Monday, February 28, 2022

Cape Vintner Classification Summer Soirée at Vergelegen

An invitation to the Cape Vintner Classification Summer Soirée at Vergelegen had us raring to go; the first proper, organised wine tasting with our peers to be held since the end of lock down. It was an opportunity to walk around the tables of the different wine farms and taste some of the best vintage wines from their cellars. Who could resist, especially when the wine farms involved included some of the very best in our industry: Almenkerk, Anthonij Rupert, De Morgenzon, De Wetshof, Diemersdal, Kanonkop, Morgenster, Vergelegen, Waterford and Wildekrans. It was held from 4 till 7 pm on a Friday evening, so we booked overnight accommodation in the area, so that we didn’t have to drive back to Cape Town afterwards

The welcome drink from Vergelegen was the superb 2018 Semillon;
full and layered and a perfect example of how beautiful Semillon can be when grown and made here
A hundred years ago, Semillon was the most planted white varietal in the country


"The Cape Vintner Classification is a platform to promote the best expression of site, credibility and consistency amongst South Africa’s best producers and their wines”, said Johann Krige, 2021 CVC Chairman on the CVC website. The purpose of the CVC is thus to lay a lasting foundation on which to create Cape wines that stand alongside the finest wines in the world

Billie Lambrechts, who invited us, had some very interesting aged specimens for tasting on her table

These included the Groot Constantia Gouverneur’s Reserve 2016 White, among some older wines at the entrance
Exceptional quality and flavours from this classic blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon

Almenkerk had their 2012 Sauvignon Blanc for tasting
If any wine can persuade people to try and buy older Sauvignons Blanc, it is this one
It was as fresh as a daisy, full of lively, zingy acidity and good fruit; quite remarkable and very enjoyable

We both wandered around the different tables, tasting but, obviously, we could not taste everything, so this is a short précis of the wines we tasted and liked. At a tasting like this you have to spend time tasting the wines with age and show them appreciation. There were many we missed due to lack of time, which we regret. It was also great to see our friends and cohorts in the wine industry after such a long hiatus

Almenkerk had a very good selection of their wines to taste
and there was such a good buzz in the room about them, so people were obviously impressed

Diemersdal has always produced excellent Sauvignons Blanc and to taste some older ones was very special. The M.M. Louw 2019 sauvignon Blanc has a floral perfume on the nose, and was rounded with flavour in layers, superb. The Journal 2019 is drier, very sophisticated and is fermented in French oak barrels, where the lees are stirred to give it a rich mouthfeel and a long finish of minerality, fruit and vanilla wood

The 2009 Diemersdal Pinotage was also impressive, a classic expression of the grape;
incense wood on the nose, lots of dark berry fruit in layers. This wine is built to last

There were tables outside and people also sat on the lawn, nicely spaced apart
We only sat down to eat our supper, there were so many interesting wines with age to taste



We tasted through some of the great older De Wetshof Chardonnays and were especially impressed with the Finesse Chardonnays; two vintages, 2015 and the current 2021. “Crisp, clean and dry, lingering and joyous”, wrote Lynne, "Now I need to eat". And we were not the only ones, people kept talking about it and kept coming to the stand to taste it, sent by their friends. It is great when you pick up a buzz about a particular wine at a tasting

Francois Rautenbach of Singita Lodges and Bennie Stipp, De Wetshof marketing manager

A prestigious wine couple: Platter Guide Editor Philip van Zyl and Cathy van Zyl MW



Everyone was given one of these boxes, containing charcuterie, chicken liver pâté, cheeses, grapes, mixed olives, an apple confit, good butter and a roll. An excellent way to complement a marvellous tasting and assuage any hunger pangs

The event was held on the terrace of the Camphors Restaurant
which is able to accommodate a large group without overcrowding

We loved the De Morgenzon Chenin 2019, another classic made by former winemaker Carl van de Merwe. Lovely floral notes, then ripe stone fruit, and a hint of honey, which follows through on the full and delicious palate perfectly balanced between ripeness, good fruit acidity and, just supporting, golden vanilla oak

Caroline van Schalkwyk, principal of CvS Communications
and Chef Michael Bridgeman of Stables Restaurant at Vergelegen

Waterford winemaker Mark le Roux and English sommelier James O'Leary, who is doing an internship at De Morgenzon
He was very impressed with the wines he tasted and hopefully it will influence his buying when he returns to the UK!

