Which wine farms to visit when you are in the Somerset West Helderberg area on a Saturday morning?
It had been rather a long time since we'd visited Waterkloof, so they were top of our list
There have been some changes; Covid has been tough and the excellent restaurant has closed
Its Chef, Gregory Czarnecki is currently judging the SA MasterChef television competition
The wind was howling, so we hurried in through the tasting room entrance
Very modern in design, you can look down into the wine cellar as you walk through. It is now filled with amphorae
Our hostess with the mostest was Kudzai, originally from Zimbabwe and very informed;
she is taking the Cape Wine Academy exams
Looking back at where the restaurant used to be. You can still do platters
We always want the best view, but were not tempted to sit outside with the South Easter blowing
It was a bit hazy, but you can look down on Somerset West, Strand, Gordon’s Bay and the coast beyond from on high
There was a horrible fire burning in Elgin and the smoke was coming over the mountain
Here you get a good view of the vineyards
We opted to share a tasting and we chose the 6 wines we wanted to taste from their Premium list
They charge for tastings as follows:
6 wines from the False Bay range for (R80)
Premium wine tasting: 6 wines from the Waterkloof, Circumstance, Seriously Cool and Circle of Life Ranges (R120)
We began with their Astraeus Cap Classique Blanc de Blanc which has been on the lees for 3½ years
The grapes come from Elgin. Bready on the nose, very crisp with a good mousse,
with flavours of litchi, lime, greengage and pear, it is elegant and nicely dry, just the way we like it. Lynne scored it 18/20
Normally R240 a bottle, you can buy unlabelled bottles at R175
Next came the Circumstance wooded Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Hints of green leaves and green fruit on the nose, with wood smoke, a classic Blanc Fumé;
more a Bordeaux, Grave, style than a Sancerre
Smooth and round on the palate, the hints of honey and lime, with evident toasted wood on the end
The flavours are well integrated, very different in style from most South African Sauvignons
John risked going outside for a minute to capture the coastal view
The Circumstance 2020 Viognier has a shyly aromatic and pretty nose
Round and unctuous on the palate, dry with peach flavours, wood is present but doesn’t overwhelm
Again, more in the French style
The Circumstance 2020 Chenin Blanc is powerful and well made
Chalky tannins grip at first then honey and buttercups
Golden fruit, over ripe apple and pear, then wood and more tannin and chalk on the end. Built to last
The Circumstance Cabernet Franc 2018 has a classic varietal nose, dark and deep, black cherry and a hint of the wood
Only 9% new oak, the rest in older barrels. It currently has tannins for Africa, grippy and chalky,
with savouriness and dark cherry, rhubarb fruit with long flavours
Another built to last, it needs cellaring and may reward with time
The Circumstance 2018 Petit Verdot spent 32 months in mostly old oak, only 11% new
On the nose it delights with perfume like Chanel No.5; roses and violets
Again built to last, so very young and tannic and chalky, but with long flavours and long glycerol tears on the glass
Put it down for 5 to 10 years. Impressive
The cellarmaster is Nadia Langenegger
If you do not wish to receive e-mails from us, please email menucape@gmail.com
Click here to follow our blogs
Follow us on Facebook
If you would like to purchase a signed print of one of our photographs, please click here
All content in this article is © John & Lynne Ford, MENU
No comments:
Post a Comment