RICHENEAU SHIRAZ 2006

Richeneau Wine Estate

Quite some time ago, my wife was given a bottle of wine by one of her clients. She brought it home and told me that I was not allowed to touch this bottle. Some months passed and one night, not to long ago, I took the liberty of saying "Liefie dink jy nie ons moet maar die bottletjie wyn oop maak en proë nie, ons het dan so lekker kos gemaak, en ek dink n Shiraz-sie sal darem baie lekker daarby gaan?".

Well that said, she gave me the blessing of opening THAT bottle. Finally the cork "popped" and the sound of total bliss went through our humble Boland Château.

MY TASTING NOTES ON THE WINE - COLOUR: Dark ruby, rich in colour, good depth of colour concentration, watery brim = shows maturation. Can defiantly determine that the quality of grapes used was excellent. Suggest low yielding vineyards. Hand-selection done. Some sediment present in the glass = wine could have had minimum filtration (not sterile filtered), could even not have been cold stabilised. Just by looking at the colour of the wine you get the idea of a high priced wine of exceptional quality / NOSE: My immediate impression is a scene from "A Good Year' where Russell Crowe strolls in the vineyard of France. (Summer sun, white pebbles on the ground, a dog running up and down in the vineyard stained purple) I think; "Bordeaux, Merlot right bank", but it's not, it's a Shiraz / PALATE Fresh red ripe raspberries from the nose to palate, followed by a plummy (almost jammy but not jammy jammy) cooli, the wine is fresh, good acidity, juicy, defiantly french oak, 2nd fill (??), no American oak. Very old world style - if I had to say. As the wine develops overtime in the glass, it becomes bigger and bigger. To me the palate is a little bit rough around the edges (bit tannic), not as smooth, but yet smooth / velvety, that I would've thought. But what struck me is the freshness of the palate. Its like I'm eating fresh raspberries and ripe plums on a summers day, under a tree in the vineyard. Powerful, not your typical New World style Shiraz, no violets, no leatherisness, no American influence, very austere, subtle hints of pencil shavings / SCORE: 17.5/20.

RICHENEAU TASTING NOTES - Dark, rich plum colour. Characteristic spicy nose, with a youngberry fragrance. It is a pleasant rustic nose with a myriad of spices, broody fruit with jammy nuances . Mouth feel is immensely elegant yet powerful and full flavored. Finish is impressively long with beautifully ripened tannins.

VITI / VINICULTURE: The grapes were harvested by hand on 15 February 2006 at 24,6º balling and fermented in small open stainless steel tanks between 24ºC and 28ºC for 9 days. Yield of wine per hectare is about 28 hectolitres. Pumpovers and punch downs were done every four hours up to 10º balling to ensure optimum extraction of colour and tannins. The wine was pressed in a small 700kg bag press to 65% and thereafter pumped into settling tanks. After two weeks it was racked into second fill French Oak barrels where it underwent malo-lactic fermentation. The wine was racked every 3 - 4 months and left to mature in wood for a total of 14 months.

http://www.richeneauwine.co.za/home?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=4&category_id=1

The "STEAMPUNK CORKSCREW"

14 march 2012 / http://www.wine-style.co.za/news/365/corkscrew-contraption  By Suzanna Muka

Founder of conceptual design firm, Oneofone commissioned a brilliant new invention, and by brilliant I mean completely useless, but mind-boggling nonetheless. 

Marcus Wilkinson wanted a specially made centrepiece that may be impractical but that could be marketed to hotels and funky restaurants. DRUM ROLLLLLL - and here it is - a R900,000 corkscrew. 

The inventor, Mr. Rob Higgs made the original contraption and is now building replicas. Mr. Higgs says, “Because it is made from recycled material, there is a complex message behind the invention about how wasteful we are in society.” 

Mr Higgs, who lives in Cornwall, England, was inspired as a child by items in his grandfather’s workshop. He has spent much of his life creating engineering art in the form of eccentric and often useless devices such as this.

The "steampunk corkscrew", as he calls it, took him four years to build from recycled bits and pieces, custom-made cast iron and he explains: “The majority of the corkscrew machine is stuff that I found in places like scrap yards, car boot sales and antique fairs. I also have a workshop which has tons of hoarded rubbish and piles of junk.” 

When asked why he built it he said “It’s a useful brain exercise because it gives you ideas. It’s like going to a library. There is a real occasion to opening a bottle of wine with a corkscrew.”

