Thursday, June 13, 2019

Robertson Wine Valley's Wacky Wine Weekend 4. De Wetshof

Our next stop, after ExDiem and Ashton, was De Wetshof for a comparative tasting of Chardonnays from the area
The view up the jacaranda avenue is superb when it is flowering
The very elegant buildings and fountain of De Wetshof
We assembled inside the festival tasting area in the cellar
and made some new friends
The wines in the tasting
This is the list of the wines, in the order in which we tasted. A tasting like this really highlights how the different terroirs in the valley affect the wine. Robertson has several soil layers from sandstone to shale, down to the limestone and clay layers. The minerality of these soils does show in the wines and those with limestone clearly show citrus notes. Robertson is perceived as a hot area; it is not, the vines are cooled on summer afternoons by the South Easter wind and winters are cold, especially at night (as we found) and there can be frost. 27% of SA's Chardonnay is grown in the Breede River Valley and this is its largest growing area
The tasting was held in one of the underground cellar rooms and conducted by Johann de Wet, CEO of De Wetshof. All the wines showed well, whether wooded or unwooded and all showed that minerality. The nuances in the wines from different areas, different price ranges, different climates are so informative. The two that really stood out for us were the Excelsior Unwooded Chardonnay - slightly herbal on the nose with lees, it has a crisp tingle on the tongue with lemon and lime flavours, chalky minerality and some nutty flavours on the end and the De Wetshof The Site wooded Chardonnay which spends 12 months in new blonde toasted barrels. This has lovely golden fruit initially on the nose, then loquats and naartjie. It is full of flavour with grapefruit and lemons and lime on the end. Richness with length and complexity; this is a definite food wine. Of interest is that Excelsior and De Wetshof estates are almost next door to each other and the de Wet families who own these two farms are related. This part of the valley is where the first Chardonnays in South Africa were planted. Obviously a terroir we really like!
Journalists Anel Grobler and Jan Laubscher enjoying the tasting
One of our favourite sculptures at De Wetshof - a Bateleur eagle, which gave its name to De Wetshof's Premium Chardonnay
The sun was setting in the West as we left the farm. Thank you for a very interesting and enjoyable tasting; we love it when we learn more about the complexity of our industry and this was very informative and helpful
And clouds coming in hinted that the weather next day or even overnight might be wet. It was
All content ©  John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus

Robertson Wine Valley's Wacky Wine Weekend 5. Zandvliet

Our tasting at De Wetshof finished at 5.30 and we were only expected at Zandvliet at 6.30 for 7. It would take an hour to drive back and forth to our accommodation so we had time to waste. Most tasting centres would be closed, so we went to see how the river was flowing from the red iron bridge that crosses it, on the way to Bonnievale
John took these pictures
Sunset was coming fast, so we then drove to the car park at Zandvliet and sat in our car listening to music
and napping for an hour until we saw others arriving and gauged that it was time to go in
The evening was becoming chilly and we were surprised to see that we were to be in a marquee
We found some seats; Lynne was served a Clemingold Gin - very welcome at that time of the evening
John, the driver, abstained and waited until the talk we had read about, "Tales of Travelling” by writer Erns Grundling
- stories of his Camino and Japanese pilgrimages
The Clemingold Gin stand was very popular and seemed to be free flowing
well presented, very welcome and was a great fillip for the exhaustion from the early start we’d had that morning
And warming, as the tent was rather draughty and chilly and we were grateful for our warm coats
There were lemons on each table which we were told were from a new pipless varietal they have developed;
we were encouraged to take some home, which we did
Our voucher bought us dinner, which was another roosterkoek, this time filled with barbecued pulled pork
or some very meaty vegetable soup, so thick it was almost a stew. John had both
And we had some Zandvliet Chardonnay with it, full of citrus flavours
Roxy, The Witty Wine Woman sending messages to her followers from her phone
There was some good live music before the talk
Time for the talk to begin, introduced by Charlene Nieuwoudt, PRO for Zandvliet
Sadly, although it was advertised in English, the talk was in Afrikaans, not Lynne's strong point
Erns Grundling began his travel tales. He had obviously had quite a tough time on the Camino, as he kept saying that his way of getting through it was repeating his motto: "This will pass". He seems to be looking for answers to life and seeking direction and referred to author Paul Coelho and to Henry David Thoreau and his book Walden; he spoke of Existentialism which had given him inspiration. Not sure he will do it again; it seemed an arduous time
He thought a pilgrimage would assist him
He spoke for an hour and a quarter and then there were several people who thanked him
He has published these books
Zandvliet wine could be enjoyed during the evening, it was on sale
Thoughtful
Reaching his audience
Zandvliet won a Gold Award for their 2015 Kalkveld Shiraz at the Old Mutual Trophy Awards earlier in the week
This farm has always produced award winning Shiraz; this is full of dark and intense black and red berry fruit,
with spicy notes, good expensive French oak wooding and lots of ageing potential
In the tent
The certificate for the Old Mutual Trophy Gold award
Good advertising for Clemingold on the wall
GM of Zandvliet and Winemaker, Jacques Cilliers
He sat at our table and brought us each a good glass of the prizewinning Kalkveld Shiraz,
which we enjoyed very much while the talk progressed
Thank you Jacques and Zandvliet for inviting us and providing dinner
Lynne discovered this lovely room with a very welcome roaring fire on the way to the bathroom and was able to warm up nicely in front of it. Then it was time to find our way back to our accommodation at Tanagra near McGregor. The night temperature went down to 8 degrees and we lit a fire when we got 'home'
It was definitely a night for nightcaps, thick duvets and hot water bottles!

