{"id":49621,"date":"2013-10-12T10:26:53","date_gmt":"2013-10-12T08:26:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=49621"},"modified":"2013-10-13T11:59:45","modified_gmt":"2013-10-13T09:59:45","slug":"chenin-blanc-summer-showcase-celebrating-fresh-and-fruity-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/chenin-blanc-summer-showcase-celebrating-fresh-and-fruity-fun\/","title":{"rendered":"Chenin Blanc Summer Showcase: celebrating fresh and fruity fun!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Chenin<\/a>While the weather was not very co-operative in offering Cape Town a sunny summer’s day yesterday, it was a fun and friendly tasting of 21 wines for the Chenin Blanc Association Summer Showcase of fresh and fruity Chenin Blancs at the Cape Grace hotel.<\/p>\n

Twice a year the roughly 50 Chenin Blanc producers meet to showcase their two styles of wine, rich and ripe in winter, and fresh and fruity in summer. \u00a0The functions are kept small, with an almost equal number of winemakers and writers invited, allowing a quality interaction between the media and wine representatives. \u00a0The producers have a passion for Chenin Blanc, which is the largest wine varietal produced in our country at about 18%, yet is not yet well known locally and even less so internationally. Through the work of the Association, the standing of Chenin Blanc is improving, and its benefits of offering value and being an excellent food wine are increasingly becoming known.<\/p>\n

In the absence of Chenin Blanc Association Chairman Ken Forrester, described as ‘resident winemaker in the USA’<\/em>, and Vice Chairman Jeff Grier, who had just arrived for his harvest in France, the most charming Bosman Family Vineyards winemaker Corlea Fourie led the tasting of the wines. \u00a0\"Chenin<\/a>She represented Chenin Blanc to me – blonde, soft, sweet, understated, and gentle, yet tough when she needs to be! \u00a0She fed back that 30 Chenins had been made available for tasting at ‘The Beautiful South<\/em>‘ wine tasting of South African, Chilean, and Argentinian wines in London last month. \u00a0Each producer had submitted their Chenin Blanc(s) to be evaluated by a panel, led by Jeff, and the 21 best Chenin Blancs meeting the Summer style were selected, and were grouped into flights. \u00a0 As most winemakers were present, they could talk about their wines, and their personalities came through, Adam Mason of Marvelous Wines and David Nieuwoudt\u00a0of Cederberg being really funny characters in their presentations.<\/p>\n

\"Chenin<\/a>On arrival, we were served Ken Forrester Wines’ Sparklehorse MCC 2011, made from 100% Chenin Blanc, which spent 14 months on the lees. \u00a0It is the first sparkling wine made by Forrester. \u00a0The choice of name and colourful label intrigue, with no explanation provided. \u00a0We tasted the following Chenin Blancs:<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Balance Winemaker’s Selection 2013<\/strong><\/span><\/a> by Overhex Wines International, and shows that Chenin Blanc can be produced in large quantities, of up to 100000 litres, winemaker JC Martin said. (R47)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 MAN Family Wines Free-run Steen 2013, grapes from Agter-Paarl, unirrigated bush vines, half of them more than 25 years old. (R60)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Gecko Ridge 2013, part of the Pernod Ricard wine portfolio. Grapes from Breedekloof – Bonnievale regions. Vines 6 – 15 years old. (R40)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Simonsig 2013 comes from a heritage of Chenin Blanc, first made in 1968 by Frans Malan. \u00a0(R40)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Perdeberg Winery 2013 made from 30 year old dry-land bush vine from Agter-Paarl, unwooded. (R35)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Laroche by L’Avenir 2013, very dry at 1,4 residual sugar, 90% grapes from young vines and 10% older, big volume production. (R45)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Beaumont Wines 2013 from own Bot River grapes from three sites, vines ranging in age from 8 to 39 years. (R69)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Raats Family Wines Original 2012 made from 35 – 68 year bush and trellised vines, unwooded. (R85)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 MAN \u00a0Tormentoso Old Vine 2012, grapes from dry-farmed bush vines in Agter-Paarl, 10% fermented in new oak barrels and the balance in stainless steel tanks. (R79)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Villiera Wines 2013 is an entry level wine, partial oaking, grapes sourced from three vineyard blocks. (R45)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Graham Beck The Game Reserve 2013 made from dry-land 40 – 46 year old bush vines in Agter-Paarl (R60)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Riebeeck Cellars 2013 made from old bush and trellised vines, free run juice. (R30)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 De Morgenzon DMZ 2013, the second vintage produced, old bush vines, half from their own vineyards, 80% fermented in stainless steel tanks and 20% in concrete. (R74)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Mulderbosch Steen op Hout 2012, made mainly from dry-farmed bush vines. \u00a0Fermented in French oak barrels (20%) and stainless steel tanks (80%). (R60)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Stellenrust 2013 is made from 30 – 40 year old bush vines from Bottelary Hills. 20% fermented in 3rd and 4th fill French oak barrels and 80% in stainless steel. (R42)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Delaire Graff Old Bush Vine 2013, grapes from 28 year old bush vines from Agter-Paarl and Swartland, fermented in stainless steel, made unwooded for the first time. (R65)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Kleine Zalze Cellar Selection 2013 made from bush vines from False Bay-Stellenbosch, Agter-Paarl, and Piketberg. (R40)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Rijks Touch of Oak 2011 made using night-harvested grapes, 20% barrel-fermented. (R85)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Marvelous Wines Ka Pow Chenin Blanc (60%) Chardonnay (30%), and Viognier (10%) blend 2012, made by Adam Mason and Chef Peter Tempelhoff. (R66)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Joostenberg Family Blend ‘White’ with 75% Chenin Blanc and 25% Viognier, certified organic. \u00a0Fermentation in stainless steel tanks. (R60)<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Cederberg 2012 is made from 8 year old trellised vines, East\/West planting, and no ‘neutral’<\/em> oak.<\/p>\n

