Don't Whine, Drink Wine!!!

It’s been a while since my first post, but I was away on holiday without my computer. Don’t worry, I’m still on holiday, having piles of fun tasting the wines of the Hermanus and Botriver regions. It’s an absolute feast tasting wines that are not from the Stellenbosch area! I’ll share two of my favourites with you from the Botriver wine route: Wildekrans and Beaumont.

Wildekrans is the better known one of the two, having won a few ABSA top ten awards for their Pinotage. The estate was sold in 1997 and new vines were planted, the marketing got better, and the wines just kept on improving since then. Even though it a massive estate with no less than 17 wines to offer, you do not get that feeling when you arrive at the estate. A better description would be to call it a “farm”. It is very laid back, the people are very friendly and more than willing to help you, and probably the greatest thing to see is the amount of pride and joy they have in producing wine.

The pricelist with which you are provided at the beginning of your tasting has a column where you can rate the wines, which I thought was a nice touch. On this very extensive wine list there is a great deal of value for money wines, but I would hurry, seeing as they will be trimming it quite drastically to focus on their premium range from next year onwards.  For more information, visit their website, www.wildekrans.com

Caresse Marine Sauvignon Blanc 2011: This is their entry level white. A very light wine, with tropical fruits trying to dominate the nose and the palate. I use the word “trying” because there is not very much going on in this wine. I picked up hints of guava on the palate, but not much more than that. It is also too expensive at R48 per bottle. I would rather go for the other Sauvignon Blanc at R50 per bottle. That is a good value for money wine... The Caresse Marine however gets 2.

Chenin Blanc 2011: This is an absolute steal at R48 per bottle! It explodes with tropical fruits on the nose, driven by pineapples and hints of botrytis, and follows through on the palate with green apple flavours. It has a good amount of acid to go with the abundance of fruit flavours, and I always enjoy that. It gets a solid 3.5.

Chenin Blanc Barrel Select 2010: Wow! What a gem of a wine. Oaked for 12 months in new French oak, it is not to be messed with. There is a great balance between the fruit and the vast amount of oak used in the wine, which makes it quite complex. Citrus flavours  first up invites you to take another whiff before tasting it. The second time around some peach flavours combined with the citrus to get you so excited that you have no other choice but to taste it. And oh boy does it deliver! The fruit flavours are still abundant on the palate, but it is complimented by vanilla and almond flavours from the oak. This is a wine which I can go on and on about... It costs R120 per bottle, and gets a rating of 4.5.

Caresse Marine Cape Blend: The entry level red is not bad at all. It only costs R45 per bottle, which is not an arm and a leg. Lots of berry flavours of the nose, combining with a bit of blue gum. There are some spices on the palate, but there isn’t much more than that. 2.5.

Shiraz 2009: This was one of my favourites of the day. You’ll find that the nose presents you with a lot of red berry flavours, with some nice meaty, peppery flavours coming through at the end. The palate is very pleasing as well, with the savoury flavours taking over from the more berry dominated nose. It costs R65 per bottle, which is a very difficult price range. It is just above the line where you can call it value for money (which is about R60 per bottle), and it is definitely not in the expensive price range. What I can say is that it is very well priced, if not a bit under priced. It gets 3.5.

Pinotage Barrel Select 2009: As some of you might know, I am a big Pinotage fan. And to add to that, I have also loved this wine for quite some time. This is the mistress you hide from everyone to just enjoy by yourself!! Loads of berries on the nose, accompanied by cherries and, very distinctively, raspberries. I sat there for probably 5 minutes just sticking my nose in the glass. The palate leaves you wanting more after every single sip, and this is exactly why you do not share this wine otherwise you will hate yourself! It is very expensive at R145 per bottle, but I would pay that any time of the year for this wine. It is probably the closest I’ve come to giving a 5 rating, but I will stick to 4.5.

My next stop was at Beaumont (www.beaumont.co.za). This is another one of those estates where you are welcomed by a farm feeling. The dogs come and greet you at the car and guide you towards the tasting room. The tasting room is very informal and almost part of the cellar and the barrel room, so you really get the feeling as if you are part of it all. I have been there a couple of times before, and from personal experience I can tell you that I really hope Marelise is there to guide you through the tasting. She is the assistant wine maker and an absolute delight to chat with. I was helped by casuals who are probably helping out during the holiday season. The presentation of a tasting plays a massive role in the atmosphere at the estate and your entire tasting experience.

The entry level wines, under the Raouls’ label, are just not worth drinking and are too expensive. Both the white and the red got a rating of 2.

Chenin Blanc 2011: R66 per bottle is not too bad for a wine loaded with golden apples, hints of apricot, and very good acidity. The problem comes in when you compare it to the Chenin Blanc at Wildekrans which costs R48 per bottle. It is not a bad wine, and it is very well priced. Like I said, there is ample fruit to keep you interested. The Chenin Blanc at Wildekrans is just better and makes this one a bit irrelevant in my opinion. It gets 3.

