Johan Malan of Simonsig

Tasting a selection of wines from Past Auctions of The Cape Winemakers Guild in the presence of three members, Johan Malan, Etienne le Riche and newboy Duncan Savage was an experience to be remembered for a long time.

Not only were the wines utterly memorable, being in the company of these three gents and being fed fabulous food by George Jardine on a perfect Cape Day, made it all the more enjoyable.

In the first flight Bruce Jack’s Flagstone Weather Girl 2006 brought on a huge debate as to whether the wine was over the hill or whether it had a way to go.  I loved its minerality, the good palate weight, fruit and pepper and its sparky acidity.  Kevin Grant’s Ataraxia Chardonnay 2007 was a dream excellent oak “frame” for the wonderful stylish Chardonnay.

George Jardine

The second flight was of older reds.  A regal Kanonkop 1997 Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc and Merlot Blend was poured, excellent and brilliantly austere cassis fruit and superb oak.  One of my fellow guests said it had a “Kanonkopness” about it.   Jeremy Walker’s fabulous 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve was a magisterial wine – wonderful Cabernet fruit, fennel undertow, great wood and definitely a bottle I would want to cuddle up to.  The third wine was Danie Steytler’s KaapzichtCabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2002, its colour moving to terra cotta, lovely sweet minty ripe fruit with just fabulous oak.  Very dry.  The fourth wine was Pieter Ferreira’s slightly out of place Graham Beck Shiraz Barrel Select 2002.  May have been out of place, but that did not prevent it being a great New World wine with a French kick to it – lovely lovely peppery fruit, well oaked.

Flight three was a gathering of four 2003s. Waterford Auction Reserve, recessive shy fruit and oak on the nose and plate.  Fynbos on the nose, complex fruit with cloves and coriander.  De Trafford Perspective, a Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend.  Minty nose ahead of juicy savoury fruit with whiffs of fennel, coriander and violets. I really liked the freshness of this wine. Jordan Sophia Auction Reserve.  A people’s wine.  Sweet fruit on the nose, layered fruit on the palate with vanilla spice and a leafiness to it.  Le Riche Auction Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.  Full round wonderful fruit with incense smoke and warm spices.  Beautifully oaked.  A real privilege to drink this wine. And finally the Boplaas Auction reserve Port 2001.  Stunning glass of full rich sweet sumptuous Christmas cake fruit.

George Jardine who runs the restaurant on Jordan gave us a delicious lunch at which a further selection of wines was served.  The ones, which stood out for me, were the Jordan Chardonnay Reserve 2007, Kanonkop Pinotage 2001 and an utterly fabulous Boplaas Auction Reserve Muscadel 2000.