Hooray,
hooray! It’s a long weekend baby!!! And, like lots of you I imagine, I’m
heading out of town to spend the weekend with friends.
Big features of our
weekends away are, of course, plenty of delicious things to eat and drink. Well, Cath and Caro are taking care of the
former, and here are my suggestions of the perfect weekend box of wine from
recent samples sent to my door.
Twelve bottles of deliciousness for all
eventualities and occasions. Pack yours today!!
A ‘Chink Chink Cheers’ x 1 bottle
You never
know what a weekend might throw at you – could be an unexpected anniversary,
little Johnny came top of his class, the go-ahead on an exciting project – all
sorts, so it’s best to be prepared. I’d go with a bottle of Woolworths Simonsig Pinot Noir Brut Rose
2011 (R89.95 from Woolworths) – it’s
got no added sulphur for those who still think it makes them sneeze, and
spent 9 months on the lees making it fresh and fruity and ripe for a
celebration.
A ‘Drinking Red’ x 4 bottles
You know what
I mean – something that everyone likes, that goes with all the food and that
doesn’t break the bank. I’d go with the
Holden Manz Vernissage 2012 (R60 from the farm), a blend of Cabernet
Sauvignon and Shiraz – that fave combination of the Aussies. It should be a
fave of ours as well in my opinion, this is nice and chewy, a touch of smoke
and a soft juicy finish.
A ‘Drinking White’ x 4 bottles
Again the
same criteria apply – this wine must put itself out there and get around a bit,
as it were, and the Weltevrede Tropico
Sauvignon Blanc 2012 (R45 from major
retailers) should do that nicely. I’m a bit sceptical of wines named for
flavours but this one does what it says on the tin and is a crowd-pleasing
fresh mouthful with nice acidity and a rounded finish.
A ‘Good White’ x 1 bottle
This is a
little cracker of a wine and if I seem to have been slow on the uptake
(everyone else has been raving about it for sometime) at least I got there in
the end. What wine am I on about? The Mount
Abora Koggelbos Chenin Blanc 2011 (R90 from the farm) a simply stunning
mouthful of perfectly balanced fruit, gentle oak, rich creamy lees all tanged
up by lively acidity. One of the best wines of the year so far.
A ‘Good Red’ x 1 bottle
“Let me
drop you off a bottle of my 5-Star-rated wine” Oh go on then. If you must. The
Dalla Cia Giorgio 2007 (R210) is one of the bargains of the 2013 Platter Guide
with most of the top stuff selling for far more than this. It’s a three-way
Bordeaux blend (Cab Sauv, Cab Franc & Petit Verdot) and is rich and opulent
whilst holding plenty in reserve. I’d like to have kept this for a bit longer
so I may be doing some shopping soon!
A Sweetie Darling x 1 bottle
I was
reminded today at a function that we save sweet wines only for desserts at our
peril – they go great with cheese as well. The La Motte Straw Wine 2011 (R220 for a half bottle from the farm) is
made from Viognier and the ripe bunches were then left to become even more
concentrated by drying them out on straw mats. This is a peach of a wine –
literally! – with rich honeyed fruit balanced by acidity and a long nutty
finish.