Alexander Fontein Sauvignon Blanc 2013

There is nothing better than a quaffer of a Sauvignon Blanc to get you through those hot summer days, and for the last couple of years that wine has been the Alexander Fontein Sauvignon Blanc. So I thought I’d give the new vintage (2013) a try. It retails for around R50 a bottle – depending on where you buy it – and to place the cherry on top of an already tasty cake, it won gold at the recent Veritas awards.

On the nose you find gooseberries, green figs, and just a hint of minerality. The palate is in the same vein with the gooseberries shining through, accompanied by notes of passion fruit and subtle asparagus. The acidity on this wine is very high, and normally I love that in a Sauvignon Blanc, but in this one it is so high that it bothered even me a bit. It just threw the balance of the wine completely off. I even struggled to finish my second glass, and that is a pity, because it ruins what otherwise is a good wine. So for the same price I would rather buy the more balanced Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc to have my back this summer…

Score: 15

Bosman Family Vineyards 2012 Cinsaut

I love it when winemakers take themselves out of their comfort zones and try something new. But is change just for the sake of change a good thing? Take Roger Federer for example: his entire career he has played with 90-square-inch racket frame, but this year (the least successful in more than 10 years) he has changed racket to one with a 98-square-inch frame. It can be a coincidence that this year has gone so badly for him, or it may be that he is toying with something that need not be toyed with.

Bosman Family Vineyards has released a limited edition Cinsaut to their Wine Club members at R120 per bottle, the first Cinsaut released by the estate. I am a massive fan of Corlea’s wines, so I was very excited to taste what she had done with this new addition to the wine list. The wine is very berry-driven on the nose and palate. You are intoxicated by the raspberries, mulberries, and strawberries you find on both the nose and the palate. There are subtle vanilla flavours on the palate from the use of oak. The acidity on this wine is good and carries the wine nicely. Solid mid-palate and finish as well. There is quite a bit of oak on the palate, and possibly just a bit too much I feel. It just takes over that beautiful freshness brought to the palate by the acidity a little bit. That being said, it is still a really good wine, probably even better than just a “good” wine.

With all the Bosman wines being excellent wines, is this Cinsaut then something which is unnecessarily added to an already brilliant wine list? I think not. It adds something else to a great portfolio of wines. It brings a change that keeps them up to date with the current trend of beautiful Cinsuats being produced in South Africa. It keeps them in the game, which is hopefully what Federer’s new racket will do for him…

Score: 16     

Collaboration Cinsaut 2011

Has the King of Cab gone rogue? Yes, it is Cinsaut; no, it is not Swartland; and yes it is Louis Nel. Have I missed something??!! Does the saying not go “Jack of all trades, master of none”? We are so used to seeing Louis Nel’s name on a bottle of Cab, and of course seeing “Wine of Origin Swartland” on a bottle of Cinsaut that the entire combination is just confusing. I remember seeing a Hugh Laurie album after he finished playing the character “House” on the television and thinking that this can not end well for anyone. More or less the same thought came to mind when I saw this wine for the first time.

First things first, the wine is called “Collaboration” for a reason. It is the result of the combined efforts of Nel, Craig Cormack, and Bertus Basson. It is also the first vintage of this wine, although it could possibly be a once-off vintage as well. We’ll have to wait and see.

Initially the nose presents with loads of ripe raspberries and blueberries, but as it opens up those initial sweet berries are pushed into the background to make way for black cherries which lead the way to the palate. On the palate you still get hints of the ripe fruits, but red and black cherries are most prominent, together with the slightest hint of dried peaches. But the beauty of this wine lies in the acidity which gives it a massive freshness and cuts through the soft tannins to carry it immensely well. A couple of years in the bottle will do this wine good, but it isn’t made to age for a massively long time. It goes for R100 a bottle which really is not a lot, so get out there and enjoy it now.

Getting back to Hugh Laurie, I bought the album and was soon eating my words as he is a brilliant musician creating some of the best blues around. It is the same with the Collaboration Cinsaut. Maybe talented people are just that: talented, and will succeed at whatever they do; and hopefully this isn’t the last vintage of a promising wine that we will get to taste.

Score: 16.5  

Beau Joubert Old Vines Chenin Blanc 2012

An increasingly positive focus has been placed on Chenin Blanc in the last 5 years or so. And why not??!! Chenin is as local as biltong, rugby, and braai. It may however be the case that this beautiful grape has brought the name of South African wines in disrepute in the past, but a new generation of winemakers have been trying really hard (and some have been succeeding) in raising the quality-bar with regards to Chenins.

The Old Vine Chenin Blanc from Beau Joubert is one of the wines which is lifting the bar in terms of quality. It has beautiful notes of honeysuckle, pineapple, and green apples on the nose. On the palate there is a good balance between fruit and oak, with just a hint of spice adding to the complexity of the wine. It is not overly oaked, spending only 3 months in barrels of which only 30% was new oak. It has a good acidity giving it the potential to age well.

Score: 15.5

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!!   

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!    

I'm back baby!!!

It’s been quite some time since my last entry, but at long last I’m back and (hopefully) here to stay for a while. During the past month I haven’t had a great deal of time to visit the wine routes, but I have made time to drop in at Morgenhof a couple of weeks ago, and I just got back from a tasting at Spier. So let’s get this show on the road again!!

