La Vierge & Domaine des Dieux

 - A QUAINT FARM WITH SOME FUN WINES!
 
La Vierge is at the top of the hill and with it's pink and white walls you certainly cannot miss it as you drive through the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.  Everyone always wants to stop there because it looks really inviting and you expect the views to be incredible!  

The views are fantastic and you can sit outside on the deck while wine tasting.  There is a restaurant too, but they were closed the day we were visiting in preparation for an afternoon wedding.  Being so high up in the valley unfortunately it was pretty windy when we were there.  Overall on the wine tasting side of things, we were not overly impressed with the whole experience, perhaps the wind was a hindrance, but it is a lovely quaint, quirky wine farm with amazing views.  I was there once before on a girls "golfing" weekend and we had a great time inside the tasting room (it was too cold to sit on the deck)!
They actually have a sandpit on the deck too, which is set up and ready for a game of boules.
 
The Domaine des Dieux MCCs were also available for tasting because their tasting room is closed during the quieter winter months.  We tasted both of their MCCs and they were an absolute hit.  Bubbles are always a great way to start!

The Rose of Sharon Brut Rosé MCC was delicious.  Strawberry and raspberry flavours, but still dry with a minty rose water finish.  Very very nice!  So too was the Claudia Brut MCC which is 76% Chardonnay and 24% Pinot Noir.  The nose has a lot of porridge in it, but the palate has a creamy mineralness to it.  We thought it had beautiful apple and creamy lemon curd flavours and not too dry like some white MCCs can be.  Excellent, we'll be back for both of these!

The La Vierge wines have some very intriguing names and wine labels, as well as a few lesser known varietals included in their blends.  We wanted to try the "Temptation" and "The Affair", but they were unfortunately sold out.  There is also a "Seduction" we didn't get to.

Some brief wine notes below...

LA VIERGE ORIGINAL SIN SAUVIGNON BLANC - Lovely typical green pepper and earthy notes on the nose, delicious green fig, grape, grass and tropical fruit flavours.  Lovely!

LA VIERGE THE LAST TEMPTATION (Weisser Riesling) - Quite a strong melon perfume nose, very fruity and almost textured on the palate - very enjoyable! 

LA VIERGE THE COLLECTION SATYRICON ITALIAN BLEND - In true Italian style, this wine is quite tanniny and acidic with loads of spiced cherry flavours, rich fruit, nutmeg and minerals.  It is a bit lighter in colour, with some serious legs, but very juicy.  Different to the usual South African wines and quite lovely.

LA VIERGE PINOT NOIR - Which they at the farm prefer to call the Black Virgin or Black Madonna because of its supposed darker side.  It is certainly more zesty and smokey than some other Pinot Noirs with garden flowers and honey flavours.  It is very light and grape juicy in colour.  It is more easy drinking, but we thought it lacked a little in flavours, better than some of the watery Pinots, but not as good as some of the Valley's other gems.

A lovely experience, definitely worth a stop for the view and some fun wines and bubbles to taste.


LA VIERGE WINES
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Road, Hermanus
Tel: +27 28 313 0130
GPS: S 34° 22’ 22.3" E 19° 14’29.4" 

DOMAINE DES DIEUX
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Road, Hermanus, just past Creation Wine Farm
Tel: +27 28 313 2126

Bouchard Finlayson Boutique Winery

 - FANTASTIC WINES AND A LOVELY CELLAR EXPERIENCE
 
Another awesome weekend in Sandbaai - we were actually there on the weekend of the Hermanus Wine Festival, but it looked a little cramped in the tent so we headed for the farms and stopped in at the festival one the way back for some delicious snacks.  Eat restaurant had awesome pitas and there was a delectable stand serving sugar coated nuts of all types - mmmm... amazing!!

