Thursday 20 December 2012

Festivities


Christmas is upon us and it is just getting hotter and hotter, and at the moment I am looking for some quality whites to carry me through this very difficult time. I have to say that I was pleased to find just this at Aàldering Wine Estate. Dustin lead us in an awesome tasting, taking us through the range of whites and reds, and giving us a preview of the 2010 Pinotage in addition to the rest of the range. All the grapes used for the wines are grown on the estate and the permanently employed workforce is minimal resulting in a very hands-on attitude towards the winemaking process.

Sauvignon Blanc 2012: All three of the white wines impressed me quite a bit, with each of the wines spending 7 months on the lees. The Sauvignon Blanc presents with mineral notes and fresh fruit on the nose, leading to gooseberries and granadilla flavours found on the palate. Because of the time spent on the lees you are left with a full and lasting finish. It costs R105 per bottle which is not too bad, and gets a rating of 3.5.

Chardonnay 2012: The Chardonnay was definitely the best of the whites. 35% of the wine was oaked for 7 months in third of fourth fill barrels and the rest is unoaked. There is an abundance of fruit on the nose, most notably apricot and lemon zest, with a hint of creamy butterscotch lingering in the aftertaste. It is a beautifully balanced, round wine, and a must have at R105 per bottle. It gets 4.

Pinotage Blanc 2012: This is a very interesting wine and one which you would probably either love or hate completely. Peaches and banana peel on the nose, followed by a very full fruit-driven palate. Once again the palate has a very full texture because of the 7 months it spent on the lees. Personally I could not decide whether I liked it or not, but it is one the better examples of a South African Blanc de Noir that I have tasted. It costs R105 per bottle and gets a rating of 3.

Shiraz 2009: The Shiraz presents with beautiful whiffs of plumbs and berries, with just a hint of black pepper. The palate is very fruit-driven and as is the case with most 2009 vintages, this one will age really well. It spends between 20 and 24 months in French oak, with 35% being new barrels. It almost seems like an injustice to open it now, so if you have the self-discipline, keep it for another 3-5 years before opening it. It goes for R165 per bottle, and gets 4.

Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2009: Oaked for 24 months (35% new oak) in French oak, this well balanced blend presents with black cherries and a hint of mint on the nose, followed by loads of berries and dark currents on the palate. Even more than the Shiraz this wine needs to spend some time in the bottle. The tannins are just a bit grippy, but will soften and allow the fruit to really develop if given some time to mature. It costs R165 per bottle and gets a rating of 4.

Pinotage 2009: The Pinotage really impressed me. I know I tend to be a bit biased when it comes to good Pinotage, but I cannot help it. It spent 24 months in French oak, with 35% of the oak being new. The nose is very concentrated and leaves you coming back to it again and again. Raspberry and rhubarb is complemented by notes of ripe banana. The palate is not as concentrated as the nose, but is very full none the less. The wine definitely needs some time to open up, but once again if you age it a couple of years you will not be disappointed. It goes for R165 per bottle, and also receives a rating of 4.

That’s it for this week. I am heading off to Namibia for two weeks, but fear not, I will keep you updated from the across the Orange River. Happy festive season, and celebrate every moment by Pounding Grape!!   

Wednesday 5 December 2012

Savvy In The Sun


This year has just rushed away from me and I did not taste, nor least of all blog, nearly as much as I wanted to. None the less, I have a couple of blogs lined up, so the goal is to pump out a new entry once a week from here on in. So, without any delay, I give you Dombeya!!

In recent times, the Dombeya range has taken a back seat and become somewhat of a “second label” to the more prestigious Haskell range. This being said, I do not think that the Dombeya wines have regressed in any way since the introduction of the Haskell range. Under the watchful eye of Rianie Strydom the wines have blossomed and received numerous awards, showing her passion for the wines while at the same time underlining the quality caught up in each bottle. The name “Dombeya” comes from the Dombeya tree (native to our beautiful country) which is planted on the estate itself. Enough with the foreplay, let’s get to tasting…

Sauvignon Blanc 2012: This is a fruit driven wine, with green apple, melon, and tropical fruit flavours presenting a full palate. It’s not an over-complicated wine, but one which is easy to enjoy while leaving you wanting more. The price is very reasonable at R60 per bottle, and to top it off, you should be able to find it in some of the local retailers. It is great value for money, and I give it 3.

Chardonnay 2011: The Chardonnay is one of the more oak driven Chardonnays which I have tasted the last couple of months. It was oaked for 10 months, with 40% new oak being used. The nose presents with toasted almonds and a hint of apricot. The palate is beautifully full and round, with the fruit taking a bit of a backseat to the oak flavours, leaving you with a long lingering vanilla aftertaste. If you are not a fan of the oak driven Chardonnays then this one is not for you. However, it is a beautiful wine and one which you should try at least once, never mind your predisposition to the use of oak with regards to Chardonnay. It costs R90 which is pretty much on par if you ask me. All things considered I think it is a very good wine, thus a rating of 4.

Merlot 2008: I am so grateful that there are still some wineries which produce serious Merlots!!! Oaked for 16 months, 30% new oak, this is not a sissy, light and fruity wine. Anything but… On the nose you get whiffs of tobacco and liquorish, which are complemented by loads of intense fruit on the palate. There are still some soft tannins present which makes me want to keep it another 2 years in the bottle before drinking it, but if you are the impatient type you are more than welcome to enjoy it now seeing as it is drinking very nicely indeed. R85 per bottle is not expensive at all for this wine, and at the moment I will give it 3.5, but as I said, I think it will still improve over the next 2 years.

Cabernet Sauvignon 2008: It is a very classical example of a Stellenbosch Cab. Dark berries and currents dominate the nose and the palate with black currents leading the way in this full bodied wine. If anything, the mid-palate is a bit thin, but it comes through strong on the finish again. Being oaked for 16 months, 30% new oak, the Cab really needs some more time in the bottle with the tannins still being a bit grippy. Just like the wines mentioned above, the Cab is very well priced at R85 per bottle and is a bargain buy if you do like a classical, full bodied Cab. I give it 3.5

Boulder Road Shiraz 2008: I have always been a fan of this wine, and the 2008 vintage does not disappoint at all! It has a very savoury nose, with hints of berries and black pepper providing backup. On the palate the black pepper and spices are abundant, with raspberry and soft fruit providing the perfect finish to a very well balanced wine. It spent 12 months in oaked, once again 30% new oak, and can be enjoyed now, but will also improve with some ageing. It was definitely my favourite of the reds, and I will gladly purchase it at R96 per bottle. It gets 4.

Altus 2007: Altus is a Bordeaux Blend consisting of 59% Cab, 37% Merlot, and 4% Malbec. Oaked for 12 months, 40% new oak, it is a full bodied wine which is drinking beautifully at the moment. The nose presents with hints of spearmint and liquorish, with the palate dominated by black currents and black cherries, giving you a full and lasting aftertaste. It is a big wine, one which will compliment food, but why spoil something which is so pretty on its own? It costs R120 per bottle at the cellar door, and it gets a 4 from me.

I have to say that the experience of tasting at Haskell (Dombeya) is a very pleasant one. The view is breathtaking and the wines are very good. If you are in the mood for something to eat, the Long Table restaurant is right next to the tasting room and they have a great menu from which to choose. I do believe that it is worth your while to make the trip out to Stellenbosch and pay them a visit. You will not be disappointed. That’s it for this week. Next week I take a look at Aàldering Wines, but ‘till then, keep Pounding Grape!