The last time I visited Morgenhof (www.morgenhof.com) was probably 18 months ago, and I forgot just how beautiful the gardens are and the calming effect that they have on you. It really is a delight to taste at Morgenhof as the people are some of the most friendly that you will encounter on the Stellenbosch wine route, and they are very informative. Let’s see how the wines do…

Sauvignon Blanc 2010:  The Sauvignon Blanc weighs in at R79 per bottle. The nose is quite light with hints of tropical flavours and green pepper. It has good acidity on the palate which I enjoyed. However, it just is not a big enough wine to justify the price. The nose is too light and the aftertaste just is not there. It gets 2.5.

Chardonnay 2010: The Chardonnay is oaked for 6 months in French oak barrels, and I have to mention that the oak does not overpower the fruit and this is one tick it gets. The palate presents with pineapple and vanilla, but there is no follow through on the palate. It is better than the Sauvignon Blanc, but at R89 per bottle it is not worth remembering. It gets 3.

Merlot/Cabernet Franc 2008: This is the entry level red. There are some promising signs of dark currents on the nose which goes on to be complemented by soft berries on the palate. The aftertaste is not massive, but it is more of an easy drinking wine than anything else and it does a good job of being just that. It costs R65 per bottle and gets a rating of 3.

Merlot 2006: Now we start getting to the more serious side of things. For a start, the nose is much more promising than any of the previous wines. You’ll find dark plums, cherries, and just a hint of mint on the nose. This combines with soft tannins on the palate to ensure quite a pleasurable aftertaste. At R130 per bottle I really do think it is a bit overpriced, but it is all the while a good wine. It gets 3.5.

Morgenhof Estate 2005: This flagship wine consists of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec. The nose is good, but I expected it to be a bit fuller seeing that it has had some time to mature in the bottle. Black currents, mocha, and just a hint of tobacco on the nose, and on the palate this is complemented by soft raspberry flavours. To be painfully honest, I expected a lot more of a flagship wine which costs R249 per bottle. I really do believe that all of the wines are overpriced and overrated. The Estate gets a rating of 3.5.

We all know Spier (www.spier.co.za) as this massively tourist focused estate, and I am not saying that this is a negative thing. The new tasting room is an absolute delight to visit. It is a very open-plan room with a great deal of space, so even though it was a busy day at the cellar door it didn’t feel like I was in a shed being squashed by a herd of sheep. The service is very friendly and the questions which I did ask were answered very well. You can find the Signature range in the supermarkets, while the other ranges are available at the cellar door.

Signature Sauvignon Blanc: This entry level Sauvignon Blanc had a delightful nose with ripe gooseberries and passion fruit first in line to greet me. The palate is very fruit driven with just the slightest bit of green pepper popping in for a visit as well. At R47 per bottle it is really good value for money, and I will give it a deserving 3.

Creative Block 2 2011: I was really surprised by the nose of the Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blend. It is dominated by unripe gooseberries, and with this start I was very exited to see what the palate would deliver. The gooseberries take a bit of a back seat to tropical flavours on the palate, and there is just the slightest hint of apricot on the aftertaste. It is a full bodied, complicated wine, and I think it still needs time to develop in the bottle. It costs R85 per bottle and gets 3.5.

21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2010: The 21 Gables has replaced the previously known Private Collection range, which is a bit of pity when you consider the quality of the Private Collection wines. By saying this I am not taking anything away from the 21 Gables range, as you will soon come to see. The Chenin Blanc is oaked for a whopping 14 months. The oak is very prominent on the nose and the palate, but importantly it does not dominate the wine. Combining with the oak you will find apricot and citrus flavours, leaving you with a massive aftertaste of toasted vanilla and luscious fruit. This is a serious wine, and at R118 per bottle it is really good! It gets 4.5.

Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2010: The Signature range is the entry level wines and all the reds in this range costs a mere R54 per bottle. The Cabernet Sauvignon shows hints of currents and blackberries on the nose, accompanied by hints of spice on the palate. It does not have a massive aftertaste, and it did not impress me that much. It is an easy drinking wine and gets a rating of 2.5. I have to make special mention of both the Pinotage and the Merlot in the Signature range that are both worth buying.

Creative Block 3 2009: This blend of Shiraz, Mourvedre, and Viognier is one of the stand-out wines on the tasting sheet! The nose is very perfumy, with hints of sweet fruit and candy floss. On the palate there is ample fruit to titillate the palate, with soft spices and vanilla on the aftertaste. This one is a keeper!! Just buy a box, drink a couple, and leave the rest to age for 5 years. This will be absolutely divine in the future! I really struggled to rate it. I was leaning towards 4.5 for most of the time, but I will reluctantly give it a rating of 4.

21 Gables Pinotage 2009: The Flagship red is oaked for 20 months and has a massive nose! Loads of cherries on the nose, and somewhere in the background plum flavours are trying to be seen. They do get their chance to show off a bit on the palate, and these two are joined by the slightest hint of cinnamon and Christmas cake spices. I want to take this bottle out for dinner and generally just show it a good time, treat it well for a while, and then enjoy it to the fullest!!! An absolute beauty! It costs R158 per bottle, and I would pay it with a smile on my face. I’ll give it 4.5. It will definitely improve given some time to mature.

That’s it for the comeback tour. You’ll hear from me again in the near future, but until then enjoy Pounding Grape!!!