Bouchard Finlayson wine farm was on our list to visit the last time, but I think they were closed.  So this time around they were definitely the first stop.  Quite unassuming, I thought the tasting room was the house close to the road, but in fact you drive right up the hill and of course have an awesome view all the way back to the sea (in the distance) when you get to the top (I think the sea view is a pre-requisite in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley), a pity about the brown vineyards of winter.  The tasting building is a simple white painted thatch building with beautifully manicured lawns with a similar looking manor house nearby.

This is a boutique winery specialising in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is particularly suited to these varietals due to the clay soil and cool sea breeze, similar to those varietals' wine regions in Northern France.  Bouchard Finlayson's Galpin Peak Pinot Noir (unfortunately not available for tasting) has won many an award and accolade, and helped them keep their reputation as one of the top wineries in South Africa. 

 If you want the private tasting with the wine maker, down the cellar, you will have to book ahead.  There was a group there when we went and it certainly looked like a lot of fun in there.
If not, the rest of the tasting room also gives you the feel of being down in a cellar.  Barrels and wine lieing in arches in the brick walls and a simple vase full of Proteas adorning the tasting tables.

The folk here are extremely friendly and accomodating - our group all tasted different wines and I think we managed to cover most of them.
While some preferred the Blanc De Mer, others frowned and declared the Hannibal the clear winner of the day, but all were considered very good wines.

Excellent wines and a lovely relaxing cellar experience.

A few wine notes below (compiled using everyone's comments) ...

SAUVIGNON BLANC RESERVE 2012
There is a small compliment of semillon in this wine and you can definitely notice it, there are no hard edges at all, it is utterly smooth.  It has that slight bubble effect on your tongue.  Lovely tropical flavours with a minerality that leaves some herb flavours lingering at the end.
Quite delicious!
 
BLANC DE MER 2012
This is a white wine blend, mainly Riesling, Viognier and Sav B with a few other smaller percentages.  It is a light and enjoyable wine, a bit tart and acidic I thought, but a good summertime wine.  It smells like fresh cut apples and has mango, apricot and vanilla flavours.


MISSIONVALE CHARDONNAY
The Missionvale is quite similar to the Crocodile below but has spent slightly less time in the French Oak resulting in more honey aromas and melon and vanilla on the palate.  Rich, but light flavours.  We also thought it was a bit smoother than the Crocodile.
 
CROCODILE'S LAIR / "KAAIMANSGAT CHARDONNAY" 2010
This is a limited edition wine which has been 50% wooded, you can tell by the buttery nose.  Even so the caramel flavours are not too overpowering and you get more of vanilla, cinnamon and spiced apples with a cream apricot sort of ending.  A lovely Chardonnay!
 
GALPIN PEAK PINOT NOIR 2011
The Hemel & Aarde valley is very good to Pinot Noirs, I always seem to like them when I am there.  This one was superb, the best I have tasted!  A lighter, browner colour than the usual rich red you find in Pinots (could be the lighting), with quite serious legs.  After 10 months in French Oak you definitely notice the floral and toasty wood aromas.  It has lovely red berry, somewhere between a cranberry and a mulberry, flavours with quite earthy and dry finish.  It is definitely more dark and robust than most Pinot Noirs.  Delicious! 
(R245 per bottle)
 

HANNIBAL 2011
While the name scares me a little, this is actually an excellent wine.  It was an all-round favourite.  A blend of Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo, Mourvedre, Barbera and Shiraz where the grapes have been separately fermented.  It has a slightly browner hue to it with unusual, soft berry, foreign aromas.  It smells like it's not from around here, like something I would expect from Europe.  It has minimal tannins, it is soft and yet somehow complex, light but still robust and very smooth with lovely berry flavours and a little spice.  A well deserved 5* in the John Platter Guide.  A lovely lovely wine! Excellent!
(R209 per bottle)

Another beautiful day in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley... Love this part of the world!

BOUCHARD FINLAYSON WINERY
Valley Road, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Tel: +27 28 312  3515
 

Creation Wines

 - FANTASTIC!  DEFINITELY GOING BACK FOR THE PAIRING TASTING!

