Adam talks Food & Wine

A formidable and epic line-up. Some Stirling Chardonnays, a superb Sauv Blanc, and a solid Cab Sav.

Koelenhof Wine Cellar Stellenbosch The Legacy 1679 (2018)

This was the last of my Koelenhof box set. It’s an unremarkable Bordeaux blend, not unpleasant, and not amazeballs. My best of this box set was the Bush Vine Chenin Blanc.

Walking the talk - no idea what number we’re on

This is a dish I made for dinner called Alvin’s Drunken Chicken 2.0 which we saw on Masterchef a season or two ago. (look up the recipe on the Australian Masterchef site). I’ve made it a few times before, but tonight’s one was the best by far. When the judges tasted Alvin’s dish in the episode where this featured they giggled with delight. Tonight Annie did the same - she said it was the best thing she’s eaten this year. That’s crispy chicken skin on the top btw, with green mango and beans in a dressing that you would never make up yourself in a million years, sitting on top of shredded chicken drenched in the drunken chicken broth.

You’re going to ask where the rice is. For starters, we had leftover mushroom risotto that I made on Thursday. Also yumm.

Koelenhof Wine Cellar Stellenbosch 1679 Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2020

This is the third premium wine I’ve tasted from Koelenhof, and so far this one is my favourite. Aromas of toffee as you breathe it in, followed by a silky mouthfeel and flavours of stewed apple. Quite delicious.

More epic reviews coming. Stay tuned.

Welcome Melvin Pedro - great bumping into you tonight at the Louisvale Wines Stellenbosch stand at the Trophy Wine Show, Cape Town 🙂

Homework has been interrupted for a while. Last night I had this one, Ridgeback Signature C 2018, a delicious blend of Cab Franc / Merlot with Cab Sav and Zoe tot Verdot. You get a hit of the Cab Franc on the nose before you dive in and get the velvety smooth, very refined flavours of dark fruit and plum on the palette. It went down very quickly, so all I can say is that it pairs exceptionally well with my signature lamb stew.

Next up is this really delicious 2019 Merlot from Ridgeback. It has a powerful hit on the nose, I can’t quite place the notes so I borrowed these from Ridgeback’s tasting notes: “dark plum, mulberry and liquorice with a hint of mint”. If you take a few whiffs you actually get that vague suggestion of mint. It’s full on the palate with gentle tanins. One of the best Merlots I’ve had in a long while. Goes down very well at 5pm and pairs perfectly with popcorn cooked in coconut oil on a cloudy autumn day.

Koelenhof Wine Cellar Koelenhoffer Sauv Blanc 2022

Homework night Part III - this is the fourth bottle in the Koel Mix case from Koelenhof. It’s fresh fruity on the nose with a little hint of vanilla. On the palate it’s a bit young, not unpleasant, with strong citrus coming through, maybe a bit of lime on the side. It’s gets a Platter’s 2.5 star rating, and it retails for R65. Not a bad everyday wine. I’ve got a feeling the next one in the box is the superior one. I’m like that, I’ll open the one I’m expecting the least from first and taste upwards.

Almost time for a bigger one of these. Thank goodness half of the bottles were screw caps. 

A little trip to Stellenbosch and some homework from Noble Hill Wine Estate.

And the somewhere in the background was this superb Rosé from Stettyn Family Vineyards.

Funny story - so I love, love, love my local wine shop, Cork and Bottle in Sunset Beach, and i popped into the shopping centre on Saturday to pick up some milk. Candice spotted the new flashy car pulling into the parking lot and cornered me as I walked past the wine shop. Of course the conversation was about the car but then it was about “haven’t seen you in the shop for a while, was it something I said?” And as much as it tried to tell her that I’ve been to the shop when she wasn’t there I couldn’t pass up a quick tour of what’s new, so I stocked up on a few Rosé’s since my fridge lacked a little blush.

This was the first of the new ones I picked up - Stettyn Chardonnay Pinot Noir Rosé 2022. It’s fragrant and just short of sweet - absolutely love this one. Did I get milk, I don’t remember?

Tonight I opened this Rust en Vrede Wine Estate Estate 2018. It’s priced up there with the big hitters, but I’m still undecided. It’s like standing in an art gallery looking at a painting that all the critics say is a landmark in art history but all you can see is a lot of blue circles, so you smile and nod along with those whose art degrees says they know better just so you don’t look stoopid.

It has mild aromas of to***co and cigar leaves and a hint of smokiness. The flavours are very forward tannins and tart plum, but i think I’ll keep the other bottles I have wrapped in the bright orange paper in the drawer for a few more years until I’ve forgotten what I wrote here and try again.

A long road trip back home, an early take-away dinner of the best fish & chips, and a very welcome glass of wine to end off the evening.

Fairview Wine and Cheese Bloemcool Tinto Fino 2018 - superb! Dusty like dusting off an old bookshelf, smooth as silk, deliciously dry and heavy plum flavours.