Thursday, March 16, 2023

A new tasting Pavilion at Grangehurst

If you love wine, and you invest in it, you must wonder how the good wines you buy will mature
Few people have a wine cellar which enables them to keep a collection of wines in a good environment
and enjoy them when they have been well-aged
An opportunity to taste them elsewhere is a rare treat. It is possible, at a premium;
when you buy a good bottle in a restaurant or vinoteque; you will usually pay well for that privilege

If you want to taste or even enjoy a glass or two of well-matured wines with a view to buying them,
you need to head for Grangehurst, just off the R44 between Stellenbosch and Somerset West,
and visit their new Pavilion tasting room on the farm, where you can taste superb red wines from the 2009 vintage
Owner/winemaker Jeremy Walker only releases his wines when he judges that they have reached maturity
 The views from the tasting centre are lovely, looking across at Table Mountain

It is a great experience and the tasting fees are reasonable

The tasting room is modern, clean and so relaxing; a great place for sipping wonderful wine and gazing at the countryside

It was a hazy early autumn day and we could see across many vineyards and olive groves
On a clear day you can see the city and the Table Mountain range

Happy, smiling Jeremy Walker who joined us for the tasting
We are old friends; we always stocked his wines in our shop, Main Ingredient, where they sold well

 The Grangehurst wines are also available in several overseas countries,
which our many overseas readers may appreciate
https://grangehurst.co.za/sales-distribution/

This is their price list with the current releases

We began the tasting with the 2018 Rosé which, as Jeremy puts it, is a rosé for red wine drinkers
It is a blend of Cabernet and Pinotage in almost equal amounts plus 14% Chenin blanc
Perfumed, with the Pinotage parent showing on the nose with raspberry and mulberry;
juicy on the palate and full of fruit, it calls for food

The aptly named 2014 Daylea Red, a blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Pinotage, Shiraz and Petit Verdot, is a bargain at R125
Rich, with red cherries and berries. Dark wood, crisp and juicy, good tannins,
some spice notes on the end and a hit of black pepper. So easy to keep sipping

A Pinotage that has been aged for as long as this 2011 is always going to be good;
this varietal appreciates age, as do we
Quality incense French wood, the wine is aged for 2 to 3 years in barrel
Red and black berries on the attractive nose. Gorgeous on the plate, this is what Pinotage should taste like;
red and black cherries in layers of richness, then mulberry and cassis. Long flavours. R250

Nikela 2008, R300. A Grangehurst blend of Pinotage, Cabernet and Merlot with a dash of Mourvedre
You know from the first nose that this is a fine wine; perfume of roses, dark cherry and mulberry repeats on the palate,
full of fruit, warmth and lovely soft chalky tannins with a savoury ending
We love drinking this on special occasions like Christmas dinner, but it enhances any meal
The wines were served with some good olives and rosemary biscuits

Grangehurst 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, R280. So special, so integrated, perfume, wood and fruit all in harmony
It dances on the tongue with warmth, lovely fruit, good French oak on the end, a classic Cabernet

The Grangehurst 2009, R510, a blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot
Cassis, violets and cherries on the nose. Richness, roundness, velvety on the palate, a classic Bordeaux blend
It is an amazing wine, so seldom do we get to taste aged wine this good
Cassis leaves and berries, cherry, mulberry, dark wood, great expression, long flavours

Sadly, Jeremy tells us he will not be making wine this year; his cellar is full
his cooling plant has been damaged by constant blackouts 
He does not have solar power and Eskom load shedding has made it impossible;

Grangehurst has good accommodation on the farm. https://grangehurst.co.za/accommodation/

This Cassia plant which can become a large tree, also known as popcorn plant (Senna didymobotrya),
was full of buzzing bees who all disappeared when they saw the camera

The mist was beginning to lift and we could make out the familiar sight of the Southern Titan, Adamastor,
taking a rest in the Table Mountain range


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