Deeper into the Hemel & Aarde (Heaven & Earth) Valley and 7km on a dirt road is the beautiful, and aptly named, Creation wine farm.  They are busy tarring the road to get there at the moment, but for now it is worth every kilometre of dirt road getting yourself there.  It is autumn at the moment and so all the vineyards are turning yellow and red, lining the drive into to the tasting room.  The tasting room is warm and friendly, they even have a kids playroom with chairs and paintings made from old barrels.  We had a little one with us and they were so accommodating bringing a mat and toys and juice next to our table. 


It was late afternoon and yet they were full of people either lingering on from lunch or enjoying the wine pairing.  The wine pairing looked absolutely delicious and had we not have just eaten lunch we would have definitely tucked in.  But now its all the more reason to go back again on our next weekend in Sandbaai.  If you go onto their website they actually have a really cool pairing section with recipes to do your own pairings at home - great idea!


The staff were just lovely, very knowledgeable and relaxed making you feel right at home.  The view is stunning looking over the dam and up a mountain where the sunsets behind, with a quaint little church up on one of the hills.  Although the decor setting appear to be smart and chic, the environment is relaxed and friendly.  Glass windows on the floor allow you to see down into the cellar when you walk in.  There is even a fire place in the middle for the colder winter days.


The winery makes use of Riedel wine glasses.  We enjoyed a Riedel tasting when we were still in the Cayman Islands.  A different shaped wine glass is made for every kind of wine.  They make you smell and taste the wine in one glass and then transfer your wine to the next glass to smell and taste the difference the glass makes, it is quite remarkable.  The glass really does make a different in terms of the scents you pick up on the nose and the flavours you experience on the tongue.  You will see below in the tasting notes how each glass compliments the particular wine served.  And so in your tasting at Creation, each wine is served in a different glass.


A lovely, lovely afternoon was had by all and we will definitely be back again!









My wine notes below...

SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013
This wine smells like apples and lemons, even a little peachy maybe.  A very nice Sav B, not as crisp and fresh as you would expect, but more on the fruity lemon and kiwi flavours.  Surprisingly heavy legs too.  Served in a tall glass with a narrow rim, this glass lands the wine in the middle of your tongue picking up the more acidic and bitter flavours expected in a Sav B.  The smaller top also enhances the nose when smelling.

VIOGNIER 2013
Now this wine smells more floral, like rose petals and a sea breeze, very subtle though not a strong nose at all.  Our TRH noted how it has a similar affect as that of ginger with sushi, the way it is sharp and yet softly cleanses the palate.  He also recommended pairing it with Thai food or a curry because of its subtlety it compliments the stronger flavoured foods.  It has soft vanilla, peach and apricot flavours with a bit of spice on the finish but it goes down softly.
Its nice to know now what pairs well with a curry other than Riesling, we'll have to try that next time.

CHARDONNAY 2012
This was served in a much wider glass than the above two wines.  The wider glass puts the wine on the sides of your mouth where you will pick up more of the sweeter flavours.  With the strong nose on a Chardonnay this wide glass also softens these harsh tones.  This wine was a bit lighter than a rich Chard, with a caramel popcorn nose.  Still buttery and quite fruity.  With the wider glass you don't get as much of the strong wood flavours but more of the fruit flavours and tartness with a smooth caramel finish and after taste when you breathe out.

Everyone agreed this is definitely one of the nicest Chardonnays we have tasted, whether it be due to the glass or the actual wine, we won't know but my other half bought a bottle to take home (when do you buy Chardonnay to take home, not very often at all!?).  Luckily we have very wide big glasses at home to make sure we have the same experience.







PINOT NOIR 2012
This is a young wine, quite a light, brighter RED colour.  Our TRH noted that you could use it in place of Listerine in the mornings as it has that fresh taste when you breathe in afterwards.  There is a slight spice on the nose.  It is a very fruity, lovely flavoured wine.  Again, it may be the effect of the glass or Pinots may be growing on me.  The berry flavours were stronger than usual and I would definitely enjoy this as an easy drinking summer RED.  A lovely smooth finish and definitely one of the nicer Pinot Noirs I have tasted.

