South Africa was our destination on our international wine discovery tour for the month of April. South Africa is renowned for its excellent wines and we were not disappointed. Everyone sampled different wines from a variety of cellars, types, regions and price points. Wines ranged from $9.95 to $17.95 and each had a rave review. We hope that you enjoy our selections this month.
Robertson Winery – 2020 Chenin Blanc
Reviewed by Pat and Murray Wood – April 1, 2021
For our South African wine, we chose the 2020 Robertson Winery Chenin Blanc. This gorgeous white starts with scents of grapefruit and beeswax before sweeping in with a cool, crisp attack. Flavours flit from sunlit citrus to struck steel with touches of lanolin, sea salt and smoke quietly at play. This wine is rated with a score of 93 and was only $9.95. We certainly would recommend it.
KWV Cathedral Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Reviewed by: Timothy Sulisz – April 1, 2021
The wine from the Western Cape of South Africa that I selected was a 2018 KWV’s Cathedral Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon that is available from the Vintages section (# 328567) at a cost of $17.95. It has 13.5% alcohol content.
This is an extra dry wine that is called full bodied and firm. LCBO says “Offering super value, this Cabernet comes from South Africa’s cool Cape. It displays blackcurrant, dark cherry, spice and savoury herbs, all supported by bright acidity. Pair with gourmet burgers or steak-and-kidney pie.” On the wine bottle, it describes this sturdy Cabernet Sauvignon as follows: “Black cherry, clove, hints of sage and a sprinkle of dark fruit on the nose follow through on the palate which is full-bodied with a grippy tannin structure and a juice finish.” It can be stored for 6-8 years.
I had it with bowtie pasta and a tomato meat sauce last night, and this pairing was fabulous. When I tried it, I found that the acidity and the tannins weren’t that noticeable, particularly when eaten with beef. To me, it is a very smooth tasting wine with relatively low acidity and a mellow flavour.
This is one of my favorite wines from South Africa. I will continue to enjoy this wine in the future, and look forward to sampling Cathedral Cellar’s other wines, such as their Chardonnay and Shiraz, as well.
KWV Cathedral Cellar Chardonnay 2019
Reviewed by Linda Hasler – April 1, 2021
My selection for our Wine Tasting adventure was a dry Chardonnay by Cathedral Cellar from the Western Cape of South Africa. It is available at the LCBO at a cost of $17.95 with a 14% alcohol content.
This Chardonnay was awarded Best in Show (Gold) in the South African Wine Category and was rated 90/100 by Natalie MacLean, editor of Canada’s largest wine review web site. Natalie was named the World’s Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.
This is a full bodied rich and lush 100% Chardonnay with citrus, tropical fruit, ripe apple, butterscotch, toasty oak space and vanilla flavours, creamy and lemon zesty on the palate. Chardonnay food pairings: raspberry braised partridge, pork filet au gratin with green herbs, grilled chicken breast with cranberry and red currant sauce as well as grilled seafood.
Although the experts pair this wine with partridge, chicken and seafood, for this occasion, I paired it with a French triple cream brie (Chateau de Bourgogne – Humbertown Cheese Shop) on water crackers which was very tasty indeed. I found this wine to be delicious and certainly recommend it.
Flat Roof Manor – Pinot Grigio
Reviewed by Ruth Warren – April 1, 2021
The wine I chose was a Pinot Grigio from the Flat Roof Manor winery. The grapes are grown in the rocky hillside in the Stellenbosch region of South Africa. The wine has a pear and citrus aroma and goes well with seafood. The price is $11.95 and the alcohol content is 13%. I enjoyed this wine and would recommend it.
Fish Hoek Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Reviewed by Mary Mulligan – April 1, 2021
750 ml. bottle | LCBO#: 129726
Light & crisp Sauvignon Blanc – Extra dry
Alcohol: 13%; Sugar content 5g/l
$9.95
Tasting Notes from the Winery and Wine Critics
This is a Fairtrade Wine from the Western Cape, South Africa.
It is a straw colour with hints of green; floral, kiwi, gooseberry, citrus and grassy aromas; extra dry, medium body; fresh kiwi, gooseberry and citrus flavours, well balanced.
A twist of fresh lime combines with green figs and gooseberry flavours to create a delicious wine with a lingering finish, pure Sauvignon Blanc.
Pale straw yellow colour; aromas of lime, green fruit and herb with a slight rustic note; dry, medium bodied, spritzy with pleasant nettle and herb flavours; good acidity on the finish.
When it comes to wine, we believe in quality and distinctive character, so with Fish Hoek we focus on stunning single grape varieties and pare back our winemaking until it’s artful in its simplicity. We’d love you to try our wines and share in our passion for simple excellence.
Winners of 32 International Awards over the last decade.
Vinification Details
The grapes were picked from different regions around the Western Cape at different sugar levels (20-23.5°B) to get a whole spectrum of flavours. The juice was handled as reductively as possible. Different yeast cultures were used and fermentation took place at 12-13°C. The wine was then left on the lees for a few weeks up until bottling.
History
At Fish Hoek, it’s always been our style to stand out from the crowd. So while our master winemaker Bruce Jack believes in following some rules, he also believes in making his own from time to time.
Probus Club of Kingsway-Islington 