WanderCurtis Wine

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Tag Archives: stellenbosch


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Meerlust Rubicon 2017

From vineyards close to False Bay in Stellenbosch, South Africa. There is a noticeable cooling effect from breezes, in this part of the region, that push inland from the cold waters of the Bay really slowing the ripening season down and allowing concentrated and flavourful grapes to grow.

Founded in 1756 Meerlust Estate does call into question the use of the term ‘New World’ when comes to the wines of South Africa (see our review of Constancia which tells the story of how wine growing started in the country). On the other hand it is fair to say that the birth, or probably rebirth, of quality wine production only properly got under way after the fall of apartheid in 1994.

The idea of ‘crossing the Rubicon’, at which point there was no turning back for Julius Ceasar, inspired the name of the wine. Nico Myburgh, part of the founding family, created the wine from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, inspired by the use of blending in Bordeaux crossing the line and helping to establish the style in South Africa.

Indeed this wine is easy to mistake for a classic right back Bordeaux when tasted blind, there is something about the way that the growing conditions in Stellenbosch allow restrained and elegant wines to be made that whilst ripe retain notes of capsicum and black currant leaf characteristic of classic Claret.

This wine already shows some bricking on the garnet rim. The nose is expressive with ripe black currant, capsicum, black pepper, baked blackcurrant tart, smoke, toast and coffee grounds, signifying use of French Oak. It also has nice notes of earth and leather from the years in bottle.

In the mouth it is fresh, with ripe but firm tannin, the body is full but the alcohol well integrated. Elegant and well balanced with a very long tasty finish. This wine is widely available and great value for a wine showing enough maturity to drink now but with capacity to develop further.


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Kanonkop Estate, Stellenbosch

Nestled on the slopes of Simonsberg Mountain, Kanonkop Wine Estate is a proud custodian of South African winemaking heritage. Now in the hands of fourth-generation brothers Paul and Johann Krige, the estate produces around three million bottles annually, with sales evenly split between domestic and international markets. Known exclusively for its red wines, Kanonkop champions two hero grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage. The estate’s flagship wines are meticulously matured in French oak barrels, incorporating a portion of new wood to enhance complexity and elegance.

The Kadette range, meanwhile, showcases fruit sourced from 30 local farmers, with Kanonkop’s own viticulturalist overseeing the growing process to ensure quality and consistency,. The estate traces its name to a nearby hill (or kop) where, in the 17th and 18th centuries, a cannon (kanon) thundered to signal the arrival of ships in Table Bay. This booming call once rallied local farmers to race their wagons to the harbor, laden with fresh produce.

 Since bottling its first wine in 1973, Kanonkop has become a benchmark for South African reds, carrying forward the legacy of the visionary Paul Sauer.

Tasting notes:

Kadette Range – A Young soldier ready for action!

Kadette dry Pinotage rose 2022

  • Short skin contact, blush colour and burst of floral notes.
  • Nice prickly mouth feel, sweet strawberry notes, peach, fresh acidity.

Cape Blend 2020

  • 50% Pinotage plus Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, 14% ABV.
  • Nice brambly nose with a bit of smoke, an inky note and touch of vanilla.
  • Lovely juicy fruit, fullish body but good lift and spicy finish, good length.

Pinotage 2020 14%

  • 100% Pinotage 14% ABV.  Really sweet red and black berries, touch of vanilla.
  • More fruit on palate, soft chewy tannins, medium acidity, good length. Slight herbal finish. Very tasty

Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 14%

  • Classic blackberry and black currant leaf on the nose.
  • Nice dry fruit, herbal, savoury, nice grainy tannin, medium length.  Lovely and great value.

Estate wine Pinotage 2020

  • Old vineyards with 60 year old bush vines. Pinotage is dry farmed
  • Matured in 80% new oak. Classy barrel room notes of toast and spice.
  • Lovely balance, and structure, brambly fruit, coffee notes, lots of length.

Estate Cab Sauvignon 2020

  • Classic blackcurrant leaf and whiff of smoke.
  • Blackberry is ripe but not over ripe ,mineral notes, very fine ripe tannin, lingering length. Long savoury finish!

Estate Paul Sauer 2020

  • 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Cab Franc. Matured in 100% new oak for 2 years.
  • More of everything. Black plum, coco powder and spice.
  • More talcum powdery ripe and super soft tannins. Lovely rounded fruit breadth. Very long.

In recent years Kanonkop have experienced very consistent vintages harvesting at same time of year but it is always  a race against time to harvest everything as it ripens all at once. They have not apparently noticed much effect in terms of global warming.


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Jordan Winery, Stellenbosch, a safari through the vineyards.

We loved the innovative safari, bumping along the dirt tracks through the vineyards at Jordan Winery in Stellenbosch. We travelled in a safari-style open topped Land Rover up to the top of the hillside to take in amazing views in one direction out to Table Top Mountain and Table Bay and the other towards False Bay.  One the way we stopped for what has to be the most scenic venue for a wine tasting ever,  looking out across Stellenbosch towards Simonsberg.