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Robertson Wine Valley's Wacky Wine Weekend 3. ExDiem

We asked to visit some of the newer wineries which we had not yet visited and ExDiem was one of them. It is in the beautiful Klaasvoogds valley behind Kranskop and produces olives, olive oil and some wines
The tasting of all three wines, the olives and oil was held in front of the wine cellar
Their price list on the wall
Three strengths of olive oil, and four olives to taste: two green and two black.  The 6 500 olive trees, planted in 2012, are from the following cultivars: Frantoio, Koroneiki, Coratina, Mission, Noccelara, Manzanilla, Leccino, Kalamata, FS-17 and Don Carlo. The Noccelara olive, which Lynne tasted, has a distinct nutty flavour
Tasting the wines
Olives and oil to buy
We tasted three wines: A 2016 Chenin Blanc, a 2016 Chenin Hanepoot Muscat blend and a dark 2015 Pinot Noir
They were made by Lourens van der Westhuizen
Keeping the customers happy
After visiting Ex Diem and on our way to De Wetshof, we has a little time to spare; we had to pass Ashton Winery and sometimes they have bargains at festival time, so we called in and had a quick tasting of some of their wines
Inside the tasting room

Robertson Wine Valley's Wacky Wine Weekend 2. Kranskop

Our first port of call after checking in to Tanagra was Kranskop Wine estate in Klaasvoogds, near Robertson. We were warmly welcomed by owner/cellarmaster Newald Marais.  He invited us to stay at Kranskop in October last year, when we visited Robertson for the De Wetshof Chardonnay Celebration

This was our port of call for a tasting with Newald and for some lunch

They were selling Roosterkoek and soup

Two flavours of Roosterkoek to choose from: Cheese and apricot jam (very South African!) and Curried Mince, which is what we enjoyed.  Roosterkoek are buns made from bread dough, toasted on an open braai fire, which are then filled and enjoyed warm; essential at most South African braais/barbecues

We tasted the 2018 Chardonnay which is very round and satisfying, from a very good harvest

And  the easy drinking Rosé which is bone dry with lovely fruit. Then the Pinot Noir, almost Elgin in character. Newald Marais is a very experienced wine maker; he was Cellarmaster at Nederburg for many years

They have wonderful mountain views from the farm

We then went down to the cellar ...

... and did some tank and barrel sampling with Newald
Lynne's glass is in an unusual crochet neck holder made by the ladies at the Aged Care facility

Still fermenting, this is the fresh tank sample of the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, full of figs and green tropical flavours
We predict that it will be very good
The Viognier is also showing well; bone dry with peach and nectarine flavours, not over ripe fruit, and very delicious

A happy winemaker in his element. The 2019 wooded Chardonnay from the barrel is taking on the wood
but is gentle, rich and full of golden fruit, with wood smoke on the end

And this year’s Rosé from 50% Petite Syrah and 50% Viognier; full of raspberries and strawberries but dry and cheeky! Can’t wait

Thank you Newald, again, for a repeat of your impeccable hospitality and friendliness