This year's opportunity to taste some of the very best South African White wines
chosen by Caroline Rillema of Caroline's Fine Wine Cellar was held at the DHL Stadium,
a very good venue for rugby matches and wine tastings
The sparkling wines were in a separate room from the main pavilion
Particularly noteworthy were
Le Lude Cap Classique Madame Brut Nature Milesime 2015
Colmant Cap Classique Blanc de Blanc Reserve NV by Paul Gerber
Graham Beck Pinot Meunier 2022 by Pierre de Klerk
and
La Bri Sauvage La Bri Cap Classique 2018
All fitted our huge liking for good dry and very crisp Cap Classiques
Chloe Hooker and Nathan Valentine - Villiera Monro Brut 2017
Kalissa de Kock - Colmant Blanc de Blancs Reserve NV
Michelle Taylor, Mieke Karsten - Graham Beck Pinot Meunièr 2022
Irene le Fleuriot - Sauvage La Bri 2018
Le Lude Madame Brut Nature Millèsime 2015
Carla Pauw - Saltare Brut Reserve NV
Dawie Botha - Antonij Rupert, L'Ormarins Private Cuvée 2016
We then moved on to the Sauvignons Blanc
We have been very interested in tasting the Hasher Family Wines
and it was great to catch up with winemaker Natasha Williams
who has produced their Nauticus Sauvignon Blanc 2023
It is long and dry with the classic nose, a little glycol sweetness, then crisp, green and long flavours
We cannot wait to visit this Hemel and Aarde Farm
Winemaker Natasha Williams
Armand Esterhuizen showed Reyneke Reserve White Sauvignon blanc 2022
It has richness on the nose and palate. It is full of complex flavours, plums, peach, apple, lime and flint
Superb
Michelle Waldeck, a finalist for the accolade of Young Winemaker of the Year 2024,
with Benguela Cove Vinography Sauvignon blanc 2023
Tanya Reynolds showed us Steenberg The Black Swan Sauvignon blanc 2023
It has that classic French style minerality
with clean fruit, a sea breeze with hints of cats pee and gooseberries and lime
Just what Constantia can produce so well
Charles Lourens and Hagen Viljoen with Zevenwacht Z-Collection Sauvignon blanc 2023
On to the three Semillons
The varietal is only produced in a small number of vineyards in South Africa, mostly in Franschhoek
Until the early 20th Century it was the most widely planted white grape
it is such a great wine with food and it ages so beautifully
Jeanne Talbot, Emile Gentis with Thor Vintners Lara Semillon 2023
The grapes are from Glenwood in Franschhoek and show that classic lime and lemon with fullness of flavour
Ryan Puttick showed Old Road Wine Company Grande Mère Semillon 2021
This wine is another classic rendition. It is full of joy and deliciousness with long flavours and wood support on the end
Boekenhoutskloof Semillon 2021, made by talented Gottfried Mocke
It has an enticing nose that draws you in
On the palate clean, long and delicious complexity, with citrus and lime flavours, Calls for food
Now the white Bordeaux Blends
Caroline Rillema - Celestina Agulhas White 2023 made by Caroline Rillema herself, is another excellent wine
As it's grown in the cool Elim area, it produces classic complexity
An attractive nose, great minerality and depth of flavour, crispness and fullness on the palate
Anzette Visser - Cape Point Vineyards Isliedh 2023 - a classic Bordeaux white from the South Peninsula
Etienne Southey and Justin van Wyk - Constantia Glen TWO 2022
French in style, clean and attractive with crisp long flavours with some added salty minerality
Lynne, catching up with Tinashe Marlvin Gweze and Chef Chris Erasmus
Both Chef Chrisand Marlvin are now working for the Newmark Hotel Group
and are in charge of their food and wine
Jan-Nico Coetzee and Maggie Marais
Delaire Graff White Reserve 2022, made by Morne Vrey
Asiphe Makalisa showing Morgenster Reserve White 2022 made by Matthew Anderson
A 70/30 blend It is another classic, with layer after layer of great crisp fruit and well integrated wood
Asiphe Makalisa and winemaker Matthew Andersen of Morgenster
Joshua Kada and winemaker Elzanne Bosman
Groot Constantia Gouveneurs Reserve White 2022
on ice
Stuart Botha and Mia du Plessis - Tokara Director's Reserve 2021
One of our favourities
Lynne thinks Stuart has managed to create a Constantia white Bordeaux
on the high hillsides of the SImonberg at Tokara with sea breeze, intense flavour, complexity and sophistication
So special
Three Niche varietals were next
