Kleine Zalze : Merlot 2006

Sian and I were at Brugels in Mowbray on the last Sunday in August. And we scrounged around the wine list looking for something:

• Nice
• Cheap

We settled on a bottle of Kleine Zalze Merlot 2006, for R60 (not bad for a restaurant); and I don't know if it was just a good bottle or what, but it was a really smooth merlot, perfect for the great schitzophrenic pizzas Brugels make.

Lovely lovely wine. Very good for a recession grade dinner!

Persia to Paarl : My new favourite wine fest

From what I heard the Stellenbosch Wine Fest was a bit of a dog show this year, with far too many people due to tickets being sold long after a favourable amount of people were let in.

I can't say for sure, I wasn't there, deciding to give it a bit of a miss.

But what I didn't skip this year (after missing it last year for having been out of the country) was the Persia to Paarl festival at Nederberg this year.

It was AMAZING. I've been to the Nederberg conference center for other events, some even non-wine related (in-joke: Heroes Happen Here!), and its a great venue, with very friendly permanent staff.

I don't know who in Paarl is responsible for organising this FANTASTIC festival, which gets its inspiration from the fact that Shiraz comes from Iran (that's Persia if you didn't know).

I took it slow on the wine front, because I was on anti-biotics which I was assured by my doctor and pharmacist would make me feel like death if I drank. The secret was simply to 'forget' to take the pills every three hours before the event and I was fine.

The amount of effort the estates and organisers put into this event really speaks to what a great time it was. Unlike Ommiberg, in which you can at times end up at what seems like a deserted estate, the festival halls were buzzing, especially the food court when SA lost to NZ, but not TOO full. I have to be honest, I can't imagine this festival, this gem of an event, is going to remain so perfectly attended as it was this year (and by all accounts last year). I'm quite certain it will be spilling over with people as the word slowly gets out (not unlike the Wacky Wine Weekend, and the Stellenbosch wine fest).

Clearly wine festivals are the new rock concerts for the over 25s. And Persia to Paarl is a truly unique experience, sort of like the small ethno-rock stage at a big European music festival. The exhibitors dressed up, and were happy to share there wines in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

The festival also had a wonderful collection of food stalls, which made cutting the wine a little, and thus having a far longer stay without becoming inebriated that much easier.

I went with a group of friends, and we had a fantastic day, including a lovely bottle of Cafe Culture and a cheese platter and ciabatta from stalwarts Fairview under some trees near by the exhibition hall.

It really was a wonderful day out in Paarl, which is rapidly overtaking my old home of Stellenbosch, as my favourite wine region in the Cape.

Well done to all involved. I hope that next year is as much fun!

P.S. my punt for a farm which is doing things really well at the moment in my opinion: Glen Carlou. The wines are really starting to hit my palate in a way that makes their prices seem reasonable. That's a good thing for me, because I often couldn't bring myself to shell out for their wines because the price/value ratio seemed a bit skewed. No MORE!

Wine Magazine should get over themselves

I'm so glad that Henré Rossouw said what I've been thinking for a long time: that South African wine critics have simply no class.

I'm a long time reader of Wine Magazine, and over the years the arrogance has gotten to me on varying levels. Reading Rob Morris' article, where he unjustifiably slams a farm that is making good efforts to improve itself and its brand, is classless and baseless. Perhaps he should remember his years a varsity drop out before mommy from publisher's Ramsey, Son and Parker got him the job at Wine Magazine.

Morris, and Christian Eedes (with whom he's been known to waste a Friday lunch hour drinking free wine at Greek in Mowbray), exemplify a real weak point in South African wine journalism: namely the idea that great wine journalism is snobbish and slams all who try.

I am certainly no fan of the 'everyone deserves a certificate' attitude of many in our post-modern world: but I think people who spend their lives writing copy for a magazine like Wine Magazine in a suburb as plat as Pinelands should watch what they say (I know, I lived there once, as I did in Stellenbosch: At least people who live in the winelands have some class!)

Foreign wines in local shops

South Africa has great wines, but not a lot of places to try things other than local produce.

