Op Op And Away

Opstal

When one encounters an offering ranging from bubbles to dessert wines, one knows one is, well, to put it plainly “winning”. A lovely tasting filled with easy drinking, happy Summer day wines.

WHITE:

• Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc (2013): Sic-dry with sugar, soda-stream Sauv. Sweet with slight sharpness, fresh sweetness, Appletizer, kid’s champagne, light fresh cheesiness, too drinkable! Melons, alcohol-less. (*)

• The Mill Iron (2013): 40% Muscat, 40% Viognier, 20% Colombar. Grape syrup, peach flavouring, light gentle sweetness with body at the end – fills out at the end, slight sprinkle of cheese (*)

• Carl Everson Chenin Blanc (2012): (10 months in French oak & lees) Single block, 5 ½ star Platter. Marmite, molasses, jammy mouthfeel, orange honeycomb, Mary Poppins medicine wine, jammy marmite, lurking coffee cocoa, buttered peach jam on crumpets, creamy.(***)

ROSE:

• The Blush (2013): 70% Shiraz/ 30% Viognier. Slightly cheesy, cucumber, light acid, baby mushrooms, summery happy days in the sunshine. (**)

RED:

• Cabernet Sauvignon (2011): Sweet strawberry jam on scones, creamy, buttery, very light powder tannins, bouncy jelly babies, lurking cashews. (*)

STICKIES:

• Hanepoot (2012): 27 – 28 year old vines, 99% juice + 1% 95% alcohol. Litchis, green grapes, soft creamy sweetness, crushed cream crackers, light & easy drinking, buttered syrup. (**)

• Barrel-fermented Chardonnay Dessert (2011): 14 months in barrel, made like Noble Late, fortified with 3 year old brandy. Malted honey balls, malted fudge, creamy crushed Tumbles, crunchy candy coated liquorice, Christmas pudding wine. (***)

Opstelle oor Opstal:

• Rose was made due to an oversupply of red a few years ago – it became difficult to sell the block of Shiraz. Co-harvested Shiraz on the same day. Spent 4 hours in press & made like a white wine
• According to the classification board, it’s not a blanc de noir, not rose due to the off red ferment – classified as a ‘natural’ wine.
• 1^st 6 months it shows the Shiraz flavour which then steps back to for the Viognier.
• Cape Blend – 1/3 of volume must be Pinotage
• Viognier – 14 year old vines
• 6p – value for money range
• Heritage range – premium – Chenin – maiden vintage!
• 1 of the highest rainfall regions
• Chenin – 33 year old vines – won Best Block in SA, made in old barrels with no inoculation, grandfather’s face features on label
• Hanepoot = haan se poo – rooster claw – looks like the leaf
• Haanekloot = rooster testicle (grapes)
• Louw family crest on label
• 7^th generation of the Louw family on the farm (since 1847)