{"id":67524,"date":"2015-04-21T00:06:23","date_gmt":"2015-04-20T22:06:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=67524"},"modified":"2015-04-21T00:08:57","modified_gmt":"2015-04-20T22:08:57","slug":"saronsberg-full-circle-has-not-come-full-circle-in-10-years-getting-better-and-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/saronsberg-full-circle-has-not-come-full-circle-in-10-years-getting-better-and-better\/","title":{"rendered":"Saronsberg Full Circle has not come full circle in 10 years, getting better and better!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Saronberg<\/a>Last week a number of writers was invited to a ten-year vertical tasting of Saronsberg Full Circle, the wine estate’s flagship brand, followed by lunch at the Cape Grace. \u00a0While the reason for the choice of name is not known, the wine is likely to not come full circle, getting better and better with every vintage.<\/p>\n

Winemaker Dewaldt Heyns has a wonderful ability to explain his wines, speaking with passion but without technicalities, remembering the \"Saronsberg<\/a>peculiarities of each of the ten vintages which we tasted, without a note to refer to. \u00a0The tasting was held in the recently refurbished Leeward Room, adjacent to the Signal restaurant and facing the refurbished pool area. During the tasting the glass sliding doors were closed when the pool chlorine could be smelt inside the venue. \u00a0We were spread over four round tables, with chairs with unusual modern upholstery in black, grey, white and burgundy, in contrast to the green velvety drapes. \u00a0I sat with my back to the pool, facing the framed Saronsberg logo projected onto the back wall.<\/p>\n

Saronsberg Full Circle is a Rh\u00f4ne-style blend of Shiraz, Viognier, and Mourv\u00e8dre in early years, and since 2008 with Grenache added (too young to be added in earlier years). \u00a0Dewaldt shared that he started with a high percentage of Shiraz, as high as 90% in 2005, reflecting his reliance on Shiraz, a cultivar he is passionate about, knows well, and is his ‘comfort zone<\/em>‘, he said. \u00a0As he became more confident with the Full Circle blend over the ten-year period, the lower the Shiraz proportion has become, now at 76% in the 2013 vintage. Slowly the Grenache proportion has increased to 12% in 2013, with Mourv\u00e8dre at 8%, and Viognier at 4%. \u00a0The alcohol level has dropped slightly over time, to 14,5%.<\/p>\n

The vinification process was explained, all grapes being hand-picked and force cooled at 4\u00baC. The Shiraz, \"Saronsberg<\/a>Mourv\u00e8dre, and Grenache grapes are bunch sorted, and the berries gently crushed. \u00a0The cultivars are matured separately, left on the lees for 11 months, the blend created and then returned to new oak barrels for 20 months. In total twenty-one 300 litre barrels are produced per vintage. The Viognier is vinified separately as a white wine.<\/p>\n

The notes which we received about each Full Circle vintage showed that most received excellent industry feedback in awards won, up to nine for the 2010 vintage, and six awards each for the 2011, 2008, and 2005 vintages. \u00a0Each of the vintages was praised by the attendees, many of us really enjoying the first-tasted 2013 vintage, which is likely to come to its peak in eight to ten years, according to Dewaldt. Dewaldt said that ‘the wine should reflect the vintage, and each has its own character’<\/em>. \u00a0Dewaldt advised that wine should be opened just before drinking, to replicate the consumer experience. \u00a0He said that his favourite of the ten vintages is the 2006, with perfect balance. In making his wines, Dewaldt strives for elegance. He also wants to prove that Tulbagh can deliver better than is expected of the region. The Saronsberg Full Circle 2012 vintage is currently being sold, at R275 per bottle.<\/p>\n

We moved across to the Signal restaurant, seated at one long table. In both instances I sat next to Good Hope FM<\/strong> Breakfast Show host Guy McDonald, who won best Breakfast Show host at the MTN Radio Awards 2015 this past weekend. \u00a0He shared his interesting experience in booking and holidaying in Saint Helena. \u00a0 On my right sat Ivan Oertle of Woolworths, who gave me interesting insights into the choice of Pharrel Williams as the retailer’s new Style Director, which will be shared in a future blogpost.<\/p>\n

We were served a starter of caramelised aubergine salad, with goat’s cheese mousse, warm tomato vinaigrette, and\"Saronsberg<\/a>
\ntasty onion chips, paired with Saronsberg Grenache 2012. \u00a0The coloured plates on which the starter was served added to its plating attractiveness.<\/p>\n

\"Saronsberg<\/a>The main course was braised lamb shank which was (unusually) topped with labneh and then with crispy phyllo, decorated with pomegranate pips and brussels sprout leaves, and served with mash and plum jus. This course was paired with Saronsberg Shiraz 2012. \u00a0The\"Saronsberg<\/a> dessert was a pear and almond tart, served with spiced orange jivara cr\u00e8me, streusel, and honey ice cream, paired with Saronsberg Viognier 2013. \u00a0With our coffees platters of friandise\u00a0(chocolate nougat, caramel white chocolate, pistachio praline, and blood peach truffle) were served.<\/p>\n

The Saronsberg Full Circle vertical tasting and the good lunch (prepared by Chef Malika van Reenen) with nice fellow writers in a\"Saronsberg<\/a> pleasant venue was a great start to the weekend. \u00a0The service by sommelier Martin Drotsky and his colleagues was exemplary. \u00a0It will be interesting to see where Dewaldt will take his Full Circle in future vintages.<\/p>\n

Disclosure:<\/strong> \u00a0We received a bottle each of Saronsberg Full Circle 2013, Saronsberg Shiraz 2012, and Saronsberg Viognier 2013 with our media pack.<\/p>\n

Saronsberg Winery<\/strong>, Tulbagh. \u00a0Tel (023) 230-0707\u00a0www.saronsberg.com<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 Twitter: @Saronsberg Monday \u2013 Friday 8h30 \u2013 17h00, Saturday 10h00 \u2013 14h00. \u00a0Closed Sundays and public holidays.<\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio:\u00a0www.whalecottage.com<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 Tel (021) 433-2100, Twitter:@WhaleCottage \u00a0Facebook: \u00a0<\/strong>click here<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last week a number of writers was invited to a ten-year vertical tasting of Saronsberg Full Circle, the wine estate’s flagship brand, followed by lunch at the Cape Grace. \u00a0While the reason for the choice of name is not known, the wine is likely to not come full circle, getting better and better with every […]<\/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":[110,30658,32378,10868,169,1929,26412,23956,30660,20781,8462,30659,30577,21764,30662,6601,30657,145,10845,30661,7149,32373,171],"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