Wednesday, March 01, 2023

Tasting at Rickety Bridge

Following the CPO Chamber Music concert, we headed to Rickety Bridge for a wine tasting before our lunch appointment
The famous Manor House guesthouse and the restaurant are in Cape Dutch style

It was a lovely warm sunny day with a cool breeze, so we opted to sit outside on the deck under the trees

A view across the vineyards of the Franschhoek mountains

The large and spacious tasting room

You can choose between several different tastings
We opted for the Paulina's Reserve tasting of five of their premium wines, which costs R110
We shared the tasting, as John watches his intake when driving and uses a spittoon

Three white wines: Paulina's Reserve 2021 Sauvignon Blanc has 10% Semillon added and you can taste it;
it elevates the wine to another level
English gooseberries on the nose with some stone fruit and the Semillon is present too
Full on the palate, then the crisp Sauvignon Blanc appears with greengage plum, gooseberry and tart fruit
Good mouthfeel, and spice appears as the wine opens up

Paulina's Reserve 2020 Chenin Blanc has apple blossom and apple perfume on the nose
Guava and golden plum, cooked apple on the palate with good crisp fruit on the end
The wine is wooded and the wood holds the fruit together

Paulina's Reserve 2021 Semillon has golden fruit on the nose, and reminded us of an Alvarinho,
as it shows warm climate grape flavours
Full on the palate, with good rich mouthfeel;
wood is present with lime, lemon, guava and nectarine. Long flavours, chalky tannins, good acidity in balance

Hmm, there was lots of that in the time of Covid!

We were given a treat, as we were able to taste two vintages of the Paulina's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2020 spends 18 months on the lees. Classic cassis profile on the nose, cassis and cherry fruit on the palate,
mouth puckering chalky tannins and really crisp rhubarb and mulberry fruit with a hint of wood. Needs time

The 2010 Paulina's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is quite opaque. It spent 24 months on the lees
Classic savoury Cabernet nose, cassis leaves and berries, incense wood
Still has tight chalky tannins, this wine was built to last and it still has years to go
Chocolate, plums, cassis, salty minerality and good wood. Such a well made wine. One for your cellar

 Paulina's Reserve 2022 Cinsault was so enjoyable
Pale as expected, Raspberry and red cherry aromas with good incense wood
Good dark blackberry, dark plum and blueberry fruit flavours, a lovely mouthfeel with chalky tannins,
some salty drop licorice on the end from the wood

The two Cabernets. The deeper coloured 2010 on the left
Go and taste for yourself, they have a good selection to taste

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