Keeping It Cool

Siris Chilled Reds

Not being the most educated in The Wine, I do not have to support my sometimes (read: most times) unconventional Wine-related practises. One of said practises is to always chill The Red Wine. I have found a supporter of my practise in these particular wines.

RED:

• Seven Springs Pinot Noir (2012): 2^nd vintage produced. Strawberries in balsamic reduction, light savouriness, soft pepper pastries, dusty peppered rose, currant biltong. (*)

• Quando Pinot Noir (2012):  3000 bottles produced. Green dust, chalk powder, cumin, salty, licking the bottom of a filter coffee, cheese & jam tarts, white pepper coffee, cherry smoke.

• Waverley Hills Grenache Noir (2013): 500 bottles produced. Cherry ice lollies, berry Wine Gums, sweet scallop, red juice concentrate, slight vinigariness, blackcurrant fruit pastilles.

• Arendsig Grenache Noir (2013): Strawberry jam, syrupy, slightly tannic, berry jam tartlets, cranberry, light but full. (*)

• Alphabetical (2011): Swartland Shiraz / Stellenbosch Cab sauv, field spicing, governed by a style vs a recipe. Spicy cherry Pro-Vitas, Special K bars, chalky tannins, dusty, black berries.

NOTES:

• Red wine served too cold – brings out tannins
• Quando – in ecpactation of, langverwacht
• Waverley Hills – 9 Johan’s work on the farm (Johan Wyn, Johan Tuin, etc.)

Wines for Tea Time & Pregnancy

Siris Vintners – Selection

 A collection of quaffers – some I’d drink for tea, others are less likely to get you drunk than pregnant.

WHITE:

• Waverley Hills Organic Pinot Grigio (2013): 3 months on lees, “European Sauv Blanc”. Soapy lime, tangy & wispy, light buttery orange, Sauv Blanc with gossamer gloves.

• Seven Springs Unwooded Chardonnay (2012): Hermanus area, 3 year old vines, lees contact. Wet plank, honey spritsed with orange juice, teeny baby sprits, light blueish Brie with figs.(*)

• Groote Post Riesling (2013): Darling area. Oiled green apples, soapy, white peaches with sunlight soap shards, red onion & tomato marmalade (*)

• Post House “Stamp of Chenin” (2013): Helderberg, 35 year old vines, 45 days ferment. Limey Turkish Delight, honeyed rose water, crumpets with jasmine & orange cream, tennis biscuits. (***)

ROSE:

• Haut Espoir (2010): Franschoek, 100% Shiraz, French & Hungarian oak for 8 months. Slightly sour cream with strawberry jam, caramel vodka, strawberry Greek yoghurt, Turkish Delight in caramel cream, melted toffee apple. (*)

RED:

• Anura Limited Release Malbec (2011): Stellenbosch. Zambuk, minty eucalyptus, Vicks, like a punch in the mouth with a glove of curried powder, Stopayne, fennel, smoked cherries lurking.

Sentiments on Siris:

• Malbec – first date wine (high alcohol)
• Hungarian oak – adds spice
• Winemaker at Haut Espoir’s mother loved Hungarian wine so the rose was made for her
• “More people have fallen pregnant than fallen drunk on this wine” – Haut Espoir
• “I’ll drink it for tea”
• “Labels used to look like 2 cherubs humping a wreath” – Stamp of Chenin

Waving Hello to the Hills Again

Waverley Hills has become a firm favourite due mainly to the existence of their most beloved VSC and their very delicious pizzas. This time around , we ventured into The Reds.

 RED:

·         Waverley Hills Grenache (2013):  Peppery berries, balsamic coulis, soft but spicy, peppery berry custard, balsamic strawberries, strawberry shortcake scones, spicy red velvet cupcakes, like savoury Cinsault, “like wine gums without the gum”. (***)

·         Waverley Hills Cabernet/Shiraz (2011): 67 % Cab, 30% Shiraz, 3% Mourvedre.  Caramelized balsamic strawberries, treacle sugar, butter balls, wet sweet biltong. 50% French oak, 50% American oak. (**)

·         Waverley Hills Cabernet/Merlot (2011): 60% Cab, 40% Merlot. Ripe banana, meaty toffee apple, buttered banana bread, creamy, rich, After 8 mint, serve with chocolate pudding or peppermint crisp tart, “break up wine”. French & Hungarian oak. (*)

·         Waverley Hills Shiraz (2011): Black & red gummy bears, sugary violets, spicy scones with butter, would go well with garlic. 50% new French oak, 25% old French oak, 25% old American oak.

·         Waverley Hills SMV (2010): 60% Shiraz, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Viognier. Caramel bacon croissant, Treat caramel, jasmine aftertaste,  smokey,  soft  tannins but floral. 5 – 10 years aging potential.

Words on Waverley:

·         The farm was organic from the start. They didn’t undergo the usual conversion period.