MERLOT 2012
Perhaps the glass shape again but this Merlot was more spicy on the nose than you would usually expect.  It is quite earthy on the nose, like when it rains on a dirt road, with a hint of pepper (white powder pepper or green peppers).  It could probably rest for a year or two, which the TRH confirmed, but it would also be quite enjoyable now.  The flavours are very berry with an unusual hint of tobacco smokiness.  It is not so dark in colour, but has quite heavy legs.  It is not very tanniny, but has quite a dry almost peppery finish.  We thought it would pair well with a wild game meat.

BORDEAUX BLEND 2011 (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot) 
This wine has a lovely rounded palette and as the TRH suggested it is certainly not to be wasted on vegetables... rather a nice fatty lamp chop!  It is also still quite young and will get better with age (3-5yrs), but still delicious.  Most of us preferred this blend to the Merlot above.  With quite heavy legs and strong nose, the flavours have a hint of spice but not as peppery as the Merlot more of a sweet spice.  A lovely blend of fruit and spice, very smooth and very nice - perfect for red meat.
Other than the great Chardonnay experience, this was the favourite at the Creation.

SYRAH 2011
They say this is a feminine Syrah, not that it is only for the ladies, but rather it is softer than other Syrahs.  While still spicy it has more of a Christmas mince pie spice nose to it with a hint of Turkish delight.  To me it smelt like berry compost, with definite spice.  TRH recommended pairing this wine with your richer foods like duck or oxtail.  This is quite a sweet Syrah, very fruity and spicy, it is definitely a softer, smoother wine with quite a dry finish.  Very enjoyable.

It really was a great tasting experience with all the pairing ideas learnt and the Riedel glass experiences as well as the stunning views and ambience.





On a side note, I tested Nigella's zuchini cake with home made lemon curd in the middle and cream cheese icing.  It came with for the weekend and went down a treat for afternoon tea before heading to Creation wines for some tastings!

.

Newton Johnson

 - ANOTHER GREAT VIEW FROM IN THE HEMEL & AARDE VALLEY


This farm was the last stop  (3rd) on our little valley wine tour.  Unsurprisingly we saw some familiar faces from the previous farms, and yes the noise levels were higher.  This farm has a more modern tasting room, almost like an outdoor bar and balcony overlooking the valley and down towards the ocean.  Huge glass windows allow you to look into the cellar with the steel tanks and some very cool artwork lines the walls.  There is also a relaxed Brassiere style restaurant called Heaven adjacent to the tasting room.  The tasting room was quite busy and social, not really lending itself to discussions or details on the wine, rather just the tasting and enjoying of it.  A great atmosphere, stunning views and perfect weather.  A great end to a great day in the Hemel & Aarde winelands before heading to the Hermanus harbour for some fresh calamari and chips - yum!


My tasting notes below...
As mentioned above, the conditions were not exactly condusive to taking notes and too avoid being rude on my phone, my notes again are short and to the point.

2012 SAUVIGNON BLANC
This wine smells like grape juice.  Delicious tasting!  4* in the John Platter guide.

2011 CHARDONNAY
This wine has much more of a caramel flavour, I don't think I would have more than one glass as it is quite rich.  It is still very good though.

2010 ELGIN PINOT NOIR
Very light in colour, the nose on this wine reminded me of a hairdresser, the shampoo and ammonia blend of smells.  It does have 5* from John Platter.  I found it to be the typical watery flavour I associate with Pinot Noirs, having said that it does have a subtle spicy berry flavour in the somewhere.  It reminds me of a less sugary, sweet rose.  I suppose it would classify as a light RED wine, in which case it was quite enjoyable.  (I'm still not sold on the Pinot Noirs - can you tell?)

Sumaridge

 - BEAUTIFUL VIEW

Nestled in the Hemel and Aarde Valley...



