Tuesday, February 20, 2024

The Melting Pot at Oak Valley revisited

 Another overseas visitor, so another visit to The Melting Pot in Elgin for lunch,
this time by the pool as it was a gloriously warm day



The Hydrangeas were in full bloom

Our excellent Sommelier, Kwanele Mhlobo, brought us a tasting of two Oak Valley Wines
The Stone and Steel Riesling has ripeness on the nose with perfume and good stone fruit
Rounded on the palate with initial sweetness then crunchy acidity. Not a sign of terpenes, a lovely food wine
Beneath the Clouds Chardonnay has lime/lemon freshness on the nose and on the palate,
a cool climate and very enjoyable Chardonnay
The Groenlandberg Chardonnay has a hint of smoke from the 27% oak contact in 2nd and 3rd fill barrels
Rounded on the palate, deep layers of good lime and lemon fruit with wood supporting
And then we were offered a real treat, a taste of the 2018
A hint of smoke, apricot, peach, persimmon on the nose
Richness, a lovely texture on the palate crisp; oily, and full
almost as if  it were Semillon, on both nose and palate, with great fruit
A classic, showing what some age does to this wine

Next The Oak Valley Pinot Noir, Sound of Silence which has lovely cherry, berry fruit on the nose
and follows through on the palate
Ripe berry fruit repeats on the palate in layers. Drinking well now
The Groenlandberg Pinot has had 30% oak and is smoky and herbaceous on the nose
with mulberry, plum and cherry
An elegant wine, with good tannins, made to last with lots of oak and good fruit
Finally, the 2022 Leap of Faith Merlot. Rose petals, red cherry red plum on the nose
Good supporting wood nice warmth and great fruit repeated, juicy and succulent, a major wine for food

We had a lovely selection of small plate dishes and the Mezze platter shown here

Chef has changed the menu slightly for the season and we really enjoyed the changes,
although we did miss the dumplings, which he assures us will return later in the year

Yellowtail sashimi topped with mint

Fish Taco

West Coast Mussels.  It was another memorable lunch


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