\"Chenin<\/a>It was a new mix and match at lunch, in connecting with a different set of writers and winemakers, and we were entertained by Eric Saayman of Riebeeck Cellars and Morn\u00e9 Vrey of Delaire Graff. \u00a0The Signal restaurant team was attentive, under the leadership of its manager Martin Drotsky, who so ably managed the food and wine operations at Chefs who Share<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0gala charity dinner last month. \u00a0Chef Malika van Reenen was happy to hear that her restaurant had been named as one of only two South African 101 Best Hotel Restaurants around the World<\/strong><\/span><\/a> the day before, and we could see why, none of the dishes which we were served being predictable hotel restaurant fare. Our amuse bouche was an Orange-glazed seared\"Chenin<\/a> scallop, which was served with a Black Forest crisp and parsley pur\u00e9e. \u00a0At the table the scallop taste was compared to abalone, and recipes were swopped (by the men) as to how to best prepare it!<\/p>\n

\"Chenin<\/a>Our starter was an attractive Braised octopus which was served with a spicy tomato salad, fresh coriander, avocado, sprinkled with sesame, and drizzled with a sweet lime dressing. \u00a0The main course was an unusual Salmon ‘Wellington’, which was served with al dente broccoli and asparagus, cauliflower\"Chenin<\/a> pur\u00e9e, and citrus beurre blanc. \u00a0The dessert was a colourful Iced lime souffl\u00e9 placed upon macerated pineapple slices and topped with meringue shards. The dry cappuccino I ordered was perfectly made. \u00a0The 21 \"Chenin<\/a>Chenin Blancs were available to be served with each course, depending on one’s choice.<\/p>\n

One sensed a great degree of camaraderie amongst the winemakers, who are passionate about their Chenin Blancs, and who enjoyed interacting with each other too. \u00a0The tasting ably led by Corlea and the excellent food and Chenin Blancs made for a superb Friday afternoon at the Cape Grace.<\/p>\n

Disclosure:<\/strong> We received a bottle each of Joostenberg, Villiera, and MAN Chenin Blancs.<\/p>\n

Chenin Blanc Association<\/strong>: www. chenin.co.za <\/a>\u00a0Twitter: @CheninBlancAsso<\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com<\/a> \u00a0Twitter: @WhaleCottage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While the weather was not very co-operative in offering Cape Town a sunny summer’s day yesterday, it was a fun and friendly tasting of 21 wines for the Chenin Blanc Association Summer Showcase of fresh and fruity Chenin Blancs at the Cape Grace hotel. Twice a year the roughly 50 Chenin Blanc producers meet to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[3,124,1918,266,20,21,19],"tags":[21549,14466,10044,11921,9739,110,32366,1373,20083,420,13943,32378,20456,9818,10244,1736,21545,21548,21541,226,10049,17092,11716,393,1335,2830,21542,14765,21540,20781,21547,7408,11981,21546,10046,13086,18458,2551,11042,21544,1147,15580,230,21539,8659,18581,18874,15343,21543,2837,32373],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t