Sumaridge is a quiet little farm with this spectacular view.  We sat on the balcony overlooking the dam.  There are also tables inside and in the front garden on the bank of the dam.  The young tasting room host (TRH) was very friendly and informative in his knowledge of the farm's wines.   He did manage to pour a Rose tasting into a not yet empty Chardonnay glass and may have spilt a few times, but no-one minded in the least.  We were relaxing on the balcony, enjoying the view and TRH's conversation.  Next time I think we'll take a bottle or two and do our own tasting on the little bench under the trees on the other side of the dam, it looked so inviting.

My wine notes below...
I only had my phone with me for taking notes, so to avoid seeming rude I tried to keet them short and sweet.

SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009
Very very nice.  Crisp, fruity and fresh, a delicious Sav B.  We bought a few to take home!

MARITIMUS 2009 (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon)
As per our TRH, the name of this wine comes from the maritime location that Sumaridge has being so close to the ocean (you can see it in the distance above).  I thought it was an interesting blend, combining the crisp Sav B flavours with the wooded Chardonnay flavours and the Semillon just to smooth it all off.  A little bit tart for me perhaps, but enjoyable and would go well with your Mediterranean fish dishes I would think, the ones with slightly stronger flavours.

CHARDONNAY 2009
Sumaridge's flagship WHITE.  This wine had a nutty wooded nose to it.  It was a lovely smooth and light Chardonnay, not too syrupy.  A buttery sweet taste I thought.  I like their idea of pairing it with a creamy pasta - yum!

MERLOT ROSE 2009
The colour of this wine is like a rose cherry syrup, like the homemade ones you see at farmers markets.  Being a Merlot Rose, this wine has a red grape flavour to it with a delicious Turkish delight flavoured finish.  It is definitely sweet (as is expected from a Rose) but easy drinking and very enjoyable.  A lovely summer wine.

PINOT NOIR 2008
This wine has a strong earthy, mountain trees sort of nose on it.  It even has quite an earthy flavour.  It is quite complex for a Pinot Noir, with a lot of flavours going on.  From the forest fruits to the spiciness and velvet finish.  One of our group absolutely loved it and skipped the next wine to savour the taste.  It wasn't my favourite, too earthy.  Although definitely better than a lot of other Pinot Noir's I have tasted.

MERLOT 2007
Now this wine was much easier drinking.  A chocolate, vanilla nose and a darker colour of the wine.  A delicious berry flavour and smooth finish.  A very nice Merlot which apparently also has good maturing potential.

EPITOME 2008 (Syrah, Pinotage, Merlot)
This wine has a browner colour to it than the ruby hue of the Merlot above.  It has quite an earthy flavour and very spicy, probably due to the large Syrah content (60%, tobacco, cigar flavours) combined with the Pinotage (coffee flavours) in the blend.  Quite an intense wine with hectic legs.  This wine has a lot of character and will definitely age well.  A great blend, a more sophisticated wine.

 

 

Hamilton Russel Vineyards

 - HEMEL EN AARDE VALLEY

On a weekend away in Sandbaai we decided to do some tastings in the Hemel en Aarde Valley.  A beautiful valley with winding roads and spectacular views all the way down to the ocean.  There are some fantastic wines in this area, with the sea breeze influence and the mountainous terrain.  There are about 10-15 different wine farms and it is a very pleasant, leisurely drive through this valley.  Best of all you can end your day with a drink and some dinner overlooking the ocean in Hermanus.


Hamilton Russel was the first stop on this particular trip.  A beautiful farm, with tastings on the little brick veranda over looking a small dam and up into the trees.  There are only two wines available for tasting at this farm and they are very much boutique wines, the tasting being complimentary.  Very picturesque.


My wine notes below...


CHARDONNAY
This wine has spent time in both oak and clay (something different).  It has quite a buttery, slightly sour taste.  A very nice wine, but a bit overpriced I thought.

PINOT NOIR
Very light in colour as expected with a Pinot Noir.  A very nice Pinot Noir though, I was pleasantly surprised and impressed.  A light and toasty RED wine, which will be even better with age.  Very nice, but also quite pricey.