The highlight of the evening was the chance to taste the 2004 The Jem from Waterford. It is their flagship blend, named after the owner of Waterford Estate, Jeremy Ord, or “Jem”, as he is affectionately known. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Shiraz, Mourvedre and Barbera and was superb with an integrated nose of classic dark berry fruit and good French oak; on the palate, full of chocolate and cherries with a kick of pepper and spice. We sold this wine in Main Ingredient from the end of 2007. The 2014 was also impressive and is definitely going to catch up as it ages, although it seems more Italian in style at present, than does the classic 2004. Sangiovese has been added to the blend

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Saturday, February 26, 2022

Overnight in Gordon's Bay

When we are invited to functions that go on into the evening, we try to find affordable accommodation, so that we can stay overnight. We hate driving back at night on the N2 or N1. This time, the event was at Vergelegen and the closest accommodation we could afford was in Gordon’s Bay. And it turned out to be a good find. A small but "beautifully appointed" (estate agent speak!) apartment, just a short drive from the seafront in a quiet residential street

A very comfortable bed



A spacious sitting area with another single bed




A well supplied kitchen, which we didn’t use at all, as we were just overnighting

And plenty of cupboard space, should you need it. A tiny area outside to sit and parking on the premises for one car
The owner is part of the local neighbourhood security so we felt rather safe, and they were very pleasant and helpful


The next morning, we were off, down to the beach to find breakfast;
it brought back many memories of outings Lynne had as a small child visiting with her parents


It was a great experience; many people were out enjoying the beachfront


We found a Spur, which we often go to for breakfast when away from home;
this must be the one with the best views ever. Right on the seafront


Their entrance is round the back because, they told us, they cannot have a gate at the front;
people just left without paying!


Our usual choice is the Unreal Breakfast, a bargain at R42 (£2),
add on for the pot of tea and a black coffee for John. Two sunny side eggs for Lynne


and scrambled for John, with toast and marmalade for each of us


We were rather amused at the "Vegan" barbeque sauce with a picture of a steak....

The sales slip, including tip

We sat on the terrace and enjoyed the lovely fresh sea air
It seems that Gordons Bay can have a lot of South Easter wind; there was none that Sunday morning


The paddling area for small children; Lynne found some lovely shells on the beach
We were so impressed with the area we want to come back here for a few days before the summer is over

Off-Street Parking
A 1980s S Class Mercedes, similar to one John owned, parked on the roof of a book shop, another place for us to visit

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Friday, February 25, 2022

The Gardens at Vergelegen

We were invited to Vergelegen for a tasting of aged wines and parked quite far away from the tasting venue,
but the long walk allowed us to enjoy the beautiful Vergelegen gardens, modern and historic

This is the entrance to the Stables Restaurant and Wine Tasting Centre through the Sundial Garden

Cutting through the tall Bamboo forest, you come to an open area with a pond and magnificent trees
On the property are five historic camphor trees, which were planted in 1700 and declared National Monuments in 1942,
a 300-year old English Oak, a White Mulberry, also dating back to 1700, and the “Royal” Oak, planted in 1928,
a descendant of King Alfred’s oak trees at Blenheim Palace

A restful place

The rose garden was in full flower

The historic Manor House, built by Willem Adriaan van der Stel in the early 1700s,
and beautifully restored by Lady Florence Phillips in the early part of the last century, c.1920

The camphor trees could be an inspiration for the Ents in the Tolkien "Ring Cycle" books

Looking through them to the large grass area,
where a huge stage will be erected for the annual RMB Starlight concert, to be held again this March after a Covid hiatus

and walking back to our car later, we spotted this Hadeda ibis
enjoying a great view atop one of the other historic buildings on the Estate

King of his castle

and the Helderberg mountains, coloured by a magnificent sunset

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Thursday, February 17, 2022

In MENU This Week. Yzerfontein seaside break, Jordan Timepiece Old Vines wines


 Light effects and reflections on the wet sand with Hartlaub's gulls

After two years in which our activities were severely constrained, there are signs of a return to normal life. Most of this week’s MENU is about a short holiday we have taken in Yzerfontein, just up the road from home but, next week, we will have several stories about experiences we have had and other exciting stories are in the pipeline. We have, for example, been invited to a tasting of the Veritas prize winners and the RMB Starlight Concert at Vergelegen, which had to go online last year. Click on the titles and photographs to enjoy the stories…

A holiday break in Yzerfontein

At the end of January, we went on another Great Escape, this time a return to lovely Yzerfontein, by the sea up our West Coast, for 10 days. We enjoyed our Karoo/Garden route trip in October so much that we had been longing to get away, but had to wait until the Omicron variant of Covid had abated. As you will see from the photographs, the surf was up – it is only 79 kilometres away, you Cape surfers. And there is lots of accommodation available at reasonable prices. We are so pleased to see some new restaurants and many food trucks, which may well belong to people who are pivoting to survive. Yzerfontein has a permanent population of 3000, which swells to 30000 at peak season, which is why we like the off-peak times. Read on…

Fish and Chips at Skafti, Yzerfontein

Lynne was just not up to cooking on our first night in Yzerfontein so we decided to try out one of the restaurants. Skafti, which is just at the beginning of town opposite the great Spar supermarket, is known for its seafood. We chatted to a couple from Johannesburg at the next table… Read on…

Portuguese-themed meals at Lulas, Yzerfontein

Lulas Portuguese Restaurant may be Yzerfontein’s best restaurant; it certainly is ours. We had two meals there and were tempted to go again. It is easy to find being located at the end of the northern beach and you can see it from the beach. You do need to book, especially at weekends, because it is extremely popular. Read on…

Rosemead Bakery and YzerBru, a bakery and a professional micro-brewery in Yzerfontein

