Tim and Vaughan Pearson, from Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, UK, realized a family dream when they established a vineyard on the slopes of Shaws Mountain near Hermanus. Here they produce the noble varieties Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Syrah which are able to benefit from the cooling influences of the nearby Atlantic.
Just released are the Seven Springs Vineyards Syrah 2010 as well as the Seven Springs Vineyards Chardonnay 2010.
The Syrah boasts a savoury, earthy character with soft tannins which came as a surprise for such a young wine. I liked the acidity and found the wine to be well balanced. The aftertaste stays and stays with just enough spiciness to create interest without dominating the palate. My opinion is that this Syrah is a fantastic wine with great structure which is drinking well now. In another five years it should reach its full potential.
My score is 18/20 – an excellent, superior quality wine.
The alcohol is 13.77%.
The Chardonnay impressed me with the lime scent when I took that first sniff. The sensation when I sipped that first taste completely bowled me over with scintillating freshness followed by an incredible, long finish. For me this is a perfect Summer wine.
Winemaker, Riana van der Merwe, reports that it was fermented and aged in second fill, 300 liter barrels and that it only completed 30% Malo-lactic fermentation. She suggests that good food matches would be savoury dishes including fish, chicken and pasta dishes.
My score for the Chardonnay is also 18/20.
The alcohol is 13.88%
Seven Springs Syrah 2010 and Chardonnay 2010 can be bought at Wine Village, Hermanus. The Chardonnay is also available at Wine Concepts, Newlands. Both sell for R114.00 per bottle and can be ordered online.
Cellar master at Constantia Glen since November 2006 is Karl Lambour whose mentor is none
Constantia Glen setting
other than ex Cheval Blanc co-owner, Dominique Hebrard.This winning duo consistently craft wines that are age worthy, premium wines amongst the best coming out of South Africa.
To keep it simple, there are three wines in the range headed up by the flagship Constantia Glen Five 2007. This classic Merlot 32% and Cabernet Sauvignon 27% led Bordeaux blend with Malbec 18%, Petit Verdot 11.5% and Cabernet Franc 11.5%, was named Best in Class 2009 IWSC; 4.5 stars Platter’s South African Wines 2011; gold medal 2009 Tri Nations Challenge; 89 points Wine Enthusiast; 89 points Wine Spectator and many more accolades besides.
This multi-faceted wine develops after being decanted and displays cedar wood and blackcurrant aromas. These are mirrored on the palate. An elegant, refined and classy wine which complements beef fillet; oven roasted quail with Parma ham or tuna steaks.
My drinking buddies from left, Liz Cotton, Rose Duggan & Jude Van Blerk
Constantia Glen Three 2007, formerly called Constantia Saddle, comprises Cabernet Sauvignon 39%, Cabernet Franc 38% and Merlot 23% and was named Best in Class 2009 IWSC and also achieved 4.5 stars in Platter’s South African Wines 2011 plus more.
The complex nose of this wine reveals aromas of pencil shavings and blackberries with dark chocolate and cedar tones. Pan-fried venison medallions with orange zest, black pepper and juniper berries; rosemary grilled lamb chops or smoked duck breast all work well with this wine.
The final wine in the trio is a fresh, impeccably balanced and classically styled Sauvignon Blanc 2009. The concentrated aromas of this wine are of guava, greengage and kiwi fruits. The palate reveals yellow fruit flavours, tempered acidity and a creamy finish. Foods to pair it with are asparagus with olive and orange butter; fresh tuna or chicken with prosciutto.
Constantia Glen is situated as the names infers, in the Constantia Wine Valley where wine production began in South Africa in 1685.
Dr Alexander Waibel, sales executive for Asia and Europe explains more here about the terroir and philosophy of Constantia Glen.
For spectacular views and beautiful wine, visit the tasting room which is open on Mondays – Fridays from 10h00 – 17h00 and on Saturdays from 09h00 – 16h00.
Don’t you just love Thierry and Guy’s hippo? This turned out to be a wine with an appealing label which followed through to the bottle contents. Like the hippo, they please with mouth-filling fatness.
Beautifully crisp with distinct lime and vanilla flavours to begin with, it stays on the palate for the longest time. South African Winemaker Francois Welch added quercus fragmentus, which I discovered are oak bits, during fermentation, and that gives the wine a butter fragrance.