Hope Marguerite 2010: Something extraordinary must be in the water in the Botriver area, because this is the second Chenin Blanc to leave me searching for words. The Hope Marguerite is a big, complex wine. You’d have to hold on tight, because this old bird will take you on a ride which you won’t forget any time soon! It is a classic, with apricot, botrytis, and hints of spice on the nose. The palate is even bigger, with the oak flavours combining brilliantly with the fruit to give you everything you want in a Chenin Blanc. The price for this flagship wine is R145 per bottle, and it is deserving of a 4.5 rating.

Shiraz/Mourvedre 2009: This is a blend which I normally love, and I was not disappointed this time around. It presents itself with nice meaty and spicy undertones on the nose, and this combines with some berries on the palate to create a good wine. It costs R125 per bottle, which I think is a bit too much. It will develop into a really good wine, but it just is not there yet. 3.5.

Pinotage 2009: The Botriver area is conducive to providing good Pinotages, and this one is no different. It is very well priced at R105 per bottle which is quite affordable. The tannins are by no means harsh, but they do tell you that the wine has the potential to age. The problem which I have is that I will drink it before it even has a chance to age. Plums and red berries overrun you on the nose and leave you with hints of vanilla before the next wave of attack comes at you. The palate continues in this manner, and the follow through of the wine is beautifully lasting. It gets 4.

That’s it for this week. You can follow me on Twitter: @Pounding_Grape.
Enjoy the festivities of the holiday season. Spread the love, be patient on the roads, and keep pounding grape!!!

In the beginning... there was WINE!!!

I have been playing around with the idea to start blogging for a while now, but at one point I realized that none of you really want to know what happens in my everyday life, and I do not want to write about religion or politics, so I have decided to write about the only other thing that matters: WINE!!!

Pounding Grape will be a blog aimed at giving you an insight into the wines of our beautiful country (South Africa). I will look at a few factors, namely the atmosphere of the wine estate, the quality of the service provided at the estate, the quality of the wines, and finally, the pricing of the wines. The wines will each receive a rating out of 5. Any rating under 2: It is just not worth punishing yourself like that. Rating of 2: It’s drinkable. Rating of 2.5: easy drinking, not too bad. Rating of 3: I’d have more than one glass. Rating of 3.5: Good wine. Rating of 4: Very good wine! Rating of 4.5: Exceptional! Rating of 5: Do not ever give me anything else to drink!!!  

Each week I will turn my attention to one of the bigger names in the South African wine industry, and one of the lesser known estates.

Enough said, lets pound some grape!!

My first stop was the less well know Post House Estate. It is situated out on

Winery Road

on your way to Somerset-West. It actually served as a post house to the surrounding area way back in the day, and this theme runs through the names of the wines as well. For the history of the farm and extra information, check out their website: http://www.posthousewines.co.za/.

When I got to the estate I was not quite sure where to go, so I took the stairs up to the attic of the farm house where I found an open door and was warmly greeted by Pippa. We then proceeded back down the stairs, to the barrel room where Pippa presented the tasting.

The have a comprehensive wine list consisting of nine wines. Unfortunately, two of them were sold out; the Pinotage-Petite Verdot blend, and Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest. I did have the pleasure of tasting the other seven wines on the wine list.

Post House Blueish White 2010: An entry level white blend of Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc, it has a tropical nose with little hints of grassiness, and lovely gooseberry flavors on the palate. At R50 a bottle it is not bad, although there are other wines of better quality in the same price range. I give it 2.5.

Post House Chenin Blanc 2009: It spent 12 months in oak, which might sound like a long time, but in time the oak and the fruit will balance each other out. At the moment there is still an abundance of oak on the nose and the palate, but the fruit is starting to come to the forefront. Great citrus flavors on the nose and the palate complements the vanilla given by the time spent in the barrel, giving it a full taste in the mouth. It’s priced at R90 a bottle, but this should be seen as an investment to drink in a year’s time. I deserves a 4.

Post House Blueish Black 2009: This is the entry level red, a blend of Shiraz, Pinotage, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. A lot of red fruit on the nose and the palate, complemented with hints of darker currents and just a hint of spices. It is not heavily oaked, and probably only in older barrels, making sure that there is not a lot of tannins on the palate. At R60 a bottle it is very good value for money, and I would buy it in a heartbeat. A rating of 3 is in order.

Post House Merlot 2008: Normally I am not a big Merlot fan, plainly because many estates in the Stellenbosch region do not produce a big, in your face Merlot. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this wine. A very complex nose with eucalyptus and hints of mint on the nose, with the eucalyptus following through on the palate. The oak structure ensure more complexity, and gives it the potential to age for a further 7 years. It costs R120 for a bottle of this lovely wine, but I would gladly pay it for such a wine! Definitely a rating of 4.

