Presenter: David Whitaker
|
January
2013 minutes:
|
| Wines |
Region |
Country |
Source |
Cost |
Comments |
Type |
1.
Goats do Roam
2011 White (57% Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne)
|
Western Cape
|
South Africa |
Richard Granger
|
£8.00
|
14% Lovely
aromatics, creamy and floral and very fruity on the
palate with peach/stone fruit undertones. A crowd
pleaser, although the acidity starts to overwhelm
after a while.
Group comments:
“Viognier nose”; “Tad acidic”
|
White |
2.
Reyneke 2009 Reserve White (Sauvignon
Blanc)
|
Stellenbosch
|
South Africa |
Hanging Ditch
|
£19.50
|
13.5% Oaky, buttery
nose not typically Sauvignon Blanc. Balanced oaky
flavours and a well integrated mouthfeel, the wine
developed in the glass very well.
Group comments: General approval:
“A little too chilled”, “A classy wine”.
|
|
3.
Hamilton Russell 2011
Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
|
Elgin
|
South Africa |
S.A. Wines
online
|
£20.50
|
13.5% Golden green
tints to the colour with a syrupy, tropical fruit
nose. A little brash at the front; it’s zesty on the
palate with an orange oil flavour, a well developed
mid-palate with integrated oak and a dry, elegant
and very long finish. This wine is probably too
young but superb nonetheless.
Group comments: “Honey and Orange”; “A
winemaker’s wine”; “Quite acidic for a Chardonnay”;
“Could do with more oak”; “Pineapple & butter
tones”.
|
|
4.
KWV 2011 Pinotage
|
Western Cape
|
South Africa |
S.A. Wines
online
|
£7.00
|
14.5% Quite fruity for
a Pinotage, with dark berries. Simple but clean
flavours with chunky tannins, fresh and young – a
quaffable, party wine.
Group comments: “More chemistry
than winemaking”; “A quaffing house red”; “Bubblegum
and plastic – off putting”; “A wine for tomato based
pasta dishes”.
|
Red |
5.
Boekenhoutskloof 2010 Syrah
|
Coastal
|
South Africa |
S.A. Wines
online
|
£26.00
|
14.5% Concentrated
fruit nose with a serious weight to it. Spice and
herbs with integrated, dry tannins, smooth edges and
soft in the mid-palate with chocolate, raspberries
and liquorice. Although some components appeared
young the wine as a whole seemed intentionally
designed for drinking now. After a while in the
glass developed a lovely toffee finish.
Group comments: “An absolute
stunner”, “Very together for a young wine”, “A touch
one dimensional”
|
|
6.
Boekenhoutskloof 2011 The
Chocolate Block (69% Syrah, Grenahce, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Cinsault, 1% Viognier)
|
Western Cape |
South Africa |
Harvey Nichols
|
£21.00
|
14% Quite a blended,
complex nose - perfumed with hints of the Languedoc.
Cool and minty on the palate with dry tannins,
rounded, especially so for a 2011, with simple
aspects. Somewhat disappointing truth be told.
Group comments: “Elegant and fruit
driven”, “Medicinal nose”, “Plain...don’t get the
complexity”, “The blend seems artificial”.
|
|
7.
The
Liberator 2008 Unsung Hero (Syrah,
Mourvèdre, Carignan, 1% Grenache)
|
Swartland
|
South Africa |
Proteas
Wines
|
£12.00
|
14.5% A tangy nose
with lots of fruit. A pleasant mouthfeel with quite
a complicated, chaotic palate, including some cedar
and pencil shavings. The concentrated fruit is a
little stewed but a good wine.
Group comments: “Best nose of the
night”, “I admire the guy’s (Richard Kelly’s)
palate”, “It’s a funny blend!”.
|
|
8.
Klein Constantia 2008 Marlbrook (58%
Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot,
Cabernet Franc)
|
Constantia
|
South Africa |
S.A. Wines
online /
The Wine
Chambers
|
£16.00
|
15% A lovely nose,
complex with lots of fruit. A rich, heavy wine with
a cool, balanced mouthfeel and spicy tannins at the
edges. The flavour screams ripe Bordeaux with a
long, dry, nuanced finish. At £16 this was superb
value.
Group comments: “A first growth with
weight”, “Claret with knobs on”, “Too sweet on the
approach”, “Too much alcohol” (15%).
|
|
9.
Vergelegen 2004 Flagship Red (80%
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc)
|
Stellenbosch |
South Africa |
Richard Granger |
£28.50
|
14.5% A mature aspect
to the nose. Cool and dry on the palate, typical
Cabernet Sauvignon with a little age. Some
astringency on the mid-palate with a spicy, dry
tannin finish.
Group comments: “Lacks a punch”, “Somewhat
unbalanced”, “Elegant”, “Suffers in comparison..”
|
|
10.
Klein Constantia 2006 Vin de Constance
(Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains)
|
Constantia
|
South Africa |
The Wine
Chambers |
£31.50
|
14% Unfortunately
one bottle was slightly spoiled. Clear golden
colour. Sweet, rich and floral the texture was
viscous, a smooth nectar with good acidity.
|
Sweet |
|
16/01/2013 |
Raffle wine: Zalze Shiraz/Mourvedre/Viognier
(Western Cape)
Won by: Paul Raven |