Fat Bastard Chardonnay 2010
The Fat Bastard brand was begun by winemaker Thierry and Guy Anderson in Languedoc-Roussillon with a tiny production but today the Chardonnay, Shiraz, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc wines are enjoyed on both sides of the pond and happily, at the bottom of Africa too. In South Africa the brand custodian is Robertson Winery which produces Fat Bastard Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Shiraz.
I found that it paired perfectly beautifully with itself but it also enhances gently flavoured risottos and pastas; salad starters which are dressed with mayonnaise; fresh oysters and simply cooked freshwater fish. In other words, dishes that can be overwhelmed by too much flavour in the glass.
Available at Pick and Pay, Constantia for R54.99 per bottle.
Alex Milner and Stefan Gerber, who met while studying wine making in Stellenbosch, have teamed up to create a series of wines labelled Boer & Brit which recognise their great-great grandfathers, each of whom fought on opposing sides during the Boer War 1880 – 1902.
Stefan is the great-great grandson of Paul Kruger, the Afrikaner leader and then president of the Transvaal. The bitter war resulted in the British Imperial Army defeating the Boers and gaining control of the gold and diamond fields of South Africa. Leading a cavalry charge to end the siege of Kimberley, was Field Marshall John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, the great-great grandfather of Alex.
The range of wines consists of a Sauvignon Blanc called Gezina after Stefan’s grandmother; The General which is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot and The Field Marshall, a blend of Shiraz, Mouvedre, Tinta Amarela and Carignan. Ironic back label phrases state: “The war is over – let’s party” and “With the body ofa boer and the nose of an Englishman – you can’t go wrong”.
Bob's Your Uncle
Another ofthisfunky duo’s irreverant wines is a Bordeaux blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon called Bob’s Your Uncle which is bottled in a brown, beer bottle complete with a crown cork.
I count myself to be super lucky to have tried the maiden Sauvignon Blanc 2010 from Seven Springs Vineyard which is 0n the glorious R320 close to Walker Bay. Honestly, do any mediocre wines come out of this area?
Seven Springs Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Winemaker Riana van der Merwe, has an impressive track record having helped craft wine at top-end South African producers like L’Ormarins, Seidelberg and Hidden Valley, as well as in California and in Northern Rhone, France. This outstanding Sauvignon Blanc has created enormous expectations and we wait with excited anticipation for the release of the forth coming Chardonnay, Syrah and Pinot Noir.
Tasting the wine with my significant other and my lovely daughter, I noticed delicate pineapple and melon fragrances on the nose. This wine is perfectly balanced, incredibly soft with mouth-filling freshness and remains on the palate forever. My guess is that it will work well paired with food.
Isha commented that the wine exploded in her mouth with herbaceous flavours that are well rounded.
Here is what Duncan had to say,
Winepons Duncan
There are peach fragrances and it is incredibly smooth and balanced – glides down effortlessly. The Scottish have a description for good malt whiskey: “It curls round your heart like a hairy worm.” This wine is so smooth and glides down so easily that it seems to do almost the same.
And this from someone who always chooses red wine over white!
A big thank you to Tim Pearson the founder of Seven Springs Vineyard for sending me the beautiful wines to try!
Available from Cybercellar.com for R77.50 per bottle or from Wine Village in Hermanus.
The Independant published an in-depth article on Tariro Masayiti’s journey from being a Shona child in Eastern Zimbabwe to becomingNederburg’s senior winemaker responsible for the production of their white wine.
Tariro Masayiti
I recently sampled a range of his wines including the 2010 FIFA World Cup Sauvignon Blanc 2009 and found all of them to be of exceptional high quality.
This is an inspirational story that can motivate all of us.
Scanning the shelves in Pick and Pay’s wine section I was stopped in my tracks by the zany, curious label of La Capra Shiraz and on closer inspection discovered this to be one of the new value wines made by Fairview, the much loved and visited Paarl wine farm whose name is linked as much to finely crafted cheese as it is to premium wines.
La Capra wines
That evening we paired our La Capra Shiraz with barbecued ostrich sausage and sirloin steak with delicious results.
Having a chance to review the entire range of La Capra wines at the public launch was a huge bonus which I grabbed with both hands. This gypsy carnival was staged complete with oompah band, gypsy caravan and beautiful fortune teller in the form of Bridget Back, daughter of the renowned wine maker Charles Back, owner of Fairview estate.
Bridget lured us into her caravan with the promise of delightful potions and disappointed we were not.
The Chenin Blanc 2009 is perky and delicious, as are the Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Rose 2009 from Pinotage, and the Chardonnay 2009. A real treat for consumers who want to be more adventurous is that the range includes a Viognier 2009.
