Friday, October 18, 2024

John Collins trade wine tasting at Den Anker

John Collins has hosted his wine trade show at Den Anker in the Waterfront for several years
It is a very popular venue for the event with superb Belgian canapés
and even a refreshing Belgian beer on tap for the thirsty





Jeanette Bruwer and Heike of the Orange guest house with the new Crisp and well made Springfield Garuzis MCC



with her niece Jenna Bruwer-Kruger and Miquelle Scheepers showcasing the Springfield wines

showing the rest of the Springfield range
We love tasting the two Springfield Sauvignons Blanc and, this year, they did not disappoint
Life from Stone 2024 is a timeless classic of what Robertson soils can do  to this mutable grape
It is crisp and exciting. The Special Cuvée is showing so well already
and we really like the stone fruit perfumed Springfield Albarino, a definite must for the coming summer meals on the deck
Those complex nectarine and apricot flavours on nose and palate complimented by crisp minerality

Den Anker always produces great canapés to aid us in the tasting


Johan Kruger has always produced quality wines and as his range has grown it shows how versatile he is,
especially his use of heritage Old Vines
His elegant 2021 OV Sauvignon Blanc has perfume and crispness and a hint of oak
The  2022 OV Palomino is yeasty and complex
His Kruger Sutherland Limited Release 2023 Chenin is impessive and excellent
The 2023 Kruger OV Cinsault has savoury red berries, and mushroom umami on the nose,
with sweet berry fruit, warmth and long flavours. A real find


The three Kruger Chardonnays with the Old Vines in a magnum

Great chips with mayo on offer, well it is a Belgian restaurant

The Kruger Old Vine range

Christopher Keet and Christopher Keet, nephew and uncle and both producing wines
Chris Keet (on the right) produces what is undoubtedly one of the best  premium red wines in South Africa
A wine that always causes a rumble in the room
First Verse is a Bordeaux blend sourced from top Stelenbosch vineyards
The nose points you in the right direction with beautiful fruit and, on the palate, it has structure
and layers of classic fruit supported by chalky tannins and good oak
A wine to cellar and enjoy on the best occasions

His nephew produces the small volume Weather Station Cabernet franc in Elgin, showing great promise

Jordan has always produced premium wines on their beautiful Stellenbosch farm

There is a wide selection of wines, from their Blanc de Blanc Cap Classique to their newer Timepiece collection
On the Jordan table, Melanie Melvill, Sales Manager, talks to buyers

Chef restaurateur Doekie Vlietman, the man behind the excellent Belgian cuisine

Alex Jordan showing the Timepiece Chardonnay to a buyer

On the Diemersfontein stand, we were excited to taste the new vintage of the Clockmaker Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2022
It is as full and exciting as the previous vintage
The farm in warm Wellington produces a good range of wines at good prices,
with the highlight being on good white wines and excellent Pinotage and shiraz

The sticky ribs were very moreish

Christy Jordan and Nick Siersema were showing the Mousehall Gin, much to Lynne's taste,
and the citrus infused Mousehall spirit apéritif

Also on show were the three Tidebrook wines from Mousehall, the Jordan family farm in Sussex
We visited the farm in 2019 just after the first Chardonnay and Pinot grapes were planted
All the wines are low in alcohol. It was a delight to be able to sample the newly released 2023 wines
The Tidebrook Six Petals Pinot and Chardonnay Rosé are crisp, lean, then fruit appears
The Chardonnay is made in the French Oak barrels that Jordan uses for the Nine Yards
Perfume and smoke fill the nose and, on the palate, there are lime, lemon and citrus peel, so elegant and restrained
The 2022 Tipping Point Pinot Noir is ethereal at first on the nose, which draws you in with pretty raspberry and cherry fruit
and it follows through on the prime palate and announces "I'm Pinot!" Wow!

Deep fried hot cheese croquettes. Yum

John Collins and Bianke Ohle, Jordan marketing manager

The Jordan Chameleon range is very affordable, but still has the quality the Jordan family insists on

Oh, those prawns!

More canapés on the way out of the kitchen

and even more

Melanie Melvill with Chef/Proprietor Liam Tomlin who was there to sample the wines for his restaurants

It was a very successful and enjoyable tasting and we like the new layout of the Wine pamphlet, 
with the wines arranged in varietals

Diemersfontein's Thokosani and Ovation ranges of wines 

Diemersfontein head winemaker Francois Rhoode is really making some impressive wines

Enthusiastic trade customers

The Diemersfontein Sauvignon blanc and Chenins

and more

with their top of the range red wines



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