·         One needs to be a “wine prophet” or “wine whisperer” in order to predict how wines will turn out

·         “If alcohol is a preservative, I’m going to live forever”

·         Organic certifications are controlled by the French Government/EU

A titch of Tasting in Tulbagh

On another incredible wine-fuelled adventure we embarked, sadly not onboard the Magic Tour Bus as per our usual modus operandi but on a small independent excursion with my very own trusty steed, Little Lilly.
Despite the lack of a Magic Tour Bus, we could not sacrifice the Baked Goods from the best source of the Baked Goods in the land - there is certainly no better way to prepare for the consumption of The Wine than consumption of The Pastries.

Off we set in the direction of Tulbagh to find more examples of the finest of The Wines. We did, however, make a rather lengthy pit-stop in Riebeek Kasteel where we were promised we would find some of THE finest examples of The Good Wine - and there we did.

We began with a tasting of the Wines of Mullineux (once we managed to find it - exactly across the road from the Royal Hotel as we had been instructed but somehow managed to misinterpret) in a cellar filled with fascinating implements for the making of The Wine. The Wines themselves were most lovely - being an unashamed lover of The Wooded Wines, I did most enjoy the Mullineux White (2012), but that was closely followed by both of the Kloof Street offerings & the Mullinuex Syrah. Showing an exemplary level of kindness, we were also treated to a sampling of The Straw Wine, which is always a welcome indulgence.

From Mullineux we ventured to a lovely store filled with treasures old & new - the old being the decor, the new being the wine, after a brief stop at the local farm stall.
In this loveliest of emporiums of The Wines of the region, we were treated to Santa Clara Chenins 1 & 12 - the numbering system of naming these wines certainly had me most confused by the end of the endeavour & resulted in one having to point at the bottle you liked in order to be directed to the stock for purchase. We also enjoyed samples of Farm 1120's Pinotage (pin-a-ta-gee) - of which a bottle may have found it's way home with us along with an untasted but ever so appealing bottle of Babylon's Peak Viognier Roussanne - being a display of 2 of my favourite varietals lovingly combined into a single bottle, it was love at first sight when I spotted this jewel across the room - one hopes this one shall live up to the high expectations (and small daydreams) I have developed of it since.

Once we extricated ourselves from the emporium, the adventure continued to actual Tulbagh where I for one, was most excited to visit the home of the Twee Jonge Gezellen. After a brisk walk up the stairs in the pouring rain,we sadly discovered the Gezellen of the House to be, well, out of the house.

Tracing our steps back a few paces, we ventured in upon the cozy firerlit lounge of Mont Pellier where, while the excellent wines were enjoed, the pet pup, Theo, certainly stole the day (and narrowly escaped being stolen himself). Whilst tasting, we befriened some lovely folk who enjoyed the Gewurtztummer, Theo's Syncrony, Chardonnay, Chenin, Cab Sauv, Shiraz & Port with us by the fireside.

From here, off we took for the last leg of the adventure - the long-awaited trip to Waverley Hills, whose wines I've been introduced to on previous occasions & was not at all unhappy about getting more familiar with. From toasty bubbles by a toassty fire to the ever-lovely VSC, Cab/Merlot & Cab/Shiraz blends, all were greatly enjoyed as was the very very delicious fresh-out-the oven pizzas - more than enough reason for a day trip out their way. Needless to say, a bottle of the VSC made it home along with some jolly good wine jellies.

All in all, a successful day all round - especially so for my wine rack.

As The Hills Go Waving By

Waverley Hills

This was a most wonderful display of The Good Wine - most especially because they brought into existence (in my limited World of The Wine) the most notable VSC, which to some means Viognier, Semillon, Chardonnay. To me, this means Happiness

MCC:

·         Waverley Hills MCC (2010): Guava, litchi, apple, dry, burnt toast, rye, Grapetizer. Less skin contact. Chardonnay + small % Semillon.

WHITE:

·         Waverley Hills Sauvignon/Semillon (2012): Guava, juice concentrate, litchi, like drinking a fruit salad, richness builds, fresh baguette, apricots, prickly pear. (**)

·         Waverley Hills Pinot Grigio (2012): Pineapple, zesty, lemon, lime, fresh, tendency to be insipid, tastes like middle ground between Chenin & Sauv. Wateriness, baby grass, mix-a-drink.

·         Waverley Hills Viognier/Semillon/Chardonnay: Wooded, smiles & perfume, light cream, richness, new BFF!!!!! Ginger, fynbos, jasmine, fennel as it warms, giving hugs wine. 50% Viognier, 40% Semillon, 10% Chardonnay. (******)

ROSE:

·         Waverley Hills Rose (2011): 95% white – Sauv, Semillon, Chardonnay, Cabernet, Viognier. Cranberry White Rock, preserved figs & cheese, artificial strawberry, cheesey sweetness, wet bush, molassesy sweet, lucern. (***)

Oratory from the Organics:

·         Increased intensity of soil (terroir) = fynbos flavour/undertone

·         TV wines = sulphur (bulk, mass produced wines)

·         Thicker skin grapes – more flavour