Tag Archives: South Africa

Running and Galloping

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A little person present at dinner made concentrating on the wine a little difficult.  Besides, she didn’t want any.  She just couldn’t understand the concept of Running Ducks down on the Galloping Goose Trail.  Just doesn’t make any sense to a 6 year old. (Doesn’t to her 73 year old Great Grandpa either).


Deep in colour, medium weight but still fresh, given it’s 14% alcohol content.  Nicely rounded finish.


A red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) and Pinotage (30%), produced from organic grapes in a vegan friendly and fair trade way.


South Africa’s Western Cape Province, Stellar Winery is a producer of organic, fair trade wines. Farm and winery employees own 26% of the enterprise through shares in the Stellar Winery Empowerment Trust. In addition, the Stellar Foundation is in its first phase of “Getting Off The Grid” renewable energy initiative. The focus of the pilot project is to develop sustainable electricity solutions, as well as to help farms/wineries save money on electricity.


First time was with a homemade meaty spaghetti (one of Little Person’s favourites). Next time?  A lamb tangine maybe. (another of Little Person’s favourites).

CAB SAUV PINOTAGE – STELLAR ORGANICS RESERVE FAIR TRADE

$14.49 regularly $17.99

14% alcohol

UPC: 6009679895959

Climbing the Charts

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The ‘will buy again’ chart.


What we really appreciated was the ‘lack’ of citrusy’ overtones.  There are definite hints of apricot and pear.

It’s very refreshing.


it took us a little by surprise, because, to us, Chenin Blancs don’t usually stand out when by themselves.  They always add to the roundnesswhen added to other whites for a blend.

CHENIN BLANC – RUPERT WINES PROTEA

$14.99

13% alcohol

UPC: 00086891081144

In Normal Times

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We probably would have saved this for a dinner visit from a South African born lass – but these aren’t normal times, so it got opened for a dinner for two – us. Sorry J.


Roast Chicken or grilled lamb patties were the options. Roast Chicken with sheet pan veggies won out.


The sulphite content was definitely under control, because I didn’t end up with a migraine.  They focused on retaining maximum flavour after the harvest.  Cold settling probably helped a lot here.

It’s rich, concentrated, and very full bodied with a very nice structure.  The finish certainly hangs around to remind you that this is a very nice wine indeed.


Maybe Osso Bucco next time as a pairing?


CABERNET SAUVIGNON – KWV CATHEDRAL CELLAR

$15.49 regularly $18.49

14% Alcohol

UPC: 00748294066110

Ulterior Motives

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What motivated this choice (not from a Mystery Case)?  One of the upcoming wines in the next mystery case had a gift “Cheers” glass with it.  She wanted the extra glass so we had a pair!  


The cool Atlantic and warmer Indian oceans come together at the southern tip of Africa and create interesting and extraordinary grape growing conditions. The grapes come from vineyards in the Breede River Valley.  Everything takes time here and the results are fresh and quite delicious.  


The menu was traditionally Moroccan. Chicken with apricots and honey cinnamon/ginger/cayenne pepper). B’s couscous with slivered almonds. 

The wine would be good with light salads, cold cuts, or just sitting on the deck in the warm sun.

Pinot Grigio – Two Oceans

$10.99 (but came with a Cheers Glass)

11.5 % alcohol

UPC: 06001108045102

It just goes

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Hailing from the coastal areas, hence Seaward, this is a narrow band that is close to the cool Atlantic and also the temperateFalse Bay.  Nature takes it course to produce big, flavourful harvests each year.


Multiple prominent reviewers have given this a 90+ points, and it won a Silver medal at the International Wine and Spirits competition of 2019.


To us, it went very well with our ‘all but the kitchen sink’ home made pizza.  Bright – just like the red and yellow peppers.  Fresh – like the garden tomatoes. Robust and able to hold it all up, like the Middle Eastern Pita base. Full of flavour like the garlic and red onion, and it really brought out the flavour of the Feta.

Spier Seaward – Cabernet Sauvignon

$19.99

14% Alcohol

UPC: 00819457001320

5 on the Plate 5 in the Glass

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Glen Carlou Grand Classique

14.5% Alcohol

$22.99

The components used in Grand Classique, a blend of 25% each of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, with 13% Merlot and 12% Petit Verdot, are all individually vinified to allow for the development of each one’s unique character. After assemblage the blend is barrel matured in 225L French barriques for 18 months. The mouthfeel is richly textured with a firm yet accessible tannin structure.


Glen Carlou Vineyards is less than 35 minutes’ drive from Cape Town in Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa and covers a 145 ha property.  The vineyard is well known for it’s award winning whites.  (We’ll be going to to try to find some of these.)


You get a full palate that lingers through to a lovely finish.  Full Bodied and well balanced.  Deep rich red colour.  Initially it comes off as spicy and peppery and then settles down into almost an elegance.

We teamed it with a mixed charcuterie, potato salad and coleslaw.


It should have been Raki, instead of Sambuca, with the mixed fruit on frozen yogurt. [Hee Hee]