It's wine time again and this month D' Vine Wine Club introduced us to Glen Carlou from the Paarl region at Oblivion Wine Bar in Harfield Village. Johan Erasmus, Glen Carlou's general manager, was there to guide our noses and palates into the subtleties of their wines.
Glen Carlou is traditionally known for its Chardonnay. While I don't have much of a head for remembering wines my nose instantly recognised this distinctive beauty. I was transported back to a time when I suspect I drank it rather often and with some extravagance (that is, back in the days when I earned a salary).
Of the reds we tasted the 2007 Tortoise Hill Red from the Contemporary range, and the 2006 Syrah and 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Classic range. All are outstanding, the Syrah being my personal favourite.
One thing I found interesting about the Glen Carlou wines is the precise attention to details their team pays to every aspect of the wine making process. The Tortoise Hill Red has 2% Petit Verdot , 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Zinfandel. The 2008 Chardonnay has 5% fermented in American Oak with the remained being in French. We asked what difference 1% of anything actually makes and Johan assured us it certainly did. Since I enjoyed the wines as much as I did I could not argue.
The evening's sweetener was their 2008 "The Welder", a naturally sweet Chenin Blanc. I have bad memories of sweet wines from my younger years but am pleasantly surprised at the delicious options that have become available such as this one. Johan took an opportunity to mention the Glen Carlou restaurant, recommending the créme brûlée as being one of the finest, and a perfect food-pairing complement to "The Welder". I shall have to test it for myself!
I left the evening armed with lots more interesting information and am grateful to the D' Vine Wine Club for making this possible. The use of Oblivian as a new venue was a great improvement and I looked forward to the next one.
Glen Carlou can also be found on Facebook.
D' Vine Wine Club's next tasting is rumoured (don't quote me) to be with Faiview on Tuesday 23 March 2010 at Oblivion Wine Bar, Harfield Village.
Also scheduled:
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On Saturday 13 March there is a gentle Helderberg walk, visiting three wine farms for tastings, and to learn about the bio-diversity and sensitive ecosystems of the area being actively preserved.
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The following weekend, 20 - 22 March, celebrates the Cape with Wellington's Wine Harvest Festival. Access passes are R60.00 and a free shuttle service is provided.
Visit the D' Vine Wine Club group on Facebook for further information.
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