My favourite amongst the red wines is the Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 which is amazingly smooth with almost imperceptible oak. This can happily be drunk as an aperitif for those of us who simply can’t get enough red wine. To my mind, the Pinotage 2009, Merlot 2009 and Shiraz 2009 will compliment food really well. Also in the range is Malbec 2009 another more unusual variety wine which I will be scouring the supermarket shelves for.
All of these wines are accessible and perfect for drinking straight away.
Sipping to the sound of the Oompah Band
“What about the name?” I asked the gypsy princess. My Italian being somewhat rusty I had missed the word capra meaning goat, referring of course to the Fairview goat herd from which the very first goat’s milk cheese was produced in South Africa. La rhymes with Ra the Egyptian sun god and Capra also points to the Cape Cap, suggesting a Cape to Cairo connection.
These wines are available at Fairview Estate for the unbelievable price of R200.00 per mixed 6 bottle case. Alternately they can be bought at Pick and Pay supermarkets in the Western Cape for between R35 and R42 per bottle.
Alluvia Specialist Winery in the Banghoek area of Stellenbosch, South Africa, has every reason to celebrate after winning an award as well as receiving commendations from the judges at the Decanter World Wine Awards.
Ilka Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
The Decanter World Wine Awards is the world’s biggest wine competition and it is thrilling to see Cape Town wines holding their own against fierce competition from traditional old world wine producers and emerging countries alike.
Alluvia’s ilka Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 brought home a prestigious medal for the second year in a row. Named after co-owner Delarey Brugman’s twin daughters, Ilse and Karla, this wine scored 18.4/20 – very good to excellent. Andrew Harris, Alluvia’s Wine Business Manager, comments:
All of us at Alluvia are very proud of this achievement. The ilka Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 is an award winning wine with its richness of flavours and velvety elegance. Smart wine buyers and top restaurants will be pleased to know there are still a few cases available before we move on to the next vintage!
Hard to obtain, you may have to take a First or Business Class flight on China Eastern Airlines to sample this winning cab.
Sandy Straw Wine 2009, paying homage to Delarey’s wife, and Ilke Sauvignon Blanc 2009 were commended by the judges.
In total, 9 South African wineries were awarded Regional Trophies and 13 achieved Gold Medals.
For all of the results visit Decanter , select See results here, then Search by location – South Africa.
Cape Town winery, Nederburg, recently released this press release announcing it’s agreement with FIFA to produce and market FIFA endorsed wines.
Nederburg and FIFA have signed an agreement entitling the famous Paarl winery to make and market a range of South African wines for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Cellarmaster Razvan Macici has developed a special edition collection of three South Africa wines for the tournament which are sold locally and internationally. The three limited-edition wines are a Cabernet Sauvignon, a dry rose and a Sauvignon Blanc.
Capitalising on the pre-tournament excitement, the wines have been released worldwide, according to Nederburg marketing manager Rudolph Du Toit. “We have prioritised those markets where there is a strong interest in football but it is possible that distribution could be extended to meet demand.”
The wines are now locally available from selected stockists nationally, as well as from Nederburg itself.
Sold in bottles made from partially recycled glass, they are being marketed until December 2010 and span the 2007 to 2010 vintages. The white and rose are sold under screwcap.
The three wines were selected for their broad appeal, says Macici, but are being made in smaller quantities than the winery’s popular Winemaster’s Reserve Range, as grapes have been sourced from very specific vineyards for this purpose.
“The three wines bearing the 2010 FIFA World Cup emblem carry Nederburg’s hallmark blend of fruit intensity and finesse. They are intense but graceful and are clearly South African in that they have a very clear expression of fruit, but restrained classical styling, making them fresh, approachable and food-friendly. Given our association with such an important sporting initiative, we want them to serve as ambassadors for South African excellence.”
Each of the 2010 FIFA World Cup wines will feature a special facility on the back label that will enable consumers to instantly access information on Nederburg by clicking on an unique QR code with their cellphone cameras. The information will then appear on their cellphone screens.
Fairview’s latest range of value wines is La Capra. The range comprises Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Viognier as well as Shiraz, Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec.
La Capra presented by Fairview
We decided to try the La Capra Shiraz 2008 and very easily laid the bottle waste. There is are spice flavours galore on the palate like white pepper, clove and nutmeg, and the fruity yet dry flavours remind of eating pomegranates when I was a child. We think this wine goes very well with itself but it was also great with our sirloin and ostrich sausage braai. It’s beautifully balanced and sits on the palate forever after swallowing.
If I wanted to introduce a first time drinker to a Shiraz varietal wine, La Capra Shiraz is what I would reach for.
The quirky label reminds us that Fairview is home to goat herds and produces award winning cheeses.
These wines are available at the unbelievable price of R200.00 ($28.50) per mixed case from the farm.
What a superb neighbourhood this is to live in where our neighbour presents us with a magnificent bottle of wine to say thanks for helping with his boat. Why would we want to be anywhere else?
Zorgvliet Silver Myn Merlot Cabernet Franc 2006
Quaffing this wine as we watched the clouds change colour over the Constantiaberg Mountains we were immediately impressed with the smooth elegance and balance. For me the main flavours were a little spice, sour cherry and mulberry. It is hard to believe that this is a second tier wine of this premium Cape Town producer.
Named Silver Myn because of historical mining that took place in the Banghoek area of Stellenbosch, Zorgvliet aims with this range to pair usual cultivars with unusual ones in high quality blends. Sauvignon Blanc with Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon with Malbec are two more examples.
At R49.60 ($7) a bottle, this is astonishing good value for money.
The winners of the World Cup of Wines 2010 have been announced and South Africas excellent results underscore the new trend in international tastes for new world wines.
Beating the Australians hands down, South Africa came sixth overall after Chili, earning 80 medals. The winning country was France, followed by Spain, Italy, Portugal and Chili. 7,000 Wines and spirits were judged.
Seriously though, Splattered Toad Sauvignon blanc 2009 from Cape Point Vineyards is a favourite quay-side, refreshing aperitif. There are notes of asparagus, lemon and yellow apple and the palate is austere yet approachable with a long, finish of lime.
Named for the beautiful Western Leopard Toad which is endemic to South Africa but threatened by loss of habitat and urban encroachment, they are regular visitors to our garden. Cape Point Vineyards is donating R1.00 for every bottle of Splattered Toad sold to the Cape Point Vineyards sustainability fund to help protect these amphibians.
Under the heading “17 Impressive White Wines”, James Molesworth, the senior editor and South African wine expert of Wine Spectator magazine, raves about the consistency, diversity and value delivered by Cape Town Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc and Chenin blanc based wines. Eben Sadie’s delicious chenin-driven blend Palladuis is one of the applauded wines and his comments are,
Local Chenin blancs are finally coming into their own and it is definitely encouraging to see so many Chenins and Chenin-driven blends making a top listing such as this one in Wine Spectator. I think wine lovers are becoming more adventurous by trying lesser known varietals and eventually enjoying the complexity of flavours offered by a great Chenin blanc.
The wines are here listed together with the wine district or ward where they are produced.
SADIE FAMILY Palladius Swartland 2008
Wine Spectator
KEN FORRESTER Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch The FMC 2008
South African high end retailer can barely do a thing wrong with Alan Mullins heading up the company’s wine division. The Longmarket range continues to delight with quality wines at everyday prices like the Wet Rocks Sauvignon Blanc 2009 selling for only R34.95 ($4.5).
Wet Rocks Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Notes of granadilla, peach and pineapple tantalize and on the palate, the perky lime refreshes.
For sultry, summer Cape Town nights this is a lovely thirst quencher.
One of the first South African wine festivals to feature sauvignon blanc of the Constantia Valley, regional and international producers, will celebrate the distinctive freshness of the “wild white” grape and it’s compatibility with food. The festival features four palate stimulating events which are supported by the participating producers – Constantia Uitsig, Klein Constantia, Groot Constantia, Steenberg Vineyards, Eagles Nest, Buitenverwachting and Constantia Glen. The program consists of:
Constantia Fresh 2010
INTERNATIONAL SAUVIGNON BLANC TASTING Date: Friday 26th February 2010
Time: 14h00 – 19h00
Cost: R1,500 per person
Venue: Buitenverwachting old cellar
Taste over 40 local and international wines from some of the best producers in the world, including wines from the Loire Valley in France and Marlborough in New Zealand. The tasting will be conducted by representatives from the regions and hosted by Master of Wine, Cathy van Zyl.
FINE DINING EXPERIENCE
Date: 26th February 2010
Time: 19h30
Cost: R1,500 per person
Venue: La Colombe Restaurant, Constantia Uitsig
Experience matured sauvignon blanc and classic red wines from Constantia Valley and the Loire Valley, matched perfectly with dishes from award-winning chef, Luke Dale-Roberts.
