An invitation to a tasting with Catherine Marshall of her Pinot Noirs, followed by lunch, was quickly accepted
We so respect what Cathy has done in her career and really love the wines she produces
Her cellar / tasting room is on Lavinia farm, at the very top of the last hill on the Polkadraai Road,
as one approaches from Stellenbosch, so there are magnificent views across toward Stellenbosch
Lynne getting a warm welcome from Cathy's mum Jakki, whom we have not seen for far too long
The wine that welcomed us was the Amatra Semillon which has that greyness Lynne always picks up on Semillon
with good rich fruit and a whiff of oak. Crisp English gooseberry and limes on the full palate,
with that little Semillon fat on the roof of the mouth, refreshing and enjoyable
In the tasting room, Cathy outlines some of her history
She attended Elsenberg for 3 years and has done a lot of harvests abroad
in Sonoma, Oregon, in Australia and at Angelus in Burgundy
She started making wine in 1996 with a foot stomping party on Muizenberg beach,
which produced her first Shiraz from a ton of grapes
She was the first Garagiste winemaker with her Barefoot (on the beach) wines
There was little legislation then and buying grapes and hiring cellars was possible
Then new legislation arrived and finding grapes became difficult, especially for women winemakers
And so her winemaking became more serious
Some of her Barefoot wines
The full range for tasting sits beneath the paintings done by Hannekie de Klerk, which grace the wines' labels
After scouring vineyards throughout the Western Cape, Cathy made the decision in 2007
to source all grapes from mostly cool climate Elgin and the Hemel en Aarde Valley for Pinot Noir
and also Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chenin Blanc
Grown on Table Mountain sandstone and Bokkeveld Share these are the oldest soils in the world at 500 million years
The first four wines in the tasting
2014 Sandstone Pinot Noir has perfume and cherry raspberry and pomegranate on the nose
with a whiff of wood which follows through on the very satisfying palate which lasts well. From 100% Elgin fruit
The Clay Pinot Noir 2014. The nose more earthy with umami and brulée notes
Elgin fruit; mulberry cherry and pomegranate. Clean and crisp and full of red berry fruit with some blueberry,
it is still fresh with wood on the end
The Sandstone Pinot Noir 2020; a warm year
Rich cherry conserve on the nose; so accomplished, powerful and fresh. A hint of violets
Rounded on the palate, full fruit and wood and melded into one fine wine, with good oak and minerality
Very Burgundian in style
The Clay Pinot Noir 2020. Shy at first then perfume and ethereal integrated berry fruit
Sweet Raspberry, then morello cherry; a good balance of fruit and acids, umami on the end
Clay 2021 Pinot Noir and Sandstone 2022 Pinot Noir which is ruby red,
with pomegranate, cranberry and raspberry with wood as a perfume on the nose
Soft and silky on the juicy fruit palate, with good wood and crisp tannins,
the wine has huge aging potential and is delicious, matured in 100% Burgundian 300 litre French oak with just a light toast
Clay 2022 Pinot Noir has incense wood, perfume of raspberry and rose with earthy notes
Layered mulberry, rhubarb and black cherry fruit, with good texture as tannins, dark oak,
chalk and salty minerality reveal themselves. Long, long flavours remain
It's a Wow from us
Finite Elements 2017
Cathy says it's engineering the Elgin Pinot from the vineyard to the glass
From layered red, white and blue clay soils. Smoky with gentle fruit which then opens up to impress
Silky on the palate, full of delicious red plum fruit, perfume of jasmine surrounds
The 2018 Finite also has plum and rose perfume, very approachable and fine
Ripe red berries, cassis, pomegranate and damson
2019 Elements Red
Velvet on the nose, perfume, a hint of oak and minerality
Chalky with wood at first, then lots of plum and mulberry fruit, long flavours; it's waiting in the wings
Finite 2020 from Hemel en Aarde Pinot Noir
Cherry richness, it's a dive in nose with good wood supporting. Very satisfying and intriguing
Silky and full of soft red berry fruit, a delicious mouthful in layers, it calls for food
Best in the lineup, can't wait to see how it matures
Finite Elements Pinot Noir 2021 has perfume, wood smoke and soft berry fruit
It's juicy with long layered flavours and definite salty umami flavours
Sandstone 2021 Pinot Noir, A cherry bomb on the nose and palate
Elgin fruits. Incense oak, the wine has tension, and is very Burgundian in style, soft tannins on the palate
with long red and black cherry flavours
The just released Finite 2022 has smoke, dark berry fruit, elegance and intrigue
We love pinot; cherry, berry fruit, a bit shy but will come into its own
Lovely on the palate, tastes mature already, got all the flavours and the class it needs
Cathy and Zonnika Louw, the Tasting Room manager, pouring the wines
A local art gallery curates the art which graces the tasting room and it has successfully sold works to customers here
It certainly adds to the charm as does the fireplace
The tasting room "menu"
We certainly encourage you to visit, taste and buy these interesting and quality wines
Need another two glasses!
The view looking towards the Stellenbosch mountains
Time for lunch and there was some very good bread and cheese straws provided
The warm chicken pie was delicious. It went so well with the 2022 Chenin Blanc
A very good cheese platter; we especially enjoyed the Gorgonzola, superb with good bread and great Pinot Noir
good mixed salad
and a colourful coleslaw
It all went so well together
Jakki had made a really delicious, crisp lemon tart
which was accompanied by a trio of very flavoursome, quality ice creams
Strawberries and Cream, Mango and a good, rich chocolate
We had not heard of Sorbetier before, but will be sure to seek them out
The 2023 Riesling has pretty rose petals and smoke on the nose and not a trace of any terpenes, thankfully Long, clean, crisp with hints of honeysuckle and in the style of Alsace
2022 Chenin Blanc grown in clay
Rich golden fruit, full on the layered palate with exciting acidity and good fruit. Light wood on the end, very satisfying
A tribute to the strength of women
Clouds gathering over the Simonsberg in the distance, looking over the lavender which is in full bloom now
Earlier, a small duiker antelope had been spotted in among the flowers
Thank you Cathy, Jakki and Zonnika for an epic tasting and great lunch
We also enjoyed the company of the other invited guests who seemed to be as keen on the wines as we were
All our stories can be seen in the Blog Archive near the top of the column on the right
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