Hope that the people buying this will have enough space in their BAR to put it!!!!.

INSANE IN THE MEM(BRAIN), INSANE WITH CHAMPAGNE.... 

If Cypress Hill ever produced such a song, I belief that the whole world who be singing "this song" instead of "he's a Jolly good fellow......"

We have all heard that red wine is good for our hearts, white wine is good for our lungs, and – of course – all wine is good for our taste buds. But, recent findings have revealed Champagne may also be good for our minds. Move over Pinot Noir and Rieslings, scientists now have Champagne on their brains.

An April 2007 article published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reported findings that identify Champagne as a source of brain protection. This sparkling wine, according to the study, may help protect the brain from the injuries common with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, and stroke.

It's just a shame, to think, that you can't claim your "bubbly expenses" from your medical aid, and to think that a bottle of champagne could actually be regarded as buying medicine in bulk (100mls vs 750mls).

The reason for Champagne’s ability, according to the researchers at Italy’s Universita degli studi di Cagliari and England’s University of Reading, lies in the high presence of polyphenols packed within every bottle.

Polyphenols, chemical substances derived from plants, are antioxidants, which help cells avoid death, destruction, and things like cancer. Red wine, once again grabbing the spotlight, is generally thought of as containing the highest concentration of polyphenols – making it one of the healthiest types of wine to drink - but previous research indicates that Champagne contains a high amount of another type of polyphenol, one that has the brain in mind.

To prove their hypothesis, researchers introduced Champagne to the neuron cells of rodents. In other words, they took the mice out drinking. After separating mice cells into two groups – a control group that received no treatment and one that would be penetrated with Champagne extracts – the scientists triggered a stroke.

Their discovery was that the group of neuron cells penetrated with Champagne extracts demonstrated a significant amount of protection against damage, while the group of neuron cells left alone was not able to fight off destruction.

The reason for this, they concluded, was that caffeic acid and tyrosol, antioxidants found in polyphenols, contain anti-inflammatory characteristics. This keeps them from responding to injury and damage. Caffeic acid and tyrosol also possess the ability to remove toxic chemicals, expunging them from a person’s (or a mouse’s) body. Both of these factors work together to help Champagne “top off” our well being.

These findings have now led to further investigation of Champagne’s influence on health and human lifespan, with a specific interest on its influence over ageing. In the past, “the bubbly” has always been thought of a drink you want in hand during times of glee. A spirit with a sparkling personality, Champagne seemed to find itself permanently fermented in a celebratory role. But, as more and more research is performed, Champagne has a chance to turn over a new leaf in medical science. This life preserving task may be one Champagne takes on anew, but it’s one we hope goes to its – and our – heads.

With members of the health community raising its rank, Champagne is our new champion. So, as it puts a cork in brain injury, we propose a toast to the Dom Perignons, the Veuve Clicquots, and the Louis Roederers of the world. Fill your glass and ease your mind. SOURCE: http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/champagne-on-the-brain-the-neurologic/

SOME INTERESTING QUOTES ON CHAMPAGNE:

"I only drink Champagne when I'm happy, and when I'm sad. Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone. When I have company, I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I am not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it - unless I'm thirsty."

(Lily Bollinger)

"I drink Champagne when I win, to celebrate . . . and I drink Champagne when I lose, to console myself."

(Napoleon Bonaparte)

"In victory we deserve it, in defeat we need it."

(Winston Churchill)

"Champagne is the wine of civilization and the oil of government."

(Winston Churchill)

“Champagne makes you feel like it’s Sunday and better days are just around the corner."

(Marlene Dietrich)

"My only regret in life is that I did not drink more Champagne."

(John Meynard Keynes)

"Champagne is the only wine that leaves a woman beautiful after drinking it."

(Madame De Pompadour)

"Three be the things I shall never attain: envy, content and sufficient Champagne."

(Dorothy Parker)

"Two warm bodies and one cold bottle of Champagne will produce something more wonderful than would happen without the Champagne."

(Helen Gurley Brown)

"Champagne offers a minimum of alcohol and a maximum of companionship."

(David Niven)

"Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right."

(F. Scott Fitzgerald)

"One holds a bottle of red wine by the neck, a woman by the waist, and a bottle of Champagne by the derriere."

(Mark Twain)

"Als je het leven vult met Champagne dan heb je een bruisend bestaan."