INTERNATIONAL FRESHNESS IN RED WINES TASTING
Date: Saturday 27th February 2010
Time: 11h00 – 13h30
Cost: R700 per person
Venue: Groot Constantia Production Cellar
This international tasting has the objective of exploring and showcasing the freshness found in red wines, including wines from the Constantia Valley, France and Australia.
SAUVIGNON BLANC AND FOOD PAIRING EXHIBITION
Date: Saturday 27th February 2010
Time: 15h00 – 20h00
Cost: R400 per person
Venue: Lawns of Buitenverwachting Wine Estate
30 Local and regional sauvignon blanc producers will showcase their wines alongside canapes from the top chefs of the Cape. The walk around tasting will be followed by a picnic with live entertainment rounding off the event. Expect to find producers’ wines from all of the main sauvignon blanc districts in South Africa – taste, sample and compare.
Tickets for the event can be obtained from the tasting room at Steenberg Vineyards or from Lida Van Heerden.
In the long, dry days of Cape Town summer, a well chilled, crispy white wine is to me the perfect drink.
Groote Post Vineyards sauvignon blanc 2008
Sauvignon blanc can never be a great South African variety except for when it is blended with semillon, Bordeaux style. Local varietal wines vary from ripe fruit, easy drinking wines to more austere, flinty styles with green apple and lime on the palate, often made from grapes at high altitude and close to maritime winds.
Groote Post sauvignon blanc falls into the latter category. It’s well balanced and great as an aperitif because of the palate cleansing lime flavour. Selling from the farm at around R62.00 which is rather more than we would spend on an everyday wine, it is well worth the splurge.
Whats what? No, I don’t mean “Hows it going”, I mean what is What?
Ok I’ll tell you – What? is a Woolworths varietal wine brand and we tried the sauvignon blanc. The label on the back of the bottle clears up some of the mystery by informing us that this sauvignon blanc is in fact a wine produced by Bergsig Estate.
What? sauvignon blanc
We paired it with pan-fried angel fish and a splash of lemon with baby potatoes and steamed vegetables on the side. Couldn’t imagine another matching wine for the menu with it’s crispy, grass and gooseberry notes on the nose and juicy pineapple, green pepper and lime on the palate.
Pretty typical, we think of a well crafted sauvignon blanc.
Constantia Valley Golden Oldies tasting was presented by Karl Lambour, winemaker at Constantia Glen since November 2006 and producer of a top notch Sauvignon Blanc with a Bordeaux style blend waiting in the wings. Dominique Hebrard of Chateaux Cheval Blanc is the winery advisor.
Constantia Valley white wines have fantastic ageing potential and Karl mentioned as an example, a Klein Constantia Sauvignon Blanc being rated 5 stars in Wine Magazine 18 years after release!
The wines tasted are listed below with brief notes gathered from the comments of the wine aficionados at our table.
Two different bottles were poured at our table, one screwcap and the other closed with cork. An interesting comparison revealed that the wine with a cork had aged prematurely but the wine in the screwcap bottle kept a clean freshness. The nose was forthcoming with woody cigar box notes.
Constantia Uitsig Blend 2003 – Semillon/Sauvignon
A typical Bordeaux style blend but with less oak treatment. The nose is fairly shy. A balanced wine with good aftertaste, very drinkable and a favourite at our table.
Klein Constantia Rhine Riesling 1994
This king of white grapes presented with concentrated diesel notes at first, typical of Rhine Riesling grown in a warmer environment. On the palate it is smooth, sweetish becoming dryer but retaining its fruitiness. It can easily go on for another six years.
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 1992
A magnificent descendant of “Constantia” which was revered by dignitaries and aristocracy in the 18th century. Beautifully balanced and complex it is able to last a hundred years under the right conditions …… but then who wants to keep it?
Steenberg Nebbiolo 1999
The wine has a pale pinot noir like appearance with lovely cherry notes. It bursts onto the palate but with tannins which are subtle and silky and linger for ages.
This is big, spicy, food wine produced from 18 – 20 year old vines. Its beautifully integrated with soft tannins and a old aftertaste.
Steenberg Vineyards Catharina 2001
A favourite amongst the red wines tasted. It is fresh and smooth showing the Steenberg eucalyptus characteristic.
Karl’s harvest 2009 prediction is that because there was very little rain during harvest, we can expect outstanding whites and reds which are beyond reproach. This vintage is producing wines to buy and keep.
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