Maybe that's why other wine countries (and consumer countries like the UK) sometimes get nasty about South Africa; perhaps it bothers them that our wines are so good that South Africans don't bother with R150 French Plonk! :P

Enough with the ribbing, there are some great wines from around the world which we let ourselves down if we don't explore, and sadly in South Africa that means, more often than not, finding stores which sell foreign wines at a bit of a premium.

One such store and cellar is, Wine Cellar, http://www.winecellar.co.za/, in Observatory in Cape Town. There is good wine, there is great wine, and then their is over priced wine.

I don't know if the Wine Cellar's wine is overpriced, I'd like to go to one of their legendary tastings before deciding on that;

That said, they have an AMAZING range of French and other nations' wines. That sort of range deserves to go at a bit of a premium, and Sian and I look forward to going for a tasting there soonest (i.e. when the wallet allows!)

Once we know more about this business, and its cellaring, I look forward to giving a full report.

Ingwe 2004

We had a bottle of Alain Moueix's Ingwe 2004. This great wine is made by PJ Geyer, and Francois Baard is the viticulturist. Francois's daughter once told me at a party how absolutely amazing this wine was, and I have to be honest that when I hear from the children of people in the wine industry how great there wine is I tend to hesitate; not because they aren't great arbiters of taste, but rather that often blood is thicker and wine, and an honest critique of a family product is hard thing... (I know all about this... its a huge problem... I used to extol the virtues of my families pies, even when we were having a 'bad' period - i.e. making pastry in Cape Town in February is a hard thing due to the heat).

Well Sian brought out the bottle while we had Swiss fondue on Saturday night.

What can I say? I simply LOVED it. The colour of the wine is dark and ripe, no hints of over stayed browns here: just a pure ruby. But unlike other wines which often come out with such a colour when they are the consistency of molasses, this wine is just the right weight; not too heavy, but not a model on heroin either.

The nose is a bit subdued; something I've come to appreciate, often I get misled when a wine had a fantastic nose only to be disappointed when the first taste hits my mouth.

I think a subtle nose to a wine, like a quick glace, or a gentle brush of the hands is far more seductive to the drinker; some wines strut to the table in F-me pumps and a mini-skirt, and Ingwe is far more reserved, and consequently a far more glamorous wine for it.

On the mouth, the wine is smooth and complex; a very rich flavour which doesn't overpower the senses; the wine was more than passable with the fondue, but to be honest I think would have paired spectacularly with a good roast or steak;

I can only speak for this wine from personal experience, I don't know how others might find it, but we finished the bottle and I certainly felt ready to buy a case. It really is a fantastic wine with a lot to offer as a Bordeaux blend from South Africa.

Viva Ingwe. It's great to have a wine with an African name that isn't simple a marketing gimmick, but a really great wine in its own right.

Cape Times V&A Wine Affair

Myself and Sian, Ez and Alan went to the Cape Times Wine Affair at the V&A last night.

This event has now officially become my favourite on the wine calendar of the Western Cape. Why? Simple... the quality of it all.

The Wine Affair moved from the Market Square to the new Parking Lot opposite the Victoria Wharf mall. Very clever and practical, and easy access to the rest of the waterfront, and a nice high view into the amazing African Renaissance stadium being thrown up a few hundred meters away.

The venue was a LITTLE warm; i.e. it was boiling hot at first; I've noticed this now at most festivals, with the exception of the Stellenbosch Wine Route Festival. I suppose warm is better than cold; but it is a bit poor. As the evening went on the temperature seemed to adjust (or at least I stopped caring) and it wasn't as noticeable.

What makes the Wine Affair so great is its exhibitors; so many great farms, the big labels and the boutiques, from all over the province made a showing. There are always a couple of farms you'd like to see, but the event offers a real treat for those looking to explore new wines from old favourite labels, as well as being surprised by wines from undiscovered wine makers.

For me the find of the show wasn't a wine, but rather a region; the wines from Rawsonville near Worcester are really getting quite excellent; every interesting and different from what you are used to; I've resolved to driving out there soon and getting more of a taste for the region - a lot of the wines coming out of their seem to be EXCELLENT everyday table wines; maybe not as "dignified" as some of the Paarl and Stellenbosch estates, but certainly up and coming.

