Durban - Winter is peppered with trade shows, the latest of which was the Vinimark WineWorx exhibition recently.
This national distribution company boasts a fine stable of wines – from the Champagne houses Ayala, Bollinger, Laurent-Perrier and Gosset to South African treasures in Boekenhoutskloof, Le Riche, Glen Carlou and Groot Constantia.
There are the smaller gems, too, including ones from Fryer’s Cove, Shannon and Val de Vie. Working your way around the room, trying the more unusual wines, takes some discipline.
Yet it pays dividends. The Ayala Brut Majeur NV displays a nuttiness and freshness that sets the tone. Laurent-Perrier has also launched a demi-sec that will meet demand for Champagne not displaying the traditional French dryness.
The Constantia Glen Five 2008 incorporates the Bordeaux quintet and boasts spice-laden fragrances and complexities that will mature over the next five to eight years. The Glen Carlou Grand Classique 2010 – another Bordeaux blend using the five varietals – explodes with aromas of violets and will benefit from five to 10 years in the cellar.
Groot Constantia, the country’s oldest winery, boasts an illustrious history from Simon van der Stel’s days. The Gouverneurs Reserve Red 2010, a four-way Bordeaux blend, is characteristically steely, while the Muratie Ansela van de Caab 2010 is a cabernet sauvignon-led Bordeaux blend that includes only merlot and cabernet franc as its other components. The result is a wine bursting with opulent fruitcake aromas and a powerful richness.
While being a massive operation proudly fulfilling demand for everyday drinking wines, Robertson Winery also produces outstanding premium quality wines. Chief among them is the No 1 Constitution Road Shiraz, with the 2011 vintage worthy of another two to three years cellaring, but still offering spice and fruit balance as a young wine.
Warwick Three Cape Ladies 2011 furthers this estate’s tradition for firmly placing pinotage as a blending component in South African wines. Also embracing cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, this is a wine dominated by black fruit flavours.
But my wine of the night unreservedly went to the Neil Ellis Rodanos 2009, a heady blend of syrah and grenache that tickled the nose with white pepper and played with my palate for black fruits, depth and complexity. - The Mercury
Diary note: The Mercury Wine Week runs at Suncoast Casino from August 28 to 30.
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