Several Cape Town friends drove to join us for a day, so we gave them tours of the town and took them out for lunch at places we knew they would enjoy. The first is YzerBru, a small micro brewery that makes very good beers. What we loved is that you can do a tasting of three of them, or all six in 100 ml glasses. Read on…

The Birds of Yzer

Our little flat had a balcony looking over a garden with huge aloes and an empty plot. The balcony gave us a great bird-watching position and we even had one spectacular bird experience on it. Read on…

Wine Tasting at Darling Cellars

On our way back from our stay at Yzerfontein, we made a stop at Darling Cellars. They have a huge range of wines available for tasting and purchase, and the prices are very reasonable considering the very good quality. We often buy them for our everyday wine, especially their whites and rosés. We opted for the eight wines tasting and shared it. You can choose which eight wines you want to taste. Read on…

Jordan Launches Old Vines Timepiece wine range

In 1985 the owner of Jordan Wine Estate, Ted Jordan, father of Gary Jordan, planted three vineyards and they are still producing great grapes and wine,  These vineyards have just become part of the Old Vine Project. Read on…





17th February 2022

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Wine Tasting at Darling Cellars and Groote Post

On our way back from our stay at Yzerfontein, we made a stop at Darling Cellars. They have a huge range of wines available for tasting and purchase, and the prices are very reasonable considering the very good quality. We often buy them for our everyday wine, especially their whites and rosés. We opted for the eight wines tasting and shared it. You can choose which eight wines you want to taste. We especially like the presentation, with an informative label on the base of each glass

The wines we chose to sample were the Reserve Arum Fields Chenin Blanc, R55, which is full-bodied and from hot vineyards, with a candy floss nose, no faults. The Reserve Bush Vine Sauvignon Blanc, R55 (also in a 2 litre box at R110) which is more tropical. The Quercus Gold Chardonnay, slightly pétillant, with lovely fruit, wooded from added oak, R55. We have previously bought the Pyjama Bush Rosé for summer drinking; it's a dry rosé, from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of Grenache to add colour. Still excellent and rather Southern Rhône tasting, at R55 and also in a 2 litre box at R110. And then we tasted the Darling Cellars Merlot Rosé, another dry rosé, with a beautiful, pretty, perfumed red wine nose and everything you want from a summer Rosé at R44. This had to come home with us

There were two wines we wanted to compare: The Darling Cellars Chenin/Sauvignon Blanc which has a good nose, almost toffee in richness, round and pleasant on the palate and very good value at R44. We followed this with the Winemaker's selection Sauvignon Blanc/Chenin and were impressed with this excellent blend, R75. So we bought some of each. The Darling Gustus Chenin Blanc is always good; it has a big nose, wood showing on the palate with lighter fruit than previously. It is a wine that gets better with keeping, R95.

Then two reds: Because it has just won major Kudos overseas, we tasted the Chocoholic Pinotage, which is certainly full of coffee mocca chocolate. It has nice sweet fruit with soft tannins and dark chocolate coffee on the end, for those who love the style. We spotted the Capeman Red, a blend we love of Shiraz, Mourvedre, Grenache and love its flavours and complexity. It has good wood and tannin structures so we have put six bottles away for a couple of years to see where it goes. A steal at R55

All the wines can be seen and purchased online at https://shop.darlingcellars.co.za/index.php?route=product/catalog

This is the tasting room; you can also sit on their terrace outside
We each had a toasted cheese and chutney sandwich for lunch

On our way home, we went via one of our favourite West Coast wineries, Groote Post, and had a glass of their newly released MCC in the tasting room with Peter Pentz. Wow, really impressed by this classic dry wine, brioche on the nose, beautiful crisp, fine mousse, full of pear and lime flavours; very sophisticated and satisfying

It was a very, very hot day, you could see the heat coming off the ground

and every living thing was resting and quiet in the shade

We were not able to see winemaker Lukas Wentzel, who was out, bringing in the harvest,
but we did have a chat with his charming dog

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Jordan Launches Old Vines Timepiece wine range

In 1985 the owner of Jordan Wine Estate, Ted Jordan, father of Gary Jordan, planted three vineyards
and they are still producing great grapes and wine
 These vineyards have just become part of the Old Vine Project
and we were excited to receive this presentation box containing two single vineyard 'Timepiece' white wines,
the 2019 Chenin Blanc and 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, and a pair of elegant Bormioli glasses in which to taste them
We can't wait

Inside the lid of the box is the story behind the wines, signed by three generations of Jordan men, Ted, Gary and Alex

If you would like to try them, the wines are available from the Jordan cellar at R360 each

The Timepiece range will grow and be made from maturing vineyards which have already been identified on Jordan Wine Estate. Vineyards will include, but are not limited to: Riesling, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon alongside the first release of Chenin Blanc & Sauvignon Blanc.

“Much of my life has been spent nurturing these gnarly old vines planted by my Dad, Ted, many decades ago
I am confident that my son, Alex, will continue to cherish them too
These limited-release, heritage-certified, single-vineyard wines ensure
that our guests and customers are able to collect and enjoy our life’s work from our special estate in Stellenbosch”
– Gary Jordan

If you want to know more about these wines, click on this link to  the Jordan website

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