Monday, September 12, 2022

Cape Winemakers Guild 2022 tutored and public Tastings



The prestigious 2022 Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction will be held on Friday, September 30th from 17h00 to 20h00 and on Saturday, October 1st from 9h00 to 15h00. It will be Virtual and Live from the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West, hosted by Strauss & Co. Should you wish to attend and bid or watch the auction live on line and bid from anywhere in the world, please contact them to register, browse or bid. www.strauss.co.za

The CWG Online Protégé Auction will be from September 26th to October 3rd at 19h00

Consult the Strauss website for details

We are always extremely grateful to be invited to the tutored tasting
of the wines that will appear at this year’s Cape Winemakers Guild auction

The tasting was held on August 25th at the Westin Hotel in Cape Town

Members of the wine industry, media and other interested parties are invited
and each winemaker presents her/his wine at the tasting

Gordon Newton Johnson, this year’s CWG Chair began the tasting. He said, "There is reason for optimism in 2022 as we reconnect and search for balance after the intrusion of the Covid pandemic. The industry has endured much over the past few years, yet continues to inspire creativity, transcend in excellence and capture the imagination of the wine world. The CWG is the embodiment of these virtues as they seek to be the vanguard of positive change and progress in the industry. The membership is ever evolving to exemplify the diversity and dynamism of our wines and the people who dedicate themselves to this art"

The pourers were all final year students from Elsenberg College, the future of winemaking!
And they were very practiced at pouring. It is a rather fast tasting,
although this year the winemakers did add more information and so took longer
which gave us time to taste properly and make notes

We tasted in the order of the winemakers’ photographs, from left to right:
Silverthorn Big Dog VIII Cap Classique 2017
De Grendel Wooded Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Bartho Eksteen Wine Estate Vloekskoot Sauvignon Blanc, wooded 2021
Beaumont Family Wines, Hope Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2020
Mullineux The Gris Semillon 2021; Warwick White Lady Auction Chardonnay 2020
Paul Cluver Wines the Wagon Trail Chardonnay 2021


Lynne made detailed notes and can report that this was probably the most consistent tasting we have attended over the years; the quality of all the wines is excellent and we scored very highly across the board. It will be an exciting auction




Of special note for her were the Vloekskoot Sauvignon Blanc, Paul Cluver Wagon Train Chardonnay, Newton Johnson Windansea Pinot Noir, David and Nadia Grenache Noir, Saronsberg Inner Circle, Boplaas Daniels Legacy, Strydom The Game Changer Cabernet Franc/Merlot, De Trafford Perspective, Delaire Graff Cabernet Sauvignon, Simonsig Heirloom Shiraz

Best wine on the tasting for her, scoring full marks was the Raats Family Stella Nova Cabernet Franc: Instant quality and savouriness on the nose draws you in, with incense oak and good fruit in the background. Rich on the palate, dark berry fruit shines and fills the mouth, then a dark savoury zing, wonderful long flavours, almost emotional

Jeremy Walker of Grangehurst and Jeff Grier of Villiera seriously involved in tasting

As before L to R:
Lismore Estate Vineyards Valkyrie Chardonnay 2021
 Gottfried Mocke Wine Projects Chardonnay 2021
 Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Windansea Pinot Noir 2020
Bouchard Finlayson Pinot Noir 2019
David & Nadia Veiling Grenache Noir 2021
Luddite Oupa Mourvedre 2021
Ernie Els Wines CWG 2019

Francois Rautenbach of Singita Lodges and Johan Krige, CEO of Kanonkop, discussing what and how much to buy?!

As before L to R
Saronsberg Inner Circle 2019
Carl Schultz spoke for Boplaas Family Vineyards CWG Daniel's Legacy 2020 (Carel Nel was overseas)
Strydom Family Wines, the Game Changer Cabernet Franc Merlot 2017
Spier Frans K Smit CWG Special Edition 2018
De Trafford Perspective 2020
Hartenberg Wine Estate CWG Amphora Merlot 2020
 Raats Family Wines Stella Nova Cabernet Franc 2018
David Finlayson Wines Edgebaston Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2017

Neil Ellis Wines Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
 Delaire Graff Estate Banghoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Miles Mossop Wines Maximillian 2019
Savage Wines Auction Syrah 2020
Simonsig Heirloom Shiraz 2020
Cederberg Teen Die Hoog Shiraz 2020
Kanonkop CWG Pinotage 2019

