Notes from a blind tasting lunch with Hennie Van Vuuren, head of the wine research program at the University of British Columbia.
1999 Poplar Grove Chardonnay - we also had in attendance Ian Sutherland, winemaker from Poplar, so this was pulled to go with the first course, which was a quick taste of crocodile paté (from myself, the first of several references to Hennie's South African origins), and a wonderful plate of scallops and escargots with white asparagus. The wine showed some colour, and a restrained nose with fruit and some oak, but in the mouth it had a rich caramel and smooth feel to it. No rush. Ian was glad that he hadn't trashed his own wine when tasting it blind!2001 Dominique Laurent Bourgogne 'Numero 1' - an obvious Pinot Noir from the nose, if not just the light colour, bright, clean and slightly high acidity. A couple of years in the cellar and this will be a nice little wine - it works very well right now with food.
1991 Allesverloren Tinta Barocca - a real tough one - this winery is all on its own to the Northeast of Capetown in Swartland, and it makes oddball wine like this Port varietal to boot. Slightly warm nose with a hint of vinyl, and in the mouth, excellent balance with good acidity and a long finish. As is often the case with the traditional style of SA wine that shows more acidity than the newer more international style, this wine complemented the food very nicely.1995 Jade Mountain Mourvedre - dark wine with a pongy mushroomy nose with dark fruit behind. Good body, smooth, and with some pepper coming in late. This is one of the best (and most European styled) Mourvedres I have found from the US. Fooled them all. Good match with the sweetbreads on mushroom risotto.
1968 Groot Constantia Cabernet - the label had fallen off this bottle some time ago (the person that brought it had paid something under a dollar for it in South Africa and had it shipped back). Still dark, with browning edges a give away to age, though none of us guessed it could be that old. It had a very recioto sort of nose, warm and ripe, and while there was no tannin left, it was all leathery and smooth in the mouth - a very interesting wine!1989 Ch. Chasse Spleen - an obvious Bordeaux just from the nose. Elegant with tannins so prominent that we wondered if it could even be one of the (few) currently presentable 1986s. Classic and with a long life ahead.
1994 Rust en Vrede Estate - big dark wine with a warm toasty nose. Warm on palate with good weight, some tannin and a good shot of sweetness at the end. This is now in prime drinking territory. A cabernet based wine, often with some merlot and shiraz in the blend.1997 RSV Stag's Leap District Cabernet - back to California for a Robert Sinskey wine. I am sure that this one won't make anyone think the RSV refers to Romannee St. Vivant! 47%merlot, 31% cab, 22% cab franc. Young wine with a sweet nose of fruit and cocoa, mellow middle and soft tannins on the medium long finish.
1973 (?) Vinho de Casa - this one requires some explanation. It was made from unidentified grapes grown in Rhodesia - yes, Rhodesia, not Zimbabwe, as this was still in the Smith era. The wine was made according to the label, by Phillips Cellars, although we do not know where they may have been located. It was given to a young waiter in 1975 by the Rhodesian ambassador in Ontario. The young waiter is now the owner of an excellent French restaurant in Vancouver and……. The wine was a surprise, although none of us had any idea what the heck it was, and it's owner had little thought of what it might be as it was in a brown bottle which concealed the colour - a nice yellow. The nose was lemon at first, but after a bit of air we saw a lot of honey come out. Medium sweet with pretty good length. A true curiosity, and pretty good!