Thursday, November 01, 2018

Caroline's White Wine Review 2018 at The Table Bay

An annual event in Cape Town, Caroline's White Wine Review was held at the Table Bay Hotel this month. Caroline selects her favourite high scoring white wines and bubblies and it is a challenging tasting with so much quality in the room. One can never manage to taste everything, but there were some really good wines to enjoy
Vondeling winemaker Emile van der Merwe showed their Rurale,
a Méthode Ancestrale sparkler, made from Chardonnay
Nice to see Nicolas Follet of Oenosense Consulting with Zelda Fox on the Charles Fox stand. He is their consultant and makes their wines for them each year. They were showing their fine Rosé MCC. His family makes Champagne Follet
John Loubser had his Silverthorn The Genie Rosé MCC for tasting
Here he is with Graham de Vries of Steenberg Vineyards
Lynne chatted with Andrea Mullineux' father, who was in Napa but now resides in Austin, Texas
Hurricanes and wine did both come up in the conversation
A new one for us, Morgenster's Cuvée Alessandra, made in Prosecco style from Cabernet Franc
Nice to see JP Colmant walking confidently and pain free after a successful recent hip replacement
His Brut Chardonnay MCC is outstanding and rather French in style
He was chatting here to Delight Aitken and her husband, Ken
A happy Michelle Elford pouring...
... Bon Courage’s best, the Jacques Bruère Vintage 2011 Blanc de Blanc MCC
Ann Ferreira and Lynne having a reunion and a chat over the Capensis Chardonnay,
made by Therese de Beer
This gently wooded Chardonnay with lovely ripe fruit and elegant minerality
was scored 95 by Tim Atkin
The Kruger Family. Paul, Regional Sales Manager at Villiera
with his father and mother, Emile and Sassa
Villiera winemakers Nathan Valentine and Xander Grier
had their excellent Brut Monro MCC 2011 on show
Caroline Rillema herself, chatting to Mark van Buuren of Antonij Rupert Wines and a guest
Robbie Wallace of Iona talking animatedly with Sebastian Beaumont about his wine, Beaumont - The New Baby, a white blend of Chardonnay, Chenin blanc and Colombard. Lovely fresh nose, crisp, salty & grapey with hints of hanepoot, grapefruit, mint and a seaweed minerality, hinting at iodine and summer sea breezes. Robbie is a 2018 Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year finalist
Questions for Chris Alheit about his Cartology white blend of Chenin and Semillon
Les girls on the Boschendal stand: Winemaker Lizelle Gerber with Anlea Rainer. This Elgin Chardonnay kept evolving in the glass, with savoury and sweet fruit notes, with good crispness
Jane Eedes showed the Thorne & Daughters Rocking Horse White Blend by David Clarke
which has good and innovative labelling
Nadia Newton Johnson discussing the Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Chardonnay,
lovely now, but will still improve if you keep it for a year or two
Charming Nina-Marie and Henk Bruwer of Mont Blois in Robertson with their Groot Steen Chenin
Read more about them, their wines and the farm in next week's MENU, as we have just visited them
The wines are exciting
The old crowd. Hein de Jager with Tracy van Maaren and John Collins
They are all present or past wine distributors
Paul Kruger visiting  Sarah Havard on the Hamilton Russell table
Groot Constantia Assistant Winemaker Louise van der Westhuizen,
showing her 2017 Constantia Chardonnay
... and having fun with the visitors
Jeanette Bruwer of Springfield chatting to an Elsenberg student
about their Méthode Ancienne Chardonnay 2016, always excellent
Winemaker Riandri Visser of Cape Point Vineyards showed her Isliedh 2017,
a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Here she is discussing it with Chris Mullineux
Winery of Good Hope Marketing Manager Abi Mitton and Winemaker Jacques de Klerk
Happy colleagues. They showed their Radford Dale Chardonnay
Posted by MENU at 11:17 am 0 comments

Wade Bales Cap Classique and Gin Affair at Grand Africa Café & Beach

On one of the hottest days in October we ventured to the Waterfront by bus to attend Wade Bales Cap Classique and Gin Affair at the Grand in the Waterfront. There were over 60 of South Africa’s premium MCCs  and about 50 local craft and international gins to taste, with local producers present to share their knowledge. No one drives to an event like this

 The Sea Point Pavilion was full to bursting and people had their bright umbrellas up to protect them from the punishing sun
This week's headline photo. Kids at the seaside, drying off on the hot ground
Nothing changes, just what we did when we were this age
On arrival we collected our tasting glasses and headed to the area under a marquee where the bubbles were being served. First to Villiera winemaker Nathan Valentine for a taste of the wonderful Brut Monro. They also had their whole Tradition range of MCC wines
Something new. Astraeus Rose and Brut from Waterkloof. It has spent only 9 months on the lees
The Iceman cometh! Villiera’s Paul Kruger keeping up with the heat of the day
Two on offer from Steenberg, their Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc and their 1682 Chardonnay MCC
Lynne trying out the Stellenrust Clement de Lure MCC NV
The Grand is on the beach, hence the sea sand. And the heat had everyone in casual beach attire
Francois Jacques Malan on the Simonsig stand with some of our favourite bubbles
The selection
Lots of seating for people to sit and eat lunch and enjoy something to drink
John and Karin Loubser's daughter Fain showing off her family's Silverthorn bubbles
Yachts in the bay in the heat haze
This catamaran came close for a look at the show
Haute Cabrière winemaker Tim Hoek showing the Pierre Jourdan range
Enjoying the bubbles if not the heat!
Petra and Nico van der Merwe with their Nico van der Merwe Nicolas MCC NV
Nico van der Merwe. The face of the name on the bottle
Can I buy some please?
Studying the menu. It is quite eclectic with low, medium and very high prices, but something for everyone
Scotch? No, Gin... Kirsty’s Gin from Arbikie Highland Estate in Scotland
Media friends Jan Laubscher and Anel Grobler enjoying the day
Your entrance ticket got you six large oysters, which John enjoyed very much

For lunch we ordered the fish and chips which is a huge portion of two pieces of battered cod, with lovely crisp chips, mushy peas, a tartare sauce and lemon slices for R125. It was so large we ate one and took the other home for supper
It was much cooler inside the bar area
Deep South gin. They were very generous with the samples, Lynne enjoyed a classic gin and tonic and found it very good. It is quite a classic gin, thankfully not too many additions and no rooibos or coloured rose or pomegranate additions. The Fitch and Leeds tonic works well, not too sweet
A nicely mixed crowd of young and old
Ginologist gin
Finery Pink Gin with additions
Two pretty girls having fun
and Beefeater were there too
In the Gin Palace
Lots of gin fans in Cape Town, its the IN thing to drink at the moment
An array of glasses and samples on the grand piano. A fun Affair indeed. We took an Uber home
Johannesburg readers can enjoy the Wade Bales Cap Classique & Gin Affair 2018 
on 24th & 25th November at the Southern Sun Hyde Park Roof Top Terrace Bar
Limited Early Bird Tickets are available at R250 per person until Monday 5th November, thereafter Full Price Tickets will cost R350
Both sets of tickets include a Champagne glass, unlimited tastings of all bubbly and gin products showcased on the day, as well as 6 fresh oysters to round off the occasion
Additional food options will be on sale. It’s going to sell-out fast, so book your tickets today! 
Go to QUICKET
Posted by MENU at 7:29 am 0 comments

Tasting Paul John Indian whiskies at the Cape Grace

Another interesting invitation from Hector McBeth to taste Whisky; this time from Goa in India. We have tasted Japanese and Scotch whiskies with him on previous occasions. Held in the Bascule Lounge at the Cape Grace Hotel; where else? It has the best whisky collection in South Africa. We were to taste five whiskies from Paul John
We met Michael d’Souza, the Paul John master distiller. They introduced their whiskies in South Africa in 2017 and believe that there is a market for them here. They wanted to see what we and several other whisky lovers thought of them
The line up of whiskies. This is the number 1 Whisky brand in India. Three have not yet been bottled: numbers 1, 2 and 4. They wanted to know which were our favourites for this market. They were recently awarded a Trophy at the Michelangelo Awards for No. 5. The 6 row barley used (it is low in protein) is grown in the Himalayas and their water is rainwater, collected during the 4 month monsoon in Goa. It is free of magnesium salts. In their heat, they lose a very high share to the angels. The whisky is stored below ground, where it is cooler, darker and not humid. Their casks are imported from Cordoba in Spain and the whisky is in barrel for 8 and 6 years. Because of the temperature, 8 years is the equivalent of 20 years for Scotch whisky
The first was from a single cask of 8 year old, matured underground. 58%. It has caramel, roasted nuts, vanilla and tropical fruit notes on the nose; soft, then hot on the palate, reminiscent of hot chilli! Lots of perfume and vanilla. With a drop of water, it is softer, more perfumed like Chanel; floral, roses, gardenias, with vanillins from the wood, creamy and some smoke on the end. No. 2 was matured in Oloroso legacy oak, a Montilla cask. Nutty, almost a sherry nose, dark caramel, a very pretty, complex nose with Oloroso notes. Sweet and salty, with nuts, perfume; more complex than No. 1, more layered and at 55%. Fruit on the palate, raisins, sultanas, pineapple and maple syrup. With water, complex and layered richness, dry and crisp and fruity with roasted pineapple. Long flavours
Hector taking us through the tasting. Most people attending had taken a whisky course. No. 3 is the Christmas Limited Release, selling for R675 and only 500 cases made. Caramel, treacle, then interesting green notes; 46%. It is medicinal, almost pyrazine notes; nuts, apricots, caramel toffee and salt on the nose. Soft, sweet caramel nuts, treacle and orange rinds, nice and complex; the peat is shy on the palate. but adds something. Light smoke. The salt shows; with some water, the peat appears, treacle toffee, darker caramel, cooked apricots, and tart tatin apples, minerality too. It was a popular whisky at the tasting. No. 4 is a single cask 100% peated whisky at 60%. The peat is imported from Aberdeen, Islay and some from Ireland. Medicinal peat notes from Aberdeen, with honey and citrus under the peat, with leather & tobacco on the nose. A tiny sip and don’t light a match. Over peated for Lynne, the peat flavour stayed on her palate for too long. John loves this style, as did those who like peat, so it’s a personal choice
The final whisky was made in first and second fill American oak, and is 100% peated. A peat monster on the nose for those who love it, with smoky bacon wood, caramel and is bottled at 46%. Soft, sweet caramel on the palate, with a peat kiss on the end. Honey and nuts, and full in texture. With water, it changes: salty and smoky rather than peaty, silky on the palate; hiding the peat well, but it is present, as is the wood. Apricots and nuts with salty minerality on the end. Surprising and very well integrated. Also very popular and a surprise for those of us who don't like lots of peat
Michael d'Souza asking us which we preferred. They will make the most popular ones available locally. We were not the only group who were tasting these whiskies in Cape Town; they were also presented at the Whisky Live show in Johannesburg
Then some snacks were served and we relished them after the whisky
Some crisp meaty spring rolls with a dipping sauce
Roast beef on rosti
A rich creamy mushroom soup in demitasse coffee cups
Tiny salads with roasted butternut
A creamy snoek paté
Posted by MENU at 12:15 am 0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)