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.
Enjoy the festivities of the holiday season. Spread the love, be patient on the roads, and keep pounding grape!!!
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