Post House Cabernet Sauvignon 2009: A classic Cab! Lots of concentrated fruits, currents, and still a lot of tannins to ensure that this is a wine to enjoy in 3-5 years time. This full bodied wine also goes for R120 a bottle. A great wine in its own right, but the Merlot tickled my taste buds a bit more. This being said, it also gets a rating of 4.

Post House Shiraz 2008: I was heavily impressed by this wine. It is in the same price range as the previous two wines, being priced at R120 a bottle. It has a great nose, full of fruit and licorice and hints of pepper, with the spices following through on the palate to combine in a full bodied wine that will have you wanting more. As lovely as it is drinking at the moment, I think it will age very well and be at its peak in 4 years time. It gets 4.

Post House Penny Black 2009: This wine had me going for days after I tasted it. This is the flagship of the estate, the crème de la crème. It is a big, big, blend, consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, and Petite Verdot. You get a bit of eucalyptus on the nose, with an abundance of fruit, and hints of pepper on the nose. On the palate everything comes together in an amazing combination of fruit and spice, with hints of vanilla from the oak. There are still a lot of tannins on the palate, but if you are like me and actually enjoy the tannins, it is brilliant to enjoy it now. It will, however, get better and better with time, so the best thing to do is buy a bottle for R130 and put it away for a few years, for it will not take long to be sold out. By far the best wine, and it gets a rating of 4.5.

I though for my first entry I should visit one of the really well known Stellenbosch wine estates, so I went to the estate which really put Pinotage on the world map, Beyerskloof. The estate has a rich history, and with a wine maker such as Beyers Truter, it can not be any other way. For more details on the farm, their website is http://www.beyerskloof.co.za/.

The contrast between the two estates is massive. The very primitive set-up at Post House is totally overpowered by the commercialism of Beyerskloof. I’m not saying either one is better than the other, they’re just different. I am not a big fan of the commercial set-up, but I have to say that the vibe at Beyerskloof is great and the people are very friendly. So, they were off to a very good start.

Pinogate Brut Rosé 2010: We started off with some bubbly, which was quite enjoyable. It is not too sweet, with strawberry aromas on the nose and the pallet. This will be great in the summer when the temperature starts to rise. It is a bit overpriced at R70 a bottle, and there are many other choices which overshadows this one. This said, it is not bad. I’ll give it 2.5.

Chenin Blanc/Pinotage 2011: This Blanc de Noir is very fruit driven on the nose, with tropical flavors being balanced out by the Pinotage to ensure that it is dry. The unfortunate thing is that there is not much to write home about on the palate. At R45 a bottle there is just no way that I will ever buy it. It gets 2.

Pinotage 2010: This is the wine I was really excited to taste. The Beyerskloof Pinotage is the Pinotage that put this cultivar on the map. It pointed the way forward for Pinotage, especially with the amount of marketing that has been put into the brand. It costs R50 for a bottle at the cellar door, which is not much… The nose is full of fruit, leaning more toward the red berry side. On the palate it is very disappointing. There is no follow through of the fruit on the nose, and it just seems to be a lightweight wine. It is overpriced, overrated, and overtaken by many other wines on the market. Not even as a value for money choice would I recommend it. Unfortunately it gets 2.

Pinotage Reserve 2009: The contrast between the Pinotage and the Reserve is insane! It is absolutely divine. Loads of fruit on the nose and the palate, with some vanilla complementing the palate. There are some tannins on the palate as well, so if you would want to, you could still age it for a few years. I would however open it and drink it immediately. I loved it! And at R110 a bottle it is a steal. Definitely 4.

Synergy Cape Blend 2009: This truly Cape-style wine shows a lot of promise on the nose. As with most of the Beyerskloof range it is abundant in fruit on the nose, but hints of spice complements this. It is a medium bodied wine, but there are still some tannins to keep the structure intact. It costs R80 a bottle, which I think is very reasonably priced, and I think that it competes very well in that price range. It is worthy of 3.5.

Field Blend 2007: I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed when tasting this wine. It costs R220 a bottle, which is a little bit steep to say the least. There is nice fruit on the nose, combining with some mocha from the new oak maturation. The tannins have softened seeing as it is almost 5 years old. All this being said, it just did not make an impression on me. I give it 3.5.

In conclusion, if you want to go and have a good time, eat some food, and be merry, go to Beyerskloof. It is a perfect place to go and relax. If you want to taste, drink, and buy some great wines, definitely swing by the Post House. The commercial, well known, and well marketed, is definitely overrun by the pure quality of the wines that the Post House have on offer. Until the next time, enjoy pounding grape!!