(Jeroen van Craaikamp)

As PINK would sing ".....and I'll raise my Glass...." to this fantastic breakthrough / discovery and I will personally drink a glass of "bubbly" on the researchers. NOTE TO RESEARCHERS - I'm willing to donate my body for further researches purposes on this subject at Italy’s Universita degli studi di Cagliari and England’s University of Reading.

SEMI-SOET SWEET MARKETING OF VREDE EN LUST AND FRANSCHHOEK

07 March 2012 by Whale Cottage Portfolio

http://www.wine.co.za/News/news.aspx?NEWSID=19845&Source=News

Recently I went to see 'Semi-Soet', a locally produced romantic comedy which opened at 70 cinemas country-wide on Friday. It was predominantly shot on Vrede en Lust wine estate at the entrance to Franschhoek, and I did not expect to enjoy the movie and laugh so much. The movie can be expected to see hordes of locals descending on Franschhoek.

‘Semi-Soet’ was produced by James and Anel (who doubles up as the lead actress) Alexander’s Scramble Productions, using a cast of well-known television actors, Nico Panagio being one of the best known actors in the cast, being a Top Billing presenter, but the other actors are known from series such as 7de Laan, Binnelanders, and the movie Liefling, also produced by the Alexanders.

The story line takes two advertising agency teams from Johannesburg to the Franschhoek wine estate, to be evaluated by Vrede en Lust owner ‘Andries Buys’ for the advertising account. The teams are tested on the farm, in having to walk the ‘Vryersvoetpad’, a lover’s lane with challenges, not least of all being a pig! They also have to pick grapes and stomp them in barrels, before doing a presentation to win the account.

How Vrede en Lust got to be involved in the movie is not known, with a choice of hundreds of wine estates in the Winelands. Vrede en Lust owner Dana Buys writes on their website that they evaluated the past work of the Alexanders. They realized that a poor movie could badly affect their brand image, but the past work of the Alexanders (especially the movie ‘Discreet’) made them realize that the chances of the movie not being successful were small enough to make it worth their while to participate in the movie. “We had high hopes for Semi-Soet, but I suspect the movie will do much better than our wildest expectations”. There is copious branding for Vrede en Lust in the movie, not only in mentioning its name repeatedly throughout the movie, but also via a wine tasting of the flagship Boet Erasmus, wine bottles, and branded banners and a lectern.

The movie has received good reviews, and while some of the humor borders on slapstick, it is seen to be one of the best Afrikaans and local movies made to date. English sub-titles make the movie accessible to all South Africans.

The movie presents Vrede en Lust, and Franschhoek with it, in its glorious beauty, mainly with the Simonsberg as a backdrop, but also the Paarl Mountains on the other side. Aerial shots over the farm and the Franschhoek wine valley, as well as the action filming in the vineyards, at the slave bell, and in the Manor House can only boost visitor numbers to Vrede en Lust, a wine estate that was established in 1688. Vrede en Lust is one of the two best-known and largest wedding venues in Franschhoek, and the movie ends off with a wedding of two of the movie characters, marketing this aspect of the wine estate too. The storyline positions Vrede en Lust as a wine estate with family values, passion, hard work, and a vision, which no doubt pertains to the real Vrede en Lust too. Interesting is that the farm owner pleads for non-pretentious descriptions of the wines tasted in the movie.

Funding for the film was received from the Industrial Development Corporation, and product placements were paid for in cash or as trade exchanges. Brands seen in the movie, and acknowledged on the movie’s website, include Avis, 1Time, Alpha Pharm, Rhapsody’s restaurant, and many more. The movie is good in encouraging wine-drinking, with an agency account win celebrated with sparkling wine, and the movie opening with wine-related illustrations, of wine glasses, bunches of grapes, and vine leaves.

Vrede en Lust has launched a Vryersvoetpad 2008 Merlot-dominant Bordeaux-style blend in honor of the movie, as a limited release of 1450 bottles. Each bottle is numbered, and can be bought at Makro, eStore, and on the wine farm.

Link to website of 'Semi-Soet' / Link to website of 'Vrede en Lust'

THE CATs' OUT OF THE BAG!!!!!

When I read the article on Decanter.com - I could hear the song going through my head: "You know you like it, uhm, you know you love it, uhm, the girls go crazy; about .......!!!", well about what do they go crazy?

Is it the sophistiCATed "Puss in Boots" or the very flamboyant and good looking Antonio Banderas, well I think it could be both.

I'll let the cat out of the bag - Antonio has launched his new wine range. 

