Thursday, October 18, 2018

2018 FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 Awards at Landtscap, Stellenbosch

The announcement of the Top 10 South African Sauvignon Blancs was held last week at the magnificent Landtscap venue, which overlooks Devon Valley in Stellenbosch. Proudly sponsored by First National Bank, they really pushed the boat out and we had a superb celebration. The early evening views over the valley towards the blue mountains in the distance are exceptional
There were three food stations; groaning with food for us to pick at before dinner and the awards ceremony which were held inside. We were poured glasses of Steenberg Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc
Choices, choices
Succulent Parma ham and there was some good smoked salmon
A waitress bearing bubbles from Steenberg
It was a large crowd of winemakers and media
Inside, tables were set for the awards and supper
Beautifully decorated tables with fresh flowers
And an orchid on each place setting
Our very funny MC for the evening was Schalk Bezuidenhout
The menu. The tables outside at the top and the dinner below
The main course of Chilli and Ginger marinated Pork Belly with excellent fondant potatoes, a good apple jus, baby carrots, a red cabbage fritter beneath which was really meaty, tooth-breaking "crackling" and topped with an apple crisp. The pork flavourful, but also was a bit fatty; it would be great if they pressed the meat after the first cooking, which gets rid of most of the fat before the second cooking
Sumptuous roses and frilly carnations
Winnie Bowman presented winemaker Neil Ellis with an award for his services to Sauvignon Blanc
Neil is the retiring Chairman of the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group
Stephan Claassen of First National Bank is in charge of their
Business Banking for the Western and Eastern Cape
Kleine Zalze winemaker RJ Botha is the incoming Chairman of SBIG. He said that Sauvignon Blanc is a wild wine, crisp, elegant with gooseberries, passion fruit, pyrazines; the best smell in a tank day, and it makes Moolah! 22% of Sauvignon now retails above R90 a bottle. Grapes cost over R5750 a ton and we grow more of it than most other varietals, including Cabernet. It is on the rise, so SBIG's aim is to focus on marketing this abroad and to the local market. The Sauvignon Blancs from the Cape compare at the highest level to others grown elsewhere. This year, there were 167 wines entered. Put the word out there please about how good it is. (We do all the time RJ! And we tell people it’s OK to drink it older; in fact it gets better with age)
Thys Louw of Diemersdal talked about the judges and the wines they tasted
These are the top 10 Sauvignons Blanc for 2018
Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin 2018, Zalze Vineyard Reserve 2017 (Kleine Zalze),
Bellingham Homestead 2018, D’Aria The Songbird 2017, De Grendel Koetshuis 2017 (wooded)
Diemersdal Winter Ferment 2018, Flagstone Free Run 2017, Fryer’s Cove Doringbay 2017,
Nitida Wild Child 2017 (wooded), Rustenberg 2018

Dessert would have suited some kids, a firm Bubble gum flavoured panna cotta with candyfloss and raspberry jelly, white chocolate dipped jam donuts, and popcorn sticks drizzled with chocolate

