When Berinda Basson of Ormonde wine estate in Darling read our horror story about our holiday accommodation in Yzerfontein on Facebook, she immediately invited us to their family farm for a tasting and a cheese platter. How could we refuse? We have always enjoyed their company, liked what they do on the farm and the wines are very good indeed
She and Theo, her husband, who is the owner and viticulturist, were there to greet us
We moved down to the tables on the patio to chat and catch up
Theo ordered some flights of wine from the tasting room and we relaxed
The first flight of wines was two different vintages of Chenin Blanc and two Sauvignons. The Chip off the Old Block single vineyard and the Ondine are grown in the cool climate of the area; the vineyards are at high altitude and in close proximity to the sea, so they get good cooling sea breezes. They both have that certain richness and complexity that Chenin can give. The Ondine Chenin was from the 2010 vintage and is incredible for its age; creamy, with the richness of golden fruit in layers of delight with lots of elegance and depth. There is only a small quantity left. Then two Sauvignon Blancs: The Chip off the Old Block Single vineyard is the classic green style we prefer, with asparagus, green fig leaves, and nettles. Crisp and dry on the palate. The Ondine also has asparagus, with riper fruit on the nose. Green capsicum with crisp zesty flavours and some minerality on the palate
The Chip off the Old Block Chenin Blanc
The cheese platter is so, so much more! Crisp bread almost like a lavach, a rich chicken liver paté in a jar, two local cheeses, one a camembert, watermelon konfyt, springbok carpaccio, fresh sourdough bread, two delicious waterblommetjie filo pasty tarts, a warm, deep fried croquette of sweet potato and ham, pears cooked in red wine, local cheese squares that have been marinated in wine and topped with peppadew and a sprig of rosemary, and two superb pecan pies in crisp buttery pastry. We shared one and still could not quite finish it. And it goes so well with all the wines
You need to book if you want to order one
http://www.ormonde.co.za/ or phone 022 492 3540
Then a tasting of some of the red wines. The Ondine Malbec has such richness, elegance, wood, cherries and mulberries; starts soft then becomes a fruit bomb and shouts "Hello I am here!", then finishes with some chalky tannins and class. Love it and have bought it. The Ormonde Merlot 2015 has green and woody notes on the nose, full of dark wood, red berry, plum fruit and some herbal flavours ending with a hint of chocolate mocca. The Ormonde Shiraz has incense wood, dark berry fruit and plums, spice and pepper on the nose and lots of ripe layered fruit on the juicy palate. The Ormonde Cabernet Sauvignon is just classic, with good French oak, complex cassis and dark cherry fruit, some spice and a little black pepper. The flagship 2013 Vernon Basson is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Cabernet Franc from dryland vineyards and is very exciting. Lots of class and future. Savoury black fruit, vanillins from the wood, silky and smooth on the palate and ends with soft dry tannins and dark licorice wood
We sipped, tasted, ate and chatted for hours. What a lovely relaxed way to spend a holiday day
Thank you so much Berinda, Theo and Ormonde
A very tame Common Fiscal, also called Fiscal Shrike, (Lanius collaris) on an aloe leaf next to where we were tasting
All content © John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus
