Tuesday, May 16, 2017

The Prescient Cabernet Sauvignon Report 2017 Awards

were presented at The Stack, Leinster Hall in Cape Town
 Conversation and glasses of pink bubbly
 Glasses at the ready in the well-stocked upstairs bar
 Winemag business manager Jacqueline Lahoud with Craig Mockford Executive Director of Prescient Holdings
 Jacqueline started the proceedings
 and handed over to convener Christian Eedes
 Craig Mockford spoke about Prescient's sponsorship
 A few clever people found comfortable seats:
Sjaak Nelson (Jordan), Frans Smit (Spier), Rose Jordaan and Ronel Wiid (Bartinney), Karl Lambour (Tokara), Sue Proudfoot and Michael Bampfield Duggan (Wine Concepts)
 while everyone waited to hear the results
 Christian Eedes spoke about this year's wines. Cabernet Sauvignon is the world’s best travelled dark-skinned wine grape. In its traditional home of Bordeaux, it is a component of some of the world’s greatest wines and it has been taken up far and wide as producers seek to emulate this. In South Africa, it is the third most widely planted variety making up 12% of the national vineyard and the Report was devised to scrutinise the top producers on an annual basis
There were 65 wines in the line-up, submission by invitation only and judged blind, labels out of sight.15 Wines were rated 90 or higher on the 100-point quality scale
 Rapt attention from Francois Rautenbach of Singita
 The Award winners
 After the presentation, some delicious finger snacks were brought round. The lamb chops were said to be delicious, but were out of bounds for people with delicate cameras
 Excellent very crispy chips
 and lamb kebabs
The wines:
Neil Ellis Stellenbosch 2014
Price: Not yet released
 Spier 21 Gables 2014
Price: R260
Vergelegen V 2012
Price: R1300
 Groot Constantia 2015
Price: R201
 Jordan The Long Fuse 2014
Price: R160
 Bartinney 2014
Price: R179
 Le Riche Reserve 2014
Price: R500
 Rustenberg Peter Barlow 2012
Price: R400
 Peter Falke 2013
Price: R140
 Waterford Estate 2014
Price: R295
 Tokara Reserve Collection 2013
Approximate retail price: R315
 Warwick Blue Lady 2014

Price: R275

 Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2013
Price: R335
 Strydom Rex 2014
Price: R220
 Neil Ellis Jonkershoek Valley Stellenbosch 2014
Price: Not yet released
Posted by MENU at 3:51 pm 0 comments

MENU's Wine of the Week. Quando Pinot Noir 2014

What a bargain this wine is; it is as good as any of the pricier and prize winning Pinot Noirs on the market. We bought this a while ago (2015) and it has really come into its own. Grown on weathered Karoo shale on the banks of the Breede River in Bonnievale. 
Silky soft and fragrant with raspberry and red cherry notes, wood is there but only as a support. On the palate it charms with its soft fruit, length and sophistication. Fanus Bruwer is a good winemaker who doesn't get enough recognition. R120 a bottle, current vintage is 2015
Posted by MENU at 3:40 pm 0 comments

South China Dim Sum Bar

We are confessed dim sum addicts; those tiny baskets of steamed Chinese morsels like dumplings, steamed buns and other delights. At the drop of a hat, we will investigate any place serving good dim sum. The best Lynne has ever had was in China Town in London, where it was a regular Sunday treat with friends - at Lee Ho Fook behind the Swiss Centre or in one of the great places in Wardour or Gerrard Street, where trolleys came to your table loaded with different choices, so you didn't have to wait long; such a huge choice. John has been introduced to them by Lynne and loved the places we went to in Hong Kong, like Tim Ho Wan. In Cape Town there is a small choice of places and of dim sum. We really like the South China in upper Long Street and this was the obvious place to go to after the Whisky and Gin Festival before taking an Uber home
We were lucky to get a table at 9pm at this popular place; someone had reserved one and hadn’t turned up. The tables are basic, no frills eating, the tiny plastic stools need cushions, but it is the food you come for. There are more tables in the courtyard behind the kitchen
The menu and beverage list is on chalk boards next to the (very small) open kitchen, ably controlled by chef owner Edmund Hung
The menu. One thing you need to know. All the portions of dumplings come in threes, so if there are two of you, you might want to order two portions. Halving one dumpling is not easy and very unsatisfying!
After tasting lots of fine aged whiskies and good gins, what did we desire? Nice, refreshing cold beer. This is a new one to us, and it is quite malty. We enjoyed it. We hadn't heard of Striped Horse beer, who have a head office in Hudson Street in the Waterkant. Their web site tells you nothing about who they are or who makes the beer, sadly. Such a wasted marketing opportunity
First course was the lamb pot-sticker dumplings topped with spring onions, with its good dipping sauce of soy and rice wine vinegar and another of chilli oil and Shar sui sauce. A steamed dumpling which is then fried in a pan to give it a crisp finish.
Then some Sui mai dumplings filled with pork, water chestnuts and shiitake mushroom. John was able to pick off the mushroom on the top
We also had some of Lynne's favourite, the slippery prawn Har Gow
and finally the Braised Beef with rice. It is a recipe Lynne uses - beef in soy, garlic and five spice, slow cooked until it falls apart, served on sticky jasmine rice
Our bill. We will be back soon, probably with friends

Posted by MENU at 12:07 pm 0 comments

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

This Week’s MENU. Old Mutual Trophy Feedback, Big Breakfast at Liquorice and Lime, Lunch at The Vine Bistro, Glenelly, Wade Bales Meet the Makers Constantia Festival, Buitenverwachting Maximus 2014, Guava Fool

Winter waves, Sea Point

The waves are a signal. The weather is rapidly getting cooler, extra blankets on the bed. Winter is here. Much needed rain has been promised but has not arrived, just a few grace notes from the sky; too little to measure in the rain gauge. We hope the promise is not false, our water situation is dire. The temperature drops dramatically when the sun goes down and we are lighting fires in our little cast iron stove on some nights; not needed on others but the tinge of autumn is on the hills. John is even thinking about wearing long trousers in the daytime, while Lynne is wrapped up in polar fleece. The hibernation gene rears its head in some. The city has woken up to the fact that we only have 20% left in the dams. As the last 10% is sloppy mud, we are in trouble. Some prophesy a winter of such abundant rain that we will have floods. Farmers are not so sure; they see signs of another dry winter and the prospect of slim harvests next year. We live with hope, but not for a deluge



Old Mutual Trophy Feedback     
Held again at Grande Roche on Friday, this valuable feedback session where the judges, local and international, give their impressions of the wines they have tasted and have finished judging earlier that morning. The Feedback session is open to all entrants and the wine industry as a whole. We find this a very good barometer of where the industry is at present. We hear where there have been improvements, what has impressed or underperformed and if there are any new trends. More about the feedback......

The Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show Judges
The Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show judging panel comprises three international and six local judges covering a broad range of expertise and working with a 100-point scoring system. The panel has been chaired by leading wine authority Michael Fridjhon since the inception of the show in 2002. The participation of a team of associate panelists, drawn from the pool of rising South African wine-making, wine marketing and wine-writing talent, ensures that the next generation of the country’s wine judges gains experience in this most rigorous of environments. See the biographies.....

Big Breakfast at Liquorice and Lime     
This small restaurant at the very top of Kloof Street in Oranjezicht was our next destination on Sunday morning. John could not accompany Lynne and our friends as he was guiding a wine tour for some Americans in Stellenbosch and he missed something. Not only are there some novel choices on the menu, the portions are some of the largest we have ever been served. Read on....




Lunch at The Vine Bistro, Glenelly     
John thought you might like to see pictures of the lunch at Glenelly on Sunday where he took his tour clients. They have a three course set menu on Sundays. You can do a wine tasting and see the famous glass museum. What a lovely setting to have lunch





Wade Bales’ Meet the Makers Constantia Festival     
Wade Bales thought that they would sell 500 tickets to this local festival; they sold 750, making it a very popular event. It was held in the grounds of his Wine Society premises in Constantia. A marquee had been erected as the weather was looking a bit iffy, but it was not needed. Five wine producers, one beer and four spirit producers had stands. Wade also showed his own wines and there were a few food producers to buy for lunch from: an Indian/Mexican food truck (curried quesadillas!), a cheese stand, bread, a chocolatier and a charcuterie stand. More here......



MENU’s Wine of the week. Buitenverwachting Maximus 2014 
Wooded Sauvignon Blanc - a category which impressed the judges at the Old Mutual Trophy judging. A chameleon wine with lots of complexity, depth and character. At first so rich and full that you do not see the wood, then you notice vanilla and some smoke. Initially floral on the palate with jasmine, melon, apricots then ripe figs and nuts, then crisp limes and orange zest and right on the finish the Constantia green capsicum appears. Such a good food wine. We had this with spicy goulash, which did not occlude the wine at all. Even with a syrupy dessert it also shone. 15 months on wood. R250 from Wade Bales. Wine Spectator scored the 2009 Maximus 93 Points. Platter gave the 2013 4½ stars. We love the 2014







This week's MENU recipe is Guava Fool    
It’s Guava season and this is so quick and easy to make. We hope you find it as delicious as we do

1 Kg ripe guavas, peeled and chopped - juice of half a lemon – 75g caster sugar - 300ml water -
250 ml thick Ayrshire cream or real vanilla custard

Put everything into an enamel pan (don’t use metal - guavas are too acidic) and poach until the guavas are soft, this only takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and, if it is not sweet enough, add a little more sugar. Mash and push through a sieve to remove all the pips; cool in the fridge, then stir in the cream. (At this point you can freeze the mixture for guava ice cream). Put into a pretty glass bowl and decorate the top with two amaretto biscuits and a few pieces of glacé fruit or maraschino cherries






10th May 2017
PS If a word or name is in bold type and underlined, click on it for more information
Phones: +27 21 439 3169 / 083 229 1172 / 083 656 4169
Postal address: 60 Arthurs Rd, Sea Point 8005
If you like the photographs you see in our publications, please look at our Adamastor Photo website for our rate card and samples from our portfolio
Recommendations of products and outside events are not solicited or charged for, and are made at the authors’ pleasure. All photographs, recipes and text used in these newsletters and our blogs are © John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus. Our restaurant reviews are usually unsolicited. We prefer to pay for our meals and not be paid in any way by anyone. Whether we are invited or go independently, we don’t feel bad if we say we didn’t like it. Honesty is indeed our best policy. While every effort is made to avoid mistakes, we are human and they do creep in occasionally, for which we apologise. This electronic journal has been sent to you because you have personally subscribed to it or because someone you know has asked us to send it to you or forwarded it to you themselves. Addresses given to us will not be divulged to any person or organisation. We collect them only for our own promotional purposes. If you wish to be added to our mailing list, please click here to send us a message and if you wish to be removed from our mailing list, please click here to send us a message.
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© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2017
Posted by MENU at 1:02 am 0 comments

The Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show Judges

The Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show judging panel comprises three international and six local judges covering a broad range of expertise and working with a 100-point scoring system. The panel has been chaired by leading wine authority Michael Fridjhon since the inception of the show in 2002

The participation of a team of associate panelists, drawn from the pool of rising South African wine-making, wine marketing and wine-writing talent, ensures that the next generation of the country’s wine judges gains experience in this most rigorous of environments.
·       Michael Fridjhon


 Show Chairman

Chairman of the judges at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show. Author, co-author and contributor to a number of wine books including The Oxford Companion to Wine, The Global Wine Encyclopaedia, and Platter’s South African Wine Guide. Recipient of the Chevalier de l’Ordre du Merite Agricole (France). Judge at numerous competitions including the Australian National Wine Show, the Six Nations Wine Challenge (Australia) as well as benchmark tastings in France, the United States, Chile and South Africa. First international co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge (2007). Visiting Professor of Wine Business at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business and head of the Wine Judging Academy run in association with the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business. Winner of the Louis Roederer International Wine Columnist of the Year award (2012).

Neil Beckett

International Judge

Neil Beckett holds a first class honours degree in English and Medieval History (University of St Andrews, Scotland), a doctorate in Medieval History (Magdalen College, Oxford) and completed an MBA with a dissertation on White Burgundy. He was a Centenary Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (University of London), worked at Lay & Wheeler wine merchants and took top prize in the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma, before going on to Harpers Wine & Spirit Weekly. In 2004 he became the first editor of The World of Fine Wine, a British quarterly publication for wine enthusiasts and collectors, which won the Louis Roederer Award for International Wine Publication of the Year all three years the title was awarded (2012 to 2014). He also edited the seven titles in the Finest Wines book series, published by University of California Press, and 1001 Wines to Try Before You Die. Beckett is a member of the Grand Jury Européen and was a judge for the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show in 2007.

Eduardo Brethauer

International Judge: Chile

Based in Santiago, Eduardo Brethauer is an independent wine writer and taster.  He studied wine marketing at the University of Viña del Mar and is a former journalist for the Chilean wine industry.  Owner and wine editor at Vitis Magazine, Chile’s only technical magazine, he is author of the popular guide Vinos con Cuento and is a member of The Circle of Wine Writers and Cronistas Gastronómicos de Chile. With the objective of raising interest in wines from less prominent regions of the world, Brethauer is the founder of Vignadores de Carignan, an association of producers that reintroduces viticultural traditions of more than four centuries in Maule Valley. Judge at several international wine competitions including the Six Nations Wine Challenge.

