Lunch with Werner Engelbrecht of Waterkloof

January 24, 2009

Of late I’ve become increasingly aware of the quality wines emerging from Waterkloof in the Helderberg area. An excellent example is the 2006 Peacock Ridge Chardonnay included in our Value Selection. Waterkloof of course is owned by Paul Boutinot, a Frenchman whose thriving fine wine importation business in the UK dates back to 1980. In 2004, following an extensive 10-year search for a vineyard site ‘with the potential to produce truly fine wine’, Boutinot invested in Waterkloof, a small wine farm situated on the south-facing slopes of Schapenberg, overlooking False Bay. Where, I may add, it rubs shoulders with illustrious neighbours such as Vergelegen and Morgenster. The first wines bottled under the Waterkloof name (the 2005 Peacock Ridge Merlot and Chardonnay) were launched to great acclaim and already boast listings at various Michelin-rated restaurants.

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Lunch with Richard Kershaw of Kanu

September 13, 2008

Having witnessed many a winery and many a brand rising from zero to top of the pops during my involvement in the Cape Wine Industry over the past 15 years, I suppose I could be excused for believing in a certain amount of ‘wine magic’. In this case the supernatural powers of Kanu, a mythical bird of promise which according to legend blesses all those falling under its shadow with a bountiful harvest. Well, since the establishment of Kanu Wines in 1998, this Stellenbosch winery has certainly flourished …

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Lunch with Nico Vermeulen

July 31, 2008

Immersed in the Cape wine industry as I am, I simply love it when local winemakers, and especially those I am associated with, distinguish themselves by winning accolade upon accolade. Enter Nico Vermeulen of Havana Hills fame. Among the splendid wines in our July-August 2008 Value Selection is his 2003 Havana Hills Shiraz - a variety for which Nico has won more awards than he can remember. These include five consecutive Veritas double gold medals for his Du Plessis Shiraz (1999 – 2003), making it the most consistent high performer in this competition to date

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Lunch with Nico van der Merwe of Saxenburg

May 31, 2008

Lunch with Nico van der Merwe of Saxenburg

Once you’ve met Nico van der Merwe, you’re not likely to forget him easily. This robust winemaker impresses not only with his physical appearance, but even more so with his larger-than-life personality. I first rubbed shoulders with Nico in the early nineties at a glamorous Nederburg Auction event. He had joined Saxenburg a few years before (in 1990) and was bubbling with the enthusiasm and joie de vivre which I have since learnt to be his trademark. On this occasion however, Nico had special reason to be chuffed – no less than five of his maiden Saxenburg wines had just been awarded Double Gold at the Veritas Awards. An unparalleled achievement which must have meant a lot to this young winemaker. I was in awe, to say the least, yet upon meeting him, pleasantly surprised to discover the totally unassuming attitude displayed by this already highly accomplished winemaker.  
That was 15 years ago and since then Nico has won more prestigious awards and accolades than he can remember. These include among others 5 stars in the John Platter Wine Guide for his Saxenburg Shiraz Select 2003 and winning the WINE magazine Shiraz Challenge for his Saxenburg Private Collection Shiraz 2003.  Yet, to me he has remained the same ebullient, easily approachable friend, always willing to share his considerable wine knowledge - his blue eyes always sparkling with humour!
So, when the Saxenburg Private Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2007 was selected for our May-June Wine Society selection, I wasted no time in setting up a lunch appointment with Nico with the the venue of course being the popular Guinea Fowl Restaurant at Saxenburg – one of my favourites.
Tucking into chef Leo Romer and his team’s memorable spread, Nico regaled me with stories about the ten exciting years (1996 to 2006) he was responsible for doing double harvests: at Saxenburg during February and March and at the estate’s sister cellar, Château Capion, in France during August. This was heavy going, but he kept on raking in the gold medals for both ranges. “Shiraz is my passion,” says Nico, “and the vintages in France gave me an incredible feel for the finer nuances of this wonderful cultivar”.
Over the main course, enjoyed with a superb glass of Saxenburg Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 (which, Nico assured me, will only improve over the next seven to eight years) another topic was introduced: Mas Nicolas, Nico’s own private blend of Cabernet and Shiraz. Upon release of the maiden 2000 vintage, this wine found instant acclaim, scoring a glittering 5 Stars in the John Platter Wine Guide. Although the grapes for these wines are currently sourced from Stellenbosch vineyards, Nico has purchased land in the cool-climate Bot River region, where he plans to plant vineyards and eventually source all the grapes for his own label from these vineyards.
Talking long into the afternoon, it becomes clear that for the immediate future, this friendly giant of the South African wine industry will continue his focus on delivering the very best wines which Saxenburg is capable of producing. Good news for loyal Saxenburg supporters, because judging from Nico van der Merwe’s proud track record, the quality will remain outstanding!

1 comments | posted by Wade Bales