Almenkerk
is a new kid on the block when it comes to winemaking in this country but you wouldn’t
think so when you taste their classy, classic cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc. I
was lucky enough to taste an older vintage at lunch the other day – proof that
well-made, elegant, citrussy lively wines can last longer than you think.
As per last month, the classic match for Sauvignon Blanc is Goats’ cheese but
Caro being Caro, she’s sexed it up with some delicious beetroot as well in this
Beetroot tart with goats’ cheese mousse. Luckily the Almenkerk has
enough palate-weight to handle the earthy flavours and provides a refreshing
zing to the dish.
Haskell
Vineyards is still on the high of providing some of the wines for the
Monaco Royal Wedding but you don’t need to have a princely-sized pocket to
afford their wines when their delicious Dombeya range comes in at such
good prices. This Chardonnay is in high demand, selling out every year without
fail and offering delicious yellow-stonefruit flavours perfectly balanced by
mellow oak and a lively acidity.
The Dombeya
has plenty of depth of flavour and will go beautifully with the dessert of Plum tarte tatin with cardamom ice-cream.
I sometimes think that If Nederburg
only ever made sweet wines, then cellarmaster Razvan Macici would be a happy
man! Mind you, so would I, especially with examples such as the 2010
Winemaker’s Reserve NLH which offers sweet honey and almond notes but
without any cloying stickiness and all at an amazingly low price.
Sweet wines don’t just go with desserts – other classic matches include blue
cheese and foie gras. Our budget won’t stretch quite as far as that, but a
rich, smooth Gorgonzola crème brûlée should fit the bill just as well with
the sweet fruit and acidity of the wine off-setting the rich custard to
perfection.
I am gradually getting converted to becoming a Pinotage-lover as opposed to a Pinotage
take-it-or-leave-it-er and it is wines such as this one from
Middelvlei which have made me such a fan. Juicy black fruit, elegant
tannins and endless finish, this is a deeply satisfying wine whatever you drink
it with.
For my money, the very best match for an African grape is African game so Chef
Caro has gone for lovely Ostrich keftedes where the spice of the meat is more than matched by the spicy
notes in the wine whilst the tannins freshen up the mouth beautifully.
I tasted the 2006
Le Riche Cabernet at the Nederburg Auction tasting a couple of
weeks ago and frankly, it was the highlight of the morning. All the 2006 is
saved for the auction, but the 2008 is tasting equally good with ripe, elegant
black fruit, layers of complexity and a soft but positive finish. Wine doesn’t
get much better than this.
Classic Cabernet combo is Lamb and Caro hasn’t mucked around with this at all.
Her Stuffed deboned lamb is fall-off-the-bone droolicious and when it is
matched with this Cabernet, I am confidently expecting an orgasmic experience
all round!
I have to admit that I was a little sceptical about the 2008
Boplaas Chocolate Cape Vintage Port when Rozanne Nel made me try it in
Calitzdorp recently. But they haven’t done anything to make the wine
taste like this, it’s all natural and actually it’s extremely subtle, quite
refreshing and really makes a dessert wine out of a port.
What else could Caro put with a Chocolate Port but a chocolate dessert? Caro says keep things funky and fun and try pairing this with a spoon of Nutella.