The top ten winners
Posted by MENU at 6:05 pm 0 comments

Relaunch of SALT at Paul Cluver wine estate, Elgin

SEASONED CHEF CRAIG CORMACK LAUNCHES SALT RESTAURANT ON PAUL CLUVER WINE ESTATE
The anticipation of enjoyment when we are invited to the media launch of a newish restaurant, which has been open for several months but has not been very vocal while they started up, is always good. . When it is on an iconic wine farm only 1 hour from Cape Town, the excitement increases. And when we learned that the chefs involved are some of Cape Town's best, we could not wait to see what was on offer. Chef Craig Cormack runs The Goose Roasters with his partner Beau du Toit, where they do catering, training, functions, private dining and pop ups at festivals and markets and so much more. This is a new venture for them. Chef Mechell Spann is the chef in residence at Salt. Craig is also an expert on salt, its history and its uses and he had a huge collection of salts on show in the restaurant. He lectures about it worldwide. And you can taste it on the table and in the food
It is a lovely open and airy restaurant with terrace space and a large front lawn; good for picnics prepared by the chef. They do breakfast and lunch and booking is recommended. Contact 021 844 0012 or email saltatpaulcluver@gmail.com And the Paul Cluver tasting room is close by, where you can taste their great wines
Chef Craig Cormack with Paul Cluver junior
We gathered on the terrace
and who should arrive to congratulate Craig, Beau and Michel but chef Gordon Manuel and his wife Emma, who manage the Pool Room restaurant at the next door farm, Oak Valley. They are old friends
The canapés we were served are actually tiny samples of the five starters on the menu
Smoked Ham Hock terrine, with pickled red cabbage, crisp coppa ham,
apple and ale cured homemade mustard. Well balanced and a very flavourful dish
A selection of them
The one in the front had a crisp sliver of what tasted like roast lamb skin, heavenly
Confit chicken, prawn satay, a dot of chilli jam, spring onion dressing and chicken liver paté
An impressive dish, one to order again
Dr Paul Cluver, with his wife Songvej, son Paul and his daughter Liesl Cluver Rust
The three chefs with Paul Cluver talking about the restaurant. They told us that the original purpose of the building was to hold the still when they made Calvados style apple brandy
Songvej Cluver, the matriarch of this lively family
Her unusual name was given to her by her Norwegian father
Chef Craig told us that salt is his passion: "I have been pairing wine and salts for the last few years, and my salt collection now numbers 143 of an estimated 180 to 200 different types, with all of them having different flavour profiles, from around the world. I believe that I am the first chef to do this exercise both in South African and the world”
The staff are professional and very friendly and helpful
Chef Craig explains the food that we are about to eat
Some of the Cluver Red wines. We had the Pinot Noir; perfumed and delicate, full of fresh raspberry notes, with rose petal perfume, carefully wooded, elegant and so good with food
A selection of Paul Cluver white wines for lunch. Lynne loves the rich, round and buttery Estate Chardonnay with its crisp citrus notes; it has been her Birthday Wine twice and may well be it again! The excellent flagship 7 Flags Chardonnay did very well at the Prescient Chardonnay awards this week, scoring 94 points, the top score. The main difference is the amount of new wood used on the 7 flags. It is site and barrel selected and made to last
Lynne enjoying our lunch with journalist Norman McFarlane, Dr Paul Cluver and Eppie McFarlane
Eppie McFarlane in conversation with Cluver Marketing manager Andrea Erwee
"Would you like Chardonnay or Riesling with your main course?" asks Dr Paul. The Paul Cluver wines are excellent and went very well with the food. They are made by son-in law Andries Burger, who is married to Dr Paul's daughter Inge. Andries has won many awards and his wines score very highly here and abroad
Chef Craig's salt collection comes from all over the world. If you know of any unusual salts and can send or bring them to him, he is always grateful. Several of these unusual and rare salts are available to purchase
There were three salts on the table for adding to the food or simply sampling. The food is very well seasoned, so we did not need to add anything. L to R volcanic Black Hawaiian salt, or Hiwa Kai, Kala Namak aka Black Salt, Sanchal has a distinct sulphur aroma and taste; and Hawaiian Sea Salt, aka Alaea, Alae, Hawaiian Red Salt
Looking through a block of Himalayan pink salt which is on every table. Food can be served on these blocks of salt
The current menu with its very interesting choices, it will change seasonally. The food is absolutely delicious and we shall return for more
You can watch the chefs in the open kitchen. Here Chef Beau is seasoning with salt!
Our main course was actually four small samples from the mains on the menu; clockwise from the top: Crispy Pork Belly, Salt Water Fish, Coconut Simmered Beef Brisket and Smoked Lamb Shoulder
Another view of the main course selection
and dessert was four small samples of the 4 menu desserts. Clockwise from the top: Banana Rum Baba; Chocolate Bar; Lemon Meringue and Stone Fruits. Also all amazing, with lots of texture and different flavours. And all seasoned with a little salt which improves sweet dishes enormously. The chocolate was an especially good match for the Paul Cluver Reserve Pinot noir
This is the picnic that you can order in advance and enjoy in the garden. Something we also plan to do soon. It can include a selection of local cheeses, various cured cold meats, our famous roasted tomato salad with wasabi cream cheese and basil pesto, pulled lamb shoulder rosemary and garlic flat bread and Banana rum baba crème pat. muesli crumble with poached fruit, bread and butter and Elgin apples. Phone them for a quote, it has to be pre-ordered. The wine is extra
Posted by MENU at 5:31 pm 2 comments

