Simonsig’s annual Vintage Day offered customers a two week opportunity
to taste more than 30 of their most distinguished wines from their Vinoteque collection of carefully cellared vintage wines
The wines are hand picked by third generation Cellarmaster Michael Malan
We were invited to an introductory event
The mural photograph at the back of the entrance to the tasting room of snow on the Simonsberg mountain
echos the very cold arctic weather we are having currently, and everyone was well wrapped up
A welcome glass of the Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel 2017 Cap Classique
A good nose, brioche and maturity, a lovely very crisp prickle on the palate with big acidity
and a hint of richness and complexity
A table bedecked with dips, olives, fruit, skewered caprese, cheeses and bread
We were instructed to start upstairs where we could taste the rest of the Cap Classqiues and the white wines
The sophisticated 2010 Cuvee Royale Cap Classique has wheaty notes on the nose,
with lime and butter on the rich palate and calls for food
The 2017 magnum of Kaapse Vonkel has a lovely nose, a crisp fine mousse and slight sweetness on the end
and another table of delights to tempt us while we tasted
The Brut Rosé Kaapse Vonkel is our favourite on the market
Three of the Cap Classiques
The 2017 Chenin Blanc is pale gold in colour with golden fruit and a buttery end
The wooded 2018 Chenin Avec Chene has wood smoke and golden fruit on the nose and palate
and is a lovely rich mouthful, followed by more golden oak
The 2016 Chardonnay is savoury on the nose with umami notes, on the palate richness with lemon lime and wood
The 2017 Steen was available for tasting
Johan Malan talking to guests
The view through the entrance to the vineyards and the Simonsberg
Downstairs to begin tasting the red wines. John started with the Pinotage
The 2014, 2015 and 2016 Redhill Pinotage, and the 2018 were available for tasting
Simonsig vineyards are on a band of shale which runs all along the Bottelary Road
The varietal did, in fact originate as a cross between Pinot noir and Cinsaut from that line
Most of the farms in this line are known for their exceptional Pinotages.
These are no exception to that rule. A characteristic of Pinotage is its ability to age
A friend wrote recently to tell us how great was a 2005 he had just opened
These were all good, but the 2014 Redhill was the star
Rich, smooth and deep-flavoured with lovely berry fruit, spice and a little licorice
Great music all evening from a very talented saxophonist
Paul Kruger, who has recently moved to Simonsig from Villiera, with Merindol and other Shirazes
The 2004 Merindol has vanilla wood, spices and perfume with dark berried and incense wood
Silky on the palate & lovely layers of berry fruit
The 2014 has a lovely deep dark nose, again dark berry fruit, licorice, salt and spice a good meaty wine
The 2017 MR Borio's Shiraz has sweet berry fruit,
attractive vanilla oak, chalky tannins good fruit, spice and black pepper on the end
The 2018 is rich, deep and spicy with grippy tannins, wood and sweetness and sharp fruit in balance
Cellarmaster Michael Malan with his uncle, retired viticulturist Francois Malan
The Frans Malan Cape Blends, named for late patriarch Frans Malan, came next
2014 has an attractive nose, mixed berries, chalky tannins and long flavours
The 2015 has rich and ripe cassis, incense wood
The wine is concentrated with a mix of sweet and sour fruit, chalky grippy tannins
Needs time. It is a blend of 29% Cabernet, 4% Merlot and 67% Pinotage
Michael with Matt McLagan
The Cabernet Sauvignons impressed us
2014 The Garland has maturity, good fruit and incense oak
Grippy tannins, this wine stilll has far to go with deep cassis flavours and lots of chalk
The Labyrinth 2014 has blueberry and cassis on the nose and lovely primary cassis and cherry fruit
with good tannins and chalk with a long end. Wow
The 2016 has a classic Cabernet nose, a cassis bomb, deep ripe berry flavours in layers, a great vintage,
it has a great future
The 2017 has another classic Cabernet nose, smooth and a bit sexy on the palate
Lovely fruit, exciting, juicy and full on with lasting flavours, and supporting soft chalky tannins
Drink now with food, but keep some too
Matt and Claire McLagan with Lynne
The pulled pork dish.
All the food was prepared by Kos Kouture catering - Moline Tarusundirwa and Rentia Maass
We could try all three dishes, we opted to start with the pulled pork and it was delicious
A clever chef had chopped up the crackling very fine and it was sprinkled on top
We did skip the pasta dish, having eaten enough to satisfy us
Butter chicken with rice, rich and warming and very authentic
Frank Slabbert took us through the Flagship Bordeaux blend, called Tiara
2008 has incense oak, sophistication, vanilla, full of red and black fruit in layers with crispness
The 2011, a jewel of red berry complexity on the nose. Ripe, mature fruit on the palate
2013 was the star of the evening. Very French in style. Incense oak, cassis dominates
Ripe berry fruit develops beautifully on the palate in full layers, so smooth and satisfying. Perfection
The 2016 has smoke, vanilla oak and incense. Its enticing, fruity with chalky tannins, good cassis fruit
with dark toasted wood to wrap the fruit. Has lots of time to improve even more
The Tiara, Simonsig's Flagsip wine
The Garland 2011 in a magnum is a superb example of how good Stellenbosch Cabernet sauvignon is
With Ripe dark berries and violets and sweet plummy aromas on the nose, this still has the potential to keep on aging
if you can resist the temptation to open it for a special celebration
Johan Malan and Yolanda Saayman
We really enjoyed the whole valued experience and tasted some very impressive wines
All our stories can be seen in the Blog Archive near the top of the column on the right
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