Bevan Newton Johnson with his Albariño 2023
It is spicy with warmth and difference
Some small initial sweetness then crispness, apricots, limes and something tropical add to its complexity and friendliness
It shouts "Feed me"! This is the future if global warming takes over
Dimitri Vermeulen, Daniela Jansen - Saronsberg Viognier 2022
has the required nose and palate of some peach and some smoke, the palate shows more oak
Jessica Saurwein, winemaker - Saurwein Chi (life force) Riesling 2024
At last a beautiful Cape Riesling that zings and with not a hint of terpenes
and Jessica assured Lynne they should never appear
It's the best, crisp and lively, locally made Riesling we have tasted and was so enjoyed
Time for the Chardonnays
which produced three top wines of the evening for us
The Cap Maritime Chardonnay 2022 from the Hemel and Aarde, made by Gottried Mocke,
has Initial shyness then elegance on the intriguing nose,
just waiting to surprise you with its lovely layers of lime, citrus and stone fruit. Very special
Nompumelelo Mosaka - Hartenberg The Eleanor Chardonnay 2022
made by winemaker Patrick Ngamane
Richard Kershaw - Clonal Selection Chardonnay 2021
Intriguing ripeness on the nose. On the palate, chalk, lime and tannins, then layers of fruit appear as a surprise
The wine has lots of elegance and complexity. It is everything we expect from Richard
Winemakers Kim Wucherpfennig and Jacobus van Zyl
with winemaker Sjaak Nelson's layered Jordan Timepiece Chardonnay 2023
The wine
Wynand Lategan - Lanzerac Mrs English Chardonnay 2023
Hannes Nel - Lourensford Kleipot Chardonnay 2020
Superb, one of the best of the evening
Matured in amphora, it has produced a really interesting, layered and delicious wine with sophistication and lovely fruit
Winemaker Jacques du Plessis - Oak Valley Groenlandberg Chardonnay 2022
A wine we enjoy immensely and drink often. Another Elgin classic
Andries Burger's Paul Cluver Seven Flags Chardonnay 2022
This is beautiful, crisp and elegant and just what it should be, a classic Elgin Chardonnay
Winemaker Pierre Wahl with his delicious Survivor Cellarmaster Series Chardonnay
Pierre and his colleague Ben Snyman are both finalists for the Diners Club winemaker of the Year with their Chenins
Matthew Copeland and Emile van der Merwe - Vondeling Barrel selection Chardonnay 2023
On to White Blends
The Thelema Sutherland 2022 made by Duncan Clark is a blend of Viognier and Roussane
It is lovely on the palate; a hot country wine
This is the sort of blend that shows where we are moving to in the future wine world
Rickety Bridge Foundation Stone White 2023 by winemaker Donovan Ackermann
Leafy green on the enchanting nose
Good freshness on the palate with integrated fruit and good body, another food wine
Leafy green on the enchanting nose
Good freshness on the palate with integrated fruit and good body, another food wine
Vamana Roux with Miles Mossop Saskia 2021
It has lost none of its charm on the nose
Opulent fruit opens up on the palate with length, depth and enjoyment
Starke-Condé Field Blend 2023 made by Jaen Lochner
Sommelliers Joseph Dhafana, Marlvin Gweze
And finally the Chenin Blancs
We really enjoyed the Botanica Mary Delany 2022 by winemaker Ginny Poval
It has a dive-in nose
Fruit is rounded on the palate, there are layers of it and some integrated wood
Eenzaamheid 2021 by Janno Briers-Louw has a sophisticated nose; it's attractive
Full and rich fruit on the palate. Special and a find for us
Ken Forrester The FMC 2023
This wine never fails to impress as does the high price!
Layers of flavour with ripe and crisp fruit in perfect balance nose and palate. Wood supports but doesnt intervene
Oursula Lenee - KWV The Mentors Chenin blanc 2022
by winemaker Kobus van der Merwe as always, excellence
Spier Farmer Angus Chenin blanc 2021
Kyle Martin with Mullineux Schist Chenin 2023 is a classic made by Andrea Mullineux, not to be missed
Swartland fruit in layers with sophistication and enjoyment
Kiara Scott - Brookdale Old Vine Chenin blanc 2022
is lovely crisp and supple with good fruit and length
Kiara is a finalist for the Diners Club winemaker of the Year with this wine
Richard Duckitt with Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin 2022
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