Tasting Villion wines in Bot River

On the way back from the party and our overnight stay in Hemel and Aarde, we stopped off at Barton Wine estate, which we have been meaning to visit for a long time; it has been closed on the previous occasions we have tried. It is in the Bot River wine ward, but all is not what it seems. Cellarmaster viticulturist PJ Geyer has now left and owners Annie and Suzie Neill are living in the UK. There is still some Barton wine on the farm to taste and buy, however. The farm has been leased to Villion wines and they are about to renovate the tasting room. We had a very pleasant tasting of Villion wines with Chanel van der Berg and a tasting of the Barton Rosé. The Villion wines are made by Kobie Viljoen, previously winemaker at Gabriëlskloof, and all the grapes are bought in
Just to amuse you, we want you to know that this tasting was truly collaborative. Lynne's palate has been shot by two strong antibiotics (temporary, we hope) and John had a nasty cold, so he couldn't smell much. So words (nose) and music (flavour) are by us both! a first ever; concerto..
The line-up of the wines we tasted. Prices range from R150 to R200 a bottle. A creamy soft and sweet Chenin blanc from 34 year-old Bot River vines; lots of vanilla oak with peaches and naartjies. R190. The 2016 Chardonnay is lightly wooded, with a pretty golden nose, with peaches, sweet on entry with long flavours and gentle wooding. R180. The 2016 Blanc de Atlantic is a blend of 68% Viognier, 22% Chardonnay & 10% Bot River Chenin. Apricots, peaches and cream and soft wood on the nose, sweet and hot on the palate with 14.5% alcohol. Full of orange naartjie and yellow cling peach deliciousness. R170
The very young and fresh, with raspberries on the nose, Barton Rosé, from lightly pressed Pinot Noir is a bargain at R70 a bottle. Tastes of strawberries and cream, good for summer enjoyment. 12.5% alcohol
More of the Villion wines. The Pinot Noir has vanilla oak, rose petals and rich dark berry fruit on the nose. Savoury on the palate, with cooked strawberry and cola tonic. The 2016 Syrah was our favourite wine of the tasting. Savoury from the small amount of Mourvedre added, with violets, spice, dark cherry, and elegance on the big nose. There is also a soupçon of Viognier added and this comes across with the soft sweet fruit, lots of spice, ripe juicy black cherries, some red berries and black pepper and cinnamon which even Lynne could taste. R150. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon R200 is classic Cabernet on the nose with cassis berries and green leaves and some violets. Warm cassis and vanilla, raspberry fruit, length, elegance and dark toasted wood on the end
The current tasting room at Barton, due for a revamp soon
The price list
Posted by MENU at 4:14 pm 0 comments

A birthday party for two wine industry veterans, Allan Mullins and Peter Finlayson

These two large and much loved wine personalities are celebrating their 70th birthdays this month and we were delighted to be invited to join them both to celebrate. Allan Mullins, CWM and Wine Selector for Woolworths, turned 70 on Tuesday this week and Peter Finlayson of Bouchard Finlayson will do so next week on the 24th. The party was held at Bouchard Finlayson wine estate in the Hemel en Aarde Valley last Sunday and was so much fun
The party was held inside in the beautifully decorated function room (there was a South Easter blowing) and later we sat and ate at tables on the terrace of the tasting room
Chef Stefan Otto was in charge of braaiing the very fresh and well seasoned yellowtail
The rest of the food was brought by the guests and we had a lovely selection of salads and some canapés. Lynne made a classic from the original recipe by Constance Spry and Rosemary Hume; Coronation Chicken, which was first served in 1953 at Queen Elizabeth's coronation
There were hot Greek pies and macaroni and cheese, garlic bread, a Thai salad with waterblom, caprese salads and much, much more. Hilton Kuck produced superb chocolate mousse cakes for dessert
Quite a few winemaker friends of both, like Neil Ellis, Etienne le Riche, Peter and Ann Ferreira had come to join the party as had many other people in the wine industry
Fun speeches were made, lots of toasts and a reminder by Dr John Grant that when Allan first had his accident at 23 he was not expected to live to 30! So for him to get to 70 is huge. He intends to keep going, he says
Some of the guests, listening to the speeches and looking at the groaning table
and Lynne Sherriff MW travelled from London for the celebration
Here she is with Allan's wife Therese and Allan. We are not sure why she is wearing Dirndl but she looks great and was the life and soul of the party

Peter Finlayson, with his wife Geta, was also having a great time with the mutual gang. It was a very special party
Posted by MENU at 3:55 pm 0 comments
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