Where the Lions Roar in the Wild West of Bot Rivier
LEEURIVIER WYN & OLYF
Friday 29 April 2019
http://leeurivier.co.za/
Experience: 4.5/5
Wines: 4/5
From the Angel Gabriel to the Arch Angel
ARCANGELI VINEYARDS
Friday 29 April 2019
http://www.arcangeliwines.com/
Experience: 4/5
Wines: 4/5
I Needed to be Guided by the Angel Gabriel
GABRIËLSKLOOF WINE ESTATE
Friday 29 April 2019
https://www.gabrielskloof.co.za/
Experience: 4/5
Wines: 4/5
Let us get this out of the way now but I was not on a good mood when I arrived at Gabriëlskloof. I had taken well over an hour to get here from Villion and Barton vineyards, a distance of barely 10 kilometres. My mobile had no signal for satnav or routing and there is only one way over the N2 in Bot Rivier between the two estates. I had been up and over the Houw Hoek Pass twice. It did not help that there was a broken down truck right in the middle of the road at the requisite turning point to distract me. I left Villion and Barton ahead of my planned time and arrived at Gabriëlskloof behind schedule. Rant over!
I first tasted Gabriëlskloof wines nearly 2 years ago at a Monday evening tasting at the Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town. I vowed then to taste at the estate though did not expect it to take me so long to do so. Interestingly, looking back at the wines I sampled in May 2017, there was not one that I tasted today. The reason for this was because wines from the Estate and Reserve Range (R60 for 6 wines) were brought to the Vineyard Hotel and I sampled from the flagship Landscape Series (R150 for 6 wines) today. Marianna was my calming, patient and attentive host in the large, comfortable Tasting Room.
The 2 white wines I tasted were priced the same and similarly made, being barrel fermented and matured for 6 months in old, large (400/500 litre) French oak barrels. The Magdalena Sauvignon Blanc-led Bordeaux-style white blend, from 36-year old Franschhoek bush vines, offered lime citrus and green pepper herbaceous aromas on the nose. Sauvignon Blanc acidity and minerality was offset by smoother and honeyed Sémillon to make an interesting palate.
I preferred the single variety Chenin Blanc due to its excellent palate and long, leesy finish. The pale straw wine showed similar white honey notes together with those of tropical fruit salad, mango and slight white blossom on the nose. The wine showed great intensity and smooth texture on the palate.
Gabriëlskloof is a few kilometres east of the village of Bot Rivier and just south of where the N2 and R43 follow each other. The estate buildings sit on top of a low hill and are easily visible from the approach road. The setting reminded me of Tuscany except for the smaller hill and lack of tall cypress trees. It is a relatively new estate, as many in Bot Rivier, having been bought by South African Bernhard Heyns in 2001 as land to ‘root him to the spot’. It was canola and wheat land at the time but is now planted with 66 hectares of red and white Bordeaux and Rhône cultivar vines. Gabriëlskloof seeks to make wines with the minimum of intervention, distinct and of high quality that reflect the soils and terroir.
Marianna, sensing that I did not have time to eat any of the hearty food in the Restaurant, brought me a welcome taster of bread and olive oil, the latter from 5 varieties grown, extracted, blended and bottled on the farm. Cabernet Franc from the second vintage made on the estate was my first red wine. It was my favourite wine of the tasting due to its superb elegant yet powerful palate with near perfect balance between red cherry and redcurrant fruits, light tannin touch (18 months in large old barrels) and fresh acidity. The wine showed just enough restraint on the nose to interest with natural fynbos and herbs giving green aromas to match the red fruits.
The last wines were poured together in large open glasses to maximise their aromas. The 2 Syrah were identical in viticulture and winemaking (light extraction, minimal pumpover, 18 months maturation in 30% new French oak) but come from grapes on different soil types: shale, near to the Tasting Room, and Table Mountain sandstone on the far hill visible from the Tasting Room. It is always a treat to taste wines from different soils. I recall doing so with Chardonnay at De Wetshof and, more recently, tasting Syrah from different blocks at Haskell. The soil rocks beside the glasses was a nice touch.
The wines were different in colour – the shale wine slightly redder and the sandstone Syrah a little more purple – and had recognisably different aromas and flavours. The Syrah on Shale was fruitier with sweet/sour cherry, cranberry and oregano aromas on the nose and clean, tight, weightier, structured tannins on the excellent palate. In contrast, the Syrah on Sandstone showed an earthier character of slightly smoky sour cherry notes that opened out with greater intensity in the mouth with a sweetness that led to a spicier finish.