I can just imagine Puss, Donkey, Shrek, Fiona and Dragon sitting on the balcony of the castle overlooking the Kingdom of FAR FAR AWAY and sipping wine.

ANTONIO BANDERAS LAUNCHES RIBERA WINE

Spanish born actor Antonio Banderas launched his Ribero del Duero wines, Anta Banderas, in Florida last weekend.

In a seminar entitled ‘Matador’ at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, the Zorro star featured seven of his wines ranging in vintage from 2007 to 2011.

He then headed to Miami wine shop Sunset Corners to sign bottles for a female-heavy throng of fans.

Anta Banderas began in 1999 under the name of Anta Bodegas. Banderas was introduced to the winery by a relative in 2002, and bought a 50% share in 2009, officially becoming co-owner and changing the name.

Anta Banderas consists of 235ha of vineyards in both Villalba Duero and Nava de Roa, and is directed and managed by brothers Federico and Teodoro Ortega.

When the Malaga-born actor was asked in an interview why he chose the northern region of Ribera he said, ‘Ribera del Duero has good winemakers. They have always had good winemakers. They have romantic ideas about wine. This is very important to me.’

Banderas is one of an ever-growing list of celebrities who have bought into the wine business, including Cliff Richard, Sting, Mick Hucknall (simply Red), golfer Nick Faldo and cricketer Ian Botham. The latest is actress Drew Barrymore, who recently launched her Barrymore Italian Pinot Grigio in the United States.

Anta Banderas wines are currently available for between US$15 and US$48 in Florida, New York and California, with plans for distribution throughout the US and internationally. They are not currently available in the UK.


extra to link - wine-style / Winery itself - Anta Bodegas

STRAW WINE FROM THE ORANGE RIVER STRIKES 91pts IN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW

http://www.wine.co.za/news

[LIAGOW] Congrats to the wine making team, had the privilege of tasting and buying the wine, really something spectacular. Well done!!!!

Orange River Cellars' maiden Straw Wine has achieved international recognition for this far-flung Northern Cape winery by garnering a score of 91 points in the influential International Wine Review.

The Orange River Cellars Straw Wine 2010 was included in a list of 21 South African sweet wines making up the International Wine Review's recommended sweet category. International Wine Review, published in America, is a leading indicator of wine trends and quality throughout the world. Tasting the Orange River Cellars Straw Wine, the publication's reviewers described the wine as such: "Beautiful golden amber in colour, this is a creamy smooth, beautifully balanced wine with lots of ripe sultanas and stone fruit, and just a hint of crème brûlée. Air-dried Colombard grapes are fermented and aged in used barriques. Best served well-chilled." According to Rianco van Rooyen, wine-maker at Orange River Cellars' Keimoes Winery, one of the five wineries in the Orange River Cellars stable, the quality of the fruit and the warm temperatures during harvest time when the straw wine grapes need to be air-dried gave him the idea to attempt this category. "We were more than pleasantly surprised at the result as the fruit was concentrated in perfect balance during the air-drying, keeping acidity, sugar and prime fruit flavours in harmony," he says. "The recognition from the International Wine Review is further proof that the Orange River region is showing its ability to produce wines of increasing quality, as vindicated by this and other accolades for our other wines." Orange River Cellars also achieved a score of 88 points for it Lyra 2009, a Bordeaux blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet, proving the wineries' abilities to produce classic-style red wines, too. Koos Visser, marketing manager at Orange River Cellars, says the local and wine world is becoming increasingly aware of the improved quality of the region's wines. "We have one of the biggest teams of viticulturalists - six - of any winery in South Africa, so fruit quality is improving in leaps and bounds due to scientific research and farming best practices," says Visser. "Orange River Cellars is also committed to innovation, giving our wine-makers the opportunity to follow their passions by experimenting with new wine styles. "And in the case of the straw wine, this commitment really seems to have paid off!" THE REST OF THE WINES TASTED: De Wetshof 2005 Edeloes Noble Late Harvest (Robertson) - 91/100 Jardin (Jordan) 2010 - 91/100 Mellifera Noble Late Harvest Stellenbosch (Bottelary) - 91/100 Kanu 2005 Kia-Ora Noble Late Harvest (Stellenbosch) - 92/100 Ken Forrester 2009 T Noble Late Harvest (Stellenbosch) - 93/100 Miles Mossop 2007 Kika (Stellenbosch) - 92/100 Mulderbosch 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Noble Late Harvest (Stellenbosch) - 91+/100 Nederburg 2010 Winemaster’s Noble Late Harvest (Western Cape) - 91/100 Neethlingshof Estate 2011 The Maria (Stellenbosch) - 92/100 Boschendal 2009 Vin d’Or (Coastal Region) - 91+/100 De Trafford 2009 Straw Wine (Stellenbosch) - 92/100 Fairview 2010 La Beryl Blanc (Paarl) - 91/100 Keermont 2010 Fleurfontein (Stellenbosch) - 91/100 Mullineux 2010 Chenin Blanc Straw Wine (Swartland) - 94/100 Orange River Cellars Straw Wine (Northern Cape) - 91/100 Rustenberg 2010 Straw Wine (Coastal Region) - 90+/100 Groot Constantia 2008 Grand Constance (Constantia) - 92/100 Klein Constantia 2005 Vin de Constance (Constantia) - 94/100 Boplaas 2005 Cape Vintage Reserve Port Klein Karoo (Calitzdorp) - 91/100 Riebeek Cellars 2005 Cape Vintage Port Style (Swartland) - 91/100 Rietvallei 2008 Muscadel 1908 (Robertson) - 91/100 Rietvallei 2010 Red Muscadel (Robertson) - 88/100 THE SWEET WINES OF SOUTH AFRICA (UPDATED) - READ THE FULL ARTICLE