Richard de Vos and Norma Ratcliffe

Following the tasting we could go back to the foyer to taste some other wines entered into the auction
and a very good spread of finger food was provided

Carl Schultz of Hartenberg and Margaux Nel Coetzee of Boplaas


Erika Obermeyer and David Finlayson

Then back to the Convention Centre for the public tasting
Lynne was having problems with her arthritic hip, so she opted to go home to rest 

which meant a rather long walk for John through Convention Centre 1, right on the other side of the complex


crossing the Heerengracht via the curved bridge


and into Convention Center 2

The CTICC brings s huge amount of business to the Cape and needed to be expanded in 2018
They had a tough time being closed for business during the 2 Covid years,
but successfully acted as a hospital and a vaccination centre
when the pandemic was at its peak and hospital beds were in short supply

The wines on the silent auction were on show for people to bid on
all these very special wines are from previous auctions, and signed by the winemaker
The proceeds go towards supporting the Protégé programme

The auction wines were on the counters around the hall and the winemakers were showcasing their wines. Some also had wines from previous auctions to taste, as well as their contribution to this year's auction

It looked as though there was quite a lot of interest
 There will be another silent auction on the day of the auction

Boela Gerber of Groot Constantia and Joaquim Sa, MD of Amorim Cork

Richard and Mariette Kershaw
Richard is now a member of the Cape Winemakers Guild as well as a Master of Wine
His first auction wine will be shown next year, he told us

Bennie Howard CWM and Duncan Savage

Erika Obermeyer

Gary and Alex Jordan

Mark Pepper and Johan Malan of Simonsig

John Loubser

speaking to Rebecca Constable, Woolworths wine selector

Saboteur Crown Cork wine from The Luddite, Neels Verburg

A happy Niels Verburg

Andrea Mullineux

Negotiant Dane Raath with winemaker Alex Starey of Keermont, who has newly been elected to the CWG

All our stories can be seen in the Blog Archive near the top of the column on the right

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Sunday, September 11, 2022

Vinimark Trade tasting

Another large trade wine show this week. Vinimark, whose Wine Trade Fair was held at the CTICC, represents some prestigious Cape Wine farms as well as some successful commercial brands that appear on many wine lists. One cannot possibly attempt to taste more than a fraction of the wines available so one listens to others about what they have been tasting and what is worth trying, as well as finding wines that have won recent awards

One comment after the tastings we have attended over the last weeks and it is worrisome. We have noticed a trend that winemakers are adding much too much wood to good Chardonnay, and they do seem to be younger winemakers. Have we learnt nothing? Please let’s not punish our wonderful Chardonnays with too much wood. People don’t like it and let’s face it, not many people buying Chardonnay have cellars and can afford the time for the wood to integrate. Gently does it and you will sell all of it

Early afternoon. It is attended by sommeliers and restaurant staff fitting the tasting between lunch and evening sessions, so it is spacious, as many of the daily trade are still working; later, it becomes quite hectic

Ginette de Fleuriot CWM was pouring the French Champagnes,
Nicolas Feuillet and a magnum of Bollinger Special Cuvée Rosé which was so exciting, spicy, crisp,
showing lovely raspberry and strawberry fruit and great quality. Great way to begin a tasting like this

Kerry Sutherland of Kerry-Wine and Tarryn Vincent of Reciprocal Trading, importers of Riedel glasses

Melvin Minnaar with Matthew Barlow of Rustenberg
The Rustenberg Stellenbosch Malbec 2020 is a textbook expression of this lovely grape
Spice, good dark cherry, berry fruit and good oak. Soft and slightly chewy on the deep juicy palate, with lovely length
It calls for a five course gourmet meal
The John X Merriman 2020 blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot has violets first then good fruit;
such elegance and power with sweet berry fruit and dark wood on the end. One to put down, but drinking so well now
The Peter Barlow 2019 has incense wood, layers of dark berry fruit on the nose, sweet berries on the palate,
lighter than expected and juicy and asking for food

Ad Wegner of GetWine with James Downes of Shannon
The Shannon Oscar Browne Chardonnay 2020 is new; a first picking from the fourth year of the vines
Elegant, with a whiff of good French oak, then perfume, then fruit;slightly etherial and enticing
Round on the palate, clean crisp limes and lemon, then a whiff of stone fruit and a finish of golden oak. Delicious