I was particularly impressed by the balanced ranges coming from the region. I'm sure they've been making great wines for years; but for someone whose only really followed wine for 5 years it was great to find something new at a show you've been to before.

Balance is what makes the Wine Affair so great. The balance between food and wine, cheaper and more expensive, famous and new is perfectly struck. The entire event has a mildly curated feel which I think is at times lacking in events in SA, and it makes so much difference.
Had some amazing oysters at the Wild Peacock stand. I took their card :)

There was a lot of food at the show, a lot more than at most wine shows, with sushi, meat, fish, cheese, etc. Its fantastic to have both palate cleansers and great fresh food with wine; its the way wine is supposed to be enjoyed; and really gives you an opportunity to let wines open up in context.

Even Fisherman's Choice, the old Waterfront favourite, had a stand, and was serving some of the best calamari I've tasted from them in years.

Val de Vie's shiraz was perfectly paired by golden cardamom chocolates they had at their stand. They also have a wine called Polo which is a fantastic red blend for the table.

There were so many great wines at the show. De Klerk from Rawsonville. (Family name prejudice there I fear :) ), McGregor, De Grendel, Boekenhoutskloof, the list goes on...
Ooo, and I didn't have any, but Krone was there, from Twee Jong Gezellen; when I drank it at Winex it convinced me to buy a case of it at this last new years.

Raka and Asara's wines are also tasting a lot better on my palate than they have in the past; must have something to do with my new prelidiction for shiraz; thank you Sian!

How can I sum up this show? Unmissable!

I recommend it to anyone for next year; it really is the best way to spend a cold May evening, with great friends, great wine and food, and a wonderful festival of the good life.

Alcohol + Lent = Free Booze

I'm a Catholic, and for a myriad of reasons Catholics give up 'something for lent'. Why we do this delves into Jesus, his 40 days before he began his ministry and a whole lot of other dogmatic and traditional aspects of my life which aren't really part of this blog, and aren't really interesting unless you are, A) Catholic or B) Interested in developing a distorted opinion of what being a Catholic is all about.

But the premise is you give something up for 40 days and 40 nights (queue the comedy), and use that denial of something you'd otherwise have to focus your mind and develop yourself spiritually. So I went from spiritually to spirits, and gave up booze for lent. Not feeling quite masochistic enough, I gave up meat as well. Right, no meat, no booze. How is a man supposed to live?

So what does "The Universe" do when you lay down such a karmic challenge? It tempts you, or rather you realise the temptation which was never there. When we say God tempts us, the truth is we have drawn a line in the sand which we have decided not to cross despite our corporal desire to do so. And that is the temptation I have felt these last 22 days, and will no doubt feel again in the next 18.

Why has it been so bad? Well in the shortest of orders the opportunity for free booze and free meat has been INSANE. From Microsoft Launch parties, to comp'd business lunches, to wine weekends and festivals, to house bring and braais, to trading conferences to Newbie Bowls with booze and boerewors rolls, the last couple of weeks have been a real test to avoid the booze and meat.

What can I say? Well I'm sure that the free booze and free meat train will pull into the station on Holy Thursday, and I'll have to pay for the meat and booze I'm no doubt going to want to drink so desperately when I finally can.

The truth is you realise your physical desires a lot more. Someone could open a bottle of wine 10 metres from me and now I'll smell it. Same re: meat, I finally understand what the OT is talking about when they talk of the smell of the the offering was pleasing to God; my word a braai is a nice smell, especially when the ruddy Israelites (or in my case, the house mates) have been hesitant to braai as of late.

I'm making my mouth water just as I write this. I should stop.

But the interesting thing to think about is the power of denial; how denying yourself something can make your realise how much you really need it. In our lives we give up things like chocolate, or our favourite TV show, but we often forget that the things we really should appreciate we aren't denied until there is nothing we can do about it: like our family, our friends, and finally our lives.

So what I've taken from this lent, spiritual growth aside, is the simple fact that everything in our lives, no matter how trivial, when taken away is something to regret. And the things which really matter even more so, which for good reason we should reach out and share and enjoy the time and things of our lives with the people we love.