Along the way, we encountered the rich flora and fauna of the Cape Winelands, while gaining insight into Jordan’s unique terroir. The estate’s vineyards span altitudes from 160 to 410 meters above sea level, with slopes facing all four compass directions. Benefiting from cool coastal breezes and maritime fog, the vines thrive in soils ranging from ancient Cape Granite clay-loam to gravelly, sandy duplex.  The trip finished off in the cellar with a tour and with more wine samples enjoyed in the on the sunlit restaurant terrace overlooking the lake, a great place for lunch.   —a true celebration of Jordan’s exceptional terroir.

Try the Blanc de Blanc special cuve 2017 11%

Matured on lees for 54 months. Greenish gold in colour.  Lovely chalky citrus notes, fresh cut granary loaf and a touch of ground almonds. Fresh, tight body, grapefruit pith and a long steely finish.


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Waterkloof wines Stellenbosch, South Africa, November 21st, 2019, 7pm at Frederick’s Restaurant with Paul Boutinot

We were  delighted to welcome Paul Boutinot founder of Waterkloof.
Paul is originally from Manchester and started Boutinot Wines. He founded Waterkloof in 2004. It is a family owned, organic, biodynamic and WWF Biodiversity Champion farm overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, False Bay near Stellenbosch, South Africa.
I had met Paul recently at a South African wine tasting at Hammer and Tongs 
We instantly hit it off being fellow Mancunians, also I spent a lot of my childhood in Heald Green where his family ran La Bonne Auberge.
His wines took my attention with their meticulous balance and beautiful tannins. After tasting them I found out that the wines are from  Biodynamic vineyards, this didn’t surprise me as they stood out from the crowd.
At other tastings I have recently attended I have marked my favourites, Domaine Zind Humbrecht, Chateau Pontet Canet and Felton Road all produced biodynamically.  I believe there’s something very special about looking after the land in this way.
It was an honour to have Paul talking about himself and his wines. He’s an incredibly humble down to earth chap who is very easy to warm too. Being a Man United fan helps too!
The wines displayed a beautiful balance.
I loved the Circle of white for its great texture balance and length. The Mourvedre with its characteristic savouriness went very well with the Welsh lamb.
Aperitif
Cape Coral Mourvèdre, Rosé 2018
Starter
Salmon duet; smoked & avocado; rillettes & pickled vegetables
Circle of Life White 2016
Main
Roasted Welsh lamb rump, potato dauphinoise, spinach, rosemary jus Circumstance
Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Circumstance Cabernet Franc 2016
Dessert
Apple & blackberry crumble, vanilla ice cream
Seriously Cool Cinsault 2018

 

Recent review of Circumstance Mourvedre

Waterkloof, Circumstance Mourvèdre 2017 Stellenbosch

17/20

“Aged in old 600-litre barrels.
Deep crimson. Not what I expected on the nose – peppery and fragrant, almost floral. Then shows the reductive character of the variety on the palate, but in a good way – smoky, dark and savoury. Even a hint of char. Blind I might have thought this was Syrah. Compact, fine and dry in texture. Lovely but embryonic. Julia Harding


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Sensational Stellenbosch May 2017 , Day 2

Kanonkop 

This historic winery is situated on the slopes of the Simonsberg mountains.Its name is derived from ‘Koppie’ from which a canon was fired in the 17th century to alert farmers of ships entering table Bay .They have 100 hectares of vineyards mainly pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon . Focus is on top quality red wines especially Pinotage. Kanonkop is run by 2 brothers Johann and Paul Krige. The family run ethos have resulted in only three winemakers in the last 48 years. Arbrie Beeslaar is the current winemaker whose mother in law I coincidentally sat next to on the flight from London !

 

Wines tasted

Pinotage Rose 2015

Fresh citrus and raspberries

Kadette Cape Blend Pinotage 2015,Big production 65000 cases smoke toast blackberry

Kadette Pinotage 2015

19000 cases spicy rubber entry level

Kanonkop Pinotage 2014

30 to 60 year old bush wines vines 6000 cases

Complex nose concentrated medicinal herbaceous spicy coffee black fruit soft tannins chocolate

Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

3500 cases cassis black currant leaf

Kanonkop Pinotage 2001

Coffee chocolate medicinal savoury soy sauce soft tannins truffles + lovely a good indicator of what aged South African Pinotage can deliver

Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2013

CF CS Merlot liquorice black currant

 

 

Rustenberg

 

 

 

Rustenberg was founded in 1682 and is situated at the foot of the Simonsberg Mountains . It’s a Cape gem with beautiful Cape Dutch thatched roofed buildings, a historic gabled manor house , extensive landscaped gardens and vineyards. John X Merriman, a former Cape Prime minister bought the property in 1892. In 1941 Peter and Pamela Barlow bought Rustenberg their sons now run the business

Wines tasted with Willem, marketing manager ( Importer in the  UK is seckfords, available waitrose majestic)

Rustenberg Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Grown at altitude 550m + Can smell from end of table, Pineapple tropical fruit lemons,Crisp fresh ++ aged in lees 3 months

