Back
again to Franschhoek on Friday for a tasting of some new wines and a vertical
tasting of one of Vrede and Lust's two flagship wines, The Boet Erasmus
(Simonsberg-Paarl): a Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit
Verdot and Malbec. This was followed by a light lunch in Lust restaurant. This
is one of the most energy efficient green farms in the Cape. The vineyards vie
for space with solar panels
Their
good artisanal sourdough bread
Enjoying
a coffee before taking the transport back to town
The
gathering started in the cellar vestibule where we were introduced to two
Artisan wines; a Riesling from Elgin and a Semillon. These wines are hand made
in very small quantities and only available for their wine club members.
The
tasting was held in the barrel cellar, perhaps a little chilly for August
Good
canapés of cheese shortbread topped with Boursin and mini heirloom tomatoes
Also
very fresh tuna which was seared, kebabed and then dressed with a sweet Asian
umami sauce
The
wines being poured
Joint
owner (with his brother Dana) Etienne Buys opened the tasting with some history
of the farm and the wines. Founded in 1688 by French Huguenot Jacques de
Savoye, the Buys family are the 17th owners. Etienne is the viticulturist,
supervises the vineyards and oversaw the building of the very modern winery
Winemaker
Susan Erasmus explained her winemaking philosophy
and
talked about the wines we were about to taste. We tasted another Semillon, the Barrique
2009 (R120) very elegant, an Elgin Kogelberg 2013 Chenin Blanc (R120) full of
zesty orange peel and minerality. The Casey's Ridge 2014 Pinot Noir (R175), a
new addition, grown on their Elgin farm
And
then we did the vertical tasting of the Boet Erasmus (R175). He was the
maternal grandfather of the Buys brothers. We tasted from 2007 through to the
current release the 2012. The constituent grapes have varied slightly in the
quantity used through the years and we found that the blend is recognisable. We
particularly liked the 2011 full of violets and perfumed fruit on the nose.
Lovely soft berry fruits, soft chalky tannins with liquorice wood on the end. As
the vines get more mature, so the flavours of this wine are gathering their
skirts together. The 2012 is even more complex and layered
We
then proceeded to lunch next door at Lust restaurant
A
display of the wines in a niche
The
lunch menu
Non-meat
eaters got herb crusted salmon on sweet potato puree
Meat
eaters got a hefty sirloin steak topped with a marrowbone, served with heritage
carrots, a good wine jus and sweet potato puree. We drank some of the wines we
had tasted in the cellar
Dessert
wasn't dessert but a savour goats curd cheese patty, breaded & fried,
topped with candied baby beets and dressed with walnuts and olive oil and raw
beetroot slices. So wanted a slice of their chocolate cake...
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2015
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