 |
||
 |
|
|
|
e-mail winechap@thesilverstonecollection.com |
||
|
|
|
|
Best of the Red Bunch April 2001 |
||
|
|
|
|
Beyerskloof Pinotage 2000 Pinotage owes it's existence to professor Abraham Izak Perold, a South African, who back in the 1920's cross-fertilized the weak South African Pinot Noir with the heartier Cinsault grape - the result being the Pinotage grape. The South African wine region of Stellenbosch is east of Cape Town and has the greatest concentration of the area's oldest wineries. The region is very hot and dry during it's growing and ripening season. And the 2000 vintage was one of the hottest and driest vintages in over 120 years. For any budding winemakers the soil which Beyerskloof winery uses for it's grapes is Hutton, Clovelly and Kroonstad, and the vines are between 20 and 40 years old. A typical Pinotage tends to a plummy, almost delicate smoked flavor. Beyerskloof's version has a sweet berryness with a rich fruit complexity. As always, even though this is a red wine, I tend to enjoy the Pinotage slightly chilled so it can be paired with both red meat and lighter seafood dishes. Cheers Region Stellenbosch, South Africa Grapes Pinotage Price (approx) $10.99 Technical 3-5 days on the skins in mainly open fermenters at 28-30 C. After malolactic fermentation the wine went into Nevers oak for 6-8 months Food match Seafood, light meat dishes, pasta and spicy food back to top | back to original page Best of the White Bunch April 2001 De Wetshof "Lesca" Chardonnay 2000 Robertson is located east of Cape Town in the Republic of SouthAfrica. If you travel 16 kilometers south east of Robertson you'll arrive at the De Wetshof Estate, where Danie De Wet is the owner and winemaker of the family business which the De Wet's began when they arrived in the region in 1693. Danie studied winemaking at Geisenheim, the renowned German wine institute, and returned home to specialize in the production of truly outstanding white wines. De Wetshof's Chardonnay has emerged as one of South Africa's finest examples of the grape variety and indeed, a benchmark for the entire world to emulate. The winery makes several different versions of Chardonnay, but the most quaffable is the "Chardonnay Finesse", which has the additional word "Lesca" on the label, named after Danie's wife. It is cold fermented in stainless steel and then allowed to develop further in oak barrels. Danie selects Chardonnay grapes, for this version, which have a prominent citrus flavor, so the final product is light, dry and offers a crisp lemon and nutty taste. Although I tend to avoid Chardonnay as much as possible, because I rarely find that the versions I sample live up to my expectations of this magnificent grape, De Wetshof's Chardonnay is one of the most exciting and rewarding drinks I've tasted in ages. And if it was an Academy Award nominee, it would most certainly walk away with an Oscar! Cheers Region Robertson, South Africa Grapes Chardonnay Price (approx) $11.99 Technical Oak barrel fermentation at 17-20 . After fermentation the wine is left on the lees for a short period to compliment the delicate nature of the wine. Vineyard/Soil Soil: Gravel/lime Vine Age: 11-18 years Estate Acreage: 140 Hectares back to top | back to original page © Phillip Silverstone 2001 |
||
|
|
|