CONO SUR Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
R44.95/bottle
Buy at Checkers

To be honest I'm not a big fan of Cabernet Sauvignon (Cab), but in a blend, to me, that's all right and I've got no problem with it, but I could just never get my teeth stained enough (when you drink shed loads of wine this happens) to love it.

So Tuesday night for dinner we had on the menu a delicious Venison Pie, that was accompanied by a garden salad, beetroot and peas.

Now for me its definitely a Shiraz-something wine to buy, but my wife says that she is in the mood for a wine that's big, bold, and voluptuous.
A nano second passes and my answer; "then its definitely a Cab".

Now being in the process of obtaining my qualification as a Cape Wine Master, my wife says: "Liefie, kry vir jou iets wat jy nog nie geproë het nie" and immediately I say: "lets do imported", and now the following questions pops up in my mind: "New World, Old World, Chile, Australia, Bordeaux, to decant or not to decant?".

Ten minutes pass and we decided to try a Chilean Cab aka Cono Surs' Cab. I'am totally surprised and it's true value for money. 

[LIAGOW] COLOUR: ruby-red, suggest youthfulness, medium deep colour concentration / NOSE: Fruit bomb (character of Chilean wines), ripe, plummy, blackcurrant (casis) and raspberries nose, some hints of vanilla and spice / PALATE: The aromas carries through to the palate. Very fruit driven and juicy, tannins tend to get a little bit grippy on the second to third glass of wine. Medium to full bodied, good structure, subtle hints of mocha. Long lingering finish. Shows good acidity / SCORE: 16/20. Not a 100% Cab but a blend of ≥85% Cabernet Sauvignon ≤15% pending on vintage the composition and combination of varietals are Carignan, Shiraz, Petit Verdot, Aligote Bouchet, Merlot and Malbec.

Full tasting note on wine, unfortunately it's the 2010 vintage but it gives you a good idea  terroir ect for the 2011 vintage.

[CONO SUR] Deep, impressive ruby-red colour, which suggests concentrated grapes harvested at the right moment. Its nose is governed by pleasant notes of plum, raspberry and sweet spices, while in this wine’s mouth chocolate and subtle hints of vanilla can be appreciated. A very structured, balanced, long and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon.

This wine is a great option to accompany burgers, grilled meats and chorizo. It also goes great with strong cheeses, lamb, hearty stews and pasta, beef – strong, marinated or barbequed – poultry, and highly seasoned sauces.

"Wow! Lift this baby to your nose: black currants, blackberries, cocoa, espresso. It's the very definition of Cabernet. Oak? Must be. It's fruit multiplied. Add the supple tannins and acidity, and you have a very lively dry red wine." Sandra Silfven / The Detroit News / US

"DEMOCRACY ON THE WINE SHELVES" (by Dave March see below) a good article to read, and it ties in to the one on yesterdays post of "CONCHA Y TORO TO OPEN SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICE (posted BLOG 29 Feb 2012 Wednesday). Now its quite evident why you and me pay so much for a bottle of Imported wine.