The Shannon Rockview Ridge Pinot Noir 2019 is perfumed, elegant, with pencil shavings and berry fruit,
on the palate, soft strawberry & raspberry fruit in layers, supported by good wood and a long finish
Lynne has a word to describe the Shannon Mount Bullet Merlot 2019 A.maz.ing!
Soft and shy on the nose at first then incense wood and fruit comes out to play
Lovely soft chalky tannins and pure essence of cherries and raspberries. Classy, elegant, textured,
just what a Merlot should be

James Downes showing his Merlot to Gus Allen of Constantia Glen
The Constantia Glen TWO 2020 is as expected, so elegant and full of great fruit,
delicious to drink and as an accompaniment to good food

Annemie Adriaanse representing Edgebaston Wines

Mandy Giddey of Makro with Tracy James-Elphick of Vinimark

Neil Ellis' new budget range of West Coast Sauvignon Blanc
It is a classic Sauvignon Blanc from the West Coast, crisp and complex with a real hint of sea breeze

Neil Ellis with his daughter Margot

and his new wallet-friendly Rosé

Zia van Rooyen du Toit, Sales & Marketing Director at Lanzerac Wine Estate with Francois du Toit

Samantha O'Keefe of Lismore Estate with James Pietersen of The Wine Cellar

The food flowed throughout the tasting and was rather good

A final appearance of Glenelly cellarmaster Luke O’Cuinneagain before he starts in his new position at Vergelegen
The Glenelly Estate Reserve Red 2016 is our sort of complex red wine blend
A whiff of Cabernet Franc on the nose, lovely savoury umami flavours on the palate with deep, dark berry fruit
The Glenelly Lady May 2016 echoes the elegance of Glenelly owner Madame May-Eliane de Lencquesaing
 A classic Bordeaux blend, with a little ripeness from the South African terroir,
lovely fruit, great wooding and soft tannins and definitely a keeper

Pretty little bites

Serrano ham and edible pansies, which Lynne cannot bear to eat as they are so pretty

Oh, those enormous prawns! and some quiches

Woolworths wine selector Rob Gower with Bosman Wines marketing manager Anthony van Schalkwyk
and cellarmaster Corlea Fourie
We loved the Bosman Upper Hemel and Aarde Sauvignon Blanc,
so classic with lovely green capsicum and elderflower on the nose and palate, crisp and refreshing

Head to head with Johan Reyneke
His stand was so busy. Lynne only managed to taste three white wines
His ripe and rich Organic Chenin Blanc 2021 has lovely stewed apple and apricot fruit
The Organic Sauvignon Blanc is complex and layered with good wood on the end
The Biodynamic Sauvignon Blanc 2021 has smoke and pleasant hints of fruit on the nose
It opens up on the palate and enchants with long fruit flavours, good grip of tannins and is full of quality and possibility

Sticky steak kebabs and a smiling server

Irene de Fleuriot, winemaker and General Manager of La Bri

Christo le Riche, who stepped into father Etienne’s big shoes at Le Riche and has filled them very well

Sophia Hawkins showing the pre-release Vilafonte Series C

There were many more great wines which we scored highly, like the Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2019 which is perfumed with raspberries, flavours of red and black berries in intense layers and some chocolate and licorice on the end. A blockbuster but needs time

The Boekenhoutskloof 2019 Syrah has a very pretty nose, quite enticing. Lynne would wear it as a perfume! Good red berry fruit, tooth gripping tannins with the fruit following through with freshness, spice, pepper and raspberries

The Creation Viognier 2022 says "bring on summer!" Peach and other stone fruit on the nose, then crisp lime and warm fruit combines to a lovely full palate with an end of a summer fruit salad

The De Morgenzon Reserve Syrah 2017 has elegance, fine pencil shaving wood, perfume and soft pepper, and coriander spice on the nose. Sweet fruit beguiles and fills the palate, some grippy chalky tannins, then the fruit returns with long flavours and spice on the end

All our stories can be seen in the Blog Archive near the top of the column on the right

If you do not wish to receive e-mails from us, please email menucape@gmail.com with the word 'UNSUBSCRIBE' in your email

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