.: 06/27/19

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On the MENU this week. Smoked Haddock and Sweet Corn Chowder

We know that we don’t eat enough fish. We love it but, where we live, our only local source is supermarkets, where the fresh fish looks days old and is very unappealing. Ridiculous, one thinks, in a city by the sea. Or from frozen food cabinets and we do tend to pass them by, except for frozen vegetables like peas. The ‘haddock’ (actually smoked hake in South Africa) came from one of those. And now there is a shadow over our fresh fish. Lynne used fresh corn which she took off the cob for this recipe and it does have a different fresh flavour. This is a relatively simple dish to make and it is very satisfying and filling

1 T butter - 2 rashers of streaky bacon, chopped into 2 cm pieces - 1 onion, finely chopped - 500ml milk - 2 medium potatoes cut into small cubes – a good grating of nutmeg - 300g Smoked haddock fillets - 140g fresh or frozen sweet corn - 1 teaspoon of lemon juice - salt and freshly ground black pepper - 1 T chopped parsley

Heat the butter in a large saucepan. Tip in the bacon, then cook until starting to brown. Add the onion, cook until soft, then pour over the milk and stir through the potatoes. Add a grating of nutmet. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 minutes

Add the haddock, then leave to cook gently for another few minutes until you can break it into large chunks. Stir through the sweet corn, then simmer until everything is cooked. Add a good grinding or two of black pepper. Taste and add salt if necessary. Scatter over parsley, if using. Serve with plenty of crusty bread and a good crisp white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc or a white blend of Sauvignon and Semillon

All content © John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus

The 2019 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show at the CTICC

Every year, after the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Competition, comes the Trophy Wine Show, which is held in Cape Town and Johannesburg and, at last, we had a chance to taste some of the Silver, Gold and, especially, the Trophy winners, and see why the Trophy wines won their classes

If you want to see this year’s results, Click on this link: https://www.trophywineshow.co.za/2019-results/

Of course it is not possible to taste all of the wines. We do try to get around to taste the Trophy wines and there were some really outstanding wines this year, as expected, as the bar has been pushed high. Mulderbosch won three trophies: The Harold Eedes Trophy for Best Chenin Blanc, Old Mutual International Judges’ Trophy and Old Mutual Trophy for Best White Wine Overall with Mulderbosch Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc Block A 2017. And wow, this wine is spectacular. Perfumed with integrated apple & citrus fruit, with lees character from its natural fermentation in old barriques, some salty minerality on the end

Keelyn Gibbons was at their stand to show the wines

Wade Roger-Lund, Young Winemaker of the Year 2017, and his colleague Dennis showed the Jordan Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2018, which won the Miele Trophy for Best Chardonnay. Already a 5 Star in Platter, this wooded Chardonnay charms and shows how judicious use of oak can enhance and enrich a good Chardonnay without ever overwhelming the good citrus fruit. Fermented 'sur lie' for 9 months

Jeremy Borg of Painted Wolf Wines with their three trophies: Old Mutual Trophy for Most Successful Producer Overall, for his many medals. But, almost more importantly, he won both the Trophy for Best Niche White Variety with Painted Wolf Roussanne 2018 and the Trophy for Best Niche Red Variety with his Painted Wolf Black Pack Mourvèdre 2017

Viticulturist Marco Ventrella and his colleagues were on the KWV stand with their two: Trophy for Best Museum Class Semillon, awarded to KWV The Mentors Semillon 2012 and the Trophy for Best Museum Class Fortified Wine, KWV Ruby Port 1949

They also won a Gold for KWV The Mentors Semillon 2015 (from Darling grapes). This was a classic Semillon, crisp with a dusty nose, beautiful on the palate. The Mentors Semillon 2012 was racy and full of life. Sadly the 1949 Port had all gone by the time we got to the table, but the vestige of wine left in the bottle smelled amazing

Nederburg won the Old Mutual Trophy for Best Dessert Wine (Unfortified), Nederburg The Winemasters Noble Late Harvest 2018

Having fun with Martelize Brink of the SABC’s Radio Sonder Grense on the Leopards Leap Table

They won the most fragile trophy, the Riedel Trophy for Best Bordeaux-Style Red Blend, Leopard's Leap Culinaria Collection Grand Vin 2017. The Trophy is a large Riedel wine glass which has the capacity for a whole bottle of wine. The Grand Vin 2017 is spicy and fruity, a beautiful wine with such depth and maturity that tastes as though it might have been from the 2007 vintage. Definitely the red wine of the night. And many in the room agreed. It is our Wine of the Week

Reino Kruger of Stellenview was awarded the American Express Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon

and the Old Mutual Trophy for Best Red Wine Overall for the Kruger Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

More fun on the Mulderbosch stand with their three trophies. Harold Eedes Trophy for Best Chenin Blanc, Old Mutual International Judges’ Trophy and Old Mutual Trophy for Best White Wine Overall, Mulderbosch Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc Block A 2017

Sean Griffiths having fun with Michelle Stewart and Caroline van Schalkwyk

Delaire Graff are very happy about their award, the Tony Mossop Trophy for Best Cape Port,

the Delaire Graff Cape Vintage 2017 which was shown by Maggie Marais

And D'Aria won the Trophy for Best Museum Class Sauvignon Blanc D'Aria The Songbird Sauvignon Blanc 2014. We learned something from this wine. We need to keep D'Aria Sauvignons Blanc for a few years in the cellar. Wow, this was impressive. We confess we do find their current vintages rather too fresh for us; now we have the solution

Ghost Corner deservedly won the Nestlé Pure Life Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2018. It is so good to see a Sauvignon Blanc of this depth and quality come to the fore. It is a classic green and herbal, quite intense, layered Sauvignon, with not a hint of any tropical flavours, and a benchmark for its terroir. The style we Sauvignonophiles absolutely love to drink and buy. Well done David Nieuwoudt. Perhaps this will start a trend back to how Sauvignon should be. And those who prefer more tropical flavours can start to drink more South African Chenin Blanc, which is also fantastic.

There were many other superb wines to taste but, sadly, they were beyond our capacity. The evening as always, was very social; we do enjoy meeting MENU readers. This is definitely one of the best wine shows of the year; there is quality and variety to taste and admire

MENU’s Wine of the Week, Leopard's Leap Culinaria Collection Grand Vin 2017

The Grand Vin 2077 is a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (46%), Merlot (36%), Malbec (12%) and Petit Verdot (6%). With aromas of black current and blackberry, spicy and fruity, a beautiful wine that fills the mouth with ripe succulent fruit. There is a background of soft oak and soft tannins. The wine has such depth and maturity that tastes like it might have been from the 2007 vintage. Definitely the red wine of the night. And many in the room agreed.

Price: R121.00 from the farm