Christmas and New Year Bottles
This is a selection of wines we have tasted recently and with which we feel you should be stocking your cellar for the happy hols…
De Grendel Cap Classique Brut 2018
Beautiful colour in the glass with the tiniest of bubbles rushing to form a crown at the edges of the glass. Citrus, pink grapefruit oil on the nose, touch of fresh baked brioche. On entry the bubbles fill the palate and bring with them lemon curd, biscotti and a long Granny Smith ending.
CLICK HERE to read more about De Grendel Wines
Delaire Graff Estate Grappa nv
Get a bottle of this into your fridge and serve it with an espresso and a shard of dark chocolate, as a digestif after your Christmas meal
CLICK HERE to read more about Delaire Graff Wine Estate
De Wetshof The Bateleur Chardonnay 2020
Named for one of our majestic eagles, the Bateleur [Terathopius Ecaudatus]. This is a true classic. Spectacular fruit citrus, pear, and toasted hazelnuts. A full, rich, and generous wine in every respect. Perfect with your Christmas Turkey – or Roasted Leg of Lamb. Yes it can.
CLICK HERE to read more about De Wetshof Wine Estate
Durbanville Hills 10 year old Merlot Potstill Brandy
A serious brandy, beautifully aged. Beautiful Amber in the glass. Red berry fruits, vanilla, glazed cherries & dried fruit, cinnamon, cedar wood, mint on the nose. Rich and generous palate, again with red berries raspberries, and cherry fruit cake. Creamy milk chocolate with vanilla and a thyme herbaceousness.
CLICK HERE to read more about Durbanville Hills Winery
Groot Constantia Grande Constance 2017
A replica of the famed Constantia Wines of the 18th century. Made from full ripe Muscat grapes, no botrytis or fortification. The wine has had 24 months in French Oak Barrels. Aromas are rich and beguiling, honey and soft ripe apricots. The palate has a vibrant acidity line from entry. Unctuous, packed with stone fruit with a lovely top note of gentle rose.
CLICK HERE to read more about Groot Constantia Wine Estate
Louisvale Limited Edition Merlot 2018
Louisvale Wines were on our Restaurant Wine list in the 1990s and so popular. This wine has had 18 months in French Oak Barrels, beautifully brushed with oak as a support to the excellent Merlot fruit. Berries and cherries and plums on the nose and the palate. Excellent balance of all the elements with silken tannins in a long and satisfying aftertaste. Brilliant with your Roast Beef at Christmas.
CLICK HERE to read more about Louisvale Wines and Events
Deetlefs Pinotage 2016
I first visited here in the late 1970s. The owner at the time was so charming and gracious and showed me Muscat Vines which were, then 97 years old. Beautiful colour in the glass, bloodplum at the heart and ruby scarlet around the edges. Classic Pinotage nose, red berries from the Pinot Noir parent. Lovely floral and spice. From entry, a beautiful line of red berry fruits running through to the long aftertaste. The fruit, silken tannins and the perfect oaking run in perfect harmony, with mocha chocolate at the end.
CLICK HERE to read more about Deetlefs Wine Estate
Landskroon Cape Vintage 2019
A port by any other name which tastes as sweet. While I am a great believer in drinking this style of sweet, fortified wine at any time, even with tonic before a meal, Christmas is a great time. Serve this wine with crisp biscuits spread with blue cheese, preferably a young creamy Gorgonzola. Bloodplum in colour at the heart which pales out to ruby at the edges. Prunes and cherry tobacco. Unctuous and silken soft to drink.
CLICK HERE to read more about Landskroon Wines
Oldenburg Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2020
Not perhaps the bottle you were expecting, but a serious extra virgin olive oil, a blend of Coratina, Frantoio, Leccino, and one of the my favourite olive varieties Nocellara del Belice. Note of nuts, fresh ground white pepper, the palate shows lime and other citrus. Perfect as a seasoning for your salad with a squeeze of lemon.
CLICK HERE to read more about Oldenburg Vineyards
Simonsig The Grapesmith Die Kluisenaar 2018
This Roussanne Marsanne blend with pluck you right out of your comfort zone, so be prepared. And you’ll love it. Beguiling notes of orange blossoms, tarte au citron and nuts. Also an interesting note of yeast and baked apples. There is an exquisite lie of vibrant acidity running through to the truly satisfying aftertaste.
CLICK HERE to read more about Simonsig Wine Estate
Spier Cap Classique RD Brut 2009
Heidi Deitstein has produced a gem here, a blend of 71% Chardonnay & 29% Pinot Noir. With the delayed dégorgement, there are so many extra facets to this fine wine. Wonderful whiffs and flavours of fresh baked shortbread and lemon curd and the yeast all showing the 8 years on the lees and a further 6 months on the cork. Soft mouthfeel, enlivened by the bubbles and a vibrant acidity line running through from entry to the long and gently waning aftertaste.
CLICK HERE to read more about Spier Wine Farm
Richard Kershaw Wines, The Smuggler’s Boot Pinot Noir 2019
Richard Kershaw, newly elevated to the Cape Independent Wine Makers, already a British Master of Wine, is one of the most fascinating people to whom to talk, he has a fascination with clones and oak and site. The name Smugglers Boot is a nod to the winemakers who in the mid 20th Century smuggled vine cuttings into South Africa in their boots. This wine is young and energetic and medium of body. Packed with fruit, succulent berries, and cherries, soft and silken and mildly spicy. Best served chilled with thin slices of cold roast turkey served with Cumberland Sauce.
CLICK HERE to read more about Richard Kershaw Wines
Stellenbosch Hills A Sense of Place Suikerboschrand 2017
This beguiling wine is a Pinotage led blend with Shiraz and equal components of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. A bit like the beautiful slightly plump princess at the ball dressed in red velvet. Elegant with many layers of wonderful spiced red fruit, blackcurrants with notes of cherry tobacco, cedar wood and spice. Impressive glass. Excellent packaging.
CLICK HERE to read more about Stellenbosch Hills Winery
Bessie Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Annelie Viljoen is a viticulturist of note in the Stellenbosch Wine Appellation. This past year she made this wine and a Malbec, I have yet to taste. Bessie is classical Sauvignon Blanc. Clean, fresh, zippy with notes of fynbos herbaceousness and fresh cut grass and a perfect rich and generous mid palate where you will find sweet tropical limes, melon and starfruit. This mother of three boys, has made a mother of a wine here. Do everything you can to land a couple of bottles. Perfect as an aperitif before your Christmas lunch. Image show a previous vintage.
Email Annelie Viljoen on [email protected]
The Fledge & Co Vagabond 2019
Leon Coetzee and his wife Margaux Nel are a formidable team when it comes to their wines. They source grapes from all over the winelands with Leon traveling hundreds of miles each year checking up on the vineyards which provide them with premium quality grapes. The Vagabond 2019 is a blend of Chenin Blanc. Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Verdelho, Roussanne and Blanc Fumé, percentages supplied on the back label. Superb wine. Don’t chill it too much. Great with food. Your Christmas Duck with a fruited sauce will be very happy to meet it.
CLICK HERE to read more about The Fledge & Co Wines…
