{"id":56984,"date":"2014-05-15T00:02:25","date_gmt":"2014-05-14T22:02:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=56984"},"modified":"2014-05-15T00:02:25","modified_gmt":"2014-05-14T22:02:25","slug":"keet-and-van-biljon-bordeaux-blends-terroir-makes-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/keet-and-van-biljon-bordeaux-blends-terroir-makes-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Keet and Van Biljon Bordeaux Blends: Terroir makes the difference!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Keet<\/a>One acclaimed winemaker, one Stellenbosch cellar, two brands, both Bordeaux blends, but vastly different and each unique. \u00a0So 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.<\/p>\n

Chris Keet started off as winemaker at Delheim, and then moved to Delaire. This was followed by 15 years at Cordoba Wines. \u00a0When he left Cordoba in 2008, he decided to offer his services as a wine consultant. \u00a0 He made his own wine under the Keet Wines name in 2009, and has just released the 2010 vintage. \u00a0Chris said his Bordeaux blend First Verse consists of 32% Cabernet Franc, 27% Merlot, 23% \"Keet<\/a>Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec. \u00a0The wine was matured in French oak barrels for 18 months. \u00a0Chris buys in his grapes from some of his clients as well as from other farms in the Helderberg, Simonsberg, Stellenbosch Mountain, \u00a0and Polkadraai Hills, and hopes to buy some grapes from Van Biljon Wines in future, he shared. \u00a0In 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’. \u00a0 <\/em>Keet achieved 5 stars in Platter for his 2010 vintage. \u00a0Keet is not only highly regarded as a very competent winemaker, but also as a viticulturist and oenologist. \u00a0Only 6000 bottles of First Verse have been made, and cost R320 each.<\/p>\n

One of Chris’ clients is opthalmologist Anton van Biljon, who had bought a boutique wine farm on the Polkadraai Hilsl ten years ago, wanting to make something substantial of it, and leave a legacy for his four children. \u00a0He had called in a consultant, and was advised to remove all the vines he had on the farm, and to plant the five Bordeaux cultivars. Anton’s farm borders on that of De Trafford and \"Keet<\/a>Reyneke, so he knew he had excellent terroir for winemaking on his farm, in addition to the perfect climate with sea breezes from False Bay, and granite soils. Anton’s goal was to make the best Bordeaux blend, only using his own grapes, and Chris makes both his and Anton’s wine in the Van Biljon cellar. \u00a0We met Julia van Biljon as well, previously from the fashion industry, and she is a charming ambassador for her husband’s wine brand. \u00a0It was Julia, a good friend of Mrs Graff, that found Delaire for the Graffs. \u00a0 The CINQ name means 5 in French, denoting the five variants (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Malbec) that make up Bordeaux blends, and its first 2011 vintage achieved 4,5 * in Platter. \u00a0The wine was matured in French oak for 18 months, 3000 bottles having been made, and selling at R280 each.<\/p>\n

Aubergine owner and chef Harald Bresselschmidt is a master at food and wine pairings, and PR consultant Nicolette \"Keet<\/a>Waterford briefed Chef Harald about the two wines, giving him free reign to \"Keet<\/a>create the ideal dishes to pair with each of the two wines. \u00a0 The starter was the thinnest slices of Springbok carpaccio, in a white pepper crust, which had been seared, and was served with cherry guavas. \u00a0 This was paired with the Van Biljon CINQ 2011. \u00a0The main course was lamb rack as well as an involtini (‘small bite of food consisting of some sort of outer layer wrapped around a filling’<\/em>, defines About.com)\u00a0of lamb and aubergine, served with chickpea pur\u00e9e and pomegranate. \u00a0This was served with Keet First Verse 2010.\"Keet<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Keet<\/a>Our dessert was most unusual, being described as a Savoury Tarte of Three Hard Cheeses, served with pumpernickel cr\u00e8me anglaise and a slice of grapefruit, which could be paired with either of the two wines. \u00a0Friandises were served with the coffee.<\/p>\n

I was lucky to sit at the table with Chris and Leanne Keet, and Anton and Julia van Biljon, so we were able to get to know their personal side too, in addition to hearing more about their special wines. The tasting and lunch was a relaxing treat at the end of a busy week.<\/p>\n

Disclosure:<\/strong> \u00a0We received a bottle each of Keet First Verse 2010 and Van Biljon CINQ 2011 with our media pack.<\/p>\n

Keet Wines<\/strong>. Cell 082 853 1707. \u00a0www.keetwines.co.za<\/a>\u00a0 <\/strong>No Social Media<\/p>\n

Van Biljon Wines<\/strong>. Tel (021) 882-8445. www.vanbiljonwines.co.za<\/strong><\/a> \u00a0No Social Media<\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: \u00a0www.whalecottage.com<\/strong><\/a> \u00a0Twitter: WhaleCottage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One acclaimed winemaker, one Stellenbosch cellar, two brands, both Bordeaux blends, but vastly different and each unique. \u00a0So 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 […]<\/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":[3,124,1918,20,31,21,19,293],"tags":[25203,38,25194,25206,25197,32378,25198,392,6096,2489,851,25205,11320,25204,25196,25199,25207,10047,387,25200,7040,274,25202,25195,25201,32373],"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