While we were staying at Angala Boutique Hotel, we were given a voucher for a free tasting for two at their neighbouring wine farm, Vrede and Lust (which you drive through to reach Angala). We have been meaning to re-visit the estate and taste their wines for a long time and have received invitations from co-owners Etienne and Dana Buys. So this seemed like a great thing to do on Sunday morning after breakfast, before we drove home
We had a very thorough tasting of the wines; some of the tastings were comparative - two Chenins and two Shirazes. We enjoyed many of them, and loved several, so it was quite an expensive exercise. We came home with three cases: the Barrique 2017, a classic barrel aged blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, the 2019 Malbec, the 2017 Côte de Savoye, a Rhône style blend of Syrah, Grenache and Viognier, and a box of three - one bottle each of the Artisanal 2016 Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Casey's Ridge Syrah, grown on their farm Casey's Ridge in the southwestern part of Elgin, and one bottle of their top wine, the 2015 Boet Erasmus, another oh, so elegant classic; a new world Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Boet Erasmus was co-owners Dana & Etienne Buys’ maternal grandfather
Vrede and Lust was one of the first wine farms to invest in solar electricity generation
It is part of their commitment to being environmentally conscious and active
They have installed huge swathes of solar panels here on the main building and also in the vineyards
We went to the tasting room, which has a terrace, so we decided to sit outside to taste
The view of the Simonsberg mountains and the valley is quite magnificent
They also have the Lust Bistro & Bakery in this separate building at the entrance
On a farm which uses solar generated electricity, a totally green recharge for drivers of electric BMWs
The vines are looking really healthy
Good growth and small green berries on the Shiraz. Veraison will take place in December
Elzanné was our very helpful and well informed wine ambassador
The Barrique is our Wine of the Week this week. A superb food wine
The Boet Erasmus has incense wood and posies of violets on the nose, so pretty. Then ripe cassis berries shine through
Pure cassis fruit-driven at first, then the other varietals show their characteristics
What a lovely wine, with character and depth; so easy to drink and enjoy, a classic expression of the blend
You can take the Franschhoek Tram to the farm and we really recommend that you indulge in a tasting of their wines,
which are not listed in the Platter guide
All content © John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus
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