Heidi Mäkinen

International Judge: UK

Finnish-born 29 year-old Heidi Mäkinen is one of the top ten sommeliers in the world, having been placed eighth in the 2016 Best Sommelier of the World Contest. A meteoric career trajectory has seen her advance from 3rd place in the National Young Sommelier Competition in 2010 to first place in that competition and Best Sommelier in Finland in 2015. She is presently a senior sommelier at private members’ wine club 67 Pall Mall in London. A WSET Level 4 (with merit) diploma recipient, Mäkinen is also currently a Master of Wine student.
·       Narina Cloete

SA Judge

Winemaker at Blaauwklippen Agricultural Estate. An Honours BSc Agriculture (Oenology) cum laude graduate from Stellenbosch University. Completed harvests at Glen Carlou, Dornier, AA Badenhorst Family Wines and Stellenzicht. Joined Quoin Rock Winery in 2008 as assistant winemaker and was winemaker there from 2010 until 2014. She has served on judging panels of South Africa’s Young Wine Show, FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc, the new Cape Vintners Classification, Blaauwklippen Blending Competition and Veritas Awards. Distinction graduate of the Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy in 2013 and attended the advanced Wine Judging Academy in 2014. Trophy Wine Show associate judge in 2013, 2014 and 2016.

Heidi Duminy CWM

SA Judge

Cape Wine Master and wine communications specialist recognised for her particular expertise in Champagne and sparkling wine. Formerly Group Communications manager for DGB, Brand Manager for Veuve Clicquot and Krug and then Trade Marketing Manager of the LVMH portfolio of Champagnes and spirits. Currently National Marketing Manager for Meridian Wine Merchants. Chaired Classic Wine Magazine’s Cap Classique panel and has judged sparkling wine for Veritas since 2011.  Associate judge at the Trophy Wine Show in 2012, 2014 and 2015 and judge in 2016. Lectures for the Cape Wine Academy and writes and presents under HeidiVine Communications. Distinction graduate of the Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy in 2011 and Advanced Wine Judging Academy attendee in 2014.

Christian Eedes

SA Judge

Co-owner and editor of Winemag.co.za, freelance wine writer contributing to Decanter and other titles on an occasional basis. He completed a small-scale winemaking programme run by Stellenbosch University’s Department of Viticulture and Oenology and is a graduate of the inaugural Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy. Further experience includes judging for the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show (2007 to 2014 and 2016) and Platter’s South African Wine Guide in addition to various other local and international competitions.
·          

Nkulu Mkhwanazi

SA Judge

Durban-based wine educator and KZN wine ambassador for Creation Wines, Crystallum, Remhoogte, Gabriëlskloof and Oldenburg. Chaired the UCT Wine Society in 2005. In 2009 founded the 031 Wine Society.  Founded the Shamase Wine Corp and the Johannesburg Wine Series (monthly themed tastings) in 2010. Chairman of the Highway Wine Society, Durban’s oldest wine club, since July 2014. Judge at the RECM 10 Year Old Wine Awards in 2013. Graduated with distinction from the Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy in 2011 and attended the Advanced Wine Judging Academy in 2014. Completed a certificate in small scale winemaking from the University of Stellenbosch in 2015 and WSET Level 3 in 2016.  Trophy Wine Show associate judge from 2011 to 2014 and judge in 2015 and 2016.

James Pietersen

SA Judge

SA Portfolio Manager for Wine Cellar. Previously Head Sommelier for the Slick Restaurant Group and a former wine buyer for the Vineyard Connection. Graduated with distinction at the Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy in 2007 and attended the Advanced Wine Judging Academy in 2014. A taster for Platter’s South African Wine Guide and Winemag.co.za panelist. A previous board member of SASA (South African Sommelier Association).  Trophy Wine Show judge in 2008, 2009 and from 2012 until 2015.

François Rautenbach

SA Judge


Heads up the ‘Singita Premier Wine Direct’ programme for Singita Game Reserves, sourcing and supplying wines for the Singita properties in Southern and East Africa. Deeply invested in hospitality having lived and worked in Africa, France, U.K. and Australia – always with emphasis on food and wine excellence.  Cape Wine Academy Diploma graduate.  Graduated with distinction at the Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy in 2008, served as associate judge at the Trophy Wine Show that year and has been a senior judge at the show since 2011.  Attended the Michael Fridjhon Advanced Wine Judging Academy in 2014

Information supplied by the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show
Posted by MENU at 12:38 am 0 comments
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