'Ullo Usana

A first time tasting of a very, very friendly Chenin along with some lovely stories about eggs.

WHITE:

·         Usana Pinot Gris (2012): Apple Camembert, strong white Cheddar, blue cheese, zingy cheese spread, want to use it as a sauce on pasta, surprisingly creamy, butter made from cream, cream on a zesty pudding, sour lemon cheesecake, caramel coated cheese on empty glass. (*)

·         Usana Sauvignon Blanc (2012): Guava & melon salad, roasted guava, gooseberries, papino, chewing on a granadilla pip dipped in guava, sharp cheese, cranberry schnapps, winter melon. “Smells like the taste of a granadilla pip”.

·         Usana Chenin Blanc (2012): 100% Chenin. Buttery melon & apricot crumble, apricoty caramel cream, cold milk, dried apricots, mouth watering, lemon caramel shortbread, slightly burnt rye toast, tangy apple. 1550 bottles made.

RED:

·         Usana “The Fox” Cabernet Sauvignon (2010): Strawberry jam with dark chocolate sprinkles, sweet coffee, dark chocolate ganache melted in cream, creamy tomato & chocolate soup, smokey cough syrup, tanniny, spiced fruit mince pie filling, spiced Christmas pudding. 3000 bottles made.

Understanding Usana:

·         The Fox is named after the brothers’  late grandfather – it was his nickname as his stamp at the co-op was a fox

·         Usana = Xhosa for baby – represents a start to life, a new beginning for the farm

·         Vines are 5 years old

·         Pinot Gris is also known as Pinot Grigio. It is an Italian varietal.

·         Lees = dead yeast cells with proteins around which gets stirred through wines to add weight and smoothness