The KWV Classic Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2011 is a fresh and fruity little number which is crying out for summer to begin – aren’t we all? Full of bright tropical fruit with a mouth-tingling acidity and note of green peas and asparagus, this is a great summer tipple with a pleasingly-low alcohol too. Means you can drink more!
Dinner Party Drop-in Line – Sauvignon Blanc is one of the parents of Cabernet Sauvignon.
The classic match for Sauvignon Blanc is Goats’ cheese and Chef Caro is never one to ignore a classic combo so she’s decided to go Goats’ Cheese Balls rolled in Nuts. The acidity of the wine should cut through the fatty richness of the cheese leaving a refreshing tang in the mouth.
KWV Classic Collection Chenin Blanc 2011 is the epitome of summer. There are plenty of summer fruit notes in here – yellow gooseberries, crisp apples and ripe pears – all balanced out by good acidity and a nice weighty mouthfeel.
Dinner Party Drop-in Line – Ken Forrester (aka King of Chenin) says that Chenin Blanc is better value for money at every price level than Sauvignon Blanc.
Caro has decided to go wintery on this wine, even though it screams summer! She’s chosen a Sweetcorn Chowder with Smoked Paprika Butter, saying that she thinks the spices will be picked up and matched by the soft yellow fruity notes of the wine. Hope she’s right!
Chardonnay is enjoying a bit of a renaissance in recent months with the trend being towards to more lightly-oaked and fruitier styles. The KWV Classic Collection Chardonnay 2010 is a great example – only 40% has been near wood and then blended back into the tank making for an oak-kissed stunner with elegance and balance.
Dinner Party Drop-in Line – did you know that Chardonnay was the best-performing category at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show this year?
Chef Caro has gone very classical here with some beautiful Trout fillets, lightly swathed in a creamy Hollandaise sauce. “The wine has enough acidity to cut through the rich fish and enough body to handle the creamy sauce as well.”
Quintessential Cabernet might be a better name for this wine rather than Classic Collection – it is everything you would expect a Cabernet to taste of all nicely wrapped up with soft, juicy tannins. Plenty of black berries, vanilla and cream – great wine.
Dinner Party Drop-in Line – there are five red cultivars allowed in Bordeaux and the best known of these is Cabernet Sauvignon.
Caro is definitely into traditional pairings this month so she’s gone for the classic Cab combo of Lamb Chops. She’s serving these with salsa verde to add a savoury tang and thinks it will perfectly match the herbal notes of the wine.
Pinotage has gone on quite a journey over the last few years from bitter bananas, to chocolate/coffee and now finally to a savoury, black-fruited red wine of real elegance and interest. The KWV Classic Collection Pinotage is definitely in the latter category – great flavours at a very good price.
Dinner Party Drop-in Line – the KWV Perold looks likely to be re-launched soon and – very appropriately – will actually involve Pinotage this time!
There is something about Pinotage that always makes Chef Caro think of bacon! Her Crunchy Bacon and Tomato Pasta is a case in point but every time she makes it – she’s always proven right as it turns out to be a perfect match!
Merlot is another variety which has had a somewhat torrid time – globally this time with the fall-out from the Sideways movie still affecting people’s opinion. When it is well-made as it is here, it’s a juicy, soft accessible red wine with lots of chocolate and cherries. What’s not to like?
Dinner Party Drop-in Line – Merlot is becoming the red grape of choice for cooler vineyard areas such as Darling, Durbanville and Elgin.
Cherries and chocolate? Enough said! Caro says this was almost the easiest match to do when the tasting note gave it away before she even had to think – Pancakes with Cherries and Dark Chocolate should go great guns and I can’t wait to try it for myself!