Rustenberg Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2015,Butter toast creamy citrus fermented in oak

Five soldiers Chardonnay 2014,Creamy textured long marzipan citrus nutty crisp +

Rustenberg Grenache 2015,Blueberries red currant cut bunches in half before harvest to concentrated

Rustenberg Merlot 2015,Plummy fruity soft tannins

RM Nicholson 2015 Shiraz blend slight perfume black cherries

John x Merriman 2014,Bordeaux blend,very good structure needs age a little tight Black fruits

Bouzard clouf Syrah,rubber spice pepper mixed herbs liquorice

Peter Barlow 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon,mint menthol cassis firm tannins Still a baby

 

 

This fabulous mornings tasting was followed by a delicious lunch at Jordans Estate

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Sensational Stellenbosch. May 2017 – day 1

Our first tasting in Stellenbosch was at the magnificent  Tokara Estate  owned by GT Ferreira , situated  at the crest of the Helshoogte Pass. The exceptional location allows panoramic views over Olive Groves, valleys and Mountains from Simonsberg to Table Mountain. The  tasting room has a huge stone fireplace and contemporary architecture, there’s also a sculpture garden delicatessen and restaurant.

 

 

 

 

We were greeted by Karl the GM and Suzanne .This stunning property has 60 hectares of vineyards and was built in 1999 with first vintage in 2001. Grapes are sourced from a variety of sites including the lovely Elgin Sauvignon blanc on a site which was a fruit farm. 2007 to 2016 ten year tasting shows exceptional development of these wines Back vintages are stored in a monumental four storey cylindrical cellar hidden behind a vast cast iron door off the tasting room .

Luckily I was inquisitive enough to encourage Carl to not only give us a peek inside but also to sneak out the delightful 2006 Directors reserve Semillon.

Tokara is named after the owners 2 children Distribution is mainly in Holland U.K. Germany. ABS wines distribute in the U.K The German market is very big partly due to historical factors , the Germans colonized SW Africa.25% of  Somerset West has German owned homes

 

Wines tasted.

Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin 2016 Sauvignon Blanc

Elderflower floral citrus peach , crisp good length persistence balance

 

Tokara Reserve Collection Chardonnay 2015

Naturally fermented .15% Pineapple tropical fruit .Butter vanilla toast oak 95 points best in SA 27 % new oak .

Tokara Directors Reserve 2014

70 Sauvignon Blanc 30 Sémillon High altitude 500 m Rich barrel fermented textured .wet hay lemons musty earthy

Tokara 2006 Directors Reserve Semillon

Carl plucked from secret cellar Rich pétrolic flinty gunsmoke texture full lovely pickled lemon

Tokara Reserve  Syrah 2013

Crushed spice Violets soft tannins savoury

2013 directors reserve red

Merlot Petit Verdot others Cedar cigar box tobacco . Long lovely soft tannins Long finish

Tokara Directors reserve Potstill Brandy Another special treat from Karl

floral dry fig and raisins

 

 

 

 

Delaire Graff Estate

 

The high altitude vineyard on the slopes of Botmaskop was originally a lookout for boats entering Table Bay Harbour .

No expense was spared on their multifaceted property, with   a winery, two restaurants, a lifestyle boutique,a diamond store, a five star lodge and spa transformed by Laurence Graff founder and chairman of Graff Diamonds International Ltd.

The cellar is one of the most advanced and well equipped in the Southern Hemisphere the first wines made in 2008.

Wines Tasted on the terrace

 

Cabernet franc rose 2016

strawberry crisp fresh finish

Delaire Graff Sauvignon Blanc 2015

beautifully fresh hint gooseberry and lemon

Delaire Graff  Sauvignon Blanc coastal cuvée Olifants river 2015

3 km from sea has 4% sémillon Franschoek Textured structured great mouthfeel length gooseberry tropical fruit

Delaire Graff Banghoek reserve Chardonnay 2015

vanilla peaches toast long 10 months French oak barriques seductive nose long lingering finish

Delaire Graff Swartland Chenin Blanc 2015

Honey citrus

Delaire Graff Botmaskop 2015

Alcohol stands out Tomato leaf nose cassis soft tannins Needs another year or more

 

 

 

Kleine Zalze Estate

 

Winemaking dates back to 1695 . Now run by ex lawyer Kobus Basson with extensive renovation and modernization.The property includes an 18 hole golf course a luxury residential developments a boutique hotel and a top Provençal inspired restaurant

Terroir Dinner with Anthony van schalkwyk atTerroir restaurant

Four clearly defined ranges exist . the foot of Africa range , The cellar selection range , the vineyard range and their flagship family reserve range.

Wines tasted with dinner

Vintage 2009 Blanc De Blanc Methode cap classique.

Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2015

Family Reserve, Cabernet 2012

Family Reserve Shiraz 2012

For full tasting notes see details from our wine dinner in London with Kleine Zalze .

I highly recommend this as a destination to base yourselves in Stellenbosch, complete with infinity pool , majestic views , mountain bike trail , excellent restaurant and easy access to wineries .