Wednesday, August 09, 2023

Vintage Day at Simonsig

A wet and chilly day in the winelands saw us arrive at Simonsig for their VIP Vintage Day
An opportunity to taste the best from their Vinoteque under a stormy sky with resting vines

Into the tasting room

Three generations of the Simonsig Malans
Johan Malan, the Director of Winemaking, his son Michael who makes the red wines 
and, behind them, the portrait of Johan's father, Patriarch and estate founder Frans Malan
In the photograph to the right, recently retired viticulturist, Johan's brother Francois

They have such helpful, smiling and efficient staff
and, of course, we began with some of their rich and layered Cuvée Royale 2007 and 2011
Their Kaapse Vonkel was the first South African sparkling wine made with a second fermentation in the bottle
the style known in Champagne as Méthode Champenoise and in South Africa as Cap Classique

Tasted two excellent Chenin Blancs. The 2016, fruity. tropical and leesy, a classic Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc
The 2017 still had some crispness with passion fruit and tropical notes and also some lees character
The Roussanne was so enjoyable, orange and minerality on the nose, and orange, lime and salty minerality
on the complex, layered palate. This shouts for food
We love Johan Malan's Die Kluisenaar; it means The Hermit, a nod to the wine's Hermitage heritage
It carries the signature of The Grapesmith, which he certainly is. A blend of Roussanne & Marsanne, it works extremely well
Complex nose and flavours with blossom perfume, lime and cooked toffee apple with good minerality

Very good attendance, with the vintage wines arranged around the room
and it became busier as the afternoon turned to early evening

We believe that Pinotage needs 10 years and we were able to confirm that the two we tasted had matured very well

The 2009 Is fruity and elegant on the nose, showing little age, 
with good prime fruit and licorice wood, a great mouthful, enjoyable
The 2013 has chocolate notes on the nose and palate from the wood and is still juicy
with full good sweet and sour fruit and some cocoa nib character from the wood


Some canapés to keep us going
and there were copious quantities of fresh oysters served with accompaniments

Those meatballs were delicious with the Pinotage.

Another selection

Great music from this young man 

and fresh water distilled from the atmosphere rather than the dams. A good initiative in a dry country like ours

Lynne catching up with Luvo Ntezo,- Head Sommelier at One&Only Cape Town. It had been a long time since we last met

The Merindol Shiraz was very impressive and has aged so well
It was very popular, along with the Flagship Bordeaux blends
The 1999 Merindol has lovely fruit on the nose, Sweet black fruit on the palate with licorice wood and fresh black pepper
The 2001 has lovely fresh berry fruit with some spice on the end, so enjoyable
Our favourite was the 2002 which had all of the above with salty licorice drop, beautiful length and depth
and a finish of white pepper and incense wood

Old friends enjoying good old wines with Francois Malan

Good seating areas inside and outside for enjoying the wine properly

There were five vintage Cabernet Sauvignons

The Flagship Bordeaux Blend, Tiara, was at the most popular table in the room
The wines are so well made and have lasted so well. A very good investment
The 1999 had incense wood aroma from the good French oak used; dark berry fruit draws you in
On the palate cherry, cassis, red plum and blackberry delight with long deep flavours,
with soft tannins remaining on the lips. Excellent
The 2001 was a bit shy on the nose but the quality shows
Mulberry, cassis, pomegranate, it is still amazingly fresh
Good texture and, definitely, a wine to serve with red meats and game
The 2008 was a revelation. Fresh fruit and incense wood, excellent dark berry fruit showing maturity,
structure and chalky tannins, made to last much longer

Stellenbosch boasts that it produces the country's best Cabernets. These helped to uphold the claim

Those braving the damp and chilly weather enjoyed the wine on the terrace under the awning

It is a great place to sit and taste their good wines and Kaapse Vonkel bubblies

Vinoteque wines were on sale in this room with David Pietersen and Margaret la Grange in attendance

and current vintages were available from Dora Wenn
The Kaapse Vonkel magnums were autographed by Springbok rugby players from older vintages:
Corné Krige, John Smit and Breyten Paulse

Many fans at the Cabernet Sauvignon stand

A very old vineyard, still producing excellent grapes and wines

Freezing fog coming in as we left to head back home before it got dark
Thank you all at Simonsig for a wonderful tasting; it was an honour to be able to taste the older wines

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