Swartland Series: Part 3 - Expert Opinions

Callie Louw – Porseleinberg

Andrea & Chris Mullineux – Mullineux Family Wines

Eben Sadie – Sadie Family Wines

Adi Badenhorst – AA Badenhorst Wines

For our last venture into the wines of the local lands, we were faced with the Revolutionaries of the area comparing their own offerings to wines of days past that had inspired them along their way. Spanning everything from the oldest wine of the festival to colloquial quips, the tasting was a perfect representation of just what it is these Revolutionaries have set out to achieve with their beloved valley.

• Vergenoegd Cabernet Sauvignon (1972): “Die wyn is befok”. Peppered lavender, sweet cinnamon berry syrup, soft, melt-in-your-mouth, ending of soft spice. (**)

• Porseleinberg Cabernet Sauvignon (2011): Tart cherry, smokey, smoked chicken, dissolves, ticklish tannins.

• Chateau Rayas Chateau Neuf du Pape (2000): Nutmeg & cumin roast cauliflower, thinking wine, soft tannins, smokey.

• Mullineux Granite Syrah (2010): Corned silverside, green olives, capers, savoury, slight balsamic.

• Domaine Gauby Muntada (2011): Blackened capsicum, yellow peppercorns, savoury lavender, soft, peachy red meat, light with powder puff tannins.

• Sadie Family Columella (2011): Salted caramel butter, light peppermint, rich, full & creamy with coarse powder tannins.

• Domaine De Montbourgeau vin Joune L’Etoile (2006): Sauvignon Blanc. Salted orange caramel fudge, orange liqueur, nutmeg cream, sharp naartjie, drunken oranges.

• AA Badenhorst Funky White NV: 6 years under flor. Drunk orange caramel, baked oranges, allspice, orange rind baked into Christmas pudding.

Bad Ass (Batshit) Badenhorst Wines

A.A Badenhorst

A most memorable experience of The Wine for numerous reasons, most notable being:

• Sharing the last available spot at tasting strategically pilfered from an absent regular
• The colourful language of the eve
• Extra examples of The Wine, thanks to Jasper (priceless some may say)
• The learning of the names of some African wild cats in the colloquial tongue
• The batshit crazy wine

WHITE:

• Secateurs Chenin Blanc (2012): Yum! Very drinkable. Pineapple, spanspek, soft but fruity, tangy, weighty. Bottled Jul/Aug 2012. Made in concrete vats, tanks etc. (*)

• AA Badenhorst Family Blend White (2010): Creamy sweetness, 10 - 12 varietals, Chenin-based, creamy dryness, off savoury, scones & marmalade, rich, coastal. Chardonnay, Chenin, Columbard, Grenache. (*)

• Funky White (NV): Floor polish, over ripe peaches & apples, almondy, tastes like overripe apple, lactic finish, 5 yrs old, savoury aftertaste, mince & cheese snakwich, 12,5% alcohol, 6 vintages – Chenin, Chardonnay, Viognier, etc.” X-Factor Idols loser appeal wine.”

RED:

• Secateurs Red Blend (2012): Red jelly, very tanniny with Shiraz/Cinsault spice – Cinsault nose, Shiraz taste & texture, easy drinking.

• AA Badenhorst Family Red Blend (2010): Whole bunches, Shiraz,Grenache, Cinsault, Tinta Barocca. Spicy, meaty nose, sharp, rich, lamb-like (lamb, balsamic & mint), herby, Sunday lunch with attitude, blood. Could stand to age, picked early for “psychological ripeness”

JASPER’S WINES:

• White 2012: Jasmine, vanilla, light but round & smooth, zesty, limes. Chenin, old bush vines (1968), natural fermentation. Riper & bolder.  1 x 500l barrel = 567 bottles (**)

• Muskaljaardkat Red 2011: Sweet & chewy, grassy, raspberries, roses. Cinsault & Grenache co-fermented. Strong alcohol, heavy, lively, cheeky, grippy. Could age 30+ years

Not Your Normal Wine Notes:

• “There’s a parrot in his capsule”
• 22 March – post-harvest party “Oes Af”
• “Batshit wine”