Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Trade wine show at The Winchester

Another event attended by John without Lynne, who was just out of hospital
Sadly, he arrived late because he had been bringing Lynne home
from a medical appointment in connection with her broken arm, 
so he could not taste all the wines in the show


Rudi Schultz and his daughter Gabriela
showing his superb range of wines
This is the 22nd year of production of his own label
He is also in his 24th year as winemaker at Thelema in Stellenbosch

His own label Schultz Family wines, all named for iconic surfing waves
Skeleton Bay is a delicious Chenin blanc made from 64 year old bush vines in Paarl
Pepper Street is a rich, deep naturally fermented Syrah from a vineyard in Paarl
Dungeons is a well-made Cabernet Sauvignon; a big wine made for long cellaring, but eminently drinkable now
Boneyards is a blend of Malbec and Petit Verdot in a slightly lighter style than the Syrah

Wildekrans in the Bot River ward with their excellent red wine range

They were shown by their new Cellarmaster De Wet Viljoen
who joined Wildekrans after a long, successful career at Neethlingshof
The stickers affirm the quality

His wife Annelie showed her own wines, Bessie White and Spijker Red
named for the late Duimpie Bayly's favourite cow and bull
made for easy everyday drinking, essential kuier wines made for friendly glasses with friendly conversation

DeWet and Annelie Viljoen

The wines of Riebeek Valley Wine Company
The 22 Families Chenin is made from mature bush vines for Marks and Spencer
The Kasteelberg Chenin is more serious, made from dryland bush vines and will be enhanced by a few years in cellar
The Pieter Kruythoff Brut is a well-priced sparkling wine which was a favourite with our customers at Main Ingredient
The Kasteelberg Syrah is whole bunch naturally fermented, rich and full-flavoured

Megan Elson showed the Hidden Valley wine range from the Helderberg area

The Hidden Valley Brut is bone-dry with a good mousse
The Sauvignon Blanc is a dry, herbaceous classic Sauvignon
The Hidden Treasure Rosé, made primiarily from Merlot, is rich, fruity and full-flavoured with a lovely mouthfeel
The Viognier has the expected white peach, apricot character and has not been spoiled by too much wood
Hidden Secret is a very good blend of Syrah with a small portion of Tannat; rich, dark fruit
Hidden Gems is a lovely, elegant blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Petit Verdot and Merlot

I enjoyed catching up with Bev Murray and Kerry Kirby
Two long-serving and valued representatives of the wine trade

Andrew Mellish's family has been on their farm in the Cape Farms area
north of  Durbanville, on the edge of the Swartland, for over 100 years

Bakenkop Syrah is well-balanced with good fruit on the nose
Pinotage, typically, should last well in the cellar but will be good with spicy meat dishes now
Cinsault is in the modern style, light-bodied and elegantly dry with good fruit
Single vineyard Chenin Blanc is a good dry mouthful and a great summer drink
Blanc Fumé is a serious wine; long lees contact in barrel gives depth with cassis notes and great mouthfeel




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