.: John Collins trade wine tasting at Auslese

John Collins Boutique Wine Collection had its trade tasting at Auslese,
the events venue of Aubergine, chef Harald Bresselschmidt's restaurant in Gardens

John Collins and Jordan marketing manager Thea van der Merwe

Renowned chef Harald Bresselschmidt had made canapés to match the wines on each table

Deep fried chicken bites

Diemersfontein cellarmaster Francois Roode was there to show their extensive range of wines

The Carpe Diem Reserve Malbec is soft, fruity, hot and spicy with lovely savouriness on the end

The Carpe Diem Pinotage is a rich mouthful of dark spicy fruit with chalky tannins

and it should improve further with long cellaring

The Clockmaker Chenin Blanc is one of our favourites from this farm:

a rich, soft mouthful; flavours of quince preserve with honey. Wellington is great terroir for Chenin

The Chenin Blanc vines were planted by David Sonnenberg's father in 1985

The wine, which is registered on the Old Vines Project, was barrel fermented in the cellar for 10 months

The Harlequin is a blend of 72% Shiraz and 28% Pinotage. The Pinotage speaks first with sour plums and mocca wood,

then sweet plums appear with dark licorice wood and chalky tannins on the finish

Thokozani 2021 Cabernet Franc has lovely rich vanilla oak and a hint of fresh herbs like sage on the nose

Very good fruit in layers, tight tannins, some chalk; Blackberry, cassis and sweet elderberry fruit enchant

These were very popular, fresh avocado and tender squid dipped in lemon

It is a very popular trade tasting

Johan Kruger has some very special wines

The 2020 Klipkop Chardonnay from the Piekenierskloof has smoky oak and vanilla, sweet custard cream, lime and smoke,

amazing freshness and minerality and long fruit flavours, with wood supporting

The 2020 Old Vines Palomino is Palomino lifted up out of its bad reputation to something good

A waxy grass nose, zingy and creamy on the palate,

with length and kiwi, melon, lime and lasting taste and aroma of lemongrass

His 2021 Western Cape Pinot Noir has grapes coming from different cooler vineyards on decomposed granite soils

Smoke, cherry, minerality and soft wood notes, Dark berry fruit in layers with dark oak. Very enjoyable.

The Old Vines 2021 Sauvignon Blanc has a superb mature nose, with light oak, minerality and fullness, complexity, elegance and layers, with some umami and fruit and wood integrated

It was selected as one of the Top Ten Sauvignons in Winemag's Prescient Report

We love tasting Springfield's two Sauvignons Blanc: Life from Stone and Special Cuvée
when they are just released and then again later in the year to see how they have developed, and they do
They are currently fresh, zingy, classic, young and lively, and distinctly themselves,
the Yin and Yang of Robertson Sauvignon Blanc
The 2022 Albariño is exciting, full of apricot and nectarine fruit, racy on the wake-up palate. Great with food
The 2021 Wild Yeast Chardonnay is identifiable from Robertson terroir, unwooded with great golden fruit
and long, satisfying flavours

Springfield owner Abrie Bruwer's daughters, winemaker Emma and marketing manager Jenna Bruwer-Kruger

The 2020 Springfield Whole Berry Cabernet Sauvignon has a captivating dive in nose, a sparkle of cassis on nose and palate, smooth, long and deep flavours of fruit, built to last
The 2016 Méthode Ancienne Cabernet Sauvignon, has a classic Cabernet nose and palate,
with juicy cassis berries and leaves and full fruit. This has many more years to go
The 2017 Work of Time is a classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot
Savouriness from the Cab Franc, and violets from the Petite Verdot on excellent the nose
Lovely fruit in full complex layers, with maturity and class

Marcha Cooke and Thea van der Merwe of Jordan. We are sad to see dear Marcha go;

she and her family are emigrating to New Zealand

We wish them safe travels and happy years ahead in their new country

The TImepiece 2022 Riesling, 2022 Sauvignon Blanc and 2021 Chenin Blanc, all from old heritage vineyards,

are taking the wines in a new direction and are very enjoyable

The Riesling has 30 g/l sugar, but is crisp with honey notes and great acid in balance with the sugar

Good to get a chance to taste the Cobblers Hill 2015 Bordeaux blend, just being released now

It's very special, rather French in style with incense oak and dark berry fruit on the nose, black plums and salty minerality

with amazing layers of fruit, and length, with hints of pepper and spice on the savoury end. Buy!

Maree Family Wines are based in Somerset West

Old Man Sam 2022 Chenin Blanc has richness of Stellenbosch fruit,

a lovely full palate of stone fruit, golden delicious and cream with long flavours

Klein Jakkals 2021 Syrah is also Stellenbosch. Incense oak, spice and pepper, nice tight chalky tannins interlaced with good berry fruit and acid in balance

Pieter and the Jackal 2021 Shiraz has an elegant nose, incense oak, cassis, mulberry and green leaves

Cloves and spice open up to good fruit and lots of dark oak