Monday, February 28, 2022

Cape Vintner Classification Summer Soirée at Vergelegen

An invitation to the Cape Vintner Classification Summer Soirée at Vergelegen had us raring to go; the first proper, organised wine tasting with our peers to be held since the end of lock down. It was an opportunity to walk around the tables of the different wine farms and taste some of the best vintage wines from their cellars. Who could resist, especially when the wine farms involved included some of the very best in our industry: Almenkerk, Anthonij Rupert, De Morgenzon, De Wetshof, Diemersdal, Kanonkop, Morgenster, Vergelegen, Waterford and Wildekrans. It was held from 4 till 7 pm on a Friday evening, so we booked overnight accommodation in the area, so that we didn’t have to drive back to Cape Town afterwards

The welcome drink from Vergelegen was the superb 2018 Semillon;
full and layered and a perfect example of how beautiful Semillon can be when grown and made here
A hundred years ago, Semillon was the most planted white varietal in the country


"The Cape Vintner Classification is a platform to promote the best expression of site, credibility and consistency amongst South Africa’s best producers and their wines”, said Johann Krige, 2021 CVC Chairman on the CVC website. The purpose of the CVC is thus to lay a lasting foundation on which to create Cape wines that stand alongside the finest wines in the world

Billie Lambrechts, who invited us, had some very interesting aged specimens for tasting on her table

These included the Groot Constantia Gouverneur’s Reserve 2016 White, among some older wines at the entrance
Exceptional quality and flavours from this classic blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon

Almenkerk had their 2012 Sauvignon Blanc for tasting
If any wine can persuade people to try and buy older Sauvignons Blanc, it is this one
It was as fresh as a daisy, full of lively, zingy acidity and good fruit; quite remarkable and very enjoyable

We both wandered around the different tables, tasting but, obviously, we could not taste everything, so this is a short précis of the wines we tasted and liked. At a tasting like this you have to spend time tasting the wines with age and show them appreciation. There were many we missed due to lack of time, which we regret. It was also great to see our friends and cohorts in the wine industry after such a long hiatus

Almenkerk had a very good selection of their wines to taste
and there was such a good buzz in the room about them, so people were obviously impressed

Diemersdal has always produced excellent Sauvignons Blanc and to taste some older ones was very special. The M.M. Louw 2019 sauvignon Blanc has a floral perfume on the nose, and was rounded with flavour in layers, superb. The Journal 2019 is drier, very sophisticated and is fermented in French oak barrels, where the lees are stirred to give it a rich mouthfeel and a long finish of minerality, fruit and vanilla wood

The 2009 Diemersdal Pinotage was also impressive, a classic expression of the grape;
incense wood on the nose, lots of dark berry fruit in layers. This wine is built to last

There were tables outside and people also sat on the lawn, nicely spaced apart
We only sat down to eat our supper, there were so many interesting wines with age to taste



We tasted through some of the great older De Wetshof Chardonnays and were especially impressed with the Finesse Chardonnays; two vintages, 2015 and the current 2021. “Crisp, clean and dry, lingering and joyous”, wrote Lynne, "Now I need to eat". And we were not the only ones, people kept talking about it and kept coming to the stand to taste it, sent by their friends. It is great when you pick up a buzz about a particular wine at a tasting

Francois Rautenbach of Singita Lodges and Bennie Stipp, De Wetshof marketing manager

A prestigious wine couple: Platter Guide Editor Philip van Zyl and Cathy van Zyl MW



Everyone was given one of these boxes, containing charcuterie, chicken liver pâté, cheeses, grapes, mixed olives, an apple confit, good butter and a roll. An excellent way to complement a marvellous tasting and assuage any hunger pangs

The event was held on the terrace of the Camphors Restaurant
which is able to accommodate a large group without overcrowding

We loved the De Morgenzon Chenin 2019, another classic made by former winemaker Carl van de Merwe. Lovely floral notes, then ripe stone fruit, and a hint of honey, which follows through on the full and delicious palate perfectly balanced between ripeness, good fruit acidity and, just supporting, golden vanilla oak

Caroline van Schalkwyk, principal of CvS Communications
and Chef Michael Bridgeman of Stables Restaurant at Vergelegen

Waterford winemaker Mark le Roux and English sommelier James O'Leary, who is doing an internship at De Morgenzon
He was very impressed with the wines he tasted and hopefully it will influence his buying when he returns to the UK!

The highlight of the evening was the chance to taste the 2004 The Jem from Waterford. It is their flagship blend, named after the owner of Waterford Estate, Jeremy Ord, or “Jem”, as he is affectionately known. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Shiraz, Mourvedre and Barbera and was superb with an integrated nose of classic dark berry fruit and good French oak; on the palate, full of chocolate and cherries with a kick of pepper and spice. We sold this wine in Main Ingredient from the end of 2007. The 2014 was also impressive and is definitely going to catch up as it ages, although it seems more Italian in style at present, than does the classic 2004. Sangiovese has been added to the blend

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Posted by MENU at 3:15 pm

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