Held again at Moyo restaurant at the edge of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
We like the Guardian angels
It's a very classy venue
We decided that, as there were so many wines on show and our time would be limited,
we would have to be very selective
We tasted the most unusual wines. There were many excellent Chenin blancs and Shirazes,
but we concentrated on the "niche" varietals
We tasted Bruce Jack's The Drift Estate Reserve Viognier 2023 and it is true to type, full of stone fruit
Great to see Tanya Beutler of the Cape Wine Hub with her simply named Red and White wines
The Hub Red is a Rhône-style blend of 60%, Shiraz and 40% Grenache Noir,
each matured separately in small French oak barrels for 6 months, then aged in bottle for a further 9 months
The Hub White is a Rhône-style White blend, composed of 85%, Verdelho, 8% Marsanne and 7% Grenache Blanc
Matured on the lees for 6 months in a concrete egg
Dornier 2022 Semillon is special
Perfumed and this follows through with layers of fruit on the nose and palate, but good Semillon fatness
Lynne really liked the 2022 Petit Verdot too
Happy faces at Arbeidsgenot stand.
Jaco Brand showed his Grenache Blanc 2024, Verdelho 2024, Roussanne 2024, Premium Grenache Rosé 2024
and Grenache Noir 2022
The Arbeidsgenot Verdelho 2024 we tasted is smooth and full, lively and different
Natasha Jacka is the founder and winemaker of Alinea Wines
We liked the Viura 2023. dusty citrus blossom and elderflower on the nose
Rich citrus and melon are present on the palate. There is a long mineral finish
We ran out of time and could not taste the Grenache Noir 2023
Darling Cellars Black Granite Reserve 2023 So enjoyable, good dark berry fruit
Dave Nel with the Carinus wines
He showed Carinus Swartland Chenin blanc 2023, Colombard 2024, Rooidraai Chenin blanc and Polkadraai Syrah 2022
We like seeing how Colombard has progressed from being a "box" wine staple and is now being taken seriously
Apple, pear and a little citrus on the nose. Fresh on the palate acidity finishes with a light salinity
Donkiesbaai Grenache Noir 2023 showed a hint of violets on the nose, really enticing fruit
De Krans showed Free Run Chenin 2024, A Twist of Fate 2024, Tritonia Calitzdorp Red 2022 from Portuguese varietals,
Cape Vintage Port 2021 and Cape Tawny Limited Release Port NV
We tasted A Twist of Fate 2024, a delicious white blend of Tinta amarela and Tinta barocca with spicy red berry flavour
Fram 2022 Grenache Gris is tinted pink with good fruit and good depth
Leon Coetzee showed The Fledge Elgin Viognier 2023 and Red Blend 2021
made at Boplaas in Calitzdorp with his wife Margaux Nel
The Viognier has characteristic bright stone fruit character with citrus notes
and will go well with spicy dishes like Cape Malay curry
We had to taste the Fairview Charles Back 2022 Brut
Made by Anthony de Jager from a blend of Viognier, Grenache blanc and Grenache noir
It sounds bonkers but we always trust him, and this works
It’s crisp and dry with lively acidity, a dry fruitiness and a fine mousse, linear and zesty, a find
Should be on many restaurant lists
They also showed the Tannat 2022, Petite Sirah 2022 and Caldera 2022, a Rhône style red blend
Iona Solace Syrah, just released, the new 2022 has smoke on the nose and lots of surprise with complexity, smoothness, acidity in balance and good fruit with pepper and spice on the end
Keermont Terrasse 2023 was made from 46% Chenin blanc with Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc
and small amounts of Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier
It shows elegant minerality with crisp melon and citrus flavours
Mike Froud chatting to Lynne .. about wine!
Jasper Raats showed his Olindo 2023 Verdelho
We are fond of this grape; it's different and enchanting and it goes so well with food
Avocado canapés
La Bri showed Irene de Fleuriot's Double Door Roussanne 2024, Viognier 2024 and Syrah 2022
La Bri 2024 Double Door Roussanne was excellent. Perfume on the nose, long, crisp and clean on the palate
with quince and stone fruit and acid in perfect balance
The Viognier has peach and litchi flavours, good mouthfeel from a dash of oak and bright acidity
Kleine Zalze had Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc 2024 and
Kleine Zalze 2023 Vineyard selection Grenache on show
Lynne chose the room temperature version of the Grenache; they had both
Perfumed, red fruit, complexity at first. It should improve with time
They also showed Vineyard Selection Syrah 2021
Dornier 2022 Semillon is special
Perfumed and this follows through with layers of fruit on the nose and palate, but good Semillon fatness
Lynne really liked the 2022 Petit Verdot too
Emy Mathews showed the Welgegund Heritage Wines
Old Vine Cinsault 2021, Providence 2021 and Rosé 2025
Providence is made from 60% Syrah and 20% each Cinsault and Grenache noir
Each varietal is fermented separately, mostly whole bunch
The Rosé is a Rhône-style blend from Grenache noir, Cinsault and Carignan
Painted Wolf, which is now in partnership with Jordan, showed their Teardrop Viognier 2024, Solo Roussanne 2023,
Lycaon Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2023, Darius Carignan 2023 and Black Tip Mourvèdre 2022
Jeremy and Emma Borg devote much of the profit from their wine to conservation,
especially the endangered African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus), also called painted wolf and Cape hunting dog
Carsten Migliarina's 2023 Stellenbosch Albarinho is rather sophisticated for this grape with an attractive nose
It draws you in to a lovely mouthful of carefully handled fruit and earns a high score
Nick Gebers showed his excellent basket pressed and barrel fermented Post House Stamp of Chenin 2024
and Raithby Road 2023, a Bordeaux blend of 25% each Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
and 12.5% each of Malbec and Petit Verdot
Roodekrantz presented three excellent Chenins:
Brand se Berg Chenin Blanc 2023, 1983 Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2024, Somerkind Chenin Blanc 2024
as well as Die Filosoof Shiraz 2022
John Collins with Bev Murray
Bev showed the Strandveld Viognier 2024, Grenache 2022 and The Navigator 2022 Syrah
The Viognier has flavours of yellow stone fruit, honey, the acidity toned down by 8 months oak fermentation
John showed Springfield's Albariño and Miss Lucy,
a Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Gris blend which we enjoy with fish
The Albariño has flavours of nectarine and apricot with gentle acidity
It matures very well and is delicious when young
Mike and Renee Duggan of Wine Concepts. Mike and his team always put on a very good show
Lynne was recovering from a hip replacement operation
Sadly, the show took place a bit soon after the op and we had to leave before the official end
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