Yesterday evening the Domaine des Dieux tasting at OpenWine was opened on Wale Street with a Sabrage of its award-winning Claudia MCC 2010, possibly the first time that a Sabrage has been done in the city centre.The Sabrage was done by Christo Bredenkamp, who volunteered to do it, never having done it before. He took the top off the Claudia MCC neatly. The Sabrage was part of a weekly wine tasting hosted by OpenWine Taste Pair Shop, which is the only wine tasting centre in the city centre, offering a number of wine brands from the Winelands. It is owned by passionate lovers of South African wines, Italians Marta Gobbo and Raphael Paterniti. A total of fifteen guests can attend the tasting.

In the last two weeks I have attended the tastings of Avondale and Arendsig wines, each of them different, driven by the personality of the representative of the wine estate. Last night Darren Mullis presented the wines of Domaine des Dieux, a boutique wine estate at the end of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, the last wine estate after Creation. Darren told me that he is related to the partner of the owner of the wine estate, and that his company Aphrofizziac is the Brand Ambassador for boutique wineries Domaine des Dieux, Genevieve, and Silverthorn. Domaine des Dieux means ‘Place of Gods‘. The farm has a rustic tasting facility, Darren told me.

There are seven Domaine des Dieux wines, and we tasted four of them. Two are MCCs, three are white/Rosé wines, and two are red wines. An eighth wine is in production, a Cuvée which has already spent five years on the lees, and will do so for another two years. The name is still a secret, Darren said, and only 2000 bottles will be produced initially. The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is a cool climate area, and is well-known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

#  Claudia Brut MCC 2010 (R285)

A total of 20000 bottles was produced for the 2010 vintage, with 80% of the blend containing Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir grapes. It is this MCC that put Domaine des Dieux on the map, and is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. This sparkling wine spends four years on the lees and one year on cork. It has delicate bubbles with fluffy mousse, and offers apple and creamy lemon curd aromas.

#.  Rose of Sharon MCC 2009 (R285)

In the 2009 vintage Domaine des Dieux ran low on Chardonnay grapes, and dedicated its total harvest to Claudia MCC. Usually the blend for this MCC is a 75%/25% one, combined with Pinot Noir, but the 2009 vintage of the Rose of the Sharon was made only of Pinot Noir grapes. Offers strawberries, black cherry, raspberries, and Turkish Delight. A total of 20000 bottles was produced for this vintage.  This Rosé Brut is 100% unwooded, and has a fine bubble. More wood has been added in later vintages, giving the mousse more bubbliness.

#.   Domaine des Dieux Josephine Pinot Noir 2012 (R297)

The wine contains 100% Pinot Noir grapes, and was described by Darren as more ‘meaty, and smokey‘, as a good food pairing wine, with toasty and nutty aromas. A total of 60% spent nine months in French oak. Wine connoisseur Michael Fridjhon has rated the wine as the best Pinot Noir in our country. When asked how much of the wine is exported, Darren said that the bulk of the wine is sold to the domestic market, and to the Western Cape specifically, mainly to its top restaurants. Little is sold via retail outlets.

#.  Domaine des Dieux Sangiovese 2013 (R143)

This wine was enjoyed by many, having a strong aroma on the nose and in the mouth. It spent seven and a half months in French oak, and was made from grapes bought in from Bouchard Finlayson. A total of 2500 bottles was produced initially, but has dropped to 1500 bottles per year.

The Domaine des Dieux Petit Rosé is made in the French Provençal style. It is made in old barrels, and is a blend of Mourvèdre (60%), and the balance equally Syrah and Grenache. It is dry, soft, and low on sugar. The other wines in the Domaines des Dieux range are Syrah Mourvèdre, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Domaine des Dieux, R320, Hemel-en-Aarde Road, Hemel en Aarde Ridge. Tel (028) 313-2126.  www.domainedesdieux.co.za  Twitter: @DesDieuxWines Instagram: @domainedesdieux

OpenWine Taste Pair Shop, 72 Wale Street, Cape Town. Tel (021) 422-0800.www.openwineza.co.za Instagram: @openwine_za

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whalecottage.com/blog  Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: click here Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein