very close second, with violets and vanilla on the nose, again sweet berry fruit, long flavours, some gentle chalky tannins

Some beautiful pincushion proteas in the garden

We needed lunch, so a booking had been made at nearby Eikendal

Giovanni’s Restaurant

Lots of tables, many people, long waits and lovely sunshine

Often

Inside the restaurant

Inside the Eikendal tasting room

A family favourite

We had a very long table

And an extra guest below, at his Mum's feet

Some enjoyed a bottle of the Rosé. It did take nearly an hour and a half for our food to arrive, but they were very, very busy. We had a helpful waiter. We got it just in time, as we had to rush of home to meet friends who were coming to stay for the night after we had all attended the Veritas Awards dinner