Thursday, November 21, 2013

Doolhof malbecs at Belthazar

Glasses of Champagne at the ready, the media start tweeting. Mel Minnaar looks on in puzzlement while Greg Landman examines the Champagne
Wild Oysters to go with the Champagne
On the terrace at Belthazar Restaurant in the Waterfront, the weather was perfect, no wind and not too hot.
Two of the Champagnes on offer
 Greg Landman discusses the champagne with Graham Howe
 The four Champagnes imported by Doolhof
We take our seats for the Malbec tasting
Dennis Kerrison, owner of Doolhof, tells us about his love of Malbec and red wines
 Rianie Strydom
It is known as the black grape and some are really inky black
Media listening intently and taking notes
Rianie explains the grape to us and how it is grown at Doolhof
The five Doolhof Malbecs
Nicolette Waterford
 Shanté Hutton
 Dennis Kerrison
We chat during a very intense and interesting tasting
General and Marketing Manager, Johan Fourie

Winnie Bowman and Samarie Smith
 Kim Maxwell and Melvin Minnaar
Lynne had the very tender and spicy calamari starter
John the Carpaccio of beef with shaved parmesan
PRO Nicolette Waterford points to the importance of the occasion
Tender 28 day matured grain fed beef fillet with very crispy chips and a rather good Malbec reduction sauce
The star dish of the day was the line fish, which turned out to be fresh Kabeljou, straight from the sea, served with a great lemon butter sauce.  SO enjoyed by Lynne and many others.
Two of the Malbecs we tasted - the 2009 has lots of award recognition
Previous winemakers Teresa de Beer and Rianie Strydom with Doolhof owner Dennis Kerrison
And with Johan Fourie, General and Marketing Manager
A classic baked cheesecake with vanilla ice cream
Lots of after lunch conversation


 Shanté Hutton and Winnie Bowman
Cheeky birds!
 Redwing starlings love cheesecake
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Bertus Basson prepared lunch at Oneiric in his outdoor kitchen

 Oneiric; (adj) "what dreams are made of"
Shan Pascall welcomed us with a glass of Oneiric Sauvignon blanc
The table laid for the guests in the wine cellar
Food preparation in progress
Bertus Basson in his travelling kitchen
Canapé: Pulled pork, Bread and olive tapas
Cathy Grimes watches Bertus at work in his outdoor kitchen


"TK" - Thomas Kelly made sure we were well looked after

Bertus explained the menu to the guests

We ate family style and everyone helped themselves from central platters
1st Course: Organic asparagus, nasturtium, Iabneh and beetroot / Oneiric Sauvignon Blanc 2010
2nd Course: Southern buttermilk Barbel with cream polenta and sweet corn / Oneiric Chardonnay 2010
3rd Course: Reenendale grass-fed Entrecote with organic
roots, warm barley and hammock salad / Oneiric Shiraz 2009 / Oneiric Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
4th Course: Elgin Apple sorbet with raisin puree, vanilla spoom and crumble / Oneiric Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Cheese: Ash Camembert / Oneiric Cousin Jack 2009
A beautiful arrangement of Elgin roses
Faces of Oneiric:
Jen Pascall 
Matt Pascall
Shan Pascall
Blaize Pascall
Shan with Bertus Basson
Bertus





The Oneiric tasting room
 The winery
 © John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013

Almenkerk, modern architecture and environmental respect

A view to die for, over the Elgin Valley, with the beautifully designed modern winery in the foreground

Clean, modern lines of Derick Henstra's architecture, natural stone and immaculate lawns with indigenous gardens





The tasting room
The spotless tank cellar, with the cheese platters they were serving for the Gardens weekends
Joris van Almenkerk talking to clients
Barrels full of Almenkerk red wine next to the white wine tanks
Joris talks to clients
Joris with his wife, Natalie Opstaele in the tasting room
and with the lovely valley behind them

Another magnificent view from above the winery
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2013