Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Franschhoek Visit - Lunch and tasting with the von Arnims at Haute Cabrière

Our final stop on our Franschhoek four day extravaganza was a visit to Haute Cabrière. We have known the family for many, many years and were so looking forward to seeing them after quite a while, doing a tasting with Cellarmaster Takuan von Arnim and having lunch with Achim and Hildegard von Arnim. The rain was over, the valley was looking beautiful. They do have some of the very best views of Franschhoek

The restaurant now has a new venue outside, so the space inside is now the tasting venue

It is built into the hill and is cavernous

New furnishings have made it into a modern, comfortable place to chill
while enjoying the great Haute Cabrière Cap Classiques and wines

A wall of Haute Cabrière history

Good space allows for lots of people seated safely well apart

Takuan took us down to see the new function and conference spaces

Useful for indoor events

The barrel cellar is spectacular

Another smaller venue room

A brief hello and an elbow virtual hug with winemaker Tim Hoek, who was very busy with harvest wine making

A rather impressive terracotta amphora

Achim von Arnim's paintings grace many of the walls

The subjects and bright colours do contribute to the ambience

Back upstairs to begin a tasting

We met Hildegard and Takuan in the restaurant first; it's a magnificent glass box with an open seating area on the side

We began tasting with two Haute Cabrière Chardonnays; the 2017 made the conventional way, but with 20% from the amphora. The 2018 was all made in the amphora. It was very interesting to taste them together to see the difference the two wine making methods had made to the wine. The grapes are from one block planted in 1983. Golden fruit on the nose, very pretty indeed and a good whiff of oak. Crisp, full, with good golden fruit and some citrus, the wine had lots of wood structure, so it will last and mature; a 10 year wine. A food wine that gets better in the glass. It was difficult to detect the difference the 20% amphora wine made to the 2017. Lynne enjoyed it so much that she took her glass to lunch with her, augmented by Takuan

The Amphora 2018 Chardonnay is yeasty, and has notes of Brie and yellow fruit on the nose
It spent 10 months in the amphora. Soft and silky texture on the palate with gentle lime and citrus flavours. To drink now

The back label

Takuan pouring us our tasting samples

Next came a wine they are renowned for, their 2018 Pinot Noir. The grapes are planted very densely, as they are in Burgundy. And indeed, on the nose, it does identify as a good Burgundy Pinot Noir. Red berry fruit, perfume; good, gentle, but present, oak and lots of class. On the silky soft palate, beautiful red fruit, freshness, a zing of acidity so necessary, good wood supporting and soft chalky tannins; very impressive. As expected!

The Cellar Door price list

Time for lunch

A rather Mondrian or Rothko art piece livens up the space
The tables are small and well spaced, the chairs are comfortable. We wish they were in all restaurants

A glass of Pierre Jourdan Brut Cap Classique always sparkles up an occasion with friends

A simple menu gives lots of choice. If you want variety, order a selection of Tapas
If you want a large plate of a favourite, go for the Plat du Jour, and you can still have Tapas as a starter

Good to see Achim looking so spry, fit and feisty. Lynne and Hildegard always have lots to chat about
Achim and John were at school together and there was a lot of talk about that



Choose which you prefer, said Achim

A bottle of Pinot Noir Reserve with lunch was much enjoyed

Hildegard and Lynne ordered the Sweetcorn and Spring onion risotto and added the pan-fried prawns, a delicious dish; the rice cooked perfectly, with still a little 'bite', lots of flavour in the creamy sauce and the prawn on top
A huge portion, very filling

John had the Sirloin steak with a Béarnaise sauce,
very crispy Pommes Anna and fine green beans, which he really enjoyed. Achim had the lamb rib

As we left, we saw the Franschhoek Tram arrive; it does a great job, bringing people to the wineries
It was a really lovely day,  catching up with Hildegard, Achim and Takuan and eating and drinking so well
An epic end to a lovely Franschhoek stay
Thank you von Arnims, very, very much


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