Staying in Munich for four days, I did day-time outings to what are regarded food temples of the city, including Dallmayr, Kaiser, and the Viktualienmarkt. Most impressed, others were disappointing.I certainly fell in love with tomatoes on my trip,
and the rich red shiny stemmed tomatoes attracted not only my attention, but also that of my Facebook followers. I do not recall having seen such fresh looking and smelling tomatoes anywhere in our country. What was an even bigger surprise was the very reasonable Continue reading →
Tag Archives: De Trafford
Waterford Estate 2012 judged tops in Christian Eedes Cabernet Sauvignon Report 2015!
On Thursday afternoon we were invited to attend the annual presentation of the results of the fourth Christian Eedes Cabernet Sauvignon Report, held at Burrata at an unusual 15h30 start time. Thirteen wines were scored at 90 or more points out of 100, and Waterford Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 was rated the top, out of 60 invited entries.
We were welcomed with a glass of water, and jokingly Christian Eedes opened the proceedings with an explanation for the tableclothless tables, the water we were served, and the pizzas to come. His former sponsor Sanlam had dropped him, he explained, and hence the austerity of the Continue reading →
Keet and Van Biljon Bordeaux Blends: Terroir makes the difference!
One acclaimed winemaker, one Stellenbosch cellar, two brands, both Bordeaux blends, but vastly different and each unique. So the two brands Van Biljon CINQ 2011 and Keet First Verse 2010 were presented to more than 30 wine writers at Aubergine Restaurant on Friday last week.
Chris Keet started off as winemaker at Delheim, and then moved to Delaire. This was followed by 15 years at Cordoba Wines. When he left Cordoba in 2008, he decided to offer his services as a wine consultant. He made his own wine under the Keet Wines name in 2009, and has just released the 2010 vintage. Chris said his Bordeaux blend First Verse consists of 32% Cabernet Franc, 27% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec. The wine was matured in French oak barrels for 18 months. Chris buys in his grapes from some of his clients as well as from other farms in the Helderberg, Simonsberg, Stellenbosch Mountain, and Polkadraai Hills, and hopes to buy some grapes from Van Biljon Wines in future, he shared. In Platter he and his 4,5* 2009 First Verse wine is described as follows by reviewer Tim James: ‘Unusually for a top Bordeaux blend, he uses little new oak- it’s part of the unshowy Keet style’. Keet achieved 5 stars in Platter for his 2010 vintage. Keet is not only highly regarded as a very competent winemaker, but also as a viticulturist and oenologist. Only 6000 bottles of First Verse have been made, and cost R320 each. Continue reading →
WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 24 April
Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* Tim James has used an aggregation poll of 29 wine retailers as well as writers, some international, to compile a Top 5 and Top 20 South African winery list. The Top 5 ranked list is Sadie Family Wines, Mullineux Family Wines, Kanonkop, Boekenhoutskloof, and Chamonix. The ranking from 6th to 20th is as follows: Paul Cluver, Newton Johnson, Cape Point Vineyards, Hamilton Russell, Vergelegen, Tokara, Thelema, Jordan, Cederberg, Delaire Graff, AA Badenhorst, Klein Constantia, Meerlust, Reyneke, and De Trafford.
* A consumer promotion has been launched in the UK by Kumala wines, the largest selling SA wine in that country, to tie in with the launch of the ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom‘ DVD, with prizes of a visit to South Africa offered, DVDs, and wine.
* Eat Out is inviting nominations for its Eat Out Top 500 restaurants to be included in the 2015 edition. The nominated restaurants will be evaluated by a panel, to choose the top 500 restaurants. The closing date for nominations (on www.eatout.co.za) is 13 May. (received via media release from Irvine Bartlett)
* The inaugural Mandela International Film Festival will be held from 3 – 12 December 2015 in Port Elizabeth. Given Continue reading →