I am pleased to report that I left Gabriëlskloof in much better mood than when I arrived. The scattered clouds had gone and the views from the courtyard arranged buildings over the surrounding hills were magnificent. I departed clutching my 2 bottles of Syrah ready and waiting for the right chance to enjoy them with my wine lover friends.
Wines tasted (bought*):
White:
2016 Magdalena (69% Sauvignon Blanc, 31% Sémillon) – R290
2017 Elodie Chenin Blanc – R290
Red:
2016 Cabernet Franc – R375 FAVOURITE WINE
2016 Syrah on Shale – R375*
2016 Syrah on Sandstone – R375*
Ghostly Clouds Swirl at Spookfontein
SPOOKFONTEIN
Thursday 4 April 2019
http://www.spookfontein.co.za/
Experience: 4/5
Wines: 4/5
Sip Sip Sip and Drip Drip Drip at Domaine des Dieux
DOMAINE DES DIEUX
Thursday 4 April 2019
http://www.domainedesdieux.co.za/
Experience: 3.5/5
Wines: 4/5
Rain Meets Earth at Newton Johnson
NEWTON JOHNSON FAMILY VINEYARDS
Thursday 4 April 2019
http://www.newtonjohnson.com/
Experience: 4/5
Wines: 4/5
Leaping to the Right Conclusions
LEOPARD’S LEAP FAMILY VINEYARDS
Wednesday 20 March 2019
https://www.leopardsleap.co.za/
Experience: 4/5
Wines: 4/5
Peace but No Rest for Rust en Vrede
RUST EN VREDE ESTATE
Thursday 14 March 2019
http://rustenvrede.com/
Experience: 4/5
Wines: 4/5
Rust en Vrede is one of those grand old ladies of South African wine estates that just has to be visited if you are a true wine connoisseur, sooner or later. It was later for me and so I was especially looking forwards. I left Haskell Vineyards and retraced my way back down the Annandale Valley. The beauty of the valley alone makes this area to the South of Stellenbosch worth visiting – no wonder it is called the ‘golden triangle’ – let alone the prospect of some classic Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon. Rust en Vrede, you see, has produced red wines only since the Engelbrecht family bought the estate.
All good reds take time to develop and mature. So has Rust en Vrede. Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel established the property in 1694. It was not until a hundred years later, from 1780 to 1790, that the first house and the Manor House were built. Roll on another 200 years of property division, fire and neglect, until 1977, and to the restoration of the grand old lady by Springbok rugby legend Jannie Engelbrecht. Jannie and his family, including eldest son and current owner Jean who grew up at Rust en Vrede, have certainly done well.
The large white pillars at the entrance, with their gold lettering, offer a statement of permanence and excellence on one’s arrival. The picturesque setting is enhanced by a tree-lined avenue, with a gentle curve that any budding landscape designer would be proud of. Tidy Syrah flank the driveway at the top of the slope, with Cabernet Sauvignon visible through the trees beyond. The walk from the car park to the Tasting Room, with world-class Restaurant beyond, is along a shady path lined with manicured hydrangeas, their pink flowers fading a little as if a nod to the old lady. The beauty of the approach reminds me of Delaire Graff.
My peace is broken by the busy, long Tasting Room with its impressive display of small to huge wine bottles on one side, opposite the Tasting Counter. I take a pause to look at the temperature controlled underground cellar – the first to be privately owned in South Africa – with its arched vaults for bottle storage. Returning upstairs into the bright and well lit room, I decide to taste at the counter rather than outside where the majority of guests are. Meanwhile, the light jazz music soothes whilst the many staff – impeccably dressed in tan pants and branded polo shirts (blue for boys and black for girls) – bustle about their business.
Kesley is my attentive and polite tasting host. He is a Stellenbosch University student, in his final year studying Actuarial Science, but has quickly built up a good knowledge of the estate and its wines. There are 4 tasting options: the Estate Tasting (4 wines for R60); Vertical Tasting (4 of the Estate wine for R120); Single Vineyard Tasting (4 wines for R120); and All Wines (R150). I chose the Estate Tasting.
All the wines were served at the right temperature in large red wine glasses. The Merlot was the youngest vintage (2017) and the last single variety vintage to be produced. Merlot accounts for 10% of the estate and will in future be used for blending. The wine showed great promise from its ruby red, medium-bodied appearance and fresh, vibrant aromas of cherry and spicy plum. It was let down by tight, bitter tannins on the palate that were too grippy and out of balance with the fruit flavours. I suspected heavier oaking than the 14 months maturation in 10% new and 90% 2nd/3rd fill French oak but the wine was brashly showing its youth.
The 2016 Syrah was far better balanced on the palate. Green tannins showed from the whole bunch fermented grapes, a decision taken due to the drought, but these were less bold. The nose was good too with intense and complex aromas of cassis and other dark fruits, black pepper spiciness and a smoky, savoury bouquet. Kesley also let me taste the 2014 vintage. It was my favourite wine. Like its younger sibling, the wine was matured in 500 litre barrels for 18 months in 33% new French oak. The wine was less smoky but fruitier with a greater complexity of mulberry, cherry, blackberry, cassis and black pepper aromas. The balance between fruit and tannin was best of all to show elegance, poise and power.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted vine (60%) which, like the Merlot and Syrah is planted at 85 to 130 metres above sea level on the lower Helderberg Mountain slopes. The vines are planted on 34 hectares of the 50 hectare property and face mostly North (North-East to North-West) to catch the sun for ripening and to shield them from the prevailing South-East wind. The decomposed granite and sandstone soils give structure and power to the wines.
The wine was a classic Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon and very clearly a South African wine. I needed a fresh glass to taste fully as I picked up Syrah spiciness on first pouring. The wine did everything it should. The nose showed a good intensity of bramble, cassis and black plum fruitiness with an underlay of green herbs, whilst the palate offered grippy but tight tannins. The ageing régime was the same as for the Syrah except for 300 litre barrels. Like the Syrah of the same vintage, the wine showed its youth and needs a good 5-10 years for the tannins to open and soften for a smoother experience.
The final wine of the tasting was The Estate. The simple name for the flagship wine showed the assured confidence of the old lady herself. The 2015 vintage, one of the very best in recent years due to near perfect growing conditions, was the youngest on offer. Wesley explained that it was the first South African wine to rank in the World Top 100 wines by Wine Spectator. The wine has been made for 30 years. It is always blended close to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah and 10% Merlot (see below for precise amount for this vintage). This was a rich, powerful wine with a heady 14.6% alcohol to match the heady price (R450, rising to R750 for the 2012 vintage).
The nose intrigued as it contradicted. There was obvious complexity of aromas due to the contribution from each of the 3 cultivars – savoury red and dark fruits from the Cabernet Sauvignon, peppery spicy dark fruits from the Syrah, and sweeter red fruits from the Merlot – but I struggled to pick out the individual notes on the nose. It was a paradox I did not fully resolve. The palate was much as I expected. The boldness of the fruits matched the structure and intensity of the tannins. The Estate is a definite food wine and deserving of long ageing.
I learned after that Rust en Vrede means ‘rest and peace’. The peace of the estate, its tranquil setting, immaculate gardens and historic buildings, and the beautiful surrounds was immediately obvious from my arrival in the car park that was filled only with Mercedes, Audi and BMW cars. The premium pricing for the wines thus did not surprise. The Engelbrecht family, however, have hardly rested. Rust en Vrede has won many accolades in the last 40 years. I mentioned the first temperature-controlled underground cellar in private ownership. Nelson Mandela chose a Rust en Vrede wine at his Nobel Peace Prize lunch. The wines and the Restaurant have featured multiple times in Top 100 lists in the world.
Jean Engelbrecht has taken on trusteeship of the property and risen to the challenge which, in his own words, is ‘not just to maintain it – that is your responsibility – but to build on it’. The rest and peace balance well.
Wines tasted (bought *):
Red:
2017 Merlot – R260
2016 Syrah – R295
2014 Syrah – R350 FAVOURITE WINE
2016 Cabernet Sauvignon – R295
2015 Estate (57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Syrah, 9% Merlot) – R450
Franschhoek’s Hidden Gem Is Reluctant to Reveal
HOLDEN MANZ WINE ESTATE
Friday 15 February 2019
http://holdenmanz.com/
Experience: 4.5/5
Wines: 4/5
Windfall Offered Unexpected Delights
WINDFALL WINE FARM
Saturday 2 June 2018
https://www.windfallwine.co.za/
Experience: 4/5
Wines: 4/5